November Harlequin Presents 2(196)

Opening her eyes, all Lily could do was smile, the guilt that she would normally have felt after such a reckless night utterly absent. Propped up on one elbow, he was blatantly staring at her, only it didn’t feel uncomfortable. His face was even more exquisite than she remembered, those cool blue eyes not mocking or superior, just caressing her as she gradually came to, stretching like a cat in the warm, tousled bed, feeling the blissful warmth of his hand on her stomach.

‘Morning.’ His hand was idly stroking her stomach through the sheet, actually not so idly, Lily realized. The soft, circular motion was having a definite effect. ‘What are your plans for today?’

‘Hmm?’ Lily was only half listening, her eyes closed again, concentrating instead on the wonderful sensations he was drawing out of her awakening body, trying not to think about climbing out of the warm bed that bore the sharp lingering scent of the passion they had shared last night. Wanting to hold onto the fantasy of them just a little while longer. Hunter’s caress was infinitely more pleasurable than having to deal with a broken down car and her financial worries.

‘Because,’ Hunter continued, clearly wide awake and raring to go, ‘we could go and look at your mother’s house.’

‘Why?’ Lily frowned.

‘Well, don’t you have to water the plants or let out the cat or something?’

‘She lives more than an hour’s drive away in the Red Hill area.’ Lily laughed. ‘The cat would be crossing its legs!’

‘Why don’t we go anyway?’ Hunter insisted. ‘I haven’t had a day off for ages. I’ll ring Abigail and tell her to arrange it.’

‘Abigail?’ Lily checked. ‘Your ex—she works for you?’

‘She’s my PA,’ Hunter nodded. ‘Why?’

‘I though you said you two were finished.’

‘We are,’ Hunter answered. ‘But just because our…’ He paused for a second, ‘For want of a word relationship is over, there’s no reason I should lose a perfectly good PA. She was upset at the time, but Abigail’s fine with it now.’

‘You’re sure?’ Lily frowned.

‘Absolutely. She knows the two of us couldn’t have worked out and at the end of the day she loves her job too much to quit over something so petty.’

Petty.

His choice of word confirmed every idea Lily had formed about him in their few hours together. Relationships were a mere trinket to Hunter—a small, pleasurable diversion and absolutely nothing to lose a moment’s sleep over. But nothing Hunter said would convince Lily that it was so easy for Abigail. Sure, she’d never met the woman, but there was no way one could go on seeing this man every day and not want him.

He was addictive.

From the first second that she’d laid eyes on him, nothing else had mattered except getting more of him, not just sexually but emotionally and mentally as well. Like a fabulous book that kept one up all night, turning the pages, like a nibble of the most delectable chocolate that had you peeling back the shiny foil for just a little bit more, he consumed all thought processes, created need where there had been none. Seeing him every day and not having intimate access to him would be torture—like an alcoholic working in a bar—the fix constantly at arm’s length but utterly out of reach. And after just a single night in Hunter’s arms Lily knew it could never be that easy. That the time they had shared was going to be a memory that would linger for ever.

‘I guess it would be prudent to see it before I buy it.’ His words snapped her out of her daydream, but Hunter hadn’t yet finished with his ludicrous suggestions. ‘I think we should get married.’ Just like that, he said it, sort of drawled it as he if were commenting on the weather, or suggesting that they go out for breakfast. ‘What I need is a wife.’

‘So do I!’ Lily grinned. ‘Preferably one who loves ironing and cleaning and one who know how I like my coffee.’

‘No, I’ve been really thinking about it,’ Hunter pushed.

‘So have I,’ Lily said. ‘One sugar—it’s your turn to make it.’

‘Not till you answer my question.’

‘I wasn’t aware you asked one.’

‘I mean it, Lily. I’ve been lying here since the crack of dawn, going over and over it, and marriage is the perfect solution.’

‘To what?’

‘Your money problems.’

‘My money problems aren’t your concern.’

‘But I could buy your mother’s house for you.’

‘Why on earth would you want to do that?’