Joline shook her head, trying to stop him but he had his back to her at the moment. “I don’t usually have time for breakfast,” she told him.
“Nonsense. It is the most important meal of the day. Besides, you’ll need to learn to eat breakfast. Our nights together are going to be very…” he looked over his shoulder at her again, “vigorous. You’ll be famished in the morning.”
Joline was trembling with the image that came into her head with his words. “We’re not…I’m not…”
He set a plate filled with eggs, fruit and several tiny muffins in front of her. “Of course we are.” He sat down beside her, turning slightly so that he could look down into her eyes. “And it is going to be incredible,” he promised.
Joline could barely breathe with that promise. She wasn’t even sure how to deny his words. His absolute conviction terrified her!
“I can’t.”
“We will,” he assured her quietly, but with equal conviction. “An attraction this strong can only lead to one thing, Joline. But it will be okay. I’ll take care of you.”
With that, he pulled back and picked up his fork. “Now eat. You look like you haven’t eaten for days. You are a beautiful woman, but you’re tired, probably from lack of sleep and inadequate protein.”
Joline blinked, not sure if she should laugh or be insulted. “I’m fine,” she replied back.
The door opened at that moment, denying him a counter argument. “Leave her alone, Rais,” Shantra commanded, stepping into the dining room with Keith right behind her. “You’re being rude.”
“Ah, my little sister to the rescue,” Rais teased. “And what sorts of adventures are the three of you going to do today?”
Joline couldn’t believe the man! She pretended to eat for the next several moments while Keith and Shantra filled up their plates and came over to the table to join them.
“We’re going to be doing lots of secret stuff and you won’t know anything about our activities,” Shantra taunted him.
He shrugged even as he wiped his mouth with a starched, linen napkin and stood up. “I’m sure you’ll behave,” he warned her. Then glanced at Joline. “Thank you for an enlightening conversation,” and he lifted her hand to his lips, kissing her fingertips and causing her stomach muscles to clench with that intense awareness once more. She pulled her fingers away and hid her hand under the table, unable to hold his gaze.
She hadn’t won that round. Not by anyone’s standard and it irked her that he chuckled softly to himself as he walked out of the dining room.
After the door closed and the three of them were once again alone, Shantra put a hand over Joline’s. “Sorry about him. I’ll make sure he doesn’t bother us for the rest of your stay here.”
Joline took a deep breath and picked up her fork. “Oh, he doesn’t bother me. Not at all,” she lied.
Chapter 3
Joline stared at the note a servant had delivered. His bold scrawl made her heart pound and her stomach…well, it was doing that crazy butterfly dancing. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to pass out or throw up. Either option might save her from this summons.
“Why does my brother need to speak with you?” Shantra asked excitedly.
Joline knew exactly where her friend’s mind was heading. Shaking her head firmly, Joline knew that she had to put a stop to her friend’s hopes. “Don’t go there,” she said emphatically.
“Go where?” Shantra asked with an innocent looking smile. But her eyes…Joline knew that look. She’d seen it several times when the three of them had been sitting at the cafeteria at university, or a coffee shop, or anywhere else a handsome man happened to enter. She was in matchmaking mode! The woman knew about her mother’s track record and she was still trying to get her and her brother together? That didn’t make any sense.
Keith chuckled. “Your head has already started designing her wedding dress,” he teased. “And just so you know, I found this amazing silk satin last week that would look perfect for her dress.”
Joline’s mouth fell open. “What are you talking about? I can’t marry your brother!” she exclaimed.
Shantra didn’t stop smiling. “Why not? You’re obviously attracted to him. And he’s pretty slammed by you as well. We’d be sisters and it would be fantastic! What’s the problem?”
Joline snapped her mouth shut, glaring at both of them as they leaned back in their chairs, smug in their hopes and dreams.
“First of all, sisters fight. All the time,” she pointed out.