The Purest of Diamonds(81)

                ‘Excellent,’ she called down. ‘Can’t wait. The door’s open—let yourself in.’

                ‘You don’t even lock the door round here?’

                ‘I don’t have too many barbarians calling—you’re the first.’

                She flew into his arms before he even had chance to step inside the house. ‘Did you run down those stairs?’ he demanded sternly, holding Leila at arm’s length so he could stare into her eyes.

                ‘No, I waddled down them—’

                He didn’t care how she got down the stairs, just that she had got down them safely and was in his arms again. Dragging her close, he kissed her. If this was what it felt like to come home, he was coming home every day from now on.

                ‘I’ve missed you so much,’ she exclaimed, searching his eyes as she gripped him as if her life depended on it.

                ‘I’ve only been away a few days—’

                ‘Too long,’ she interrupted him fiercely, resting her cheek against his heavy jacket.

                ‘Come on,’ he said, wrapping her inside the jacket. ‘Let’s go inside before you catch cold. It’s freezing out here.’

                ‘You think?’ she demanded cheekily, staring up at him. ‘I’m really hot.’

                ‘So you are.’ He acted surprised, and then dragged her close as he ushered the woman he loved into the house.





                                      CHAPTER FOURTEEN

                ‘NO. YOU DON’T do anything, Leila. This is a time for you to rest, so I do it all,’ he insisted, having stripped down to his top and jeans after bringing all his booty into the open-plan living room.

                ‘You do it all?’ Leila demanded cheekily as he rifled through the bags. ‘Haven’t we been here before?’

                ‘But never at the cooker—’

                She laughed. ‘Can you cook?’ she demanded, planting her hands on her hips.

                ‘I can,’ he said as he slammed a cookery book written by a hot chef on the scrubbed pine table. ‘All I have to be able to do is read and keep a handle on the time.’

                ‘Multitasking?’ She looked dubious.

                ‘I’m not your typical man—remember?’

                She laughed. ‘So you’re definitely promising something more than tins and fries?’

                ‘No tins. No fries,’ he confirmed. ‘Just really great organic food direct from the market for the mother-to-be—’

                ‘And you’re going to do everything for me?’ Leila confirmed as if she needed this in writing before he stood a chance of making her believe him.

                ‘Señorita—’ He made her a mock bow. ‘I’m going to make Christmas for you.’

                ‘And what do I have to do?’ She lifted a brow.

                ‘You have to stand there and look pretty—’