The Purest of Diamonds(83)

                He surprised himself with the array of tempting dishes he produced, and there was Christmas Day to come yet. ‘Who knows what miracles I can conjure up, now I’ve hit my stride.’

                ‘Modest as always, Raffa—but I have to admit, this is delicious.’ Leila laughed as she tucked in.

                He hummed and adopted a thoughtful look. ‘Maybe I should take cooking up as a profession?’

                Cocking her head to one side, Leila disagreed with this proposition. ‘You can’t do that. We need you down at the mine.’

                ‘Then I’ll take over the café.’

                ‘Oh, no, you won’t.’ She worked a frown. ‘Stealing my customers from the museum? We’d never get the women out of there if you were running it.’

                ‘And while we’re on the subject of your museum, Señorita Skavanga,’ he interrupted, seizing his chance. ‘You have to stop working there soon.’

                ‘When the babies come, I’ll stop.’

                ‘Take care you don’t give birth during one of the tours. It would give a whole new meaning to “If you’d like to follow me...”’

                ‘Bet no one would take me up on that one.’

                ‘Here—Leila. Taste.’

                ‘Hmm—delicious,’ she exclaimed, but quickly returned to her chosen subject. ‘I’ll know when it’s right to stop working, Raffa. I’m a good couple of weeks away.’

                ‘Don’t I have any say in this? Oh, yeah, wait a moment, I do,’ he drawled as Leila tipped up her chin to challenge him. ‘And if I say you stop work right after we celebrate Christmas, so you can put your feet up over New Year—’

                ‘You’ve got it all worked out, haven’t you, Raffa?’

                Bringing their plates to the table, he laid them down with a flourish. ‘I usually do—’

                ‘And so do I,’ Leila assured him, her lips set in a stubborn line. ‘And I am going to stop work when my body tells me it’s time to stop work, and not a moment sooner.’

                ‘Are we playing whose will is stronger?’ he suggested as he spooned some of the deliciously aromatic paella onto her plate.

                ‘That’s easy—I win,’ she assured him. ‘This is delicious, by the way.’

                ‘So you accept I can multitask?’

                ‘I accept you’re an exceptional man, Señor Leon—but that doesn’t mean I have to do everything you say—’

                ‘In bed or out of it?’

                ‘That’s a loaded question from a very bad man.’

                ‘Yes, it is,’ he agreed. ‘More paella?’

                ‘I could never get enough of this.’

                ‘Excellent—fill your mouth and be quiet for a second, because I’ve got a very important question to ask you.’

                ‘What are you doing on your knees? Did I drop some food on the floor?’