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He walked around the car and opened the door for her, taking her hand and helping her out of the low seat. His eyes glinted with delight as they wandered over her in the moonlight. A wave of satisfaction washed over Kitty. At leastsomebodyappreciated her.

Kitty’s heels crunched across the gravel, then into inside the beautiful restaurant. The Maître D’, obviously knowing Daniel, fell over himself to accommodate them. He showed them to a secluded table at the back of the room. The lighting was low and sensual, and each table held a delicate vase of irises and a long thick candle. Kitty’s gaze landed on it immediately, and noticing, Daniel cocked an eyebrow.

“It’s a bit on the small side, wouldn’t you say?”

Kitty’s eyes grew wide.Damn, he was starting the smut offensive early. She'd hoped they’d make it to dessert before the innuendo started. But then again, she was on a date with Daniel Cunningham. Why was she surprised?

They began the evening with champagne and canapes. Kitty was ravenous, having forgotten to eat earlier. Daniel, as attentive as usual, made a great show of appreciation for her dress. As they’d entered the restaurant, he’d traced a hand down her back, between her shoulder blades, sending an electric shiver through her body. Nobody had touched her with such sensuality for years.

Kitty found it hard to believe this sexy, confident man was on a date with her. She still couldn’t entirely lose the picture she had of herself:Clumsy Kittywith the heavy glasses, the obsession with order, and a hatred of mud. The girl least likely to be propositioned at the office Christmas party.

Daniel ordered for them both, something that Kitty would never typically allow. She was far too much of a control freak. When the food arrived, though, it was, as he promised, orgasmic. However, the portions were small, and Kitty made sure not to load up on too much champagne.

After four delicate courses, they ended their meal with a decadent dessert wine. Daniel gazed into Kitty’s eyes as he poured their drinks and picked up her hand, massaging its palm with his thumb. Perhaps it was the champagne, but Kitty found the continuous, circular motion arousing, and a hot ache grew between her legs. If nothing else, Daniel had magical fingers.

“You look beautiful this evening. So sexy,” Daniel purred, brushing a strand of her long hair behind her ear.

Kitty looked into his clear, dark eyes and died a little inside, wishing she was sharing this evening with Josh instead. She wasn’t sure this restaurant would be his style, though. He’d be more at home with a pizza and a bottle of wine in front of the TV. Her lips curled at the thought.

“What?” asked Daniel, searching her face.

“You don’t brush up too badly yourself,” she said. Although he knew that already, he seemed content with her answer.

Kitty removed her hand from Daniel’s and laid her hands to rest on the white tablecloth. She had to give this night a chance without her attention wandering off to thoughts of Josh. She owed it to Daniel. He’d been there for her when it mattered. He understood her and supported her drive to get the new role. More importantly, Daniel made her feel wanted.

“I’ve been thinking,” he said softly. “When you return to London, you’ll need someone to massage your feet at the end of a long, hard day.”

Where was he going with this? He’d put emphasis on the words ‘long’ and ‘hard’, so it was bound to be a destination below the belt.

“I mean, you wear very, very high heels in the office, don’t you? I’m just offering my services.”

Kitty recalled the way he’d removed her gumboots at Julia’s. The slow care and attention he’d given to each foot. She’d never experienced anything like it before, but she hadn’t minded it, either. Quite the opposite.

“I’m sure Amber could hold the fort if the need arose,” he said. “I could be there in a couple of hours. It could become a regular thing.”

It took Kitty a few moments to realise he was discussing the future. The future when she was back in London, smashing out long days in the office, and he was miles away in Tottenbridge. She hadn’t ever factored Daniel into her post-goat-wrangling life, and his suggestion jolted her. Did he think they had some sort of future together? She was sure it wouldn’t ever be marriage and children, but his serious expression set off butterflies in her tummy.

“I only wear heels to intimidate little men in meetings,” Kitty said, attempting to steer him off the subject. “At my age, I need to think about arthritis and bunions. High heels aren’t conducive to healthy feet.”

He picked up her hand again and ran his thumb along the back of her knuckles.

“With your legs, even a pair of Crocs would look sexy. Particularly teamed with the right underwear.”

Kitty’s cheeks simmered under his stare. He really knew how to speak to her baser sensibilities.

“I have something very special to ask you this evening,” Daniel said, an enticing glint in his eyes. “Now you’ve lived in the village for a few weeks. I think you’re ready.”

“Ready for what? The next Women’s Club event?”

“Alas, no. Even I can’t pull those strings, but I think you’re ready for the splendour of the Tottenbridge Annual Cricket Match and Ball.” Kitty giggled, and Daniel gave her a disapproving look. “I’ve weighed the pros and cons up carefully, and I think, with the perfect chaperone, you’d survive the experience intact.”His eyebrows lifted, and the dirtiest of smirks grew on his lips.

“And I suppose you’d be the perfect chaperon?” Kitty asked.

“Well, if you hold my bat at morning tea and don’t upset my stumps, I think we’d rub along nicely together.”

Kitty dissolved into peals of laughter. She could always rely on Daniel’s dirty humour to cheer her up.

“Don’t mock. I’m deadly serious. Every year, Tottenbridge’s finest young bucks turn out to trounce the elderly gentlemen in a game of cricket. It really is quite a spectacle for the ladies.” His eyes twinkled in the candlelight. “Naturally, as star batsman for the Young Guns, I have a reputation to uphold. And you, young lady, will do nicely.”