Page 26 of Edge of Secrets (The Edge Trilogy #2)

Chapter Fifteen

Nell

I listened to the shower through the bathroom door, thinking of his amazing, powerful naked body in there under the pounding stream, water and soapsuds cascading over his contoured muscles. I was so tempted to just peel off my clothes and join him.

But no. He was never quick. It would be long and wet and steaming and soapy and marvelous, and we would both forget all practical issues, getting to work on time, making money, safeguarding my self-respect, meeting my professional obligations.

I was already missing the lunch prep. He had completely disarmed me, charmed me, bamboozled me.

He’d wrapped me around his little finger.

Or, well … maybe something a little more substantial.

I stared at the suit he’d slung upon the bed.

I didn’t know much about fashion, having remained deliberately ignorant of it, but I recognized the elegant cut and fine finishing of costly, bespoke men’s clothing when I saw it.

Many thousands of dollars lay there on that rumpled bed, in those smooth, graceful silver-gray garments.

He looked so good in his clothes. Though it was more a function of his gorgeous body than skill on the tailor’s part.

Having seen him naked, I could bear witness to that personally.

I went back out into the front room. The roses had been stuck into a jug with some water, but the stems were too long for the vessel.

I rummaged around, with the half-formed intention of looking for a vase in the kitchen.

Such a sweet thought, last night, for him to stop and get me roses, after everything.

Some of the roses had wilted, bruised petals scattering over the gleaming wood floor. I gathered them up, carried them into his bedroom and on impulse, slipped some of them into the pockets of his suit jacket, and went out for a final cup of coffee.

He came out into the kitchen, fully dressed, clean-shaven and fragrant.

Our cautious truce lasted all the way down to the Sunset Grill, but as I was getting out of his car, he pulled me toward him and gave me a hard, possessive kiss.

“One more thing,” he said. He pulled a smartphone out of his pocket, one of the extravagant, ridiculously expensive ones. “Take this. No arguments.”

I rolled my eyes at him. “I was going to buy a fresh flip phone today anyhow. I don’t need one with all the bells and whistles, Duncan.”

“No way,” he said. “You swore a blood oath that you would not leave the restaurant until I came to get you. Remember?”

That made me laugh. “A blood oath? Really?”

“Take the phone. Don’t fight me on this. My number’s programmed in.”

I looked down to his big hand, clamped around my wrist, and realized that I could not win this fight. He would not let me go unless I gave in, and for God’s sake, why didn’t I? I was fighting just on principle. I couldn’t afford this bullshit.

I slipped his phone into my purse. “Thank you,” I said primly. “I hope I manage to use it. If I don’t answer, it’s because I can’t figure out how, so don’t take it personally.”

“You know how to answer a damn phone,” he said. “Keep it in your apron pocket at the restaurant. I’ll call to check on you. And I’ll give you holy hell if you’re not reachable.”

I laughed out loud. “Don’t bug me while I’m working, Burke.”