Page 43 of Lost in Love

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By lunchtime, Anna felt calmer. She was still annoyed at Katherine, though, and intended to have it out with her. It was probably best to get these things aired early on in a relationship. Katherine was rich, and Anna was poor; she needed Katherine to know that she was quite capable of providing for herself and fighting her own battles.

Anna grasped the partially naked knocker. She pushed images of what Katherine would look like partially clad to the back of her mind and banged the knocker.

Katherine opened the door. She had her hair tied up and her glasses on, though she removed them to get a better look at who was on the doorstep.

“Anna, what a nice surprise. I’ve just finished my surgery for the day.” She held the door open wide and gestured her in.

Anna passed her and entered the hallway. This was going to be difficult enough without Katherine looking all sexy. She wondered if she could say everything she needed to without actually looking at her. Unlikely.

She followed Katherine through to the kitchen.

“What were your gardeners doing at the abbey this morning?”

“I believe they were repairing the lawns.”

“I know what they were doing there, Katherine. I meant what weretheydoingthere?”

“You mean why were they there.”

Anna put her hands on her hips and glared at Katherine.

“Oh.” Katherine pursed her lips. “I lent them my gardeners so you could open today.”

Anna raised her eyebrows. “Like you only lent them a donation too?”

Katherine frowned. “How did you know that was me?”

Anna twisted her lips and tilted her head.

“Oh, you didn’t.” Katherine looked down.

“No, but it appears I made a very good guess. I don’t need you to fix my problems. Putting in a word for me was welcome, but this is tantamount to bribery.”

“What?” Katherine’s head shot straight back up.

“You asked them to not fire me, and then you offer them a donation and then send your gardeners over to repair the damage. No doubt at your expense as well.”

Katherine pulled her bottom lip in and bit it. “Sorry, I overstepped. I see that now, but I couldn’t stand by and watch you lose your job.”

“I know. But it wasn’t your place to fix it either.”

“If it wasn’t for me being there, it wouldn’t have happened.”

“I invited you if you recall.”

“Yes, but I distracted you. Don’t deny it or I will be wounded. At my age, the thought of distracting younger women is what gets me through the day.”

Anna’s eyes narrowed. “Feel free to splash your cash about, but please don’t do it on my behalf or for my future benefit. Clear?”

“Clear.” Katherine pulled her lips tightly together and nodded firmly.

“I don’t feel like I deserve my job now.”

“You do deserve it.” Katherine moved slowly towards her. “You’re the most knowledgeable, most beautiful tour guide I ever beheld.” Katherine reached forward and tucked her hand around the back of Anna’s neck. Her hand was soft and warm and welcome.

“I’m glad to see that beauty is on the top of the list of requirements for tour guides these days.”