Page 76 of Pretty Mess

I immediately want to take the words back. He bought me a very expensive phone on which he does all his communicating, or what passes for communication with Mac.

He seems ill at ease, his gaze flicking toward the window as he absently picks at a thread on his trousers. It’s very unusual behaviour for Mac. He has stillness down to an art form, as if any wasted movement is anathema to him.

“Mac?”

He glances at me. “I was thinking of taking you with me.”

I stare at him, uncertain if I heard him right. “Pardon?”

“Do your ears need syringing?”

“No, just a coherent conversational partner, but you can’t help me with that.”

The car swerves slightly. “Sorry,” Robert calls in a choked voice. “Just a bump in the road, Mr Reilly.”

I edge closer to Mac. “You’re thinking of taking me where?”

“To Paris, of course. Do keep up.”

“Paris?”

His eyes trace over my body, and I shiver as if he used his hands. His eyes flare impossibly hot, but he sucks in a long breath and his voice is cool when he says, “Yes. Would that be acceptable to you?”

“For a whole week?”

“No, for four days. I will, of course, pay you for the pleasure,” he adds in a low voice. I appreciate his discretion, but I’m pretty sure Robert knows all his business anyway. He smiles. “Look on it as a congratulatory present for finishing your exams.”

“I’ve never been to Paris,” I muse.

“Really?”

“Yeah, I’ve never been out of the country.”

“How is that even possible?”

“Perfectly possible, Monsieur Moneybags.”

“Please do not ever attempt to speak French while we’re there. We’ll be kicked out of the country if they hear your deplorable accent.”

I smile and shrug. “We never had any money for luxuries,” I say simply.

“Well, it’s lucky that you had a passport.”

“I always felt a bit silly applying for that, but sometimes it’s nice to dream.” I’m struck by a sudden thought. “How do you know that I’ve got a passport?”

He rolls his eyes. “I know most things, and the things I don’t know I employ other people to find out.”

“You’re very lord of the planet this morning.”

He chuckles and immediately looks discomposed. “Why are you staring at me like that?”

“It’s such a nice thing to do.” I edge closer and kiss his cheek, nuzzling into him for a long few seconds, absorbing his scent and feeling it steady me. When I pull away, his hand comes up to cradle his cheek in the spot where I just kissed him.

He visibly pulls his control around him again. “So, would that arrangement be acceptable to you? I must warn you that you will be alone often, because I am there for work, but you can explore the city during the day.”

“And during the night?” I whisper into his ear, taking the lobe in my mouth and sucking. He shudders and makes a soft groan. I pull back and grin at him.

He leans closer. “During the nights, you’re all mine.”