he damned well knew it, she drank the milk, under Dominic’s sunny gaze and the barely concealed amazement of her hosts.
Opportunely, since a patent awkwardness crackled in the air, the chef suddenly walked through the swinging pantry door carrying a Baba au Rhum, magnificently decorated in sugared kumquats and green grapes. She placed it on the table with a flourish, then deftly cut and served her masterpiece. The dessert was as delicious as it looked, topped with mounds of whipped Chantilly cream and rum sauce.
Kate had no trouble finding an appetite for it.
Although she understood Dominic’s concern, and the need for good nutrition in pregnancy the fact was that other than sweets and carbs, very little appealed to her right now.
‘You liked the Baba,’ Dominic said, glancing at her almost empty plate. ‘And thanks for drinking the milk,’ he quietly said.
‘Thanks for getting it.’ She spoke as softly. ‘That was nice of you.’
Leaning over, he whispered in her ear, ‘I’ll be even nicer when we get out of here.’
She sucked in her breath as a flutter of arousal stirred her senses and settled with a delectable ripple between her legs.
‘Just a few minutes more,’ Dominic whispered, then looked up, smiled at Justin and reached for the port decanter Justin was pushing his way.
A few minutes later as the dessert plates were being taken away and the men were enjoying their port, Amanda understood that if she wanted her question answered, her window of opportunity was quickly closing. ‘I have to ask,’ she said, her glance swivelling between Kate and Dominic. ‘And you may tell me it’s none of my business, because of course it isn’t, but are you planning on getting married?’
‘Jesus, Mandy,’ Justin muttered, giving his wife a sharp look. ‘That’s a little personal.’ He glanced at Dominic and grimaced. ‘Sorry.’
‘It’s all right.’ Dominic gave Justin an easygoing smile.‘We’ve already talked to a wedding planner. Mrs Hastings is taking care of things’
Amanda’s eyes opened wide. ‘Really, Mrs Hastings?’ She spoke like one would on seeing a Martian for the first time – in a tone of breathless wonder. ‘She’s incredibly difficult and overbearing.’
‘I’m paying her well. She seems agreeable.’
‘Agreeable? I didn’t think she understood the word.’
‘It costs a little more, but she understands. We’re still not certain exactly what we’re doing.’ Dominic glanced at Kate. ‘But if we decide on a public occasion, you’ll be sure to get an invitation.’
‘I’m dithering,’ Kate interjected. ‘Dominic doesn’t like me dithering.’
‘I’ll get used to it,’ he said, smiling at Kate.
‘Like I’m trying to get used to a control freak,’ she playfully retorted.
Dominic’s lashes lowered faintly. ‘You see the adjustments we’re making.’
Amanda bit back her startled response.
Justin choked on his port.
And a short time later, as the front door closed on their dinner guests, Amanda looked at her husband, dumb-founded. ‘Did you
ever
think you’d see the day when Dominic Knight made
adjustments
?’
‘Not unless he was adjusting some babe’s handcuffs or leg restraints,’ Justin drawled.
‘Exactly.’ Amanda had been apprised of Dominic’sexcesses from her husband who’d known Dominic prior to their marriage. ‘Do you think he’ll actually marry her?’
‘It looks like it. Remember, Dominic’s been stalking Katherine for at least four months. That’s not only unusual but unprecedented for him. His arrangements with women have always been in hours not months.’
‘Except for his wife.’
Justin snorted softly. ‘You saw them together. He treated Julia like a friend. A best friend, but still a friend. Unlike tonight. Dominic touched Katherine every chance he had. And he and Julia never talked about having children. He really
wants
this child. And if the size of the ring he gave Katherine is any indication of his
Opportunely, since a patent awkwardness crackled in the air, the chef suddenly walked through the swinging pantry door carrying a Baba au Rhum, magnificently decorated in sugared kumquats and green grapes. She placed it on the table with a flourish, then deftly cut and served her masterpiece. The dessert was as delicious as it looked, topped with mounds of whipped Chantilly cream and rum sauce.
Kate had no trouble finding an appetite for it.
Although she understood Dominic’s concern, and the need for good nutrition in pregnancy the fact was that other than sweets and carbs, very little appealed to her right now.
‘You liked the Baba,’ Dominic said, glancing at her almost empty plate. ‘And thanks for drinking the milk,’ he quietly said.
‘Thanks for getting it.’ She spoke as softly. ‘That was nice of you.’
Leaning over, he whispered in her ear, ‘I’ll be even nicer when we get out of here.’
She sucked in her breath as a flutter of arousal stirred her senses and settled with a delectable ripple between her legs.
‘Just a few minutes more,’ Dominic whispered, then looked up, smiled at Justin and reached for the port decanter Justin was pushing his way.
A few minutes later as the dessert plates were being taken away and the men were enjoying their port, Amanda understood that if she wanted her question answered, her window of opportunity was quickly closing. ‘I have to ask,’ she said, her glance swivelling between Kate and Dominic. ‘And you may tell me it’s none of my business, because of course it isn’t, but are you planning on getting married?’
‘Jesus, Mandy,’ Justin muttered, giving his wife a sharp look. ‘That’s a little personal.’ He glanced at Dominic and grimaced. ‘Sorry.’
‘It’s all right.’ Dominic gave Justin an easygoing smile.‘We’ve already talked to a wedding planner. Mrs Hastings is taking care of things’
Amanda’s eyes opened wide. ‘Really, Mrs Hastings?’ She spoke like one would on seeing a Martian for the first time – in a tone of breathless wonder. ‘She’s incredibly difficult and overbearing.’
‘I’m paying her well. She seems agreeable.’
‘Agreeable? I didn’t think she understood the word.’
‘It costs a little more, but she understands. We’re still not certain exactly what we’re doing.’ Dominic glanced at Kate. ‘But if we decide on a public occasion, you’ll be sure to get an invitation.’
‘I’m dithering,’ Kate interjected. ‘Dominic doesn’t like me dithering.’
‘I’ll get used to it,’ he said, smiling at Kate.
‘Like I’m trying to get used to a control freak,’ she playfully retorted.
Dominic’s lashes lowered faintly. ‘You see the adjustments we’re making.’
Amanda bit back her startled response.
Justin choked on his port.
And a short time later, as the front door closed on their dinner guests, Amanda looked at her husband, dumb-founded. ‘Did you
ever
think you’d see the day when Dominic Knight made
adjustments
?’
‘Not unless he was adjusting some babe’s handcuffs or leg restraints,’ Justin drawled.
‘Exactly.’ Amanda had been apprised of Dominic’sexcesses from her husband who’d known Dominic prior to their marriage. ‘Do you think he’ll actually marry her?’
‘It looks like it. Remember, Dominic’s been stalking Katherine for at least four months. That’s not only unusual but unprecedented for him. His arrangements with women have always been in hours not months.’
‘Except for his wife.’
Justin snorted softly. ‘You saw them together. He treated Julia like a friend. A best friend, but still a friend. Unlike tonight. Dominic touched Katherine every chance he had. And he and Julia never talked about having children. He really
wants
this child. And if the size of the ring he gave Katherine is any indication of his
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