than some convenient woman you took to bed simply because you were feeling horny.’
As shocked surprise eddied through him Hal hardly knew what to say. Kit had told him he was ‘lovely’ and yet she clearly didn’t trust his motives. A thought that might explain why she was so uneasy about taking things further suddenly struck him.
‘You think I’m just the same as one of those low-lifes who used your mother then abandoned her. That’s it, isn’t it?’ He cursed out loud because he knew it was true.
‘No. Of course I don’t think that!’ Her mouth shaping a painful grimace, Kit folded her arms over her chest and dipped her head. The sudden movement caused her glorious hair to tumble forward onto her shoulders in a riot of silken burnished waves.
Hal sucked in a breath. The sight was so beautiful...
‘I know you’re not like them,’ she declared. ‘But I have to protect myself. There’s no one else looking out for me but me . I’ve got a reputation for being competent and reliable at the agency and I need a good reference when I leave you if I’m to get another job as good as this. Don’t you understand?’
Starting to feel a little calmer, Hal was thoughtful. ‘I’ve given you my word that you won’t lose this job, and if you see it through to the end of course I’ll give you a good reference...the best. I want to reassure you about that. But I can’t pretend it’s going to make me want you any less, Kit, or that you’ll stop thinking about that kiss we just shared.’
‘Okay.’ She smiled, but it was plain to see her expression was still guarded. ‘I’m flattered that you want me—I really am. I know that you could probably just pick up the phone and have any woman that you want. And I’m sorry if I offended you with what I said about you being—’
‘Horny?’ he finished helpfully.
‘Sometimes I’m a little too quick to speak my mind.’
‘Do you think I don’t know that by now?’
‘Anyway...’ Uncurling her leg from beneath her, Kit ran her hand over her hair, as if to tidy it, then positioned herself more comfortably against the cushions. ‘Why don’t we just finish watching the film? I was really starting to enjoy it.’
Hal’s strongly defined jaw clenched ruefully. ‘There’s something else I’d much rather do, but seeing as I’m a gentleman this time I’ll give you the prerogative of choosing the evening’s entertainment. Next time it will be my turn.’
‘If you’re no longer so keen on watching the film perhaps you might like a game of chess instead?’ The look she gave him was innocence personified. ‘But if we play I warn you I’m no push-over. I don’t take any prisoners. I play to win!’
His blood heated again, painfully reminding him of what he’d given up in deference to reassuring Kit that he was no ruthless playboy who believed it was his God-given right to take what he wanted. Lowering his voice, he remarked, ‘So do I, sweetheart. I don’t see the point of playing a game if I don’t come out on top. After all, being on top is what I do best.’
Hal couldn’t deny the sense of satisfaction that pulsed through him when her pretty cheeks turned revealingly pink...
* * *
Over the next few days Hal played the part of the gentleman he professed to be to the max. Gone was the teasing, provocative banter that Kit had come to love and expect, that suggested he was more bad boy than gentleman. A much more sedate, thoughtful man took his place. In fact he’d become so quiet that she fretted his leg wasn’t healing as well as it should be and that it was seriously bothering him. When she checked with him he always immediately denied anything was amiss and returned to the book he was reading, or to his study to work, with an expression that told her friendly conversation was off the agenda and he would prefer not to be disturbed.
There was no more talk of him choosing their nightly entertainment either. Kit couldn’t deny she wasn’t
As shocked surprise eddied through him Hal hardly knew what to say. Kit had told him he was ‘lovely’ and yet she clearly didn’t trust his motives. A thought that might explain why she was so uneasy about taking things further suddenly struck him.
‘You think I’m just the same as one of those low-lifes who used your mother then abandoned her. That’s it, isn’t it?’ He cursed out loud because he knew it was true.
‘No. Of course I don’t think that!’ Her mouth shaping a painful grimace, Kit folded her arms over her chest and dipped her head. The sudden movement caused her glorious hair to tumble forward onto her shoulders in a riot of silken burnished waves.
Hal sucked in a breath. The sight was so beautiful...
‘I know you’re not like them,’ she declared. ‘But I have to protect myself. There’s no one else looking out for me but me . I’ve got a reputation for being competent and reliable at the agency and I need a good reference when I leave you if I’m to get another job as good as this. Don’t you understand?’
Starting to feel a little calmer, Hal was thoughtful. ‘I’ve given you my word that you won’t lose this job, and if you see it through to the end of course I’ll give you a good reference...the best. I want to reassure you about that. But I can’t pretend it’s going to make me want you any less, Kit, or that you’ll stop thinking about that kiss we just shared.’
‘Okay.’ She smiled, but it was plain to see her expression was still guarded. ‘I’m flattered that you want me—I really am. I know that you could probably just pick up the phone and have any woman that you want. And I’m sorry if I offended you with what I said about you being—’
‘Horny?’ he finished helpfully.
‘Sometimes I’m a little too quick to speak my mind.’
‘Do you think I don’t know that by now?’
‘Anyway...’ Uncurling her leg from beneath her, Kit ran her hand over her hair, as if to tidy it, then positioned herself more comfortably against the cushions. ‘Why don’t we just finish watching the film? I was really starting to enjoy it.’
Hal’s strongly defined jaw clenched ruefully. ‘There’s something else I’d much rather do, but seeing as I’m a gentleman this time I’ll give you the prerogative of choosing the evening’s entertainment. Next time it will be my turn.’
‘If you’re no longer so keen on watching the film perhaps you might like a game of chess instead?’ The look she gave him was innocence personified. ‘But if we play I warn you I’m no push-over. I don’t take any prisoners. I play to win!’
His blood heated again, painfully reminding him of what he’d given up in deference to reassuring Kit that he was no ruthless playboy who believed it was his God-given right to take what he wanted. Lowering his voice, he remarked, ‘So do I, sweetheart. I don’t see the point of playing a game if I don’t come out on top. After all, being on top is what I do best.’
Hal couldn’t deny the sense of satisfaction that pulsed through him when her pretty cheeks turned revealingly pink...
* * *
Over the next few days Hal played the part of the gentleman he professed to be to the max. Gone was the teasing, provocative banter that Kit had come to love and expect, that suggested he was more bad boy than gentleman. A much more sedate, thoughtful man took his place. In fact he’d become so quiet that she fretted his leg wasn’t healing as well as it should be and that it was seriously bothering him. When she checked with him he always immediately denied anything was amiss and returned to the book he was reading, or to his study to work, with an expression that told her friendly conversation was off the agenda and he would prefer not to be disturbed.
There was no more talk of him choosing their nightly entertainment either. Kit couldn’t deny she wasn’t
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