Boss Meets Baby(129)

She was wearing a long tunic-style lilac shirt over matching loose trousers. Nonetheless, the silken cloth lovingly outlined her shapely hips and derrière as she reached up to the old-fashioned dresser for a mug. Mesmerised, Keir fancied the material was like a living rippling sea over the sensual island of her body, and a surge of pure lust gripped him with a vengeance. The impact was dizzying, yet straight afterwards his head cleared almost miraculously, and he secretly marvelled at how just the mere sight of this woman could effect such a dramatic change in him.

Before Georgia had come to Glenteign he had been angry and resentful at being forced to return to his family home, even though he’d always known that he would do his duty there. Mired in the past because of his surroundings, and the hurtful recollections triggered by his brother’s unexpected death, most— of Keir’s attention had been consumed by his situation. But now—now he found his mind transfixed— instead by the allure of this lovely woman…

Drawn by the pure rush of need that pulsed in his veins like one of the fast-flowing inlets that wound its way down through the Glens, Keir crossed the flagged kitchen floor to join her, walking up behind her without a word and sliding his arms around her waist.

‘Good morning,’ he greeted her softly, his voice deliberately lowered and his lips a mere half-inch from the tender place just behind her ear that smelled so divinely of her sweet erotic essence.

‘I was just going to make some tea,’ she said breezily, slipping from his arms as easily as though she were some silken will o’ the wisp. ‘Would you like some?’

Keir did not welcome the tumult of powerful rejection— that kept his feet rooted to the floor. Her moving away from him like that was not the scenario he’d anticipated,— and immediately his temper surfaced.

‘You should know by now that I only drink coffee in the morning!’ he snapped.

‘My mistake,’ she replied, unoffended and gave him a little half-smile. ‘If you want to sit down at the table I’ll make you some. Moira has already left to go grocery shopping in Dundee, so if you want breakfast I’ll make that for you too.’

Regarding his stony expression, Georgia wished she hadn’t been so hasty to free herself from his unexpected— embrace. His hard, masculine body had felt so good pressed up close to hers, and his warm, enticing— breath and the hypnotic blend of his aftershave— had whispered seductively over her skin. But the truth was that she hadn’t known how Keir would greet her this morning, after yesterday’s events, and she’d steeled herself for the possibility that he might be a little bit cool with her.

After all, she had rejected his invitation to go back to bed, and with hindsight he might easily have concluded— himself that it was better if they didn’t sleep together again. Plus, he had made it quite apparent that what they had was merely something fleeting, and— not something that heralded any right future for them both. Why else would he have told Georgia that the man she eventually ended up with would be lucky to have her?

‘I don’t want any breakfast. I’ll just have some coffee.’ Assessing her with an almost accusing glare, he— seemed to suddenly and chillingly assume his role of somewhat distant employer, and Georgia’s insides cramped in protest. ‘You can bring it into the study when it’s ready. I’ll be in there working.’

‘Keir?’

But he was already walking out through the door as Georgia called his name, and he did not bother to wait and hear what it was she had been going to say…

‘The dinner party on Saturday night…Did you do a final count of all the acceptances and inform Moira how many were coming?’

Hating the deliberately formal tone he’d adhered to all morning—as if she were truly just someone who worked for him and had never been remotely anything else—Georgia briefly licked her lips before turning in her chair to reply.

His handsome face was unsmiling, yet no less compelling for the frown that creased his brow. Keir’s annoyance was tangible.

‘It’s imperative that everything is right,’ he interjected. ‘Some of the “great and the good” from the local community are coming, and this is the first big dinner we’ve held at Glenteign since work on the gardens was completed. Apart from the curiosity and criticism that that in itself will provoke, you can be sure they’ll be scrutinising everything in the house with a fine tooth comb…From the silver plate decorating— the dining table to what kind of tissue paper we put in the bathrooms!’

‘There’s no need to worry. Everything’s been arranged. I got up early to go over it all with Moira before she went into Dundee shopping this morning, and— we’ll do a final check again tomorrow.’

‘And did you remember to tell her that the Dean likes his beef very rare?’

Georgia had already told him yesterday that she had. Now it was her turn to frown. She got the distinct feeling that he was spoiling for a fight. Was it solely because she hadn’t been as warm as she could have been earlier, when he’d embraced her in the kitchen, or was it something else?

‘I did. I told you—there’s nothing to worry about.’

‘I think I should be the judge of that!’

‘What’s the matter? Is your burn causing you pain? Why don’t you let me take a look at it and change the dressing?’