Page 39 of Wife by Agreement

'I suppose you think I should admire your self-restraint?' she said, running the peeled vegetables under the cold water.

'Not really. I've never been an advocate of mixing business and pleasure. I've seen too many romances between colleagues go sour.'

'I didn't think there were enough women to go around,' she responded waspishly. The implication that he might have accepted Miranda's overtures if they'd met under different circumstances really made her hackles rise.

'Did I say all those relationships needed one of each sex?' His grey eyes sparkled with amusement at her shocked expression.

'I thought our relationship was a business one,' she challenged, responding to his patronising amusement with belligerence. She always felt at a disadvantage when something reminded her of how unsophisticated she must appear in his eyes. 'We've got the contract to prove it.'

'Marriage lines—most people have those.'

'I was thinking more of the prenuptial agreement I signed in triplicate.'

'Does it bother you that much? You didn't have any objections at the time.'

'I appreciate you have to protect yourself against gold-diggers.'

His brows drew together at the bitterness in her voice and his grey eyes raked her face with a shrewd expression. 'You're far too naive to be a gold-digger.'

'Is that a criticism?' she snapped.

'An observation. I know you a little better now than then.'

'Carnally, you mean, I suppose?' She literally bit her tongue—she sometimes forgot that Ethan was an expert at making people say things they didn't intend to. His clever mind made thumbscrews obsolete.

"That too,' he agreed. A tiny shiver ran down her spine as she intercepted the sensual appreciation of his narrowed glance. 'Did you know you just put the peel in the pan and the potatoes down the waste disposal?' he enquired with interest.

'It's a new recipe.'

His lips twitched but his expression remained solemn. 'The results should be...interesting.'

'Actually, I'm quite a good cook. I've never been able to afford expensive ingredients but I learnt all the basic techniques.'

'You're very quick at getting the hang of..."basic techniques". It's something I noticed straight away.'

The innocent expression in his eyes didn't fool her for an instant. 'If you don't believe me, I'll prove it to you. I'll cook you dinner.'

'I do believe you, but I accept the offer,' he responded promptly. 'We'll make a date.'

'Well, that should give me a good couple of months to prepare,' she observed drily.

'Are you suggesting I neglect you?'

'I don't need entertaining.' She bit her lip—the last thing she'd wanted to imply was that she felt like a neglected wife. Their relationship might have changed, but not that much. 'I just think you work too hard.'

'Maybe you're right,' he mused thoughtfully. 'Can you be free for a couple of hours tomorrow morning? I needn't be in chambers until after lunch.

'Why?'

'Wait and see.' He helped himself to another piece of raw carrot and she could see she'd have to be satisfied with these enigmatic words.

CHAPTER SEVEN

'WHO lives here?' Hannah asked. Ethan had explained that the Palladian mansion they had entered had been divided into four palatial apartments.

'A friend.'

The door opened onto a vast, modern, furnished open-plan living space. 'An unmarried friend,' she observed, looking at the monochromatic decor, leather and chrome. Someone who didn't feel the need to remain faithful to the period feel of the house, obviously.

'How did you know?' Ethan asked curiously.

'It might as well have a notice saying "Boy's Room",' she whispered, touching the sharp corner of a head-high metallic sculpture. 'Whatever gave you the idea I'd want to visit your friend, Ethan—especially one with such a questionable taste in art?' Was this his idea of a treat?

'Don't worry, he's not at home.'

"Then why are we here?'

'Come this way and all will be revealed,' he promised enigmatically as he caught hold of her hand.

Trotting to keep up with him, Hannah allowed herself to be led over acres of deep white carpet and down several shallow flights of stairs to wide double doors, which Ethan opened with a flourish.

'Wow!' she said, blinking.

'What do you think?'

'I think it's decadent and splendid,' she breathed. 'I sort of expect to see Roman ladies...' she said softly, looking around the mosaic-tiled pool room with wide-eyed appreciation. With the gentle trickle of the waterfall and the ceiling-height frescoes, it was all incredibly over the top.

'Slipping off their togas—you see that too?'

She laughed at the lascivious grin on his face. 'Why did you bring me here, Ethan?'

'Why does a person usually come to a pool? I'm going to teach you to swim.'

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