I shook my head, unable to speak. It was both the look of him and the whole sexy-note-thing that had me reeling.
“I’m… fine.”
He looked me over. “Lovely. I’m about to hop in the shower. I’m leaving you for a bit.”
“Oh, no. You aren’t rid of me so easily,” I said. “I will be accompanying you back. I am to sit in on the meeting with you.”
He looked at me, surprised, but a massive grin broke. “Well, alright.”
“I uh… got the note so… yeah,” I said.
“And?”
“I will text you,” I whispered.
He gave a cheeky smile and nodded. “Good. I promise to be on my best behavior.”
“Excellent.”
“This… whatever this is. Do this again,” he gestured.
I pulled my robe around me tighter and glared. “This is not for you. I didn’t ask to be here down the hall, Duncan. Ignore me.”
“Impossible,” Duncan said.
He dried his hair with the comically small towel. I noted his face needed a shave, but I preferred him with stubble.
Mandy, the housekeeper came by with a pile of towels. To my surprise she playfully threw two at him.
“Duncan, you are tracking water through the house! How old are you?”
“I am forever young, Mandy!”
“That’s what we’re trying to break you of. Isn’t that right, Miss Mills?”
“Yes,” I said.
“Well, I look forward to watching you try.” Duncan flirted very openly. The look he gave sent a shiver down my spine.
I followed Mandy to the kitchen. “I was just going to grab a coffee.”
“We made some already, Miss Mills,” she pointed.
A carafe of coffee sat waiting. These people knew everything about me. It was freaky.
“Are you feeling better?”
“Much better after some rest. My grandchildren got me so sick. Unpleasant, but hardly death-defying.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re better.” I poured a mug.
“And are you settled now?”
“I guess? Still feeling a bit odd about the room.”
“Nonsense! You need to get to know Natalie and Ed better. They are beyond the shadow of a doubt the nicest couple. Aswere Natalie’s parents. Lovely people. And lovely to everyone around here. Duncan doesn’t know how good he has it.”
I suspected he did. Duncan loved his family. That much I could tell. However, the chip on his shoulder he carried to impress them had the opposite impact to what it needed. It was my job to balance those impulses.
