“Oh, really? Would you put that above something likeInterstellar?”
We discuss our favorite movies and argue good-naturedly about what should take the top spot, and when we’re done and I’ve eaten all my toast, he takes the plates and mugs out to the kitchen before coming back and pulling me into his arms.
“I’m so sorry about earlier,” I say, snuggling up to him. “I was having such fun, washing you.”
He chuckles, stroking my back. “I should have listened to your warnings about the hot water.”
“Sometimes I think the cottage does it on purpose, for a joke.”
He smiles, then lifts my chin and kisses me. “We’ve got all day,” he murmurs. “And anyway… I’m just enjoying being with you. I don’t mind what we do.”
“So… you don’t want to have sex again?” I tease.
His lips twist. “I didn’t say that. But let’s wait a while and make sure your headache has gone. Let’s do another top five.”
“Okay. Top five sex positions?”
That makes him chuckle, and I smile. He looks completely different when he laughs, all his cares and worries momentarily disappearing. I don’t want to make him cynical or angry or bitter. I want to be the one to make him happy all the time. I just wish I could think of another way to do it that didn’t involve lying to him.
Chapter Sixteen
Caesar
We spend the next few hours in bed as the sun slowly rises. I want to make sure Maddie’s head is better, and I’m also enjoying being cuddled up and just talking with her.
I remember the guitar in the corner of the living room, and when she admits she plays, I retrieve it for her and beg her for a song. She’s embarrassed at first, but then she starts playing, and my jaw drops. Although she just strums simple chords, her voice is folksy but beautiful, singing sweet lyrics about life up in the hills of the South Island.
When she’s done, I say, “I don’t know that one.”
“It’s mine,” she says shyly. “I wrote it last year.”
“You wrote that?” I’m astonished. I can hold a tune, but that’s as far as my musical talent goes.
She wrinkles her nose. “It’s just a simple folk song.”
“You’re a woman of many talents, aren’t you?” I say softly.
She puts the guitar down and turns back to me, sliding her arm around my waist. “I prefer your talents.” She strokes her hand down my back.
“They are many and varied.” I nuzzle her neck. “Which ones would you like to sample today?”
“All of them, please. I want to make the most of you while I’ve got you.” She kisses me then, pressing up close to me, her warm body yielding to mine.
I kiss her back, but her words replay in my mind as my lips move across hers. All morning, I’ve been thinking about what happens next, both in business and then, as a result, in my personal life.
It’s become clear to me that this isn’t enough. It’s early days, and we don’t know each other well, but I want more. Ilike her. I like her sense of humor, her intelligence, and the way she looks at me, with desire mixed with a little surprise, as if she can’t quite believe I’m into her. I felt a fierce swell of protectiveness when she wasn’t well. I want to make her feel better. I want to make her come again. I just… want her.
So I’ve been thinking hard about what I’m going to say to my father and the board when I go back, about finding a way we can work with the Rutherford Group without leaving ourselves exposed. I think I’m getting there. And if I was to pull that off, it might… just might… mean Maddie and I could have a future.
And then she goes and saysI want to make the most of you while I’ve got you. Obviously, I’ve made it clear I’m not interested in Tom’s proposal, so she’s probably just doubtful I’ll change my mind. But I feel a momentary flare of panic. I thought I’d lost her after the ball. Then I found her. I don’t want to lose her all over again.
Well, the future is always shrouded in mist, and nothing is certain. It’s pointless to stress about anything over which I have no control. All I can do is show her how I feel and do my best to work things out business-wise.
“How’s your head?” I ask, moving back a little, concerned.
“The Panadol helped. It’s not too bad at all,” she says.
“You’re sure?”
