‘I was led astray last night,’ Kate said, edging away from him so that he wouldn’t smell her morning-after breath.
‘You’re not accusing me, I hope?’
‘Oh, no – Josie. I was pretty smashed when I came in last night, and I guess I just crashed in here automatically. Itismy room.’
‘I know – perfectly understandable.’ Will seemed hugely amused. He was grinning at her like a Cheshire cat.
‘Sorry.’
‘Good Lord, don’t apologise!’ Will laughed. ‘I have no objection to finding a beautiful girl in my bed in the morning.’
He had called her beautiful! And the way he was looking at her made her feel he meant it. Kate’s heart was pounding so hard she was surprised that the duvet wasn’t lifting a foot in the air with every beat. She edged further away, terrified Will might hear it.
‘You’re going to fall off the edge if you’re not careful,’ Will told her.
God! How could he be so relaxed about it? She really ought to jump out of bed as quickly as possible, she thought. She didn’t want to give the wrong impression by lingering. But, at the same time, she didn’t want to risk flashing him – that would definitely give the wrong impression. She did a mental check of what she was wearing: last night’s T-shirt and – phew! – knickers. It could have been worse. Relieved, she wondered if Will was wearing anything. His broad, tanned shoulders and chest were all she could see over the duvet. God, he was gorgeous, and it was so amazing to be in bed with him – if only she could enjoy it. He was so close that she could feel the heat of his body. It was all she could do not to reach out and touch that taut chest or to run her fingers over the rough stubble of his chin.
‘Are you afraid your boyfriend will think this is Freudian?’ he asked teasingly.
Oh Christ, Brian! Kate panicked. She hadn’t even been thinking of him. ‘What time is it?’ she asked. ‘Maybe he won’t have noticed I’m missing.’
Will consulted the bedside clock. ‘Ten past nine,’ he told her.
‘Shit! He usually rises with the sun and does yoga.’
‘You’re fucked then,’ he said casually, eyes dancing. ‘Want to canoodle?’
‘No, thanks!’ Kate backed away until she was clinging to the bed by one bum cheek. She knew he didn’t mean it, but there was nothing she would have liked more, and she was terrified he’d see the longing in her eyes.
‘If you’re going to do the time, you might as well do the crime,’ he said, seductively. His blue eyes sent her an X-rated message that hit her right in the groin. Then he leaned almost imperceptibly closer. Kate thought he was about to kiss her.
‘Brian isn’t a Freudian,’ she babbled. ‘I’m sure he’ll understand it was just a silly mistake.’
‘Fair enough.’ Will threw back the duvet. To Kate’s relief he was wearing boxer shorts. He went to stand by the window and she admired the bunched muscles in his broad, tanned back.
God, Michelangelo would be so pissed he missed this, she thought dreamily, momentarily forgetting her troubles as she imagined Will gracing an Italianpiazza.She watched as he grabbed a pair of jeans and pulled them on.
He whispered something to himself that sounded like ‘Down, boy,’ as he pulled up the zip. ‘What?’ she asked.
‘Nothing.’
He turned back to the window, resting an arm above the casement, looking down into the garden.
‘Wow! Brian’s bendy, isn’t he?’
‘Is he out there? What’s he doing?’
‘Playing Twister with the kids – and I think he’s winning.’
No doubt he was using Twister as an excuse to show off his yoga moves, Kate thought.
Suddenly Will was laughing.
‘What happened?’
‘Helen just nobbled him – knocked him over as she went past.’
‘I’m sure she didn’t do it on purpose.’
