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“It’s what we agreed,” she reminded him, swallowing past a throat that was suddenly constricted. “For good reasons.”

“Excellent reasons,” he agreed calmly. “But they don’t seem to matter now.”

“They do,” she promised, though in her heart of hearts, she was with him. It was hard to remember why they’d created such a strict set of ground rules.

“This could be confusing for Ellie,” she reminded him, at the last minute. “Neither of us wants that. She’s been through enough.”

“We could be honest with her.”

Chloe laughed softly. “Great idea. Do you really want to tell a thirteen-year-old that we’re having a short-term, no-strings, sex-only relationship?”

His eyes narrowed. “When you put it like that…”

She sucked in a breath, and instantly wanted to kiss him. More. To disappear into a room or broom closet with him…

“I’m going out for dinner,” she said, slowly, to remind herself as much as him. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

But she stood her ground and held her breath, hoping he’d say something that would change her mind. Only, he dropped his hand away a moment later, then took a step away from her, nodding slowly. “Okay, Chloe. You’re right. The rules are good. We need them. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He hesitated a moment. “Call if you need anything.”

“Promise.”

CHAPTER 5

“HOW DID YOU GUYS meet?” Ellie asked over tea the next morning, when the three of them were sitting in the living room. Chloe had brought her iPad and loaded up the Pinterest board she’d been creating all week.

It was an innocent enough question but Chloe’s gaze flew to Dimitrios before she could stop it.

“I went to an event in London; Chloe’s company had done the decorating. Everyone spoke very highly of her. I was impressed, and so I went to her office to hire her.”

Ellie nodded sagely. “I see.”

Chloe’s heart tripped so she wondered if somehow the teen did actually see something more than two adults who were professionally courteous to one another. They’d been so careful, though.

“Did you make those biscuits?” Ellie asked, turning her aquamarine eyes on Chloe with an unsettling focus.

“The gingerbread? Yep, sure did. I never buy them.”

“They’re delicious.”

“I know,” Chloe smiled.

“Can you show me?”

Chloe glanced at Dimitrios, this time, looking for approval.

“My mother was a terrible cook,” Ellie said, matter-of-factly. “One year, she tried to make the pudding but ended up setting the kitchen on fire. She didn’t bother again after that. Everything was always bought in.”

Chloe had the sense that she’d somehow failed the other woman. “You can buy some really good quality items,” she said. “It makes sense if cooking isn’t your thing. But I grew up in the kitchen, and holiday baking is my favourite kind. In fact, I refuse to restrict my gingerbread habit to December alone. These are a year ‘round treat in my home.”

Ellie’s lips flinched into a small flicker of a smile. “Where do you live?” she asked, cookie crumbs on the corner of her mouth as she spoke and chewed.

“London.”

“I presumed. Where abouts?”

“Ellie,” Dimitrios said. “We don’t need to interrogate Miss Merry, do we?”

Miss Merry. Her eyes flared wide at the formal sound of that, and the impact it had on her already-taut nerves. Desire flooded her system so she blinked away from him quickly, but not before a rush of heat pinked her cheeks.