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When he found her at the table, bringing two steaming bowls, Jess let out a moan of pleasure. Rufus was right. Being away from work and out of her usual routine was messing with her body—she was absolutely starving. Thank goodness Rufus was here to remind her to eat, because left to her own devices she wasn’t sure that she would be able to think beyond her need to be close to him.
She only had a moment to thank fate that she had met him here. Now. Where they had strict boundaries in place, imposed by geography and the weather. Because if she’d met him at home, at a party, in a bar, she would have run a mile. She would have recognised their chemistry, how potent it was, and she would have known that she wouldn’t be able to handle it. But here, she knew she didn’t have to rely on her self-control to keep things simple. Circumstances would mean that she couldn’t fall deeper into this than she could pull herself out. Circumstances made this safe. Made Rufus safe. Though when she thought about it, it wasn’t Rufus she had to worry about. It was her own mind, her own heart, that she had to be careful of. But here they had a built-in escape route. She didn’t have to keep her defence guarded, because this wasn’t going to last more than a few days, whatever happened. Which meant that she could sink into tonight—whatever adventures it brought—with no reservations.
And she was going to positively dive into this pasta. Was Rufus so intent on feeding her up because he had big plans for her tonight? If so, she was totally on board with that. He should start mainlining carbs himself, because all this thinking time they were giving themselves was helping her come up with a long, detailed list of everything she wanted to do with him.
‘This is incredible,’ she said, taking her first mouthful of pasta. ‘How did you knock this up so quickly?’
‘It was in the freezer. I cheated. I told you that food’s part of the deal. Sometimes I come in and do a supper club thing, sometimes I just stock the fridge and freezer, depending on what the guests want.’
‘Well, I don’t know which one of you I love more right this minute. Lara for asking you or you for cooking it.’
‘I am fully prepared to take the credit,’ Rufus said with a smile that seemed slightly strained. Was it because she’d said the L word? Surely he couldn’t read too much into it when she’d dumped him into the same category as her best friend. It was the same sort of simple, platonic love that she’d feel for anyone who cooked her a meal this delicious. She decided to take a large sip of wine, and hope that the atmosphere eased without her having to address the issue head on.
They gradually eased back into small talk as the pasta in her bowl rapidly receded, and by the time she eventually laid down her spoon and fork he was back to giving her long, heated looks that made her want to start tearing off items of clothing. His. Hers. She didn’t really care, as long as some garments started hitting the floor fast. He met her gaze and smiled.
‘I know exactly what you’re thinking,’ Rufus said. She thought for a second of telling him he couldn’t possibly read her mind. If it wasn’t for the fact she knew that what she was thinking was written all over her face.
‘And...so?’ she prompted, hoping that his mind-reading abilities extended to giving her exactly what she wanted.
‘Pudding first,’ Rufus said, and, although she had been hoping to skip straight past it, if the dessert was anything like as decadent and rich
and delicious as the main course, it would be worth putting their evening on hold for, just for a few more minutes. No longer, though. She was still hungry. And not a saint.
‘Shall we take these through with us?’ Rufus asked, pulling a couple of chocolate puddings from the Aga and turning them out into bowls. Thick chocolate sauce oozed from their centres and ran down the sides, settling in a pool of rich, melty goodness, so delicious-smelling that it was enough to wipe any disrobing plans she’d had clear from her brain. Well, for as long as it would take to devour that pudding.
She snagged the glasses and wine bottle from the table while Rufus brought the pudding, and then she burrowed into the blanket nest that they’d abandoned earlier. Rufus handed her the pudding and a spoon, and she couldn’t even wait until he was sitting beside her before she took that first delicious mouthful.
She moaned with pleasure, and by the time she opened her eyes Rufus was sitting next to her with his eyes full of intent.
‘I think I’m just going to eat this until midnight.’
‘I’m not sure I’m that chuffed about being replaced by a pudding.’
‘Well, you made the pudding. So it’s not like you’re not entertaining me.’
‘And yet I can think of ways I’d rather be doing that.’
‘And yet... Christmas Eve, anticipation, et cetera.’
He lifted his spoon to his mouth, and she watched, enraptured.
‘You’re right, though. If we’re going to resist temptation, this is as good an alternative as I can think of.’
‘Amen to that,’ Jess said, loading up her spoon again.
She sank deeper into the sofa cushions as Rufus reached for the remote. ‘Shall we hit play?’
‘Mmm,’ Jess agreed, her mouth still full of chocolate. Rufus laughed as he pressed play and the first notes of the opening credits rang out of the sound bar under the screen.
Jess’s spoonfuls of pudding grew smaller and smaller, eking out the sensual pleasure contained in the bowl for as long as possible. And—she shot a sideways look at Rufus—perhaps delaying the moment when they would both have their hands free.
The great hall was lit with just the sparkling lights from the tree and a few candles on the sideboard, one of which must be responsible for the delicious spiced winter berry scent that was currently diffusing around the room.
When her bowl was scraped clean, and her spoon licked of any trace of chocolate, she looked up and found Rufus watching her again. Amused.
‘I was worried for the pattern on the bowl.’
‘If it had tasted as good as the chocolate did, it wouldn’t have survived.’
