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'Nine o'clock,' he said as though everyone was up by then.
She brushed back a lock of hair from her face. 'I haven't even showered.' Whereas he looked as fresh as a daisy.
'No?' He considered her with warm eyes. 'You look great to me. I like my women tousled and sexy.'
She probably looked as sexy as if she'd been pulled through a hedge backwards. Beth stood aside. 'Come in,' she said reluctantly. 'I'll put the coffee pot on.'
'No need.' He followed her into the cottage and then took her into his arms before she could protest, kissing her in such a way she woke up—fast. It was a nice way to wake up.
Then she was free again and he went through to the kitchen, calling over his shoulder, 'The croissants are warm and I've brought homemade gooseberry preserve and blue¬berry jam from a shop in the village, so hurry up. I'll put the coffee on.'
Once in the bathroom, Beth showered in sixty seconds flat. She'd taken her bra and pants and a thin sleeveless dress in with her and, after dressing, she quickly brushed her hair and looped it into a high ponytail on top of her head. It'd have to do. If he wanted a fully coiffured, perfectly made-up female he shouldn't arrive unannounced.
When she walked through to the kitchen it was clear from the look on Travis's face that he didn't want any of those things. He smiled at her, a slow sexy smile, before saying, 'You're beautiful, you know that, don't you? Even with mud all over your face that first time I saw you, I knew you were beautiful.'
'I don't think that was mud, Travis,' she said drily.
He grinned. 'I was being polite.'
'Right.' She was determined to keep things light and un¬complicated. Survival technique. She glanced at the tiny breakfast bar, which was covered with plates of exotic-looking cold meat, several cheeses, cold salmon, fresh fruit, different types of rolls—still warm, if the smell was anything to go by—little boxes of cereal and a jar of honey, as well as the croissants he had mentioned. Her eyes widened. 'You brought all this?' It was a veritable feast. .
'Courtesy of the wonderful delicatessen in the village. The honey is from their own bees, by the way, and it's the best I've ever tasted.' He indicated two trays he had set, complete with glasses of orange juice. 'I thought we'd eat alfresco. Come and fill your plate and we'll take it into the garden.'
Beth found herself rebelling against the way he had taken over. Nodding her head at the coffee pot, she said, 'I'll just have a coffee for now, thanks. Give my stomach a chance to wake up properly,' she added pointedly.
'Fine. I'll see to it.'
He was so unconcerned that Beth immediately felt churlish. She glanced at Harvey, who was sitting ramrod straight, his whole being focused on a bag on the draining board. 'What's the matter with him?' she asked in surprise.
'He knows there's a knuckle bone in there.' Travis smiled his slightly lopsided smile. 'I'm not above bribery and corruption.'
'You don't need to try with Harvey,' Beth said flatly. 'I think he already prefers you to me.' She wasn't joking.
'I wasn't talking about Harvey.' Travis had been pouring two mugs of coffee as they'd spoken and now he gave Beth hers, adding, 'Go out into the garden and I'll bring the bone for Harvey to eat while we drink our coffee.'
With an ecstatic Harvey gnawing on a huge bone, which had enough meat left on it to feed a family of four, Beth tried to concentrate on anything other than the closeness of the big male body sitting next to her in the warm sunshine a minute later. The little wooden bench was just right for one but def¬initely on the cosy side for two. Travis's thigh was pressed against hers and she could feel the warmth of his muscled flesh through the thin material of her dress, his arm out¬stretched at the back of her along the wooden seat bringing her into the circle of his body even though he wasn't overtly touching her.
The coffee was scalding hot but she sipped at it neverthe¬less, trying to dispel the vibrations pulsating from the core of her. Pointless to tell herself she could control the effect this powerful sexual chemistry between them had on her. When he was near like this reason went out of the window. Using Harvey as an excuse, she bent down and stroked the dog's rough fur, earning herself a quick doggy grin and lick of her hand before he went back to the business in hand.
'Good natured animal, isn't he?' Travis said above her. 'Some animals growl if they're touched when they've got a prize. Worried it's going to be taken away, I guess.'
'I could take anything away from Harvey,' Beth said quietly. 'He trusts me.'
'How long have you had him?'
