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‘Testing each other is the quickest way to learn this stuff. Then we can go out and start putting it all into practice. In public.’
The thought of actually appearing in public as his girlfriend made panic skim across her skin like a stone. She glanced across to where he sat, lounging lazily in an armchair. Even dressed casually, in a faded T-shirt and jeans, he radiated both superiority and authority—the sort of undefinable power that went hand in hand with being an alpha male.
Her breath crowded in her throat as his gaze wandered casually over her face, down over the long white hippyish dress she had bought on holiday with David last year.
But what about her? She hardly qualified as a member of the elite. She had no job, no money and right now a future that didn’t even really belong to her. Changing her clothes wasn’t about to change any of those facts.
She lifted her chin. But why should she change, anyway? She wasn’t ashamed of who she was or where she came from.
‘Good,’ she said, with something of her usual spirit. ‘The sooner we can get on with this charade, the sooner it will all be over. I just wish it didn’t feel so much like school.’ She sighed. ‘It reminds me of cramming for exams.’
‘It does?’ he said slowly, giving her one of his cool, blank looks. ‘Interesting. I wouldn’t have had you down as the swotty type.’
His green eyes were locked on to hers, taunting her. She opened her mouth to protest and then closed it again. It would be so gratifying to tell him that she’d been an A-grade student. That the library had been her second home. But she didn’t think there was much chance of convincing him.
Mostly because it wasn’t true.
‘I suppose you were the top of the class?’ She felt her cheeks grow warm as he surveyed her steadily.
‘If you mean I worked hard, then, yes. But I made sure I had plenty of energy left for...extracurricular activities.’
He gave her a slow, suggestive smile that curled like smoke around her throat. Her heart was banging high up in her ribs and, swallowing, she forced down the traitorous heat rising up inside her.
‘Fascinating though it is to hear about your school days, we should probably press on,’ she said stiffly. ‘I might just get a glass of water first.’
And, standing up, she stalked across the room and into the kitchen.
Rollo watched her leave, his groin hardening as his gaze locked on to the swaying hips beneath her flimsy dress. Clearly, despite having gone shopping, she was determined to wear her own clothes when they were at home.
He shook his head, exasperated by her need to make a stand, and yet part of him—the part of him that would have dug in his heels in exactly the same way—couldn’t help admiring her.
That didn’t mean there wasn’t plenty of room for improvement, he thought caustically. Not least in her laissez-faire attitude to the business of becoming his wife. Maybe it was time to remind her of what was at stake here...
In the kitchen, Daisy stared blankly at the gleaming whi
te cupboards. Her mind was tumbling, but that was nothing to the chaos of her body. Her legs felt shaky and a dark, dragging ache like a bruise was spreading out inside her.
Why did he have this effect on her? Or rather, why still? Back in his office, she’d put it down to a combination of adrenaline and heightened emotion. So why was it happening now?
Taking a glass from one of the cupboards, she turned on the tap, watching the water splash into the stainless steel sink. If only she could slip away down the plughole too, she thought dully, filling her glass. If only she could escape so effortlessly.
But who was she escaping from? Rollo or herself?
‘There’s bottled water in the fridge, if you’d prefer. Still and sparkling.’
She tensed, her heartbeat stalling in her chest.
Not him. Not here and definitely not now. She wasn’t ready.
She’d been hoping for a few much-needed moments alone to pull herself together, to talk some sense into what supposedly passed as her brain. But of course, as with everything else in her life since Rollo had walked into it, her hopes were subject to his will.
Turning, she felt her breath catch fire in her throat. He was standing in front of her, closer than she’d thought he would be...so close she could see the flecks of bronze in his eyes.
He was too close for comfort.
Only time would show if it was too close for her self-control.
She smiled tightly. ‘No, I’m fine with tap.’
