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It was enough to have her snapping back to attention, and she took the proffered fork from him and somehow guided it to her mouth.
‘Mmm...’ The sponge was so light, the cream like silk, and there was a burst of fresh strawberry on her tongue, both sweet and sharp. She was probably biased, but when her mouth was clear she said, ‘This is the nicest cake I’ve ever tasted.’
‘Really?’
He said it in that dubious tone Mary was coming to recognise, and she watched as he picked up the other fork and swooped in for a taste.
She couldn’t help but stare.
Goodness, he was beyond handsome.
Those eyes were stunning, with thick, dark brows that framed them perfectly. She scanned his features, both in an attempt to find fault and, more honestly, to preserve this image of perfection, from the sculpted cheekbones to the strong unshaven jaw. And as for that mouth...
Mary was suddenly grateful that there was room in her stilettos for her toes to curl!
It was plump and open, and she watched that perfect cake disappear behind those perfect lips, leaving a slight smear of cream on the top one.
Oh, help.
She was beyond turned on, and it was such an unfamiliar feeling that she didn’t know how to sit with it and just let it be. So distracted was she by the thrum of her veins beneath the grey tweed dress that she found herself mirroring him—licking her own top lip as he did the same.
Costa seemed a touch confounded as he went back for another taste. ‘It is actuallyverynice.’
‘You sound surprised?’
‘I am,’ he agreed. ‘I really don’t have a sweet tooth.’
‘I’ll have to remember that for future ref—’ Her voice, which had gone all husky, stopped short.
Costa glanced up sharply. Yes, sharply. BecausesweetMary had just delivered a stunning and rather unexpected flirtation.
Rarely did flirting sideswipe Costa—he was an expert in it, after all. But he found that his guard was suddenly up.
The flush that had returned to her cheeks was now spreading down her neck, and it was not born of embarrassment or awkwardness. And her pupils were as big as the plate of cake they shared.
Well, not quite... But Costa recognised naked lust when he saw it.
Just whowasthis woman? In the space of an hour he had blown up long-held business plans, offered her a job, shared a birthday cake, and almost convinced himself that she was an innocent in this game called life.
It would seem he had been duped, for her eyes told him there was something going on beneath her wide-eyed façade. He rarely felt rarely played when it came to seduction, but she might just be a master at it.
‘There’s no need for you to keep a record, Mary,’ Costa said in rebuttal, ‘given that we won’t be seeing each other again.’
‘Of course.’
All the cake was gone now, and this time when she reached for her purse he didn’t stop her, though he did make himself stand.
‘I’ll walk you out.’
‘Thank you.’
He knew she must have felt his sudden pulling back and, despite her inexperience, had understood why. The confusing part was that her flirtation had been unintentional and it seemed to have unsettled them both.
Yes, both.
Costa had been born flirting, and was rather certain he would take that skill to the grave. But tonight he really had been trying to do the right thing.
‘Goodnight, Mary.’
