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I join in the fun. “Okay, maybe just a little. It’s not something I can easily forget, is it? Oh, and by the way, I must commend your cleaning skills. You’ve made this place look like a palace.”
“Why thank you. I do try.” He places a plate of food before me and pours me a coffee.
“Wow, this looks good,” I grin. “There’s only one problem: I’m not sure I should be eating it.”
“Why not?”
“My mother thinks I’m fat. She says I need to go on a diet.”
“Your mother needs her eyes tested.”
My heart melts at the compliment. “Do you think so?”
“I know so. Carly, you’re perfect just the way you are. I love your body; every single curve of it. If your mother thinks you’re fat then she needs her head as well as her eyes examined. Put it this way: if you lose any more weight, you’ll have me to answer to. I don’t want you becoming a bag of bones and losing that gorgeous derriere of yours. Speaking of which—did you put on the underwear I bought for you?”
“Of course.”
“Prove it.”
Rolling my eyes, I slide off the stool, flip up my dress and give him a little wiggle and a flash of my thong.
“Very, very nice,” he murmurs.
Lowering my lashes, I sit back down and shovel a forkful of bacon in my mouth. This guy could charm the knickers off a nun.
Smiling sweetly, Nick dishes out the rest of the food, and then he pulls up a chair and sits beside me at the island. As he picks up his fork, I shoot him a look. “You don’t have to do this, you know.”
He raises his eyebrows. “Do what?”
“Pretend to eat. I know you’re only humouring me, but really, you don’t need to. I know it’s not enjoyable, so just…don’t. I’m perfectly happy to eat on my own.”
Slowly, Nick puts the fork down. “Okay, if you’re sure. But I honestly don’t mind.”
I shake my head and take another mouthful of bacon. “I just want you to be yourself around me.”
We both fall silent as I launch a savage assault on my plate, clearing off three pieces of bread and butter in quick succession.
“What?” I ask, wiping my mouth.
“Nothing,” Nick smirks. “I told you before; I just love watching you eat.”
“I bet you think I’m a right pig.”
“Not at all. I love a woman with a healthy appetite.”
I smile and shake my head. Nick is incorrigible.
When I’ve finished eating breakfast, he clears away the dishes and begins washing up. Hopping down from my stool, I grab my handbag and head towards the door. “I’m just popping out for some fresh air.”
“Okay.”
I step into the hall and stride through the conservatory to an immaculately pruned private garden. For a second, I stall on the steps relishing a crisp breeze on my face. The sky is grey and powdery-looking. Glancing back toward the conservatory door, I double-check that Nick hasn’t followed me. Then, when I’m certain the coast is clear, I quickly rummage through my bag and pull out a cigarette. It takes me a few seconds to light because the wind keeps blowing out the flame. Finally, I succeed and take a few shallow puffs, closing my eyes as the nicotine whips through my system.God, this feels good.I’ve been absolutely dying for a cigarette all morning.
Hastily, I take a couple more puffs, then I stamp out the butt and reach inside my handbag for my compact mirror. I grimace at my reflection. Somehow I’ve managed to get lipstick on my teeth—again. As I try to rub it off, I see Nick reflected in the mirror. He’s standing at the conservatory door, watching me and frowning.
With a little shriek, I drop the mirror and clutch my chest like I’ve just had a seizure. “Oh my God! Nick, you frightened me. You really shouldn’t creep up on me like that.” Stooping down, I pick up the mirror from the grass.Dammit. The glass is cracked.“Well,” I continue, “at least I know the myth about vampires casting no reflection is rubbish. I just saw you clear as day.”
Nick doesn’t see the funny side. It looks as if I’ve been rumbled.
