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Avery
Hugh is adorable when he's shocked. I don't really drink tea through a straw, but I do enjoy teasing him—more than I should. Though I never flirt with clients, I think I might've done that a moment ago, accidentally. He's much more relaxed at home, which will help me get through to him, but it also makes him far more appealing. I can understand why women love Hugh. He has an easy charm that seems completely natural, like it's embedded in his DNA.
Hugh finally lifts his gaze to mine. He gives me a wry smile, shaking his head, then turns toward the cabinets above the counter. Bringing out a box of biscuits, he carefully arranges several of them on a small plate.
While he's doing that, I survey his flat from the comfort of my stool. This is a luxury apartment, for sure, but that's no surprise. The kitchen features a marble bar that also serves as an island, plus a matching marble countertop. The whole place has a modern cream-colored palette, though the lower cabinets are a pale gray. The living room features built-in dark-wood shelving along one wall, but the rest of it sticks to the off-white theme, including the sofa.
But the bathroom… Whoa, mama, I could live in there.
I'd gone through the bedroom to reach the bathroom, so I got a good look at the huge bed Hugh sleeps in as well as the floor-to-ceiling windows with gauzy drapes. But the bathroom itself was what blew me away. Two marble sinks. A toilet encased in marble. Huge storage cabinets made of a pale wood. The towels hanging on the matching wood racks felt as soft as silk. The most stunning feature is the shower, which has no doors. The marble stall stands completely open while five showerheads occupy various spots on the three walls. Natural light pours through an adjacent window, muted slightly by tree branches outside.
Holy cow. I might sleep with Hugh just so I can use his shower.
No, I won't have sex with him. That was a casual thought, not an ardent desire.
Lord Sommerleigh places the plate of biscuits on the bar between our cups of tea. Then he saunters around to this side of the island and sits on the stool beside mine. "Now remember, darling. Dunk the biscuits. Don't drown them."
"What if I want to eat them dry?"
"That's not the proper British way." He daintily dunks a biscuit into his tea and bites off a small chunk. After chewing that, he takes a sip and repeats the process. "That's how it's done."
"No sugar?"
"I prefer my tea with milk only." He smirks at me. "But I have never seen anyone drown Earl Grey in sugar the way you do. Still want that straw?"
"No, I was kidding about that. But I honestly do love loads of sugar." I dive a biscuit into my tea and dunk it vigorously several times before I stuff the whole thing in my mouth. While still chewing, I say, "Have I shocked you again?"
"Revulsion would be a more appropriate word for it."
Now that I have him relaxed, it's time to start the inquisition. "So, tell me about the Duke of Wackenbourne."
"What about him? We're not mates. I met the man once."
"Yes, I know all about that. He crashed a garden party at Sommerleigh and slugged you in the gut, then punched you in the jaw. Your mother showed me a photo of your bruised face."
"It wasn't as bad as it looked. Wackenbourne shouted obscenities at me after that, and fortunately, he left without assaulting me any further."
"The Duke is in the House of Lords, right? In Parliament?"
"Yes."
"That means he has connections and power."
Hugh gives me an annoyed look. "There are over seven hundred members of the House of Lords. He's just another wanker with a seat in Parliament. No more or less powerful than most of the other members."
"Sure, but he hates you. The Duke has used his influence to try to ruin you."
"Ruin me?" Hugh chuckles, but it's a bitter sound. "I've done that smashingly on my own. What he's done is merely the icing on the cake."
"Are you ready to tell me about Scotland?"
He snaps a biscuit in half and tosses the pieces into his tea where they float on the surface. "Scotland is a region to the north of England and is part of the United Kingdom. People there love plaid and often wear kilts. They also enjoy haggis and bagpipe music."
"That's not what I meant, and you know it. Please tell me what happened the last time you visited Scotland."
"Bugger off, would you?"
He leaps off his stool and stalks over to the windows to glare out at the trees, shoving his hands into his pants pockets.
