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“A rogue duke? What a novel concept.”
His lips twitched. “I’d like to talk, if you’re available.”
I frowned. “Who are you and what have you done with Max? I’m sorry, His Grace, The Duke of Windermere.”
“Max is fine.” He could barely hide his half-grin.
I sighed and opened the door wider. “There’s no time like the present.”
He nodded and stepped inside.
“I’ll just put these in water.” I left him by the door and walked into the kitchen with the flowers in my hands. They really did smell gorgeous, and I was very fond of fresh flowers.
I just needed a vase.
“Second cupboard to the left of the fridge,” Max said from the doorway.
I glanced at him then opened the cupboard. As he’d said, there was a selection of vases. I chose the white ceramic one, filled it with water, then put the flowers in it. They were a perfect fit.
Did he cut them to size?
Hm.
What an enigma he was.
I carried the vase through to the living room where I set it on the desk next to my laptop. “What would you like to talk about?”
“I think you know.”
I nodded, turning around. He was already sitting on the sofa like he owned the place—which was fair, because he did. So… never mind.
“Ellie, I—”
“Please,” I said, clasping my hands in front of my stomach. “Do you mind if I speak first?”
Max held up his hands. “Go ahead.”
“Thank you.” I took a deep breath before I met his gaze. “You were absolutely correct in what you said yesterday.”
He blinked at me but made no move to interrupt me.
“I’m not going to stand here and beat around the bush or come up with some bullshit excuse for what you read. I did that yesterday, but a good night’s sleep is a real thing, and I’m a grown woman, not a child.” I bit the inside of my cheek. “Yes, the hero in my manuscript is based on you. The location is based on Windermere and the Greygarth Estate, and the library is absolutely the one in your private section of the house.”
Max nodded slowly.
“That is the first draft. It’s the bare bones. It’ll go through at least four rounds of revisions and edits before it ever sees the light of day. Any identifying features will be rewritten, and no real names will be used. The setting and the characters will become something else in my second draft.” I rubbed my hands across my forearms. “I do appreciate your apology and thank you for doing so. You didn’t need to.”
Another slow nod. “Can I speak?”
I hesitated, fighting a smile. Had he really just asked permission to speak?
I suppose I had said I’d like to speak first.
“Of course,” I replied.
“I can see how you might think I was taking the piss,” Max said slowly. “But I wasn’t. I didn’t think you liked me.”
“I don’t.”
