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For a moment, she wasn’t charmed. She refused to be charmed. Even by that lovely accent of his, and then she smiled, a very small smile, but he saw it.
“I’m simply trying to protect Alec from an accident waiting to happen.” Ella smoothed her hair back from her face thinking that when she last looked in the mirror she looked like a hedgehog, but it couldn’t be helped. “I imagine he has great homeowners’ insurance—you’d have to with a home that size—but there’s far less danger here in the cottage, to myself and the Sherbourne family antiquities.” She hesitated. “You aren’t his lawyer, by chance, are you?”
“No. Thank heavens.”
“You’re not corporate law?”
“I used to practice corporate law, but now I specialize in family law.”
“What is that here?’ she asked, thinking she should know it.
“Divorces. Child custody cases.”
Ella wrinkled her nose in distaste. “I would hate that.”
“I do.”
“Then why work in that area of law?”
“I’m good at it.” He shrugged. “And it pays well.”
“I would have thought corporate law paid better.”
“Generally speaking, yes, but I was spending more time in New York and Hong Kong than I was in the UK, and that grew old quickly.” His brow creased and he glanced toward the small kitchen off the entry. “Did you want a cup of tea?”
“Are you offering to make me a cup of tea in my kitchen?” she asked innocently.
“I moved in yesterday,” he reminded her. “My kitchen. But since this cottage means so much to you, you can stay. I won’t kick you out. There are four bedrooms upstairs. You are welcome to any of them, except the one I’ve taken.”
“I’d like to kick you out. I’m trying very hard to remove you from the premises.”
He flashed a grin, teeth white, and his sheer magnetism hit her all over again. “I know,” he said sympathetically, “but it won’t happen. You might be stubborn, but I’m more stubborn than you. I’ve been accused of being a rock. Immoveable. And since I’m unpacked, settled, and happy here, I’m staying.” He stood in the middle of the kitchen and gave her a quizzical look. “Tea?”
“Please.”
He smiled, a smile that did crazy things to her insides. She looked away, horrified he was doing it again, already. Making her feel warm and tingly. Making her pulse race. Making her yearn for more in the most ridiculous way.
But this time would be different.
This time she would not fall for his charm. She didn’t have to be cold and harsh, but she certainly couldn’t let down her guard, couldn’t go soft. “Are you absolutely certain you don’t want the guest wing? It’s really special.”
“Ah, yes, the original one, with unreliable plumbing and heating, and the Sherbourne ghost. Fortunately, I’m happy here. My bed is comfortable. The water takes a bit to heat, but the fireplace keeps things toasty downstairs. Best of all, no ghostly apparitions, either.”
“None at all?” Ella asked, glancing up at the narrow staircase that led to the second floor.
“I haven’t experienced any, but who knows what might happen in your room. Your English adventure awaits.”
“I suppose I should get settled.” Ella picked up her luggage and carried it carefully up the steep narrow staircase, quite sure that it wasn’t up to any modern building code. She opened the first door she came to, and it faced the woods, and the light was already gone, leaving the room in shadows.
She opened the next door, and this was much brighter, and it faced the main house. It wasn’t large, but the dark beams and square windows set in thick stone walls felt cozy. A thick comforter covered the bed, the linens a dusty rose with dark green embroidery. The bed’s pillow shams were also pink and green while the curtains framing the windows were dark green. The only chair in the room was upholstered in a soft pink chintz fabric. A small pretty landscape on the wall featured a little girl in a white dress and bonnet, her arms wrapped around the neck of a red spaniel. The room was charming but feminine. No wonder Baird chose the other room.
Ella went back downstairs for hot tea, and Baird poured her a cup from the teapot on the counter. A small plate of homemade scones and butter and jam were to be shared.
“Thank you,” she said, taking a sip of tea and then unable to swallow as she felt just how close Baird was. They were practically elbow to elbow due to the kitchen being so small and it felt just a little too intimate for her. “I might sneak back upstairs and take a bath.”
“Remember it takes time for the water to warm. Wait to undress until the tub is half full, otherwise you could freeze to death. I learned the hard way yesterday.”
She pictured him standing naked impatiently waiting for the water to warm, and the picture in her head made her blush. “I’ll keep that in mind,” she said, face hot. “Oh, and if you don’t see me up by six, could you please wake me? I’m supposed to join Cara for dinner.”
