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‘You mean you don’t want anyone to look at you. Sweetheart, they’re going to be doing that anyway. You may as well look nice.’
She gave a shrug and began to search unenthusiastically through the contents of the wardrobe. It looked as if she’d over-packed for this trip, and brought enough clothes for a month. Lucas supposed that it gave her the option of picking out something to wear for the next day and then changing her mind at the last moment.
‘This, you mean?’ She’d put the top onto the hanger along with a pair of dark blue trousers, and twisted and knotted the scarf around the shoulders.
‘Perfect.’ Lucas grinned with approval. ‘You’ll look lovely.’
‘I don’t want to look lovely.’
‘And very professional.’
His words seemed to mollify her a little. She put the sludge-coloured outfit back in the wardrobe, hooking the new outfit over the top of the door, and Lucas heaved a sigh of relief. ‘I’ll hang this there, and think about it.’
She jumped as a quiet knock sounded on the door. Lucas stepped back instinctively, out of sight of anyone standing in the corridor, while she accepted a tray and sent the waiter away.
‘Plenty for two.’ She set the tray down on a small table by the window, smiling nervously. Lucas waved her into a seat and poured her a cup and she took a sip, watching as he collected the papers up from the bed into one pile.
‘How many times have you been through this?’ He sat down opposite her.
‘Too many. Each time I do it, it seems worse than the last.’ She passed him the cup and he took a sip.
‘Why don’t you leave it for tonight? Get some sleep and we’ll go through it together over breakfast when you’re fresh.’
She agreed just that little bit too quickly. ‘Yeah. You’re right. Thanks, Lucas.’
That was his cue to leave. And as soon as he did, she’d probably get that horrible outfit back out of the wardrobe and start fretting over her papers again until dawn broke and she realised that only coffee and good luck was going to get her through the morning. Lucas wasn’t going to let that happen.
‘I’m going to practise one of my new techniques on you first, though.’
* * *
The idea of Lucas and a new technique did the impossible, cutting through the heavy mess of worry that was lying on her chest like a stone. ‘What are you going to do?’
‘Wait and see. I want you to lie down on the bed.’ He indicated the spot where the pillows were piled up to form a backrest.
Lying on the bed for a new technique? And Lucas’s gorgeous smile, the one that she’d never been able to resist. ‘Can I take my tea with me?’ How dangerous could it be if you could drink a cup of tea at the same time?
He gave a nod and she picked up her cup and saucer, holding it in front of her like a defensive weapon.
‘You don’t need to worry.’ He chuckled.
‘What makes you think I’m worried?’ She tilted her chin at him defiantly, but the damage was already done. The dark glint in his eye, the sudden feeling that his bulk was looming over her set her cup wobbling slightly in the saucer, and Thea steadied it with her free hand.
He watched as she set her tea on the nightstand and slid onto the bed, folding her arms over her stomach. Then he sat down at her feet.
‘Close your eyes.’
Protesting would only make her look as if she thought something was about to happen. Thea squeezed her eyes shut.
‘And relax.’
‘I’m relaxed.’
He didn’t even bother to answer. Lucas’s soft chuckle told her that he knew full well that her whole body was as tight as a bowstring. When she felt his fingers brush against her bare toes, she started involuntarily.
He took hold of one foot, his touch light but purposeful. It was nice enough, but it was her head that needed to be worked on, not her feet.
‘Do you hav
