Chapter 34
She probably thought he’d lost his mind as well as his pants.
As soon as he returned to his bedroom, Nic started second-guessing what he’d done, although his dick seemed convinced his new sommelier role was a good one.
It certainly required some attention, he decided, as he whipped off the apron map giving the Lake District’s fourth highest peak a whole new meaning.
He only hoped his behaviour would be taken as a sympathetic gesture rather than a creepy outburst. She had a good sense of humour – several times this week they’d gotten hysterical over something silly when doing their brainstorming.
Just last night, they’d constructed a kitchen orchestra and banged out ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ on the pots and pans, so he knew she delighted in having fun.
Sometimes, over dinner or during a walk by the lake, it felt like he’d known her forever.
He was aware from the way his body reacted to her lately that one small move could take them to a place they couldn’t come back from.
That’s what stopped him from marching down the corridor, knocking on her door and kissing her.
The moment they made out, he’d be hooked.
And they weren’t meant to be. She belonged here, under a blue silk sky, swimming in the deep.
He was a southerner with a failing company to take care of, who was triggered by water.
This wasn’t even his house and he’d have to get it on the market soon.
But the tension in his shoulders seemed to be travelling down to another part of his body.
He stroked himself with his hand, imagining hers wrapped around his hardening shaft.
Groaning softly, he thought about the willpower it had taken him to walk away just then.
In truth, not kissing Aria was requiring more and more effort each day.
As they’d worked together on the pitch to the councillor and shared details about themselves, it had become natural to sling his arm around the back of the sofa and rest his hand on her shoulder.
When they achieved something together, he regularly had a compulsion to hug her.
The bathroom incident was the biggest exemplification of their many near misses.
But still they were chaste, and their relationship stayed friendly.
Normally with a woman, things would have quickly escalated past a few drinks, some well-timed compliments and a cab ride back to his.
Basic, no-strings stuff. He smiled as he remembered Aria trying to sell him his own property, while sending his garage door into meltdown.
He’d been taken in by her lovely face and curvaceous body from the start.
Little did he know then how strong-willed she was and ready to stand up for what she believed in.
Aria was real. No diets, selfies or high-maintenance shopping trips.
She was a natural beauty unlike the last few women he’d dated.
He came when he thought of the moment her towel slipped. Hard and fast.
In the shower a few minutes later, he thought more about the unfamiliar situation he found himself in.
Living on his own for years, he wasn’t used to playing house.
Perhaps the novelty of having company was making him sentimental.
Perhaps seeing her breasts had gone to his head and made him giddy.
Or more likely, gone to his cock and made him horny. But was there something more here?
‘Am I falling for her?’ he asked himself as he pushed shampoo through his hair.
Real feelings? If so, he was in trouble tonight with alcohol and candlelight involved.
Stepping out of the shower, he threw on a clean white t-shirt, buttoned a cobalt-blue shirt over the top, adding well-pressed chinos and black shoes.
Straightening up his bed, he left the bedroom to give Aria a twenty-minute warning.
She wasn’t in the kitchen. When he didn’t find her on the veranda or the garage, he made his way to the guest room.
Knocking on the door, he listened against the wood before softly calling her name.
When she didn’t reply he turned the handle.
‘God in heaven.’
Her hair lay scattered across two pillows and her bare shoulders in her pink floral dress were only outdone by her chest that rose and fell with her breathing.
He felt himself getting hard once more against the seam of his jeans and his cock twitched further when she stretched out one arm and uncurled.
He bent down beside her, aware this was her bedroom, he hadn’t been invited in, and she was not his to touch.
He gently whispered her name, pushing a strand of her reddish-gold hair behind her ear.
Her lips were slightly open as she inhaled and exhaled.
With the lightest of touches, he traced a finger along the line of her jaw.
They’d worked so hard to get to know each other this week, but he was still keen to know more about this beautiful and complex woman who hid from the world in a tiny wooden den.
Remembering he had some detective work to do, he moved his nose to her neck and inhaled, exposing himself to a lungful of his own aftershave.
Smelling it upon her skin was hot. He chuckled softly at the thought of her perusing his lotions and potions, and went in to confirm the anti-perspirant theft lower down.
‘Why are you sniffing my pits?’ she cried, waking in a panic.
He sprang back. ‘I…just came to…tell you it’s almost showtime,’ he said, his voice tight with embarrassment. The apron stunt may or may not have evened things out, but now he’d gone yet another step further into creepy. ‘Ready to pull off being the happiest couple in the Lakes?’
She spoiled that idea by grumpily handing out instructions.
‘Beef’s ready to go but needs putting in the dish that’s warming in the oven.
The celeriac mash has been beaten to a pulp and needs to join it.
I’ll cook off the julienne carrots after the starter, which is set out on platters in the fridge.
Start poisoning her with the cheap wine immediately.
And no sniffing anyone’s armpits during dinner, please. ’
‘Yes ma’am. It’s like we are already married,’ he joked.