Hidden Pleasures - Brenda Jackson [38]
She moved away from the window and placed her hands on her hips and his gaze was immediately drawn to that area of her body. He liked how she looked in that skirt and figured he’d probably like her even better without it. Without a single stitch on her body. Okay, he would admit he was an ass, without a lick of manners. Here she was mourning the loss of her mother and his mind was in the bedroom.
“I guess we need to see the rest of the place,” she said, lacking enthusiasm and reclaiming his attention. When she crossed the room to pass by him he got a whiff of her. Her scent had nearly driven him crazy on the drive over and it was playing havoc with his senses again.
There were two bathrooms, both of which he’d consider remodeling if the house was his. But it wasn’t. He recalled her reaction when he’d handed her the key and told her the house was hers. Of course he’d meant it because legally it was. But the look she’d given him told a different story. She’d no doubt figured he’d given it to her because of the terms of their agreement. She was so far from right it wasn’t funny.
“Thanks for having those boards removed, Galen. The view from every window is fabulous.”
The midday sun was pouring through the windows of every bedroom they passed and seemed to hit her at every angle. There was just something about a beautiful woman. Now they stood in the master bedroom. It was a little larger than the other bedrooms and it did have its own bath. Brittany was standing next to the bed. The king-size and oversize furniture seemed to take up most of the space, making it tight to walk around much. Just as well. It wouldn’t take much to tumble her onto that bed about now. It looked so inviting and she looked so damn enticing.
“Do you know what your mother did for a living?” he cleared his throat and asked, deciding to stay where he was standing in the doorway.
She looked over at him. “Mr. Banyon said she’d been a librarian within the public school system for years.”
He nodded. “That doesn’t surprise me. She was probably prim and proper just like you.”
She tilted her head and met his gaze. “You think I’m prim and proper?”
“Yes. Don’t you?”
She frowned. “No. I just believe a person should display good manners.”
He glanced around and then looked back at her. “And I’m sure you’re going to think I have atrocious manners when I say that I feel we’ve been here long enough and that I’m ready to go.”
“But we just got here. You could leave me for a while and return for me later.”
He could but he wouldn’t. He wanted her with him, if that didn’t sound crazy. It wasn’t that he didn’t have anything to do. He had Sniper to work on. But right now the only thing he wanted to work on was her. Tomorrow he’d probably feel differently and would give her a chance to come over here by herself to go through her mother’s stuff. But today he couldn’t handle her sadness any longer.
“That’s not our agreement, Brittany. I brought you here so you can check out the place and we’ve done that. It’s past time for lunch. Do you have a taste for anything in particular?”
He could tell from the expression on her face that she hadn’t liked being reminded about their agreement. “No, wherever you decide is fine.”
He was glad she wasn’t pouting or pitching a fit because they were leaving. There had been enough gloom for one day, and he wanted to take her someplace to put a smile on her face.
Chapter 10
An hour later they had returned to Galen’s home and Brittany was rubbing her stomach. “I can’t believe I ate that much. It’s all your fault.”
Galen chuckled. “It was my fault that you made a pig of yourself?”
“That’s not a nice thing to say.”
He rolled his eyes. “Okay, Miss Manners, it might not be nice but it’s true.”
She dropped down on his sofa. “Maybe next time you’ll think twice before taking me to an all-you-can eat place that serves barbecued ribs that fall off the bone.”
He shrugged. “Then I’m not a good man,” he said as if the thought didn’t bother