“Madge likes nothing more.” Tom laughed.
The conversation moved on to favorite dishes and dinner-party disasters. Madge was amusing, and her husband clearly doted on her-even though he confessed to hating oysters which Madge vowed was grounds for divorce.
As everyone laughed, Miranda felt a stab of envy. Even though her father had adored and indulged Flo, there’d never been this sense of kinship and shared laughter between her parents.
The arrival of a tall, dark-haired man who looked vaguely familiar interrupted her thoughts. But the respite proved to be short. The newcomer turned out to be none other than Callum’s brother, Fraser, whose sharp eyes assessed Miranda and missed nothing. Not the fact that his brother stood beside her, nor that his brother’s arm was behind her. His arched brows rose a little, but thankfully he only added to the hilarity in their discussions about food.
“What is your secret food passion, Miranda?” asked Madge.
“Chocolate,” she said. “Rich, dark and slightly bitter.”
“Sounds like Callum,” Fraser said with a sly grin.
Miranda didn’t dare glance at the silent man standing next to her. In an instant those mad moments in his home played through her brain like a movie in slow motion.
She became brutally aware of the gentle pressure of his hand resting in the small of her back. And blinked. Hard.
This was Callum Ironstone, for heaven’s sake. Petra’s almost finance. Her brother’s boss. Her sworn enemy. How could she allow such treacherous desires to consume her? How could she even be tempted to respond to his touch? And worse, to every breath he drew? Yet the touch of his hand on her back seemed so…right. What was
“I need to get back to the kitchen,” she said desperately, shifting out from beneath his hand.
“Don’t you dare say anything about a woman’s place,” Madge warned as Fraser looked as if he were about to comment.
He said, “I wouldn’t dare. Mother would send us to our rooms for voicing such heresy, wouldn’t she, Callum?”
“Without a doubt.” The laugh lines around Callum’s eyes crinkled, making him even more attractive.
Miranda escaped before she could be further seduced. Or, heaven help her, admit that she
Drat the man.
The long night was almost over.
Miranda had been clock-watching for the past half hour, waiting for the guests to leave as the medley of cheerful Christmas carols segued into light classics. But she still started when Callum came up silently behind her, invading the refuge she’d sought behind the tall Christmas tree in the lobby where she’d hidden in the hope of avoiding him.
A quick upward glance from where she knelt beside three crates revealed that he’d discarded his jacket, and the white shirt he wore was startling in the dim lobby.
“I’ve been looking for you.” Callum held out a glass of what looked like port. “You’ve done enough tonight, Miranda. Leave packing those glasses and take a break.”
She glanced at the dark liquid swirling in the crystal glass and pictured-too vividly-what had happened the last time she’d indulged in wine under his roof. Her pulse quickened, causing blood to rush to her head and a wave of dizzy desire.
“No, thanks.” Miranda fought to control her physical reaction. Port would only cause her defenses-already vulnerable-to crumble more rapidly. Earlier he’d promised to catch her later and talk about Adrian; no doubt that was why he had been looking for her. Not to seduce her-contrary to her wild imaginings.
He shrugged and took a sip of his wine. The lights of the tall Christmas tree overhead flashed, creating a surreal glow of silver, and for a moment she was riveted. His tie had been abandoned and the pulse in the hollow of his throat beat visibly.
She stared transfixed.
Then he surprised her.
“Tonight was a success. I want to thank you, Miranda.”
His eyes were warm, the blue muted, making her wish they’d met under different circumstances-that he wasn’t the man responsible for her father’s death.
“I only did what you employed me to do,” she said stiffly as he set his glass down on the white marble floor beside her. She ducked her head, determined not to reveal her impossible thoughts, and carried on stacking empty glasses into their crates, using the occasional ting of crystal as a warning bell to keep herself from falling under his thrall.
“No, you did far more than expected. The Christmas crackers were a success, and so were the edible Christmas tree decorations.”
His voice came closer and she spoke quickly, desperate to keep him at bay. “I thought your guests might like something to take home.”
“Madge Murray was raving about the chocolate angels.”
“Yes, I gave her extras.” She raised her shoulders and let them fall with what she hoped looked like a careless shrug. “My mother taught me how to make them when I was a little girl.” Flo had always had the ability to bake fairy-tale items; it was the ordinary things like lunch and dinner that were beyond her.
At the brush of Callum’s fingers under her chin, her head came up in a hurry. He pinned her under his ferociously bright gaze. As the Christmas lights flickered overhead, she imagined the glitter in his eyes revealed emotion. But the words he spoke negated that fancy.
“Her husband is one of our most important customers.”
The hope she’d glimpsed died. Of course, for Callum everything was always about work. Never about emotion. Or fairy tales. He was ready to marry for corporate convenience. Unlike her, he would never believe in love…or Christmas wishes. She tried not to let her disappointment show-and hated herself for wishing it had all been about so much more, and that the emotion she’d imagined she’d glimpsed had been real.
She drew away. “I’m glad you’re pleased.”
“Very pleased.”
“Good.” She got to her feet. “Now I’d better get these glasses to the collection point. The company I hired them from will be here soon to fetch them.”
Callum stared at the woman with frustration. He wasn’t interested in the damn dirty glasses. Why couldn’t she be one of those kittenish women who batted her eyelids and cooed her thanks? How he would revel being on the receiving end of her gratitude…
He took in the creamy skin, the soft, lush mouth and desire spiked through him.
Dark. Driving. Relentless.
Callum gave himself a mental shake. Not going to happen. Not tonight. Not ever. So he’d better get over this… this fascination she held for him.
Even Fraser had noticed.
Would he ever be able to get that night she’d spent in his bed out his head? Or stop thinking about how to get her back there and make love to her all over again?
He must be crazy.
Especially as she was making it clear as the crystal she was packing away that she had no intention of even dating him. All night she’d been running from him, apprehension in her eyes. And how could he blame her? He’d been reduced to using his company functions as a way to spend time with her.
Once the festive season was over it would be some time before he could set up catering engagements for her without arousing her suspicion. He would have no excuse to see her, not unless he took to frequenting The Golden Goose.
