voice said at the back of her mind.
In an effort to distract herself, Faye served a large helping of balsamic-roasted vegetables onto Piers’s plate and a smaller helping for herself. She tried to direct the conversation toward a project nearing completion in San Francisco but Piers wasn’t having any of it.
“Let’s leave work at the office for today, hmm?” he said, spearing some food on his fork and lifting it to his mouth. “What do you think of the vegetables? Meredith uses a secret ingredient that she refuses to disclose to me. Maybe you can help me figure out what it is?”
Was he serious? Apparently so, judging by the expression on his face. She’d never really stopped to watch him eat before, but now, with a faint glisten on his lips and a rapt expression on his face, she was reminded all too much of how seriously he took other pleasures. Biting back a moan, Faye sampled some of the vegetables herself.
“Tell me,” Piers insisted. “What do you taste?”
“Well, balsamic vinegar, of course. And garlic. And...” She let the flavors roll over her tongue. “Rosemary. Definitely rosemary.”
“Yes, but there’s something else in there. It’s subtle but sweet. Meredith obviously uses it sparingly.”
Faye concentrated a little longer, closing her eyes this time as she sampled another mouthful.
“Honey!” she exclaimed. “It’s barely there, like you said, but I just get a hint of it before I swallow.”
Across the table Piers beamed at her. “You know, I’ve been trying to figure that out for the better part of two years. It’s been driving me crazy.”
“Really? That’s been the driving question behind everything you do?” Faye teased, laughing softly.
“You’re beautiful when you laugh like that. Actually, you’re beautiful all the time, but when you let go and laugh—” He paused, his face growing serious and his eyes deepening into dark pools.
“Stop it,” Faye insisted. “You’re making me uncomfortable.”
“I can’t help it, Faye. I have feelings for you. I want to talk about them. About you. About us.”
“The only us is the us that works together,” she said adamantly and carved a piece of meat to put in her mouth.
“I’d like there to be more than that. Wouldn’t you? Don’t you think we owe it to ourselves to explore what we shared back at the lodge?”
She chewed, swallowed and set her knife and fork down before looking at him. It took all her control to keep her response short and to the point.
“No.”
“Don’t you ever get tired of hiding from your feelings, Faye?”
“I’m just being pragmatic. Look, your track record with women speaks volumes to your inability to commit long-term, even if I was interested in anything long-term. Which I’m not. Ever.”
Faye looked at the skillfully prepared food on her plate and felt all appetite flee. She hated having to talk like this to Piers and fervently wished they’d never gone and complicated everything by having sex.
“That’s a shame. As to my track record, perhaps I’ve been searching for the one who has been under my nose all the time?”
“You’re being ridiculous,” she scoffed.
But deep inside a little piece of her began to wish she could reach out and accept what he was offering. She wondered what it would be like to belong to someone. To be a part of more than just one.
The monitor on the sideboard near the entrance to the conservatory crackled into life and Casey’s cry broke into the air.
“You’d better go and see to him,” Faye said.
Piers looked as if he wanted to say more to her but he couldn’t ignore the growing demands of the baby upstairs.
“Don’t you dare leave,” he said. “I’ll be right back.”
“I—”
“Don’t. Leave.”
And with that demand he rose and walked quickly to the doorway.
A few minutes later, through the monitor, Faye heard Piers enter the baby’s room. He made soothing sounds as he obviously picked the little boy up and tried to settle him. She felt as though she was eavesdropping on something precious and wished like crazy she could get up and walk away. That she could forget the man upstairs and the child he cared for. But she knew that both of them had somehow inveigled their way into her heart. She shook her head at her own stupidity. How had she let that happen? Why?
Casey had obviously soiled his diaper, and she could hear Piers gagging in the background as he cleaned the little boy up. Obviously he was going to be a while. Faye gathered their plates and took them through to the kitchen where she put them in the oven, which she set on warm. No need for cold dinner, she thought.
She went back to the table and played with her water glass, trying not to listen as Piers struggled through the diaper change. There was something about hearing her handsome, capable boss being so completely out of his element that really appealed to her. Her hand to her mouth, she tried to hold back the chuckle that rose from deep inside.
Eventually, Piers resettled the child and returned to the conservatory.
“I hope you washed your hands,” she teased.
“As if my life depended on it.” Piers shook his head. “I still can’t believe a baby can do that.”
Faye felt a smile pull at her lips but fought to hide it. “Just wait till he projectile v—”
“Don’t!” Piers barked, holding up a hand in protest. “Just don’t.”
Faye shrugged. “It’s not all roses, is all I’m saying.”
“I’ve discovered that,” Piers replied ruefully.
“I’ll get our plates,” she said, rising. “That’s if you’re still hungry?”
Piers pulled a face. “I guess I could still eat. Especially after Meredith went to all that effort.”
“Good choice.” Faye tossed the words over her shoulder as she went through to the kitchen to retrieve their meals.
“Thanks for keeping it warm for me,” Piers said as he picked up his knife and fork.
“It’s nothing.”
“You do that all the time. Did you know that?”
“Do what?”
“Diminish what you do.”
“Do I?”
Faye stopped and thought for a bit. She had to concede he was probably right.
“Why
