try it before casting judgment?’
Ellie met his challenge with a tilt of her chin and kept her chin high as he relentlessly watched her take first bite of the light curry.
‘Okay, best microwave meal ever,’ she mumbled, even though her mouth was still half full. There was no point trying to lie in the face of that piercing scrutiny.
He laughed softly and started in on it too.
Dinner passed too quickly because it was so damn delicious. She complimented his chef several times over—to his amusement. Conversation remained safe—restaurants in Wellington, cafés on the wine trail. After, she helped him carry the dishes back to the bench, helped him rinse and stack them into the machine. And all that time she refused to let herself think on the fact that the guy was good company.
But he was. Really good company. And he was seducing her.
As that thought finally wriggled its way to the front of her brain she glanced at her watch. ‘What time do we set out tomorrow?’
‘After breakfast, which will be whenever you wake up. There’s no real rush.’
‘Well, I should probably—’
‘Sit down on the sofa and look at the view,’ he interrupted with that wolfish manner. ‘It’s nowhere near bedtime. We need to talk some more.’
‘Don’t you have work to do?’ she asked, desperately aware she needed to get away from him. The longer she was in his presence, the more addled her brain became. It wasn’t right that someone could exude such intoxicating heat. And now, as he walked her to the lounge with the amazing view and the sofas that were made for snuggling on, memories tormented, making her all the more susceptible.
‘I always have work to do,’ he answered carelessly. ‘That’s not the point.’
She took a seat, primly keeping her knees and ankles firmly together, avoiding looking at him. ‘What did you want to talk about?’
‘The movies,’ he answered promptly, flopping onto the sofa opposite. ‘Which of the two is your favourite?’
‘Seriously?’ She glanced at him. ‘I wouldn’t have thought you had much respect for movies. I’m guessing you don’t have much time for them.’
‘Not usually.’ He blithely ignored her dig. ‘But I made a point of watching them the other day and found they weren’t bad. Talk me through the fandom.’
So she did. To her surprise, he really had watched them and remembered lots of detail. And had even enjoyed them. Then it turned out he’d watched a few classic films in his time. And a ton of French ones.
‘Anything with Gérard Depardieu?’ She giggled.
‘Makes for a lot of movies.’ He winked. ‘My mother loves him and Dad used to try and impersonate him—badly.’
So there had been good times with his parents?
‘How come you developed such a passion for the flicks?’ he asked, switching the focus back on her.
‘Oh, I just watched a lot as a kid. Habit.’
‘Your parents liked them?’
No, she hadn’t been curled up on a sofa between her parents watching a film as he probably had. She’d been in her own bedroom with her own telly—to her friends’ envy—and watched them alone. She still had a massive DVD collection. ‘They were just fun.’
A time-filler, a window into another, more friendly, world—where villains got their comeuppance, orphans found families and plain girls got the guys. Sure they might be fairy tales, but she enjoyed them.
‘And you really like taking the tours?’ he asked as if he couldn’t understand why anybody would.
‘Being with the fans is way more fun than working behind the scenes,’ she explained. ‘I’m a fan—I understand that excitement. I mean, it’s hard work, but I love it. And I love travelling. I love getting to meet these interesting people who’ve come from so far away. Who’ve been to other interesting places. Who love the movies I do. It’s fantastic.’
The discussion was a timely reminder—she wasn’t going to stuff up her perfect job by sleeping with one of the possible contacts. Again.
‘I can see why you’re popular. Your enthusiasm is infectious,’ he said slowly, with a look in his eyes that she was sure wasn’t good. ‘You know there’s a pool here,’ he drawled.
Definitely not good. She had another melt moment and instantly rallied. ‘I didn’t bring my swimsuit. And don’t even suggest skinny dipping.’ Yeah, she’d caught the flicker of his smile.
‘It’s heated. There’s a spa as well.’
She’d known staying to chat with him wouldn’t be wise. She might be completely sober but she was suddenly as giddy as if she’d sucked a litre of champagne through a straw. ‘I don’t need to try all the things you have for your high-paying guests. I’ll be with the scraggly film fans out in the muddy field.’
‘I just thought it might help you relax.’ He opened his hands in an oh-so-not innocent gesture.
‘Let down my guard, you mean.’ She wasn’t here to relax.
‘How about a ride, then?’ He roared with laughter at her expression. Then clarified. ‘We could just go along the fence-line, you could see the moon and the stars. Very much a movie scene.’
‘I’m not really into horse-riding.’ And she refused to blush. ‘We have all day tomorrow to see the old set. I think it’s best if I turn in for an early night.’
‘You’re afraid.’
‘Of horses, yes.’ She dared him to laugh at her. ‘And I’m being sensible.’
He let out a theatrical sigh. ‘Come on, then, Cinderella.’ He scooped her bag from where they’d left it in the kitchen and then led her up the stairs—another wide, plush corridor that seemed to go for ever.
‘Now.’ He opened a door and put her bag just inside. ‘This is your bedroom.’
‘Thank you.’ She walked into the room and quickly turned, her hand closing the door. But before she could slam it in his face he leaned in.
‘Pay very close attention,’ he drawled. ‘My bedroom is a mere three doors along. Same floor and everything. You can’t miss it. Even if there’s a power cut and it’s pitch black. Worst case just try them all, there’s no one else staying here, only me to be found.’
‘Dream on.’
‘Oh, I do. Every night.’ He shrugged, utterly unashamed. ‘Just as you do.’
‘There’s a lock on this door, isn’t there?’ She looked down at it as if to ensure it.
‘There’s no full moon tonight,’ he continued, ignoring her interruption. ‘Just as there wasn’t then. You don’t need to pretend you’re
