Rafe gave himself a mental shake. ‘Right... I’ll have a think about it and get back to you.’
‘I’ve had a look at the maze,’ the designer said. ‘It’s going to be a big job to restore it. It’s been neglected for years, by the look of it. And that storm the other day didn’t help things. It needs replanting in a couple of places.’
‘I don’t care about the expense,’ Rafe said. ‘Do what needs to be done.’
‘Cute dogs.’ The landscape designer crouched down and made ‘come here’ noises to Chutney, Pickles and Relish who had been following Rafe like devoted slaves since he had walked out of the manor that morning. ‘My wife has a couple of Maltese poodly things. Never thought I’d be one to go gaga over a fluffy mutt, but there you go. They worm their way into your heart, don’t they?’
‘They’re not mine,’ Rafe said. ‘Watch out for the grey and white one. He’ll nip at you if you come too close.’
Pickles immediately took shelter behind Rafe’s left leg, peering out with his beady gaze. The man straightened after ruffling Chutney and Relish’s ears. ‘I’ll get back to you with a quote on the development and the maze in a day or two,’ he said. ‘Say hi to Poppy for me.’
Rafe frowned. ‘You know her?’
‘My mother and her gran were best friends. She’s a sweetheart, isn’t she? Got a heart of gold. Does a lot for the village—in the background, like. When my wife had a caesarean with our twins, Poppy came by every day with a hot meal prepared. Even took home the washing and brought it back all neatly folded and ironed.’ He gave Rafe a man-to-man wink. ‘She’ll make some lucky guy a fabulous wife one day.’
Rafe stretched his mouth into a tight smile. ‘I’m sure she will.’
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
‘PARIS...’ CHLOE GAVE a wistful sigh. ‘You do realise you’re living every girl’s dream? Being taken to the city of love with a handsome billionaire to be wined and dined and passionately wooed.’
Poppy chewed her lip as she put some pieces of sultana-and-cherry slice on a flowered plate ready for the display cabinet. ‘It’s mostly a business trip for Rafe. I’m just tagging along as entertainment.’
‘I don’t believe that,’ Chloe said. ‘He’s falling for you, big time. Next thing you know, he’ll be down on bended knee. You see if I’m not right. And what better place to propose to you than Paris?’
‘He’s not going to propose to me,’ Poppy said with a heavy heart. ‘He’s going to send me on my way once this week in Paris is over with a bit of jewellery as a consolation prize. I bet he won’t even choose it himself. He’ll get one of his secretaries to do it.’
Chloe sucked in one side of her cheek as she studied Poppy’s downcast features. ‘You really are in love with him, aren’t you?’
Poppy let out a serrated sigh. ‘When he came into the shop that first day I thought he was the biggest jerk I’d ever met. It just goes to show you can’t trust first impressions. Underneath that cold, hard business front he puts up, I suspect he’s a really caring person.’
‘So what’s the problem?’
Poppy’s shoulders dropped. ‘He doesn’t care about me...or at least, not the way I want him to care.’
‘What’s the hurry?’ Chloe said. ‘You’ve only known him, what, a week or two? Give him time.’
‘But what if it’s not me he’s really after?’ Poppy finally voiced the fear that had been lurking in her mind ever since Rafe had made love to her. ‘What if he’s only involved with me to charm me into selling him the dower house?’
Chloe’s forehead wrinkled. ‘Do you really think he’d do something as low as that?’
‘I don’t know... Look at what Oliver did. I didn’t see that coming. Maybe I just attract the type of guys who think they can pull the wool over my eyes.’
‘You are a bit of a babe in the woods,’ Chloe said, but not unkindly. ‘Be careful, hon. Just take it one day at a time. Enjoy what’s on offer while it’s on offer. That’s all you can do.’
* * *
‘Do you fly everywhere in a private jet?’ Poppy asked Rafe the following Monday as they were about to leave London.
‘I hate waiting around gate lounges,’ he said. ‘It’s such a waste of time.’
She rolled her eyes at him. ‘I hope you realise that, now the dogs have been placed in those plush boarding kennels you organised for them, they’ll never be happy staying anywhere else. They’ll probably turn their little noses up at their stainless steel dishes when they get back. I’ll have to get them gold or silver ones, or maybe diamond-encrusted ones.’
He gave her a bone-melting smile. ‘I don’t see why they can’t have a good time as well as us.’
Poppy had no doubt she was going to have a good time while she was away—a very good time. The last few nights with him had left her body tingling with delight. This morning he had joined her in the shower, leaving her quivering with ecstasy. Just looking at him now made her insides slip like a drawer pulled out too quickly. His dark eyes contained a sensual promise that made her toes curl up and her heart race.
There was one attendant on the flight who served them champagne and canapés and then pulled and locked the sliding door across the cabin to give them privacy.