“Oh. Okay.” She got on her hands and knees, started scooping feathers.
“Are they valuable feathers you have scattered everywhere?”
“They’re just feathers.”
“Well then, leave them. The housekeeper will deal with them. It’ll take you an hour to pluck them off the floor.”
“I’m not leaving this mess for Sinead.” She plucked a few more, then sat back on her heels. “I’m an idiot.”
“I’ll not comment on that.”
“Wait. Just wait.” She got to her feet, took a breath. Quiet the mind first, she reminded herself.
And floated the feathers up. On a pleased little laugh, she gathered them, then cupped her hands, let them fall into her palms.
“Did you see that?” Glowing, she held her cupped hands out. “Did you see?”
“I’ve eyes, don’t I?”
“It’s just so wonderful. It’s feels so right. Watch this.”
She threw her hands up, sent the feathers flying, sent them swirling again, dipping, rising, then once again cupped her hands to gather them.
“It’s so pretty. I’ve been practicing for days, and I’ve finally got it. Really got it.”
Still beaming, she looked up at him. Stopped. Everything stopped.
He looked at her, in that straight way he had—dead eye to eye. It wasn’t wonder she saw there, or amusement, or irritation.
It was heat.
“Oh.” She sighed it, and following her heart, leaned toward him.
He stepped back, a quick and complete evasion. “You’ve got your feathers.” Moving past her, he dragged the two suitcases off the bed. “Grab something. If there’s more, I’ll come back for it.”
“Just my jacket, and my laptop. I’ll get them. I’m sorry.” Mortified, she dumped the feathers in their bag, secured it. “I guess I was caught up, and I misread. I thought you . . . but obviously not.”
“Get a move on, will you?” The words snapped out of him; she felt them like hard finger flicks on her cheeks. “We’ve all of us got work.”
He carried the cases as if they weighed nothing, and breezed right by her.
“Fine. Fine! I get it. And again, I’m an idiot. You’re not attracted to me, message received. But you don’t have to be rude about it.”
She shoved the bag of feathers in her laptop case. “I’ve been rejected before, and somehow I survived. Believe me, I’m not planning on jumping you, so you don’t have to add the slap and kick. I’m a big girl,” she added, snatching up her jacket and scarf. “And I’m responsible for my own—”
He dropped the cases with a bang that made her jump. “You talk too bloody much.” With that, he gave her a yank. Off guard, she plowed into him, and managed no more than a quick oof before he shoved her chin up. And took her mouth like a man starving for it.
Rough and hard, the kind of kiss that gave her no choice but to hang on. Blasts and booms of that heat assaulted her. She’d have staggered from them if he hadn’t hauled her right off her feet.
Dazzled, done for, she wrapped her arms around his neck and rode that high, hot wave.
And seconds later he dropped her unceremoniously back on her feet.
“That shut you up at least.”
“Ah—”
He hefted the cases again. “You want the ride, get yourself moving.”