“I think I’m overdressed.” From the tap of her shoes on the marble, she was following directly behind him.
His back straightened. She was too close.
He stepped into an alcove, and gestured for her to go first. It was good manners, but it was also easier to keep distance between them.
Although she moved past him, she glanced uneasily at him over her shoulder, her eyes wide and nervous. Her long dark hair was pretty, and he couldn’t help but let his gaze drift down to the lush curves of her figure in the blue wrap dress. Her ass was...
He jerked up his gaze, but the damage had been done.
She needed to leave.
When she passed the breakfast room and headed for the dining room he didn’t correct her.
“Did you see Minnow on your way down?” Sutton asked, placing a serving bowl on the table as he entered the room.
“She went to the dining room.”
“You could have told her we eat in here.”
“If she’s too stupid to figure it out, she can starve.”
“Quit being a jackass and go get her.”
“Fine.”
He was about to step out of the room when the girl collided with his chest and bounced off. He didn’t bother trying to catch her, and she ended up on the floor, which would have been funny if the sight of her blinking up at him hadn’t come with a gratuitous flash of thigh. She looked shocked, her face pink and her lips parted. The top of her dress gaped slightly, giving him a healthy view of cleavage.
“Severin!” Sutton barked.
He held out a hand, but Minnow rose without touching him, which he approved of.
“Apologize,” Sutton prompted.
Why was she so damned determined this one needed to work out? He didn’t want this one. “I’m sorry you’re so off balance. I figured that with your build you’d be harder to tip.”
Sutton tsked at him, but the girl’s eyes narrowed.
“Running into a brick wall will make even the curviest of women tip over, Mister Leduc,” she replied smoothly. “And if you want to insult me, you’re going to have to try harder than making fun of my name and my figure.” She smoothed her dress, and he had to force himself not to follow the enticing path of her hands.
He ignored her and waited by his chair until Sutton and the girl had taken their seats before he sat too.
They filled their plates and ate in silence for a few minutes while he surreptitiously watched the girl.
“At least she has decent table manners,” he eventually conceded to Sutton.
Sutton glowered at him. There was no making the woman happy some days.
“What?”
“You’d do well to watch her manners and try to emulate them.”
He finished his last bite and belched. “Why?”
“So I could have a pleasant meal for once before I die?”
They glared at each other. “You’re not allowed to die, remember?”
“Yes, I know. Too hard to train new help.”