The door closed behind him and the lock automatically clicked into place. He tensed. Winced. And paled a fraction beneath his tan. For a split second she wondered why, but then he started running his gaze slowly over her, sliding down from her face to her breasts, her waist and then lower, and any curiosity she had vanished. As her body began to throb with awareness his lips curved into a faint smile, dragging her attention to his mouth, and all she could think about was what it might feel like on hers. Wanting it on hers. Hot and wet, hard and demanding.
The sudden thump of lust that walloped her in the stomach nearly knocked her off her feet and brought her slamming back to her senses. Bella blinked twice and battled for control. She really had to stop this. Yes, she wouldn’t be averse to a relationship, and yes, she’d decided that she ought to grab any opportunity that came her way, but she drew the line at ravishing a client on the floor of her shop.
Belatedly reminding herself that she wasn’t a teenager and she didn’t throb, with anything, ever, she cleared her throat and lifted her chin. ‘Good afternoon,’ she said, holding out her hand. ‘Bella Scott.’
‘Will Cameron,’ he said, wrapping his fingers around hers and giving her hand a firm shake before letting it go.
Two more of her senses hit the deck. His deep, wickedly lazy voice teased her ears, and her whole body tingled with the aftershocks of touching his hand.
The only sense left unaffected was that of taste, and that could be easily corrected. All she’d have to do would be to take one quick step towards him, reach up and plant a kiss on his mouth. Wind her arms round his neck, press herself against him, slide her tongue between his lips and she’d be able to find out exactly what he tasted like and exactly how hot, hard and demanding he was.
Agh, this was awful, she thought frantically fighting the instinct to swoon. It simply wouldn’t do. Grappling for her elusive self-control, Bella drew in a deep steadying breath.
‘Please,’ she said, finally managing to get a grip and waving a hand in the direction of the chair on the other side of the table. ‘Do sit down.’
Will folded himself into the chair and leaned back, taking up far too much space and, more disturbingly, far too much air. ‘Thank you for agreeing to see me at such short notice.’
‘Not a problem.’
As breathing, however, apparently was something of a problem, she wished that at the time she’d said she was too busy. Which she was. Ever since one of her necklaces had featured on the catwalk last year, Bella had had more work than she could really cope with. But the mesmerising tones of Will’s voice over the phone had captivated her and the secret little longing to find out if the rest of him lived up to it had been impossible to resist.
‘You mentioned you had some items to be valued?’ she said, thinking that as it was way too late for regrets she’d better get on with it.
‘I do.’
‘For insurance?’
‘Probate.’
‘Oh,’ she murmured. ‘I’m sorry.’
He shrugged and his mouth twisted into what she presumed was supposed to resemble a smile. ‘Just one of the many formalities to get through.’
Hmm. That wasn’t quite what she’d meant, but his relationship with the deceased was none of her business. Or, to be honest, of nearly as much interest as what he’d brought her to value. She might have forged a career designing jewellery, but her first love would always lie with gemmology.
Bella’s mouth watered as tiny thrills of anticipation began to course through her. ‘May I see?’
He reached into his pocket, drew something from its depths and then leaned forwards and held it out to her.
She lowered her gaze and her breath hitched in her throat.
Oh, good Lord.
Catching her lip with her teeth, she took the ring from him, so mesmerised by its beauty that she barely noticed the tingles that rippled along her fingers when they brushed against his.
Utterly transfixed, she twisted the
ring one way, then the other, and stifled a sigh of longing. She’d never seen anything quite so magnificent. The emerald-cut diamond solitaire was set in the platinum band and sparkled in the weak sun that had briefly broken through the heavy grey cloud of the autumnal afternoon and bathed the room. The stone had to be three carats at least. And flawless, judging by the perfect symmetry of the shards of light that were flashing all across the table.
‘So what do you think?’
Yes, she thought as her heart twanged. Oh, yes. If—no, when—she got engaged she’d love something like this.
‘It’s beautiful,’ she murmured, unable to stop the trace of wistfulness that crept into her voice.
‘I couldn’t care less what it looks like,’ Will said flatly. ‘I’m only interested in what it’s worth.’
Bella jerked her eyes up to his and her little daydreamy bubble burst with a splat. What? How could anyone with an ounce of feeling in them be unmoved by such a beautiful thing?