15
Lana’s eyes were drawn to the beauty that lay outside.
She adored nature and the feeling of freedom that enveloped her while she absorbed its beguiling splendour.
If truth be told, she hated living in a cramped townhouse with a measly concrete yard at the back. Its only saving grace was the view of the sea to the front.
The same view that Marcus looked out upon from this very room.
The pallid furniture sat neatly, organised with Feng Shui precision. The main sofa placed alongside a solid wall avoided the impressive windows, allowing the natural light to flood the entire space.
An opulent mirror captured the outer landscape, drawing it into the blank room. There were no family photos, soft furnishings or space-filling objects that offered a sense of his character.
Lifting the golden bottle, Marcus popped the cork. “Champagne?” he asked, interrupting her visual inspection.
She realised he had removed his suit jacket, leaving only his waistcoat and crisp white shirt on display. Something unknown pulled her towards him, he was magnetic.
“I shouldn’t really, I need to be back in the office before two.” Lana wandered through the space, stopping a few steps away from him, unable to trust herself if she was any closer.
“It will go nicely with your lunch, Lana, one drink and one meal, then I will drop you back.” He poured the sparkling liquid, nodding to her as he pulled out a bar stool, summoning her to sit. “I hope you like Crayfish Linguine.”
She watched him simmer water in a copper pan while warming a rich creamy sauce. He looked very much at home in the kitchen. Comfortable and sexy as hell.
Once the linguine was al dente, he combined the two, dishing it between the bowls.
A proud smile graced his lips. “Eat up, beautiful.” He nudged a bowl towards her and slid a fork across the space between them. His hand hesitated, she reached for the cool stainless steel letting her fingertips brush his in the exchange. Sucking in, she retracted the fork like he had just injected her with adrenaline.
Her mouth watered as the pasta wrapped around her fork. “Ummmm,” she crooned. “This is divine. Did you make the sauce?”
He cleared his throat. “Not this time. I love to cook, but generally, I don’t have the time, so my chef does it all. He prepares dishes in advance and freezes them for me, depending on where I am in the world.”
Her eyebrows lifted. “He goes with you when you leave the country?”
“Mostly, he loves travelling, so it suits him. I pay well, too.”
A strand of linguine skimmed her chin, the sauce clinging in a pearl of creaminess below her lips.
His eyes widened as her tongue darted free from her lips, missing the majority of the mess. In a flash, he reached forward and swiftly wiped away the remnants.
Without hesitation he licked it off his thumb. Her pulse jumped and her startled gaze cut to the bowl.
She could feel the rush of heat warm her cheeks as she fought off the tingles spreading through her body, torturing her with suggestions.
“So…you like to cook?” She willed herself not to stammer, searching her scrambled mind for something to say, anything other than what she was really thinking.
“I learnt how to cook when I was young. My dad worked long hours, so I made sure he had a hot meal at the end of the day.” He rose, opened the fridge and returned to the kitchen island with a bottle of water. “Want some?”
Her forehead creased. “Aren’t you having champagne? It’s the nicest I’ve ever had.”
“Not when I have to get behind the wheel with precious cargo in the passenger seat,” he said huskily, his right eye subtly winking at her. “I buy cars to enjoy them, not to let someone else drive them on my behalf. If I’m out for the night or on business trips, then I call my driver.”
Marcus angled his head as her eyes drifted up to meet his.
“Where was your mother?” She stabbed the pasta.
His expression tightened and his eyes closed momentarily like he was debating his answer. When they blinked open, she saw a hint of sadness flash behind the stunning shade of green.
“She died when I was nine, I took care of my brother, Jamie, and my dad as much as I could.”