Page 44 of Her Fantasy Husband

Brother and sister?

She couldn’t be unaware of what her touch did to him. Could she? Even the slightest, most innocent of touches.

Since the other night, it was as though his neurons had been rewired. Somehow his wife and sex were inextricably entangled in his mind. Just the thought of her sent twinges to his dick. And now he’d agreed to share a room with her. It was unlikely she had two beds, so chances were he’d be sleeping on the floor for the duration of Harry’s visit. He hoped the bastard didn’t stay long.

He went in without knocking—hey, he lived here now. Voices drifted out from the kitchen, and he pushed open the door. The room was full, crowded with people, or at least it seemed that way. He dropped his bag on the floor and looked around. In actual fact there were only four people present—Lexi, Jean, Sarah, and Tom. The children were nowhere in sight. The chicken was still in its basket, observing him out of beady eyes, and dogs and cats took up most of the floor space.

What had he let himself in for? Maybe he should suggest they go stay at his lovely, uncluttered loft apartment instead. He’d put the idea to Lexi if things got too unpleasantly chaotic.

A chair scraped as Lexi got to her feet. She gave him an almost timid smile and then came toward him. “I’ll show you to my room. We can get rid of the bag in case Harry turns up. We’ll be back in five,” she said to the others. As they left the room, she turned to him. “I’ve already told them what’s going on with my family. Now you just all need to get to know each other a little better, so Harry doesn’t pick up anything odd.”

He wished she’d waited to do the “what’s going on” speech—then he might have more of a clue as to what was actually going on.

She didn’t speak as she led him up one flight of stairs, then another, and then a narrow staircase. Where the hell was she taking him? The attic?

Finally, she opened a door that led into a vast room that must have covered most of the house. The ceiling sloped and the back wall was almost all windows. He dropped his bag and stepped closer. It looked out over the Heath.

“This is my room,” Lexi said.

“It’s…nice.” He wasn’t sure nice was the right word. Interesting maybe. The space was a curious mix of modern and old fashioned. A jumble of different styles, every surface smothered in things—books and clothes and ornaments… He didn’t think he’d ever owned an ornament in his life. The walls were covered with a mixture of paintings and photographs. Disorganized chaos, like Lexi herself.

“I had it remodeled from the old attics when I moved in. I love being up here. And the views are wonderful. I can lie in bed and look out onto the Heath.”

At least it was big enough for them to be apart in, even with the absolutely huge four-poster bed that stood in the center. Mahogany posts and dark red curtains were tied back to show a crimson cover and a mound of pillows. She’d be lost in there alone. It was a bed made for at least two.

“Nice bed,” he said.

“It used to be in the master bedroom downstairs. I had to take it to pieces to get it up here, but I love it.”

She sank onto the mattress and eyed him up. “I’ve cleared out some wardrobe space for you over there.” She waved a hand toward a vast mahogany cabinet. And the bathroom is through there.”

A door, slightly ajar, stood opposite.

He unpacked his bag quickly and efficiently.

“You’re very organized,” she said as she watched him place his empty bag in the bottom of the wardrobe. He headed into the bathroom with his toiletries. If the bedroom was disorganized chaos, this was a nightmare. Every surface was covered with bottles and candles, and baskets of dried stuff. The air smelled of flowers, almost overpowering.

The room was as big as a normal bedroom, with a walk in shower and a freestanding tub big enough for two. Not that they’d be sharing, but he had an image of Lexi, a hot bath, and a whole load of bubbles.

Don’t go there.

The only way this was going to work was if he kept his mind off sex. He was here to do a job. Think of it as a mission. A mission into enemy territory. Except it was hard to think of Lexi as an enemy.

Brother and sister then, like she’d suggested. But he didn’t want a sister either.

He searched in vain for a place to put his few things and caught sight of his harassed face in the mirror and Lexi behind him, leaning against the open door, a rueful expression on her face.

“Sorry about the clutter, but no one else ever comes up here,” she said. “So I don’t really notice what it’s like.” She stepped up beside him and swept the stuff off one of the shelves, into a basket of the dried smelly stuff. “There, you have somewhere to put your things now.”

He set them out on the shelf while she watched.

“Gosh, you travel light,” she said.

“You learn to in the army,” he replied.

“I suppose. We’d better get down to the others.”

He turned, found her closer than he’d expected, and took a step back, banging into the washbasin. Christ, he was skittish. What did he think she was going to do? Jump him?

---