Page 9 of Her Dom's Secret Past

“Need a lift?”

He gave an embarrassed grin but did take my offer. Once again, that shock of electricity passed between us as he carefully stood.

“Thanks, I’m a bit stiff.”

“Ah. I thought you were limping yesterday.”

He gave a one-shouldered shrug and dropped my hand.

I crossed my fingers behind my back and said casually, “Feel like a coffee? Not too far to walk to my place.” He hesitated and I quickly said, “You’re probably wanting to get back to your wife. Sorry.”

“Actually, I’m here alone. I’m not married, and yes, I’d love a coffee. I was trying to judge the distance to those nice sofas on your patio.”

Woohoo!He wasn’t married. I shaded my eyes, squinted toward my villa as if gauging the distance back to my place.

“Gee, it’s a long walk. Has to be at least twenty meters.”

He gave me a look that sent shivers down my spine and shook his head.

“Very funny, woman. I think I can make it.”

We slowly walked across the sand and onto my patio. John almost fell into a seat with a soft moan. That sheen of sweat on his face had increased tenfold and I realized he hadn’t been joking when he said he was trying to gauge the distance.

“Would you like a painkiller, an aspirin?”

“I’d love a bottle full.”

I entered the main house and got a couple from my bathroom. On my return, I filled a glass with ice water and took them out.

“Here you go.”

“Thanks, Anabelle, I do appreciate this.”

“Would you like coffee? Tea? Something cold?”

“Tea would be nice. Black, two sugars.”

“I have ordinary tea or Chinese White. Which would you prefer?”

“I drink black tea, so I guess the ordinary.”

There was an ottoman close to the sun lounge and I pushed it over to his chair.

“Put your feet up while I make tea.”

“Thank you.”

I left him to struggle as I made tea for us both. I found a tray in the pantry and put the mugs of tea on it, together with a few biscuits. Carrying it back outside, I put the tray on the table between the settee and the sun lounge and plonked myself on the lounger.

“Thanks, Anabelle. Think I overdid things this morning. Thought I was fitter than I really am.”

He went to take the mug but even that seemed to be a struggle. His hand shook and his arm didn’t seem to want to stretch out. I leaped to my feet. There was a small table on the other end of the patio. I grabbed it and put it alongside his right side, then put the mug close to his hand.

“Is that easier?”

“I seem to be doing nothing but thanking you this morning. My left shoulder’s a mess at the moment, as is my right thigh, oh, and my stomach.”

“Hell! Were you in an accident?”

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