Page 84 of Love Among the Ruins
“I don’t like having people around. I like my space and I’d hate to have a live-in housekeeper.”
“ButI’mhere in your space.”
“That’s different. You’re only here for a day or so—”
“Just for tonight,” she insisted.
“It’s not like you’re going to be here regularly.”
“No. And what about your bodyguard? Isn’t he in your space?”
“He patrols the house from the outside. He’s not in my space.”
“Who’s Basilia?” He’d mentioned a name earlier which hadn’t made any sense.
“My housekeeper.”
“So, you do have one?”
“She comes every few days. She cooks and cleans.” He waved a hand at his surroundings. “You don’t thinkIkeep it this immaculate.”
“You’re a very tidy person,” she noted.
“There’s only me, and I’m hardly going to make a mess. It’s not like there are children running around.”
She wondered what that might be like. Dominic with children.
The deep lines on his forehead relaxed. It was the only thing that reminded her of his age. A man like him, as old as him, she shuddered to think of how many women he’d dated. Rich, too, with those looks and all that wealth. Her stomach recoiled at the idea of the many nameless, faceless women who would have thrown themselves at him.
No, she wasn’t in any danger of him making a move on her. Men like Dominic weren’t interested in women like her. “Given that you hate having unnecessary people around you, I should consider this an honor.”
“You should.” He shifted his position on the couch. Laid his arms to rest on top of the backrests. Made it impossible for her not to stare at his chest.
Christé mou.
“Why did you rush into my office that day?”
“What day?”
He paused a moment before replying. “That day you saw me without a shirt.”
She tried to regulate her breathing. “You’re asking me about that now?”
“I was going to ask you earlier today, but then you fell.”
He was asking her now, and she was at a disadvantage because she couldn’t scamper away. He demanded an answer and she had no choice but to give it.
“You were in a bad mood,” she said, fighting with her mind to not go back in time and recall that particular scene.
“It had been a difficult day, what with Hector and my brother, and ... the state of things, really.”
“He really stresses you out, doesn’t he?”
“Alexander? Or my father?”
“Both, but you mentioned your brother just now.”
“He’s in Paris, or he was when I spoke to him that day. I dread to think where he is now.”
