Page 9 of London
“What are you doing here?” she demanded, her hand fisted at her side. “How did you know where I lived?”
Chapter Three
Gerard cleared his throat. From the fire in Linda’s eyes—just about the only part of her he could see—this might not have been his smartest move. He’d been unable to stop thinking about her, convinced that if he didn’t act now, he never would.
He’d charmed Caroline, the night nurse, into giving him Linda’s address. Hopefully, she wouldn’t end up in trouble because of it.
“You forgot your sunglasses at the clinic,” he explained. “I decided to return them to you. I got your address from the register.”
Once he’d said it, he realized how lame his excuse was. Nobody drove almost an hour late at night just to drop off sunglasses.
Linda’s eyebrows rose as though she could see his pretext for what it was.
Why hadn’t he realized she would be angry about his coming out here at this hour? She was a private person who wouldn’t appreciate his knowing where she lived. If she wanted to see him again, it would be her choice, not his. He should just put her out of his mind and move on—but he couldn’t. He squeezed his hand into the slight opening and handed her the sunglasses.
“I’m sorry if I disturbed you. Here you go.”
“Thank you.”
She took the glasses awkwardly, as if her arms were otherwise occupied.
“You came all this way just to bring me these?” she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
He smiled sheepishly. “Yes. Since we’re expecting more sun and heat over the next few days, I thought you might need them.”
She grinned, exposing her white teeth and allowing her adorable dimples, a maddening mix of innocence and sexiness, to show once more.
“That’s very considerate of you, but it wasn’t necessary. I do have others,” she said. “I’m sorry I was so abrupt on the phone, but you caught me off guard. Now that you’re here, the least I can do is offer you a drink as a thank you gesture, and prove I’m not completely rude and ungracious.”
“That would be great.” He grinned, realizing how much he’d hoped for this.
Linda hadn’t switched on any lights. As she removed the safety chain and opened the door wider, she revealed a shape as enticing as the nymphs in Greek mythology. Or maybe she was Aphrodite herself, ascending not from the sea, but from a pool. She’d wrapped herself in a short, white towel that revealed long, beautiful legs, smooth shoulders, and graceful arms. The moonlight cast a pearly glow on her skin. Water dripped from her hair, rolling down the curve of her breasts and disappearing behind the fist that clutched the towel to her chest.
Earlier, Gerard had tried to fight the magnetic attraction he’d felt the second they’d met. He’d attempted to convince himself that she was too young for him, or he was too busy to start a relationship now, but he’d failed. Of course, standing here half-naked when he’d knocked at her door unannounced wasn’t helping one damn bit. Did she have to look like every man’s fantasy rolled into one?
His tongue seemed stuck to the roof of his mouth.
She shivered.
“You look like you could use a warm drink yourself. Were you swimming?”
“What gave it away?” She switched on the hallway light and motioned for him to enter. “I was getting out of the pool when you called.”
Gerard stepped inside, struggling with his mind’s image of her in a skimpy bikini, rising from the pool, her hair dripping, her skin wet. He forced his gaze away from the taut nipples poking against the towel. Her skin blossomed into goosebumps. He fought the need to take her into his arms, warm that velvety skin, and cover it with kisses.
How could he have such an intense desire for a woman he’d met only hours ago? This had never happened to him before.
Did she feel the same attraction? He would give anything to know what she was thinking, but her expression remained neutral. Indicating he should follow, she moved through the house, switching on lamps as she passed them until the interior was as bright as midday.
As Gerard entered the living room, he spotted a large white cat sitting on the couch. The cat’s tail swept across the brown leather, its side to side motion a sure sign that this nocturnal invasion annoyed him.
“His name is Pirata,” Linda explained, smiling. “He’s my best friend.” More relaxed now, having forgiven this intrusion on her privacy, she gestured for him to sit.
Gerard examined the room, impressed by her minimalist style similar to his own choice of décor.
“If you’ll give me a few minutes, I’ll go up and change.”
“Of course. You must be cold. If you show me where the kitchen is, I can make some hot chocolate, or tea. Whichever you prefer.”
