Page 10 of His Housekeeper's Twin Baby Confession
Without thinking about what he was doing, he murmured something into the constant flow of his companion’s words and moved away, instantly feeling a sense of relief.And anticipation.
He walked up behind Carrie and took her arm lightly in his hand. He could feel her muscles. She was strong. She looked at him, and he saw the way she flushed.
Awareness. Not just him.
Satisfaction rolled through him in a way he hadn’t experienced in a long time.
He took the tray with his free hand and handed it to a passing waiter. Then he led Carrie to a quiet spot. She turned to face him. Reluctantly he let her arm go.
‘What are you doing?’ he asked.
He noticed that her mouth was very soft. Pink. No lipstick. It was a beautiful shape. Naturally pouting. Her eyes were huge and very green. He felt as if he’d been underestimating just how beautiful she was for a long time, and now he was being punished for it.
‘I’m just helping out.’
‘There are staff here for that.’
‘I don’t mind.’
I do.
Massimo just about stopped himself from saying those words. He had a very strong sense that he never wanted to see her in a role of subservience again.
This was unprecedented. Henevergot involved with staff. He trusted them to do their jobs—none more so than this woman. If she’d decided to lend a hand then he was sure she’d had good reason to. He was exposing himself.
He took a step back. Became aware of the crowd around them. Eyes on him. ‘Of course. I trust your judgement.’
Carrie watched Massimo turn and walk back into the crowd, swallowed up in seconds by people clamouring for his attention. She was still trembling from the way he had put his hand on her and led her aside. Her skin burned as if from a brand.
It was crazy, but it was the closest proximity she’d had to a man in a long time. And it had brought up a multitude of emotions and sensations, none of which she had expected, considering the fact that her husband had been so abusive. Never physically, although the threat had always been there, but mentally and verbally.
For the first time in a long time excitement flowed through her veins—not fear or disgust.
For years she’d avoided physical contact with people, which was easy enough to do in a work environment and when you didn’t have a partner. Usually if someone touched her she tensed, recoiled. But as soon ashe’dtouched her she’d known it was him.
She’d welcomed his touch.
The realisation made her feel light-headed. For the last four years she’d carried the fear that she would never be able to allow someone physically close again. Not to mention emotionally.
Absorbing this revelation distracted Carrie from thinking too much about why Massimo hadn’t wanted to see her serving his guests in the first place. She would unpick that later.
The events manager caught her eye and came over. ‘Sorry to disturb you, Miss Taylor, but the chef wants a word?’
Carrie welcomed the diversion and fled.
The rest of the evening was a blur as Carrie threw herself into activity, doing her best to avoid going back up to the terrace.
When people started to leave, the events manager found her and smiled. ‘Thanks for all your help, Miss Taylor. We can take care of things from here.’
Carrie took her cue and went to her rooms. She didn’t want to witness Massimo choosing a woman to spend the night with. She would find out in the morning when she checked the bedrooms, no doubt. He might not have taken a lover in London for some time now, but she was sure New York would provide him with fresh...inspiration.
Carrie scowled at herself in her bathroom mirror. She’d changed into her pyjamas—shorts and a short-sleeved shirt—and her hair was long and tangled around her shoulders. She looked about as far away as it was possible to get from one of Massimo’s sultry lovers.
She couldn’t hear a thing from the party in her rooms—the apartment was well sound-proofed. She got into bed, but felt too restless to sleep. She got up again, pulled on a short dressing gown and went out onto her balcony.
The music had stopped but she could still hear conversation and sporadic bursts of laughter. Was Massimo with a woman now? A woman he had chosen? Looking at her? Touching her? Surely he would smile when he seduced a woman?
Carrie was surprised at the jealousy that rose up inside her. She had no right to be jealous of any woman.
