The Lady and the Lion by Kay Hooper

Author:Kay Hooper [Hooper, Kay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-05-26T13:49:17+00:00

Six

Breakfast arrived about the time Keith finished dressing, and Erin came through the connecting door to say, "Perfect timing; the maid wants to do my room." Dressed in a casual denim skirt and pale blue, short-sleeved blouse, her hair loose but brushed into neat, burnished waves, she was radiant.

In reasonable command of himself now, Keith was able to say calmly, "She won't do mine until late afternoon. I made that request when I checked in. But tell her not to lock the connecting doors, will you?"

Erin went back into her suite, then reappeared a few moments later and pushed his side of the door closed so that they wouldn't be disturbed by the vacuum cleaner. "She looked more resigned and saddened than surprised. 'Lord, what fools these mortals be.' I hope you ordered fruit. I love fruit."

Amused, Keith gestured to the laden table near his balcony. "Lot's of it. Tell me, are you usually this talkative in the morning, or is today special?"

For the first time, Erin looked a bit self-conscious. "I'm always like this. It's probably why I talked to you so much out on the balcony before we really met. Dad tried to break me of it because he hates conversation at the breakfast table, but it was the only thing I could never do for him. Does it bother you? I know it's hell if you can't wake up before coffee and somebody's chattering at you—"

Keith pulled her into his arms and kissed her, shutting off the flow. His night-owl hours of late were imposed rather than chosen; he was by nature a morning person, wide awake once his eyes opened, so her morning persona wouldn't have bothered him even if he hadn't loved the sound of her voice.

"I don't mind," he said, ending the kiss sooner then he liked because he was determined to hold on to his marginal control. Her response, instant and shatteringly sweet, tested that determination to the limits. He kept an arm around her as he guided her to one of the chairs at the table, knowing that if he didn't put some distance between them, he'd lose his battle.

"Are you sure? Unless I'm upset about something, I talk almost nonstop for the first hour or so."

"It doesn't bother me." He poured coffee for them. "By the way, have you called your father? You haven't mentioned it."

"No, I haven't talked to him." She was serving herself from a large fruit plate, and didn't look up at him. "The message light on my phone was blinking when I went in to take a shower. He wants me to call him today. I think he still believes that if he can just find the right combination of words, I'll be on the next plane to London."

"Is he so good with words?" Keith asked, transferring food to his own plate, but watching her intently.

"Expert. He could talk a snake out of its skin."

"Interesting analogy."

She looked up at him, then smiled ruefully. "I suppose so. But apt.

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