the way of the most important thing in her life—saving the fairground. It was too much of a risk.
She took a deep breath and let him lead her through to the dining room. The waiter ushered them to their table, but Felix was the one who held the chair out for her. He had perfect manners as well as a perfect body.
She really shouldn’t be thinking about his body.
‘Thank you,’ she said politely.
He gave her a slight bow. ‘Pleasure.’
Every single female in the room was staring at him, but it didn’t seem to bother him. Maybe he was used to it. Or maybe he just hadn’t noticed.
He glanced at the wine list and asked, ‘Would you prefer red or white?’
‘Not for me, thanks—I’m driving—but don’t feel that you have to go without,’ she said politely.
He smiled. ‘Water’s fine for me. Still or sparkling?’
‘Sparkling, please.’
He gave the order to the waiter, and she skimmed down the menu. ‘I’m torn between the lamb and the salmon.’ Unable to resist the pun, she looked at him over the edge of the menu. ‘Do you think they’d let me have a moggie bag?’
He glanced over at the plates of the other diners. ‘The portions here aren’t that big. But, if you can’t manage it, we can ask.’
He’d taken her seriously? She laughed. ‘Mr Gisbourne, you’re being very slow tonight. Hel-lo—moggie bag?’
‘Very funny.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘I didn’t pick it up first time round because I’m distracted. Because someone is wearing lapis lazuli right where I’d really, really like to kiss her.’
Suddenly, Daisy was the one who was distracted—imagining it. Felix’s mouth was gorgeous, well-shaped, with tiny grooves at each side that told her he laughed a lot. How would it feel, tracing a path across her skin, skimming her collarbone the way her borrowed necklace did?
He’d just said something incredibly suggestive. Outrageous, even. But she didn’t think he was the kind of man who made that sort of comment to a woman he’d only just met: instead, she had the distinct feeling that he’d spoken his thoughts aloud without realising it. Felix the businessman might possibly have admitted to being distracted, but he definitely wouldn’t have said what was distracting him. That’d be tantamount to handing his business opponent a weapon on a silver platter.
So, instead, she focused on what he’d said before. ‘You really think I’m one of these women who nibbles on a lettuce leaf?’
He raised an eyebrow. ‘Are you?’
‘I plan,’ she informed him, ‘to order three courses, and petits fours with my coffee, and enjoy every single scrap. What’s the point of coming to a restaurant that has a reputation for phenomenal food if you’re not going to savour your meal?’ She spread her hands. ‘I can assure you, the only way I’d eat just a couple of mouthfuls of anything is if we ordered a tasting menu—and then I’d expect quite a few dishes.’
‘A woman after my own heart. Good.’ He looked approving.
Well, they had some common ground. This was a good thing.
For business, she reminded herself.
When the waiter brought their water, Daisy ordered the asparagus soldiers with DIY hollandaise, followed by the salmon and then a trio of puddings.
‘So you get a taste of different things?’ he asked when he’d given the waiter his own order.
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.