Save The Date!. Kate Hardy

pulled out her most supercilious shrug. ‘I refuse to repeat myself on that head ever again.’

      He laughed. ‘You’re an extraordinary woman, you know that?’

      ‘Uh-huh, extraordinary and broke.’

      He grinned, a sexy devil of a smile that made her heart lurch and her pulse beat like a crazy thing. She should look away, be sensible, but it seemed as if the fire from the brandy had seeped into her blood.

      ‘Would you like a cupcake?’ she offered.

      ‘I’d love one, but I better not. You’d read me the riot act if I told you how many of those things I’ve eaten today.’

      ‘With Candy breaking down, it’s not like I didn’t have plenty to spare,’ she mumbled.

      His grin only widened.

      ‘Oh, okay!’ she snapped. ‘I’ll take the bait. How come are you so darn happy when my life is imploding around me?’

      He leaned towards her. ‘Let me lend you the money, Nell.’

      Her jaw dropped.

      ‘I have the funds. Doing your business plan, I’ve calculated how much you need.’ He named a sum. ‘I’ve more than enough in the kitty to cover it.’

      Her jaw dropped lower.

      ‘And, believe me, if there’s one person who can make a success out of a crazy Victorian teahouse, then, Princess, that person is you.’