mug. As he started drinking his second cup, he heard her door click and swing open.
Jonah poured some java for her, spooning two sugars in the way he remembered she preferred. And why he recalled that detail, he didn’t know. He turned to face her.
He stopped short. Reality definitely beat the hell out of memories—and she wasn’t even naked.
Eloisa stepped into the kitchen barefoot, wearing a simple blue sundress. The flowing lines clung subtly to her curves, and her skin glowed warm and pink from the shower. Her black hair was wet and pulled back in her signature ponytail, exposing her neck. He’d seen her arousal earlier when he’d hung up the phone and he could probably persuade her now ….
But he didn’t want to win in some all-out seduction. He wanted her to come to him.
Eloisa took the cup from his hand carefully, so carefully their fingers didn’t even brush.”Did you get your paperwork?”
“Yes, I did.” His next job didn’t begin for another thirteen days. Most times, he would have headed out early. He was about to tell her about the nineteenth-century Peruvian hacienda he’d been hired to renovate and expand into a resort.
Then remembered she’d only asked because she thought he was contacting his attorney about the divorce.
She blew air across the top of the cup, watching him through upswept lashes.”I don’t have much for breakfast, just some granola bars or toast and whatever’s in the fruit basket. You’re welcome to what’s here.”
If only she meant that the way he wanted her to.”I can feed myself.”
“Good then.” She nodded.”Tell me more about your job.”
Hey, wait.”But I don’t have one, remember? I’m just a lazy playboy.”
She lowered her cup, genuine contrition lighting eyes as dark as her coffee.”I was wrong to make that assumption. I genuinely want to hear now.”
He wasn’t so sure he wanted to be in the hot seat, and definitely didn’t know what had brought her to this about-face from pushing him away to shooting the breeze together.”Don’t you have to get to work or help your sister with wedding plans?”
“Audrey’s busy today, and I have a half hour before I have to leave for the library.”
”I’ll let the chauffeur know.”
“No need.” Turning away, she cradled her mug in both hands and walked to the sofa, her hips swaying gently, loose folds of the dress swishing a hypnotic follow me.”My sister’s fiancé took care of returning my car. She already texted me that it’s out in the parking lot.”
“Then you’re all set.” He watched her place her coffee on the end table.
She pulled his blanket from the sofa and began to fold.”Tell me about your job.”
He set his mug beside hers and reached for the end of the quilt trailing the ground.”What do you want to know?”
“Why do you hang around historic sites rather than slick new buildings?” She came closer, nearly chest to chest, and met his hands.
His eyes held hers and he considered kissing her right then and there, but he was determined for her to close that last gap. He knelt to sweep up the ends of the blanket and stood again.”I’m a history buff, always have been even when I was a kid, and my family traveled overseas a good bit.”
Finishing the final fold, she clasped the quilt to her chest and sat on the sofa.”Tell me more.”
She hadn’t taken the chair this time and he wasn’t missing the chance to get a little closer.
Jonah swept aside a couple of froufrou decorative pillows and sat beside her, keeping space between them. For now.”I’m an architect. I specialize in historic landmarks.”
“That’s why you were in Spain last year.” She sagged back, her face relaxing into a smile for the first time since he’d seen her last night.”But you were also a student, right?”
He shifted uncomfortably. Couldn’t he just give her a résumé?”I finished my dissertation.”
“You completed your PhD? I’m impressed.”
He winced. He hadn’t shared that with her to wow her. He preferred not to talk about himself at all.”I enjoy the subject matter.” He shrugged offhandedly.”I had the luxury of not worrying about school loans.”
“But you were also in Spain in a more official capacity?”
“Yes, I was.” What did she hope to accomplish by grilling him?
“Why did you keep it a secret?”
Was this a trap?”I didn’t keep anything a secret.”
He just didn’t feel the need to relay everything to everyone.
“You’re playing with words.” She leaned closer, her shower-fresh scent, the tropical perfume of her shampoo, teasing him.”You can’t blame me for making assumptions when you won’t share. Well, tell me now. What else were you doing there?”
To hell with figuring out motives or playing games. He had her here. Talking to him. Not running. If he had to scavenge chitchat to make headway with her, then fine. Might as well dish up some information about his past.”When I turned eighteen, I decided I didn’t want to live off my family. While I was in college, I started flipping houses.”
“You worked construction in college?” She set aside the quilt and reached for her coffee.
Good. He had her relaxing bit by bit.”Is there something wrong with that?”
She paused midsip.”Of course not. I just … Okay, I made assumptions about your college years.”
“I didn’t have time for the frat-boy scene, princess.” He’d worked his ass off, and considered the time well spent as it gave him real-world experience once he’d graduated.”So I flipped houses, made investments then took things to another level by underwriting renovations of historic manor homes and castles. I made more investments.” He shrugged.”And here I am.”
“What about your family’s influence in world politics? What about your inheritance?”
Some of the women in his life had been sorely disappointed to hear about his lack of interest in being a part of the political world his family inhabited.”What about it?”
“Do you just leave the money sitting around?”
“Hell, no. I invest it. I expect to leave more for my kids.”
“You want children?” She averted her eyes, setting her mug down.
“Damn straight, I do. A half dozen or so.”
She pushed to her feet abruptly, backing away, nearly stumbling over her bare feet. Eloisa grabbed the chair for balance.”I need to finish getting ready for work.”
What the hell had caused her quick turnaround? He’d been sure he was making headway and suddenly she was checking her watch, shoving on her shoes and scooping up her purse.
Maybe he’d hit a snag there by pushing too hard, too fast. But he wasn’t one to admit defeat. It was all about building on the progress he’d made, one brick at a time. He watched her rush around the town house, gathering herself on her way out the door. And as she turned to wave goodbye, he realized.
She’d put on lip gloss.
He thought back to the evening before. She’d been stunning, silhouetted against the waterside, wind rippling her dress and lifting her hair. She had an unstated style and innate grace that proclaimed her timeless beauty regardless of what she wore.
And he was damn sure she hadn’t worn makeup last night or a year ago. Yet for some reason, she’d slicked on gloss today. Sure, it was a minor detail,