The Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy

paused just above the rise of her breast. “I can get them for you.”
    Her eyes went cold, shot out a blast of air so frigid it could have frozen blood. “I’ve no doubt you can.” With one sharp move, she knocked his hand aside. “But that’s not the sort of work I have in mind.”
    “Good. Then we keep one separate from the other.”
    Ice turned to fire in the blink of an eye. “Was that a little experiment, then? And what would you have done if I’d laid back for you?”
    “Can’t say.” He took her cup and helped himself to her tea. “You’re a delectable package, Darcy. But you’d have disappointed me.” He placed a hand on her shoulder when she started to spring up, felt the temper vibrating like a plucked bow string. “I’ll apologize for it.”
    “I don’t trade myself for profit.”
    “I didn’t think you did.” But there had been other women who’d offered. It had, and did, leave a nasty taste in his mouth. “I want you on two levels, one as a business, one as a man. I’d like you to understand the first has nothing to do with the second.”
    She eased back, struggling with the temper she knew could be an ugly thing. “And you’d like reassurance of the same from me.”
    “I just got it.”
    “You could have done so with more style.”
    “Agreed.” It had been cold, calculated—something, he thought, that his grandfather might have done. “I’m sorry,” he said, and meant it.
    “And which level would that apology come from?”
    Touche´, he thought. “One from each, as each was out of line.”
    She took her tea back from him. “Then I’ll accept each.”
    “Let’s put the business aside for now. I need to go to London for a couple of days.” He’d intended to put it off, but . . . she wanted things, why not give her a taste? “Come with me.”
    She’d clicked her temper back to simmer, but this sudden twist blanked it out and left her puzzled. Wary. “You want me to go to London with you? Why?”
    “First, because I want to take you to bed.” He took the mug back again, thinking as he did that the tea had become a kind of prop between them.
    “That we’ve established already. There are beds in Ardmore.”
    “Our schedules haven’t been meshing in Ardmore. And second, I enjoy your company. Have you been to London?”
    “No.”
    “You’ll like it.”
    “Most probably I would.” She took the mug when he held it out, sipped the tea to give herself time to think. He was offering her something she’d always wanted. To travel in style. To see London, and not to see it alone.
    He would expect sex, naturally. But then, so would she. What point was there pretending to be coy about something they both knew was bound to happen anyway?
    “When do you go?”
    “I’m flexible.”
    She let out a short laugh. “No, that you are not. But if your schedule is, I might be able to work it out. I need to speak with Aidan and arrange for a replacement. He won’t be pleased with me, but I can get ’round him.”
    “I’m sure you can. Let me know what days work for you, and I’ll take care of the rest.”
    That practiced feline smile was back. “Oh, I like that. Having a man take care of the rest. You run along now.” She rose, then deliberately trailed her fingers over his jaw. “I’ll get back to you when I can.”
    He caught her wrist, his grip just hard enough to show her he was serious. “You won’t play me, Darcy. I’m not like the others.”
    She stood where she was as he released her, as he walked out and shut the door. Yes, indeed, she could agree with that. He wasn’t anything like anyone she’d known. And wasn’t it going to be interesting to find out just what and who he was?
    “You’ve had your holiday.”
    She’d wanted to catch Aidan at home rather than wait for him to come into the pub. She’d had to rush to manage it, and was pleased to find him finishing up his breakfast. His first response was exactly what she’d expected and didn’t discourage her in the least.
    “I know, and a lovely one it was.” All cheer, she topped off his tea. Then snuck Finn a corner of toast under the table. “Just as I know it’s a lot to ask of you so soon after, but this is an opportunity I don’t want to miss. You’ve traveled, Aidan.”
    She kept her voice soft and sweet. It was the tack she’d decided on. Just as effective would have been demands, curses, and tempers, but she was certain that this tone would work more quickly.
    “You’ve