Good Girl or Gold-Digger? (10 page)

‘Well, you look good for your age, old man,’ she teased.

He laughed. ‘Keep insulting me, and I’m going to have to exact revenge. Which will involve you getting naked.’

‘I do hope that’s a promise. But maybe not on my sofa.’

‘Time to be sensible?’ He shifted to a sitting position.

‘No, I just think somewhere more comfortable might be in order.’

‘Are you propositioning me, Daisy Bell?’

She smiled. ‘Yes.’

‘Good.’ He stood up and drew her to her feet. ‘Take me to bed, Daisy.’

Daisy’s bedroom wasn’t quite what Felix had expected. It had cream walls, like the rest of the house,
and a polished wooden floor with a bright rug on it. But it was dominated by the huge brass bed in the centre of the room. There was a patchwork throw across the quilt that he guessed was a family heirloom, and a pile of bright cushions that made him want to sink into them.

He turned to her. ‘That’s amazing,’ he said softly. ‘And I need you naked in that bed. Right now.’

‘One moment.’ She pulled the curtains, then sashayed back over to him, barefoot.

He pulled her to him and kissed her hard. She responded immediately, twining her fingers through his hair and pressing her body close to his.

He unbuttoned her jeans, enjoying the warmth and softness of her skin underneath his fingers. Then he peeled off her black strappy top and murmured in pleasure. ‘I was hoping you’d be wearing a matching bra. I like this, Boots, I like it a lot.’ He traced a path of kisses along the edge of her bra, then drew one nipple into his mouth, sucking it through the lace.

‘Felix!’ she gasped.

He stopped. ‘OK?’

‘Yes.
Very
OK.’ Her voice had dropped an octave, telling him just how much she liked what he was doing to her. Good. He wanted her so turned on that she was incoherent.

He took it slowly, dropping to his knees in front of her and gradually stroking her jeans down over her hips, her thighs, her calves. He kissed the hollow of her ankles as he helped her step out of the denims, then the back of her knees, then a trail of kisses up her thighs, until she was quivering. When he slid one hand between her thighs, cupping her sex, he could feel the heat of her
desire, how ready she was for him. He nuzzled her midriff, then gently drew her knickers down. ‘Do you have any idea what you do to me, Daisy?’

‘If it’s like what you do to me, I think so.’ Her voice was all breathy and husky, full of desire.

He pulled the covers back, picked her up and laid her against the pillows. He loved the way she looked, all soft and warm, her hair flowing over the pillows. ‘You’re incredible, Daisy,’ he breathed, and stripped off his own clothes in a matter of seconds. He paused to put on a condom, and then he was right where he wanted to be: inside her, pushing deep, and watching the way her pupils went huge and her face went all drowsy with pleasure.

Then her body tightened round his, pushing him on to his own climax. He held her tightly, loving the feel of the aftershocks rippling through her body. Letting her go again was difficult, but he needed to deal with the condom.

‘Bathroom?’ he asked softly.

‘Next door.’

When he came back, she’d curled up under the sheet. His cue to leave?

But then she lifted the sheet away from the other side of the mattress. ‘Come back to bed,’ she invited, and patted the mattress.

How could he resist?

He climbed into bed and gathered her into his arms. Daisy was easy to be with; he felt no pressure to make small talk. Lying there, listening to the evening birdsong with her in his arms, was all he wanted to do right now.

Not that he intended to stay with her tonight. Since
Tabitha, he’d avoided that kind of intimacy. Besides, this was meant to be a mad, crazy affair. One with strict limits.

And, however tempting he found Daisy, he wasn’t going to break his rules.

O
VER
the next few weeks, they settled into a routine: Felix went back to London on Tuesday evenings and was back in Suffolk on Saturday morning, where he spent his days at the fairground and his evenings with Daisy.

Daisy found herself really enjoying Felix’s company. She loved working with him, brainstorming ideas for promoting the fairground—everything from setting up educational days that fitted into the National Curriculum through to circus-skills training for kids and adults, with heritage events in between. At the weekends Felix helped her with some of the restoration work, wearing jeans and protective goggles and wielding a wire brush on the rusty patches of the chair-o-plane. It amazed her that he was prepared to go so far out of his natural environment, and it amazed her still further when it occurred to her that he was doing it for her.

In the middle of Tuesday evening, she was lying in Felix’s arms in her big brass bed, sated from lovemaking, when he drew her closer. ‘What are you doing on Saturday?’

‘Working.’ She frowned. He knew that. ‘Why?’

‘I was just wondering if you’d consider taking a day off.’

Her eyes narrowed. ‘Are you nagging me, Mr Pot?’

He laughed and kissed her. ‘No, Ms Kettle, because you could nag me right back. I just thought it might be nice to do something together.’ He stole a kiss. ‘Or, if you could manage a whole weekend, maybe you could come and stay with me in London.’ Then he stopped. ‘Sorry, I forgot, you can’t. You’re more than welcome to bring Titan with you, but he might not enjoy it in my flat.’

It warmed her that he’d thought of the cat’s needs and that he recognised how much the ginger torn meant to her. ‘You’re right, he’d hate London.’ She loved the fact that Felix had actually asked her to share his space, if only for a weekend. ‘But I could get the train to London on Saturday morning, ask my neighbour to feed Titan on Saturday night and go home on Sunday morning.’

‘Late
Sunday morning,’ he suggested. ‘Make it a one-way ticket and I’ll drive you home.’

‘Felix, you don’t have to do that.’

‘I’m due back here anyway, so we might as well travel together.’

Oh. So he was being practical rather than sentimental. Well, of course he was. He’d asked her to spend time with him in London, but that didn’t mean he was going to let her close. Or that he was going to declare his feelings for her. And she was wise enough to keep her own feelings to herself. Just so it didn’t change things between them. ‘OK.’

‘Talk to Bill and let me know.’ He kissed her again. ‘I’d better be heading back to London, or it’ll be stupid o’clock by the time I get home. I’ll call you later.’

Bill actually sounded pleased that she wanted to take a couple of days off. And the anticipation of a snatched weekend with Felix helped to stop Daisy missing him over the next few days.

At last Saturday arrived. Daisy had given her spare key to her neighbour and arranged with her to feed Titan; she made a fuss of the cat before she left, and then at last she was on her way to Felix.

She loved the high, soaring arches and the ironwork of the station when she arrived at Liverpool Street; it was too long since she’d last visited London. Then she was past the ticket barrier and Felix was there, waiting for her. Two seconds later, she dropped her overnight bag and she was in his arms. He picked her up and swung her round, then kissed her lingeringly.

‘Just as well they don’t have a kissing ban at this station.’

He laughed. ‘It wouldn’t matter if they did. Nothing’s going to stop me kissing my girl hello.’

My girl.
The phrase made her feel warm all over. Was that how Felix saw her? Was he saying that he’d noticed the change in things between them, that it was more than an affair for him, too? Part of her wanted to ask, but another part of her couldn’t face hearing the answer, just in case it wasn’t the one she wanted. Or, worse, if it changed things between them: just as it had with her last three exes. They’d stopped seeing her for who she was, and had tried to change her into their ideal wife-to-be.

‘I did think about driving you back to my place, but the traffic’s hideous, so we’re going by Tube.’ He picked up her overnight bag. ‘You travel light.’

‘That’s the good thing about not being girly. I don’t
have to take six outfits and six pairs of shoes to choose from.’

He laughed. ‘I’ve missed you, Boots.’

The admission made her chest feel tight. She’d missed him, too, more than she’d expected. And with every passing week she’d missed him more when he was away. Daily phone calls just weren’t enough. ‘Same here,’ she said.

On the Tube, he pulled her onto his lap.

‘Felix, we can’t,’ Daisy whispered, scandalised. ‘Everyone’s—’

He stopped her words with a brief kiss, then whispered in her ear. ‘Nobody notices anyone on the Tube, and it’s not as if I’m ripping your clothes off—even though I’m looking forward to doing that later. In private.’

The idea sent pleasure shivering through her, and she wrapped her arms round him. ‘Sounds good to me,’ she whispered back.

They changed onto the Docklands Light Railway; Felix’s flat was only a few minutes’ walk from the station. He let them both into the building, then ushered Daisy up to the penthouse.

‘Your flat’s enormous,’ Daisy said, sounding shocked as she stood in the middle of his living room. ‘This room alone is bigger than my entire ground floor.’ She walked over to the window. ‘And what an amazing view.’ She took a deep breath. ‘I didn’t realise you were so wealthy.’

For a moment, Felix thought of Tabitha.

Then he pushed the paranoia away. Of course Daisy wasn’t like his ex. She wasn’t bothered about money—or she would’ve specialised in a different area of engineering,
one that paid good rewards. She certainly wouldn’t be working more than a full-time week in a museum for a part-time salary.

‘I’ve just been lucky in my investments,’ he said with a shrug. ‘Can I get you something to drink?’

‘I’m fine, thanks.’ She looked slightly wary. ‘So, what are the plans for tonight?’

He smiled at her. ‘I thought we could go out for dinner and see a show.’

She bit her lip. ‘Felix, that’d be lovely, but I wish you’d said earlier. I don’t have any smart clothes with me.’

‘No problem. It’s already sorted.’

She frowned. ‘How do you mean?’

He took her hand and led her into his guest bedroom. Hanging on the outside of the door, in a clear protective sleeve, was a dress he’d bought her the day before.

Her frown deepened. ‘Felix, what is this?’

‘A dress. For tonight.’

She looked straight at him. ‘You bought me a dress,’ she said slowly.

‘And shoes. Yes.’ This conversation really wasn’t going the way it was supposed to go. Whenever he’d bought a dress for his sisters, they’d been delighted. Why was Daisy suddenly looking so upset?

‘I think,’ she said coolly, ‘I might have made a mistake. I apologise for inconveniencing you, Felix. I’m going home.’ She turned on her heel and walked out of the door.

He caught up with her in his living room. ‘Daisy. What’s wrong?’

‘
You bought me a dress,
‘she said through gritted teeth.

‘What’s the problem with that?’

She dragged in a breath. ‘The problem is, you didn’t ask me.’

‘You hate the dress?’ He was surprised, because he’d picked a classic shift dress in black slub silk. It was understated and yet feminine, like Daisy herself. He’d been pretty sure she’d like it, and that it would fit.

No matter.

‘Fine. We’ll go and change it.’

‘It’s not that.’

‘Then what?’

She lifted her chin, and he was shocked to see tears in her eyes. ‘I thought you were different.’

‘Daisy, I’m really not following this.’

‘It doesn’t matter. I’m going home.’

‘Not when you’re this upset, you’re not.’ He wrapped his arms round her and held her close. ‘Talk to me, Daisy. I can’t read your mind. Just tell me what’s so bad about a little black dress.’

She was shaking, and for a moment he thought that she was crying. Then she whispered, ‘You’re trying to change me. Just like they did.’

Who had tried to change her? But he focused on the first thing she’d said, his gut feeling telling him that this was the real reason why she was upset. He released his hold on her slightly so he could look into her face. ‘Daisy, I’m not trying to change you. I like you as you are.’

She swallowed hard. ‘But you want me to wear a dress. Which isn’t me.’

‘Actually, you looked lovely the last time I saw you wearing one,’ he pointed out. ‘I was just trying to do something nice for you and give you a special evening. I know you love musicals—you sing all the time at work—and I didn’t tell you that I’d booked us tickets for a show because I wanted to surprise you. I thought you might enjoy glamming up for a night, and I know
you don’t usually wear dresses, so I bought one for you. Obviously I got it completely wrong. I’m sorry. I’ll get rid of the dress, and if you don’t mind me making a quick phone call I’ll see if my PA would like the show tickets—it’d be a shame to waste them. And then you can tell me what you’d like to do tonight instead.’

It was what she wanted, wasn’t it? So he’d expected her to look relieved. Instead, he saw the tears brim over her lashes and spill down her cheek. Silently, not with the dramatic kind of sobs Tabitha had indulged in. Whatever had upset her, it went bone-deep, and he ached for her.

He drew her closer again. ‘Daisy, I’m sorry. I wouldn’t have hurt you for the world.’

‘No, I’m sorry. I’m so selfish,’ she whispered.

‘It’s fine. And you’re not. You’re right: I
should
have asked you first.’ Maybe she just didn’t like surprises, which he could understand; he wasn’t particularly keen on them, either. He much preferred being in charge of what was going on. He stroked her hair. ‘Who tried to change you?’ he asked softly.

‘My ex.’ She dragged in a breath. ‘He was on the same course as me. We were eighteen when we started dating. And it was fine until he asked me to marry him.’ She shivered. ‘As soon as his ring was on my finger, he started to complain about the way I dressed, the way I did my hair, the fact I didn’t wear much make-up. He had this idea of the perfect wife and he wanted me to fit it.’

Felix suddenly remembered the conversation he’d had with her about his type of woman. He’d realised back then that someone had put her down. What he hadn’t guessed was just how badly. ‘Daisy, your hair is glorious. There’s nothing wrong with the way you dress.
And you don’t need make-up—you’re beautiful as you are. Your ex was incredibly stupid not to realise how lucky he was to have you, and I hope you made him eat his engagement ring.’

That earned him a watery smile. ‘No, I just gave it back to him and told him I couldn’t marry him.’ She swallowed hard. ‘But everyone I dated since…they were the same, too. Everything was fine until they were sure of me. Then they wanted to change me. I wasn’t enough for them as I am.’

‘I don’t want to change you.’ He stroked her face. ‘All I wanted was to give you a special night out. No big deal, I promise.’

‘I’m sorry. I overreacted.’ She closed her eyes. ‘I’ve made a real idiot of myself.’

‘No, you haven’t.’ He risked stealing a kiss. ‘Now you’ve told me, I can see exactly why you were upset. Give me a minute, and I’ll offload the tickets.’

She bit her lip. ‘Felix, can I be horribly greedy and contrary and say that actually I’d love to go to the show?’

‘Just not in a dress?’ he asked lightly.

She nodded. ‘I’m sorry. It’s a nice dress. And I know you went to a lot of trouble. Just…it’s not who I am.’

‘Despite having sisters, it’s clear I don’t understand women at all,’ Felix said.

She swallowed hard. ‘It’s not you. It’s me.’ She sighed. ‘Even my family complain that I’m not like other women.’

‘Well, you’re not. You’re an individual,’ he said, ‘and that’s not a criticism—it’s part of your charm. Look, let’s deal with your luggage. Then you can freshen up while I make us some coffee, and you can tell me where you fancy eating tonight before the show.’ He released her and kissed the corner of her mouth. ‘And I’ll give
you another choice, on the luggage front. You can stay in my guest suite, if you’d prefer, or in my room. It’s up to you.’ He paused. ‘Though if you’d like to share my shower before we go out tonight, I promise not to complain.’

She brushed away another tear before it could fall. ‘I really don’t deserve you being so nice to me after I just had a huge tantrum on you. And I haven’t said thank you for arranging tickets to a show.’

‘Believe me,’ he said dryly, ‘that wasn’t a huge tantrum.’ It would have been barely a ripple for Tabitha.

She wrapped her arms round him. ‘I’m sorry, Felix. I guess I’m a bit paranoid, after my ex.’

He could understand that; the same went for him. But he was dealing with it, trying to wipe Tabitha’s words out of his head and out of his heart. Tell you what,’ he said. ‘How about a change of plan? Forget coffee and freshening up. I’m going to prove to you that I like you just as you are.’

And he did like her.

He more than liked her.

Not that he was ready to say so. Offering to spend the entire night with her was enough of a step for him right now. It was a lot more than he’d been prepared to offer anyone since Tabitha.

‘Prove it? How?’ she asked.

‘Allow me to introduce you to Felix the Barbarian,’ he said.

‘Barbar—?’

Before she could finish the word, he picked her up and carried her into his bedroom, kicking the door closed behind him. ‘Right. First of all, I’m going to take your clothes off. All of them. And then I’m going
to explore every centimetre of your body with my hands and my mouth and tell you exactly how much you turn me on. I’m going to make you come at
least
twice.’

Her eyes darkened to jade as he set her on her feet again, letting her slide down his body so she was in no doubt about his arousal. ‘Oh, really? Is that a promise, Mr Barbarian?’

‘Yes.’ He kissed her and gave her a lazy grin. ‘And something you should know: I always keep my word.’