My Beautiful Public Wife

leave her alone. No woman had ever thrown so many negatives at him, either. Maybe Ivy Tho

n’t want t

ed her

on, lifting her desirability to virtually a must-have level. Just the sight of her had excited him. His fingertips itched to graze over ev

out on

to win

an change,’ he said mildly, hop

ating green eyes flashed scepticism, but

pologise for the offence given,’ he went on, projecting absolute sincerity. ‘Please take it a

legraphed he was on shaky ground, but her words granted him a second chance. ‘Well

o keep his smile appealingly rueful. ‘I shall monitor m

urs, Jordan. Getting your own way must be habitual. You hav

sion. ‘None of which appear t

her head at him. ‘I can’t

masochistic streak in myself. You can put me dow

sparkled. ‘I mi

and. With her white skin and red hair, it made a fantastic vision. ‘Are you a dominatrix?’ he asked, seize

She look

st” remark. Sorry. Had to ask. I do like to get my bearing

ner. Her colouring was so entrancing, Jordan felt a considerable flow

a dominatrix,’ she

much preferred the idea of controlling the sexual

how did this conversation get to the bedroo

nds most of the time,’ he info

lift yours off it whil

dressed as you are,

y h

g and directed her attention to it. ‘This one is called Waterlilies. Much more to my likin

N

g something like it to every one of the retirement villages I’ve had constructed. There’s not

wonderful hands, long and elegant, and she couldn’t help imagining that their touch would be sensitive. Ben’s had never really been gentle enough. With him she had

marriage with

ed and

might be an exper

ty and she was already twenty-seven. For the past two years there had been no one of any real interest on

becoming more temp

ht Wate

buy, smiled at Ivy as though to say she had done well by her mother, and moved of

assured her. ‘If you weren’t at my s

e demanded, wanting proof that

s. It gives a sense of serenity. I’

seem to care about the people

vant. They say it how it is for them and I respect that.’ There was a glint of c

hat was putting them in the wrong and she shouldn’t assume he was not. Undoubtedly Jordan Powell had his shortcomings when it came to relationships. She

ook, she asked, ‘Are you

d twinkle reappeared. ‘On the whole,

ely thinking s

luttered in sin

lenging eyebrow.

mise,’ she said. The reputation

d the words out as though tasting th

nths of his life, but if he had gone into a nursing home, one of Jordan Powell’s would definitely have been the best

t be something else that appeals to you,’ she said huskily, turning aside to draw Jo

nd resting on his arm. ‘What

head, not want

s it my comment on integrity? Did you th

smile. ‘Nothing to do with you, J

e was concern in the e

ybe he simply wanted to dispose of the distraction from him, get it out of the way so

after my father had died. Your mention of nursing hom

d he die

e me and he was always having to get sun cancers rem

o that’s why you

ong sleeves. And you look like a slave to the sun—’ with his gleaming olive s

lock-out cream. In fact, I think it would give me a lot of pleasure to spread it

through her bloodstream. Her pulse started to gallop. Ivy wrenched her gaze from his in sheer panic, riven

be a big mistake

han was sensible or practical, given h

lf?’ she rattled out, waving at t

have in my house,’ he said, apparently c

idn’t need to be spoken. His intent was already under her skin, boring away at needs she had been dismis

lightly, thinking he could well afford it. She remembered Va

We have some great artists who’ve captured its uniqueness—Drysda

pressed by the names he’d rolled out, impressed with his patriotism, as well. She’d never liked the sno

e them to enjoy,’ she rem

pleasure to sh

t him. ‘I’d have to say t

ack. ‘It’s n

d him. ‘Just holding o

oice is

e tossed at him airily, turn

and murmured, ‘You could

rm breath was like

roared th

es, the other presenting two glasses of fizzing champagne. ‘Veuve Clicquot,’ t

o glasses and held one out to Ivy who was busy choosing a cra

I eat first,’ she ple

rgued. ‘If you like seafood, I know

er, superb works of

think she really should throw her cap over

s Friday night,’ she reminded him. ‘Wouldn’t all the restaurants that serve supe

who wouldn’t find a table for me,’

ing remark. ‘And not a wo

ride in hers. ‘Please don’t, Ivy,’ he said with seduc

ither. ‘The spice of novelty,’ she muttered, mocking both

east for this evening?’

right,’ she said slowly. ‘You’ve sold me on the lobster. I will have dinner with you. If you can

Consider it done,’ he said, whipping out

to look at the few paintings they hadn’t already seen, pretending it was irrelevant to her whether or not he secured a tab

ouldn’t

as far as she want

ng…maybe

izzle out. She couldn’t remember the last time she had indulged her tastebuds with lobster. That, a