Danny

2

JORDAN ROLLED OVER in bed and stared at the alarm clock on the bedside table. It was almost 8:00 a.m. and she’d only managed a few hours of sleep. She was always up early, supervising the workmen, putting together the daily schedule, checking on supplies and invoices. This morning, she’d risen at sunrise, unlocked the doors, then crawled back into bed.

After what had happened yesterday with Danny Quinn, her whole routine had been thrown into a tail-spin. Now, all she could think about was the way he’d kissed her and touched her, the feel of his chest beneath her palms, the way he seemed to ignite her desire with just one look.

Jordan groaned and pulled the pillow over her head. “I’ve been in Ireland too long,” she murmured. “I need to get back to my real life in New York.”

But she knew she was only kidding herself. The longer she’d stayed in Ireland, the more she’d grown to enjoy the feelings of freedom. Here she didn’t have to worry about pleasing her father or competing with her brothers or avoiding her mother’s endless attempts at matchmaking. Here, she did her job and she enjoyed it.

That had been easy until now. She hadn’t had any trouble keeping her mind on business. But after her encounter with Danny, maybe the effort had finally become too much to handle. The stress of devoting her every waking moment to this project had finally made her crack.

Never, ever, in her life had she thrown herself at a guy the way she had with him. He was, admittedly, the most handsome man she’d ever met. That dark hair and those incredible blue eyes. And that smile that sent shivers racing through her body. Undeniable lust was only a natural reaction.

But it was more than that. It felt good to be wanted. She’d spent so much time trying to make her way in the men’s club that was Kencor that she’d almost forgotten she was a woman. Danny had reminded her that she was pretty and interesting and maybe even a little sexy.

He was a charming bloke, as the Irish would say. Talented, too. She’d always admired artistic people. Though she’d possessed a knack for design, she’d majored in business in college. And her eye for choosing fabrics and furniture wasn’t nearly as interesting as that of a painter or sculptor.

But this project would be done in less than three months and she’d be ready to move on to something bigger and better at Kencor. Her father was in negotiation to buy an old Manhattan hotel and she wanted that project more than anything. She wasn’t about to allow herself to be distracted by a man-even one as sexy as Danny.

Jordan had sought her father’s approval from the time she knew what it was. But he’d never really noticed her, devoting his attention to his four sons. In truth, Jordan had always felt that she’d been born to satisfy her mother’s need for a daughter.

She’d spent her entire life trying to hide the fact that she was a girl. As a child, she’d dressed just like her brothers, in jeans and T-shirts, trying desperately to keep up with them in every activity from football to fishing. As a teen, she’d turned her competitiveness toward her education, refusing to take anything but the honors courses that her brothers had completed before her. And though she’d longed to major in interior design in college, she’d chosen business instead, like her brothers.

This was the project that would finally prove she was just as competent as any son Andrew Kennally had. He’d tossed this project to her, deeming it a good job for a girl. The fact that it was in Ireland made it even better. It would get Jordan out of the way for a year or two. But she’d determined that Castle Cnoc would prove her worthy of so much more.

Jordan snuggled back beneath the covers. If she could just catch a few more hours, she’d be ready to deal with the arrival of her new blacksmith. “Danny,” she murmured. “Danny Quinn.” She closed her eyes and an image of the handsome Irishman swirled around in her head.

It wasn’t wrong to indulge her attraction in private. Though sleeping with an employee was against every code she followed, sleeping with the fantasy of him was perfectly acceptable-as long as she didn’t tell anyone.

The sound of barking dogs invaded her waking dream and she brushed it aside. But then she heard a car door slam and that brought Jordan upright in bed. Tossing the covers aside, she raced over to the window that overlooked the front drive.

Two very familiar dogs ran around Danny’s battered Land Rover. “Oh, shit!” she muttered, running her hands through her tangled hair. How was it possible that he was here already? Had he stayed up all night packing? Somehow, she couldn’t imagine a man like Danny being so excited about moving in that he couldn’t sleep through the night. No, only silly, infatuated, desperate women did that.

Jordan scrambled to get dressed, pulling on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, with no time for underwear. As she slipped on a pair of loafers, she ran her hands through her tangled hair. Today she’d regain her footing with this man. She’d act professionally and she wouldn’t let anything he said or did tempt her. Time to get back to business. “Stay strong, be firm,” she murmured to herself.

Jordan grabbed her sweater, then raced down the stairs and ran though the entrance hall. Opening the plywood front door, she expected to find Danny waiting on the other side, but he wasn’t. She walked beneath the scaffolding and pushed the plastic aside to find him sitting on the tailgate of his Land Rover, staring up at the facade of the manor house as he chatted with Bartie the gardener.

The dogs saw her first and they came trotting up. “Hi, puppies,” she mumbled. What were their names? Mogue was one. “Finny,” she said. “Finny and Mogue.”

“They seem excited to move in,” Danny commented.

She glanced up at him, blinking against the morning light. “I’d prefer that they didn’t come in the main house,” she said.

“No problems,” he said. “They sleep with me.”

Another image of him flashed in her head, naked, lying in her bed, the covers tossed aside. What did he mean by that? Had he decided he wasn’t interested in sharing her bed? Jordan closed her eyes and banished the erotic fantasy from her head. “Morning, Bartie. You’re here early.” She glanced down to find the old man holding what looked like a metal detector. “What’s that?”

“Special thing it is. Got it from a gardener friend of mine. Supposed to measure the ferrous metals in the soil. Ferrous metals. Very bad for roses, I’m afraid.”

“Yes, well. Good luck with that. You’re not paying rental for it, are you?”

“No, no. ’Tis a loan.” Bartie nodded at them both, then strode off around the side of the manor house, his pace sprightly for a man of his years.

“Ferrous metals?” Danny asked. “What are those?”

Jordan shrugged. “I have no idea. Something Irish I suspect. According to Bartie, it’s a wonder anything grows in Ireland.”

“My mother has a beautiful rose garden at our family cottage,” Danny said. “I never heard her complain about…”

“Ferrous metals,” Jordan said. She held her hand up to the sun, squinting at him. “I was just going to make a pot of coffee. Would you like some?”

He pushed up from his seat on the tailgate. “Actually, I’m going to start unpacking my things. My brother Riley is going to bring my anvil and tools. And I’ve set up a coal delivery for today. Steel is coming in tomorrow. Can I drive around to the back?”

“Of course,” she said. “Well, it seems as if you have things under control.”

He chuckled softly, shoving his hands in the back pockets of his jeans. “Appearances can be deceiving. Right now, all I can think about is kissing you again. I’d say control is the last thing on my mind.”

“The hours from eight until five are considered work hours,” she said. “With an hour for lunch.” But though her warning effectively shut him up, Jordan was secretly pleased he was still thinking of her as a woman rather than a boss. Maybe they could stretch the rules a bit. A kiss here and there couldn’t hurt, could it?

“After I get some coffee, I’ll come and help you unload.” She groaned inwardly at her choice of words. Everything she said to him sounded sexual now.

“Bring me a cup and I’ll meet you there,” he said.

She nodded. “Fine. I’ll come in just a-” This was ridiculous! “I’ll be just a moment.” Jordan turned on her heel and walked back inside the manor. When she reached the safety of the kitchen, she clapped her hands to her warm cheeks. “Get a grip,” she muttered to herself. At this rate, they’d be in bed by lunchtime and exploring their deepest sexual fantasies by dinner.

If this was the way it was going to be every day that he was here, she wondered how she’d survive. Her heart was beating double-time and her nerves were so jangled she wanted to scream at the top of her lungs.

The coffeemaker had been set up the night before and Jordan simply pushed a button and waited as the glass pot began to fill. Sitting at the huge worktable in the center of the kitchen, she cupped her chin in her palm and considered the men she’d allowed into her life-and into her bed.

Though she’d had a number of lovers in the past, none of them had really moved her. The relationships had always been enjoyable, the sex interesting, but she’d always held something back. And Jordan was self-aware enough to put the blame for this on her relationship with her father.

Though she’d struggled to win his approval, she sometimes resented the control he held over her life. Andrew Kennally could snap his fingers any time of the day or night and she’d come running, ready to do his bidding. But she had refused to do the same for any man in her life. And in the end, they’d never wanted to compete with a man as powerful as Andrew Kennally.

Jordan wondered what it would be like to let go of all the baggage she carried around. Just to set it down and feel completely at ease for once. What harm could a little romantic fling do? There were few people around to witness any dalliance, just a workman here and there. Bartie and Daisy were too preoccupied with the garden to pay any notice. And everyone left at five, giving her all evening alone with Danny on this remote seaside estate.

The coffeemaker clicked off, startling her back to reality. It was a risk, pure and simple. If her father found out, he’d be furious. Sex with an employee was forbidden by company policy. She could be sued for sexual harassment, putting her entire professional future at Kencor in jeopardy.

Jordan grabbed a pair of mugs from a nearby cupboard and filled them, then put sugar and creamer in one and left the other black. After this morning, she’d know exactly how he liked his coffee. And by the end of the day, Jordan was certain she’d know a lot of other things about Danny.

Anticipation mixed with fear as she walked out the kitchen door and toward the caretaker’s cottage. The dogs were romping along the garden path and joined her, trotting along behind. “I don’t want the two of you digging up any of the new plantings in the garden,” she ordered. “And if you have to poop, run out along the cliff to do it.”

Finny and Mogue looked up at her as if they understood everything she was saying. But she made a mental note to repeat the rules to their owner as well.

When she reached the cottage, she found Danny inside, his belongings tossed in the middle of the living area. He emerged a few moments later from the kitchen, his canvas jacket gone. He wore a faded T-shirt that hugged the muscles of his chest and dangled loosely around his waist.

“There’s beer in the fridge,” he said.

“I stocked the refrigerator last night.” She frowned. “Do you drink your beer warm?”

He crossed the room to stand in front of her. “No. Cold is fine. And I drink my coffee hot and black.” She handed him the proper mug. “That was nice of you. Very thoughtful…for a boss.”

She knew immediately that he was teasing. There was a definitely a twinkle in his eye and a devilish smile playing across his lips. “I just wanted to make sure you were comfortable,” Jordan said.

“I have drink. What about food?”

“You’re on your own there,” she said. “I set up the account for you at the market. They’ll have everything you need to make meals.”

“You’re not going to cook for me?” He put on a pout. “I thought that was part of the deal.”

“No, I think I made it quite clear yesterday that I don’t cook.”

“Ah, but I do,” he said. “Good thing.”

Jordan had been surviving on sandwiches and cereal for most of her stay. A few nights a week, she went into town and had a decent dinner at one of the pubs there. But she’d longed to explore a bit further. She just needed a dinner partner. “I’ll pay for dinners out whenever you care to go,” she said.

“If you come along, it’s a deal.”

Danny rested his hand on her hip. Jordan’s breath caught in her throat. Were they at that point already, that he could touch her without even having a good reason?

“It’s a deal,” she repeated.

“I’m gummin’ for a decent breakfast. Why don’t I finish unpacking and we’ll go out and get something. My treat.”

Jordan was tempted by his offer. She usually didn’t leave the worksite during the day. But the men who were scheduled knew their jobs and would keep an eye on the house. “All right,” she said. “Let me just make a few phone calls.”

“Fifteen minutes?” he asked.

“Yes. I’ll be back.”

The minute Jordan got out of the cottage, she ran. Back to the manor house, up the stairs and into her room. Fifteen minutes was just enough time for a shower. She hadn’t shaved her legs in a week, but that would have to wait. Though it was just a simple breakfast, Jordan couldn’t help but be excited. Any excuse to spend time with Danny was worth celebrating.

“TELL ME ALL ABOUT YOURSELF,” Danny asked, staring at Jordan over the rim of his coffee cup. “And spare no details.”

There was no doubt about it. He found her endlessly fascinating and they didn’t even know each other yet. He watched as she spread jam on her toast in a precise manner, then took a tiny bite out of it. It wasn’t just her body, he mused, although that was just grand. He found himself caught up in the chase, the desire to possess a woman who was equally determined to avoid him.

Sure, they’d shared a few kisses, but according to Jordan, it would have to end there. But that wouldn’t stop him from trying. He wanted to know what she looked like naked, how her body felt beneath his hands, what she talked about in her sleep. But even that wasn’t enough. He wanted to know about her life, the people she loved, her dreams, her fears.

Danny had usually satisfied himself with the superficial and left it at that. But there was something about Jordan that made him want to know more. Was it just curiosity or was there some deeper connection?

“Are you going to eat that toast or paint a portrait of the Mona Lisa with raspberry jam?” He grabbed her hand and took a bite, then grinned.

“Hey! Eat your own toast.”

“I like yours better,” he said. Though she did everything to perfection, from buttering toast to renovating the manor house, there was one thing that seemed to escape her-flirting.

“What do you want to know?” she asked.

“Tell me about your family,” he ordered.

“Only if you tell me about yours,” she countered.

“Agreed. You first.”

“All right. There’s not much to tell. I have four older brothers who work for the family business. My father thinks I should decorate houses but I think I should get the same chance to run Kencor as my brothers have. So I work as hard as I can.”

“You and your father don’t get on?” Danny asked.

Jordan shook her head. “I’m sure he loves me just as any father would. But he doesn’t really trust me. I think I remind him of my mother. She drives him crazy.” She took a bite of her eggs. “I suppose you have a normal family life?”

“As normal as it gets,” Danny replied. “Two sisters, two brothers, all older. I know what it’s like to be on the trailing end. I was always following my brothers around. My folks own a pub in Ballykirk. The Speckled Hound. My sisters are both married, both teachers. You know Kell. He’s the oldest boy and then there’s Riley. He’s a musician and he helps my folks with the pub.”

“And how did you become a blacksmith?” she asked.

“I went to art school and studied sculpting and along the way I started working in metal. It was the next logical step. I saw a demonstration at one of the heritage festivals and went to a few workshops. Then I spent my summer holiday working for a smith up in Galway.”

“It seems like such hard work to make that iron do what you want it to.”

“It is. It’s a slow process. It gives you time to think and plan and visualize what you want it to be. All the architectural stuff is just to pay the bills. Someday, I’d like to focus entirely on sculpture.”

“I saw the work in your portfolio. The willow tree that you did, the one that was blowing in the wind, that was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. I want it for the garden here.”

“You’ll have to steal it from the lady I sold it to in Dublin,” he said. “It’s sitting in the lobby of her posh hotel.”

“You should show in a gallery,” she said.

“I have a few things in a show opening next month. And I’ve had my own show a few times at a gallery one of my friends runs.” He paused, observing her from across the table. “What about a boyfriend?”

His question took her by surprise and Danny cursed inwardly, knowing he should have waited. But there was no reason not to be honest about his interest in her.

“Sorry,” he said. “Just curious.”

“You first,” Jordan countered. “Do you have a girlfriend? Or do you have five or six?”

“I have no girlfriend,” he said. “There was someone about a year ago, for about a month, but that ended. No hard feelings. Most women are looking for a little bit better than I’m able to provide. Now you.”

“There is a guy I used to see in New York. But we were never in a committed relationship. We were just…” She cleared her throat. “Friends.”

“You’re just dating then?”

“Well, no.” She frowned. “Yes. At least I was. I’m sure we’ll see each other again when I get back to New York.”

“Naked?” he asked.

She gasped. “What?”

“Will you see each other naked? It’s a simple question.”

“That’s none of your business,” she replied.

“Well, it is. I don’t want to cause any problems between you and your man.”

“He’s not my man. I don’t have a man,” Jordan said. “I’m single and that’s all I have to say about it.”

“You sound a wee bit prickly there,” he said. “Did I touch on a sore subject?”

“You’re awfully nosy for someone I’ve just met.”

“Curious,” he said. “That’s a better word for it. So, now it’s your turn. Ask me anything you like. Anything at all.”

He picked up a slice of bacon and bit off the end, then waited for her to come up with an appropriate question. But she seemed to struggle. “You want to know whether I can be discreet,” he finally said. “You want to know that, if we indulge, it won’t blow up in your face. And you really want to know what I look like naked.”

A nervous laugh burst from her lips. “No,” she said, shaking her head.

“Yes,” Danny countered, reaching across the table to capture her hand. “You do.” He opened her fingers and placed a kiss on her palm. “I look feckin’ fabulous, just to let you know.”

Jordan gasped, pulling her hand away. “Are you always so bold?”

“Absolutely.”

A pretty blush stained her cheeks. “I’ll take your word for it.”

“And I can be discreet, too,” he said.

“I don’t need complications,” Jordan murmured.

“It’s very simple, then. Whenever we’re alone, I have permission to kiss you. And we’ll see where it leads? Sound good?”

“It sounds very good. I’m just not-”

He reached out and pressed his finger to her lips. “Leave it at that,” he said. “Talking about it isn’t nearly as much fun as doing it.” He picked up a piece of toast from his plate and held it out to her. “Can you put some jam on this?”

Jordan stared at the toast. “What?”

“I like the way you do it. You spread it out right to the edge. Perfectly perfect without any drips.”

“Are you making fun of me?” she asked.

“A little bit. But I fancy what I see.”

“And in between all this kissing, you’re going to get your work done?”

“That’s what I’m here for,” he said. “I thought I’d start with the big projects first and cross them off the list and-”

“No,” Jordan interrupted. “No, we have to have the hinges first. The doors will be back next week and they all have to be hung. The hardware comes first.”

“All right,” he said, nodding. “Hardware first.”

“I have it all laid out on a spreadsheet,” she explained. “And a flowchart. I can show them to you if you’d like. I’ll make you a copy.”

“No need,” Danny said. “I’m sure I can get along without.” He smiled at her. “I like a woman who takes charge.”

“All right. I’m a little obsessive-compulsive. But that’s not a bad thing. I wouldn’t have gotten where I am if I didn’t care about details.”

“You’ve been in Ireland for how long?”

“Sixteen months,” she said. “But for the first year I went back and forth to New York once a month.”

“You’ve spent too much time shut up in that house. We’re going to have to loosen you up, woman. Show you what Ireland is really like. I’ll wager you’ll become so fond of the place, you’ll never want to leave.”

“And how do you propose to do that?”

“I have my ways,” he said.

The rest of the breakfast passed in lighthearted conversation. He learned more about the project and about Jordan. Though she spent most of her free time working, it wasn’t for lack of interest in the surrounding countryside. She’d visited many of the estates open to the public and spent time at museums and shops in Dublin, Galway and Cork. But she’d never been out to a pub on a Saturday night.

They’d have two, maybe three months together. If he couldn’t provide her with a bit of fun and excitement in that time, then he didn’t deserve to be called an Irishman. “So what do you do for fun if you’re not out at the pubs?” he asked. “When you need a break or you want to relax, what do you do?

She gave him an odd look. “I have fun.”

“How?” he said.

Jordan seemed reluctant to tell him. “I read, I listen to music.”

“That sounds like fun,” he said, grinning.

“And now I’m looking for the brownies that keep stealing things from the house,” she said.

“You believe in brownies now?”

“I don’t know what to believe. But things disappear in the middle of night. I found an old ring in one of the bathrooms. I set it on the sink and a day later, it was gone. Then it turned up in the bottom of a cabinet.”

“Hmm. I suppose I could spend the night with you and we’d search out those brownies soon enough,” Danny suggested.

Jordan met his gaze. “You’re a nice guy, Daniel Quinn. But we won’t be sleeping together.”

“You don’t even know me yet,” Danny teased. “If you did, you’d realize that I’m far from nice. In fact, I’m very, very naughty. As for sleeping together, it’s a little soon to be makin’ a statement like that, don’t you think?”

BY THE END OF THE DAY, Danny had managed to get the old laundry set up as a temporary forge. It had been impossible for Jordan to get any work done and she found herself standing at the second-story windows and staring out over the garden, hoping to catch a glimpse of him in the yard beyond.

By the third visit, when she’d brought him a glass of lemonade and a ham sandwich, he’d finished hanging all his tools from a chain stretched across the old laundry.

The coal was delivered by truck after lunch, and she stood and chatted with him as he filled a wheelbarrow full and dumped it beside the hearth. It was almost too much to bear, watching the play of muscle beneath his smooth skin as he worked. She wanted to reach out and run her hands over his shoulders and down his back; but she was left to pretend that his shirtless state had no effect on her at all.

She was thankful that the two dogs were a constant presence; when she ran out of things to say, she’d toss them a stick or rub their bellies.

The sun was beginning to descend in the west when Jordan decided to ask about Danny’s plans for dinner. She’d promised to provide him with a decent meal and she couldn’t think of anything else that might provide them with more time together.

She grabbed the bag of dog treats she’d purchased in the village that afternoon and headed out to the temporary smithy. Finny and Mogue were asleep in the doorway and she called to them, then tossed a treat up in the air. To her surprise, Finny leapt and caught it in mid-flight. When she tossed one Mogue’s way, Finny cut the smaller dog off and grabbed a second bite. “Don’t be so greedy,” she cried. “You’ve already had one.”

“You’re spoiling them,” Danny called from the doorway.

Jordan glanced up, then straightened. Every time she saw him, a tiny thrill raced through her. She wondered when they’d kiss again. “I like them,” she said. “We always had dogs when I was young. Golden retrievers, mostly.”

“Why not get one now?”

“With my schedule? I wouldn’t have time to spend with a pet. It wouldn’t be fair.”

“Well, you can have these two for as long as I stay. If you keep feeding them treats, they won’t listen to me anyway.”

She closed the bag. “So, how are things going?”

“I’m ready to start. Iron and steel stock is coming tomorrow. I’ve finished patterns for the hinges and I should be able to start work on those as soon as I get materials. Here, let me show you.”

She followed him inside to a scarred wooden table he’d found in the stable. “I’ve looked at the doors and they weigh a ton. I’d recommend that you use modern-day hinges for strength. They’ll last longer, they’ll operate more smoothly and I can make dummy straps, so they’ll look like the originals.”

“If you think that’s best,” she said. “I’ll trust your judgment.”

“I think that’s best,” he said. “And it will save you some money.”

“Good. I like that.” Her gaze scanned his naked torso. “Are you finished for the day?”

He nodded. “I was just going to take a quick shower.”

“Come with me. I want to show you something.”

“It’s past five,” he said. “I’m knackered.”

She reached out and grabbed his hand. “This isn’t work. You’ll like it. I promise.”

She pulled him outside, reveling in the feel of his fingers laced through hers. Just the simple act of touching him was enough to send a surge of need through her. She wondered what it might be like to be able to touch him at will, to have the complete freedom to explore his body.

They walked through the house and then down a narrow hallway behind the butler’s pantry. Jordan opened a door and flipped on a light switch before leading him down a short flight of stairs. The air was moist and a familiar scent teased at her nose.

She flipped another switch and the lights illuminated a huge room with an arched ceiling. Set below them was a swimming pool, the underwater lights creating strange shadows on the walls.

Danny gasped. “Jaysus, has this been here all along?”

Jordan nodded. “The water was drained, of course, and it was full of musty old wicker furniture when I got here. And all the plumbing was rusted, but it’s all functioning now.” She stared up at the ceiling. “The tiles were hand-painted by an artist in Belfast. And they were installed by workmen who worked on the Titanic. Luckily, they were in perfect condition. Replacing them would have been ridiculously expensive.”

Danny stared up at the ceiling. “Half-naked fairies must have been pretty racy for the turn of the century.”

“I’m sure they were,” Jordan said. “There are mermaids beneath the water.”

“You shouldn’t have brought me here,” Danny said, shifting his gaze to the water. “It’s like holding out a bottle of water to a man dying of thirst.”

“You want to swim? Go ahead. It took forever to fill. Nearly a week, but the new heater is working and it’s warm enough to use now.”

“Really?” Danny didn’t wait for her answer. He tugged off his T-shirt as he kicked off his shoes and socks. But when he reached for the button on his jeans, Jordan sucked in a sharp breath. Danny glanced up and she quickly tried to compose herself. “Sorry. I figured boxers were just as good as a bathing suit.”

“Oh, no,” she said, “that’s fine. Go right ahead.”

“Turn around,” he said, twirling his finger in the air. “I wouldn’t want to make you blush. Unless, that was your plan all along in bringing me here. Getting me starkers.”

“That’s exactly what I was thinking of,” Jordan said. “Go ahead, what are you waiting for? I’m looking forward to the superhero underwear.”

He glanced down then winced. “To tell the truth, I seem to have forgotten my underwear this morning,” he replied.

She quickly covered her eyes and a moment later, she heard him jump into the shallow end of the pool. When she looked again he was submerged and swimming to the deep end, his naked form visible beneath the wavering water. As he came closer to the surface, she turned back around.

“All right,” he called. “You can look now.”

She peered through her fingers. Danny bobbed at the far end of the pool, his arms stretched out along the tile deck. “Are you going to come in? The water’s beautiful. Warm enough to be comfortable, cool enough to be refreshing.”

“You’re naked,” she said.

“I promise, I’ll stay on this end. And if you’re shy, just leave your clothes on.”

“I’m not going to jump in with my clothes on.”

“Then take your clothes off. I won’t look.” Danny watched her face as she considered her options. “Oh, I can see those wheels turning. Should I cast aside my inhibitions and give it a go? Or should I pretend like I’m a good girl? I know you’re not a good girl, Jordan. There’s a wild woman under that proper dress and cardie.”

“Don’t presume to know what I’m thinking,” she warned.

“We’re both adults,” he said.

“I’m your boss, you’re my employee.”

“I’m your artist, you’re my muse,” he countered.

“More like I’m a canary and you’re a hungry cat,” she said.

“All right, don’t come in.” He pushed off the side and submerged, kicking and stroking beneath the water before he came up in the middle of the pool. “This is incredible. The perfect way to relax after a long day at work. A bloke could get used to living like this. In the lap of luxury.”

“Money doesn’t always buy happiness,” Jordan said.

“Who says that? And who even believes that’s true?”

“I do,” she said. Jordan kicked off her shoes and pulled up her skirt, then sat down on the edge of the pool, dangling her feet in the water. “My father has all the money in the world and he’s never really been happy. He always seems to need more. When is it finally enough? When can you sit back and enjoy what you have?”

“I don’t know,” Danny said. “I never really thought about it.”

“I do,” she said. “All the time.”

“Are you happy?” he asked. “I mean, right now, at this moment.” She thought about her answer for a long moment, a frown wrinkling her brow. “It’s not a trick question.”

“It’s not the money. That’s not why I want a place at Kencor. I’d work for free if it were challenging work. I love my job.”

He swam across the pool and stood in front of her, the water lapping at his waist. Droplets streamed over his skin and clung to his lashes. “You don’t convince me,” he said softly. “I want to know what makes you smile.”

“Watching silly animal videos on YouTube,” she said. “Eating a whole pint of chocolate ice cream at three in the morning. Getting the hiccups from drinking too much champagne.”

“Do I make you smile?” he asked. Danny wrapped his arms around her legs and gently pulled her closer to the edge. “When I touch you?” He smoothed his hand along her thigh, beneath her skirt. “Would you smile if I dragged you in?”

“No,” she warned. “I’d be mad. My phone is in my pocket and I don’t think my watch is waterproof.”

Danny stepped between her knees and reached up to slip his hand around her nape. He gently pulled her toward him until their lips were just a few inches apart.

A tiny sigh slipped from her throat when he removed her watch from her wrist and set it on the pool deck. Then, Danny smoothed his hands over the skirt of her dress until he found her cell phone. He slipped it out of her pocket and set it beside her watch, then gently pulled her into the water. Jordan didn’t even bother to protest. What was the point? Trying to deny her impulses would only frustrate them both.

When her feet touched bottom, she reached for the hem of her dress and pulled it over her head, then tossed it to the pool deck. She’d chosen her underwear very carefully that morning and was satisfied that the scraps of lace and satin were enough for now.

Though it was difficult to ignore the fact that Danny was naked, Jordan decided to keep her gaze fixed firmly on his face to avoid any embarrassing moments. “It is nice,” she said.

He slipped his hands around her waist, his attention moving to her lips. “I’m going to kiss you again,” he murmured. “It’s past five, so I think it’s legal.”

He leaned forward and brushed his damp lips against hers. A flood of need raced through her and suddenly, she felt as if her heart might beat right out of her chest.

Maybe it was the warm water or their lack of clothing, but any attempt at self-control by either one of them had gone missing. Her fingers furrowed through his hair as the kiss deepened. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. Every ounce of her being was focusing on the wild sensations racing through her body.

She wanted to stop, or at least slow down, but she seemed unable to put together the will. When his lips trailed along her shoulder, Jordan gasped. And when he cupped her breast with his hand, a little moan sneaked out. All she could do was react.

Maybe she’d known all along that this was coming. From the moment she’d met Danny, there’d been a powerful attraction. She ruffled his damp hair as his lips trailed from her neck to her collarbone. He drifted lower still, until he could tease at her nipple through the wet fabric of her bra.

Pleasure washed over her, so intense that she felt as if she were drowning in sensation. Jordan closed her eyes and threw out her arms, floating on the surface as he gently explored her body with his hands and his mouth. It felt like total surrender, as if the real world no longer existed. She had no worries, no doubts and nothing holding her back. She was a woman, from the tips of her toes to the top of her head, and for the first time in her life, she was truly comfortable with it.

And then a familiar sound echoed through the cavernous room. Jordan opened her eyes and groaned softly.

“Ignore it,” he said, pulling her up into his embrace.

“I can’t.”

“What could be so imp-”

“It’s probably my father. He calls every Friday about this time for a progress report. If I don’t answer he gets-well, he doesn’t like it.” She carefully untangled herself from Danny’s embrace and walked over to the edge of the pool. Bracing her hands on the edge, she boosted herself onto the deck, then retrieved her phone.

“Hello, Daddy,” she said, hurrying to the stairs and away from the echo of the pool. In truth, she was almost happy for the interruption. Things were moving far too fast with Danny and she needed a chance to take a breath.

From now on, she was going to think before she ripped off her clothes and gave in to the charms of a naked Irishman.