experience of the sort of women who try and seduce men theyâve never met. Was she totally naked?â
Mathieu flashed him a flat look.
Jamie held up a pacifying hand. âAll right, no need to implode. You sure nothing happened? I mean, was there a frisson out there on the ice?â Grinning, he raised a speculative brow.
Mathieu did not smile back. âYou have an overactive imagination, Jamie,â he said coolly.
This time Jamie did read the warning in the other manâs manner. âIf you say soâ¦â he said in his easygoing way. âBut I suppose you do know, Mathieu, that youâre one of the few men in the universe who would get mad about finding a naked beautiful blonde in his bed.â
âI donât like surprises, I suppose.â His dark brows drew into a straight line above his hawkish nose. âI donât know why I ever told you about it,â he added, the exasperation in his voice aimed mostly at himself.
âYou didnât have much choice after I heard you lambasting the hotel staff on their security,â Jamie reminded him. âWerenât you even slightly tempted to take what was on offer? I mean, the delicious Rose is pretty hotâ¦â His wistful sigh was accompanied by a lecherous grin.
It was a grin that Mathieu had a problem with.
His long fingers tightened until his knuckles turned white. His dark lashes came down in a veil as he took a deep breath that did little to reduce the angry pounding in his temples.
âDo people here have nothing better to do than gossip?â he asked coldly.
âNot really,â Jamie admitted. Then, oblivious to the fact his friend was fighting violent urges, he continued to speculate about the blonde.
âI wonder if sheâd like to come and catalogue my book collection after she finishes with Smith?â His comic suggestive leer faded dramatically in the face of the flash of livid fury on his friendâs face.
It was at that moment that Robert Smith announced his presence by clearing his throat.
Both men turned in unison.
âIâm afraid, James, that the booksâ¦well, theyâre not quite what Iâm looking for.â
Jamie took the news with a philosophical shrug. âOh, well, not to worry.â
âI have a friend who might be interested and Iâll mention them to him if you like? Iâm afraid, though, theyâre really not that valuable.â
âIâll buy them,â Mathieu heard himself say.
Jamie looked as surprised by the offer as Mathieu felt. âYou donât know what they are,â he pointed out.
âI have a bookshelf to fill.â
âRight, then, Iâll be off.â
Mathieuâs lip curled into a contemptuous smile. âThe schedule?â he suggested.
The other man struggled to smile back. âJust soâ¦and thank you once more for helping Miss Hall.â
Mathieu watched, his eyes narrowed, as Smith got into the car beside Rose. âI donât like that man.â
Jamie fought a grin. âAnd you hid it so well, Matt,â he said, clapping a congratulatory hand on his friendâs arm. âAs youâre on a roll with the saving-people thingâ¦about my financesâis it hopeless?â
Seeing the real concern behind his friendâs levity, Mathieu dragged his thoughts from the unlikely librarian and back to his friendâs financial situation.
CHAPTER SIX
A LL the way over in the taxi Rose kept going over the morningâs scene in her head.
âIâm afraid, Miss Hall, that I must let you go.â
Jaw clenched, Rose turned her head and stared out of the window not seeing the stunning Highland scenery, dusted that morning by a sprinkling of snow. She squeezed her eyes tight and shook her head. She hadnât had an inkling of what was to come even after that opening, but then she hadnât woken up expecting to receive her marching orders.
âLet me
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