“Oh, that was something I heard in my head,” he said, too aware of her proximity. She smelled like a combination of roses and fresh spices.

Her eyes widened in surprise. “You mean you just made it up?”

“Well, I heard it. It was just a few chords, a few measures, really.”

“Have you made up other things?”

He reluctantly nodded. “I’ve tried.”

“Play one,” she commanded. “Play one you’ve composed.”

This was the nicest she’d been to him since she’d hauled him back to the ranch on the back of her horse. He bloody well wasn’t going to refuse her. “Okay, but no rotten fruit or pies,” he said.

He played one of his recent compositions and held the last note for a few beats, then turned to her.

“That was beautiful,” she said. “Can you play another?”

He would play all night to see that soft look in her eyes. “Of course,” he said and played another. That piece eased into another and another.

Maria sighed at the end. “It’s late,” she said but didn’t move.

He nodded. “It is.”

She met his gaze. “This was nice.”

“Yes, it was.” Her face was inches from his, and it was all he could do not to lower his mouth to her exotic lips. He wanted to explore her texture, taste her, plunder her.

She glanced downward for a second, then met his gaze again, her dark eyes full of secrets he wanted to learn. “Thank you for the private concert, Geoffrey.”

“My pleasure,” he said, feeling his gut tighten in a dozen knots. “I’m quite inexpensive,” he said. “If you should like another-” He cleared his throat. “Session.”

Her lips tilted in a sensual smile and she stood. “Thank you. I look forward to it.” She lifted her hand and brushed his hair from his forehead. “You should go to bed. Morning will come early.”

“Yes,” he said, but he had a strong feeling that he wouldn’t sleep. Maria had infiltrated his senses, and it would take more than a shower to get his equilibrium back.

The following morning when Geoffrey saw Maria in the kitchen, his heart squeezed tight in his chest. “Good morning, Maria. How are you?”

“Busy,” she said in a dismissive voice. “Everyone else has eaten and left. There are biscuits and eggs in the warming pan.” She nodded her head toward the opposite counter.

“You waited for me,” he said, feeling a rush of delight.

She looked at him as if he were crazy. “No.” She lifted two large bags. “I was preparing lunches for the campers. Don’t forget to clean up,” she said and left the kitchen.

Geoffrey felt like a fool. Why did he care what this woman thought of him? The tender side of her he’d glimpsed last night must have been an aberration. Yes, she was full of fire, but she clearly wanted to use that fire only to keep him away. Yes, she fascinated him, but nothing would come of it.

Being pissed provided Lori with extra energy to clean the bathroom floors. She’d made a huge mistake by telling Jackson they should get married. In the light of day, she knew she’d been impulsive.

That didn’t change how much the ride had meant to her, though. Even surrounded by the scent of ammonia and scrubbing a white porcelain sink, she could easily recall the sensation of wind on her face, the combined scents of horseflesh and Jackson, his taut abdomen beneath her hands.

The exhilaration and sense of freedom had been the most exciting, amazing thing she’d experienced in years. The ride had made her feel alive and she wanted more. With him. She scowled at the thought.

“Hullo,” Geoffrey said from the doorway. “So sorry I’m late this morning. Can I help?”

She glanced up at him and saw a glum expression on his face. “Are you sure you want to? The floors in the main cabin are all that’s left.”

“The activity will do me good,” he said. “Can’t have you thinking I’m a bum.”

“Of course not,” she said. “Anything wrong?”

He shrugged. “My stepmother is stalking me.”

She winced in sympathy. “Oh. Can you put her on ignore?”

“I did that. She filled up my entire voice mail with messages. I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but she thinks I’m completely incompetent. She has no confidence in me or my judgment.”

Lori thought of Jackson and felt a bitter twist. “I can identify with that. I got the same thing from my father and-” She broke off. “Others.”

Geoffrey looked up in surprise from the mop he was pushing. “That’s bloody ridiculous,” he said. “Look at you. You’re perfectly capable of doing whatever you want. You have a good head on your shoulders and you can even-” He waved his hand. “You’ve become an excellent cleaner.”

Lori laughed. “Are you trying to flirt with me? Telling me I’m a great bathroom cleaner.”

“No flirting. I’m completely sincere.”

“Thank you.” She rubbed a spot on the mirror above the sink. “I’m not sure Maria would give me her stamp of approval yet.”

“Yes, well, she doesn’t seem to approve of much,” he said in a testy voice. “Looks down her nose at most everyone.”

“Oh, no,” Lori said. “I thought she was getting less hostile toward you.”

“Oh, no,” Geoffrey said, shaking his head. “She looks at me like I’m something off the bottom of her shoe.”

Lori frowned. “I wonder if I should talk to Virginia about it. Maria is entitled to her opinion, but she shouldn’t be permitted to act nasty.”

“No, I think you shouldn’t involve Virginia,” Geoffrey rushed to say. “She appears to have enough on her mind.”

“That’s true,” Lori said and turned to him. “So you and I have something in common. People think we’re incompetent.” She felt a trickle of irritation run down her back. “What gave these people the right to be so judgmental? For that matter, why should we care?”

Geoffrey met her gaze and nodded. “You’re right. Bloody hell with them.”

Bloody hell with him.Or them, Lori mentally corrected herself. Geoffrey’s phrase became her mantra. The more she thought about Jackson ’s response to her quasi-proposal, the more pissed off she became.

Sure, she’d surprised him, but he hadn’t said one positive word in response. Unless she counted his grudgingly muttered I’ll think about it.

She hadn’t met Jackson ’s gaze once during dinner. She would have felt more satisfied if she hadn’t sensed that he was ignoring her out of complete disinterest.

She heaped a helping of mashed potatoes onto her plate, feeling another rush of pique. “ Virginia, the meal is delicious.”

“Thank you.” Virginia beamed. “But Maria helped.”

Lori felt resistant to offering any compliments to Virginia ’s capable assistant. Was there anything the young woman couldn’t do? “Thank you both,” she said and turned her attention to Geoffrey sitting beside her. “You’re enjoying it, too, aren’t you?”

Geoffrey patted his stomach. “Yes, I am. Thank you, both of you. With a meal this good, I should sing for my supper, but I don’t want to hurt your ears.”

Lori laughed. “Perhaps you could play something on that old piano upstairs. Didn’t you say you could play?”

“I suppose I could,” he said, and Lori thought she saw him shoot a quick glance toward Maria. She suspected he feared her unceasing criticism.

“That sounds grand,” Virginia said. “Since the campers have left and we won’t have any for another couple of days, we can all take the time to enjoy it.”

“I need to do some evening chores with the horses,” Maria quickly said.

“I already mucked out the stalls,” Lori said cheerfully.

“Thank you, Lori.” Virginia nodded in approval. “Then it’s decided. We’ll take our desserts upstairs for an after-dinner concert.”

“That room is very dusty,” Maria said.