He gave her a half smile. “Like you say, it was a long time ago.”
Thea chewed the inside of her mouth. “But if your brother was going to run the business, what would you do?” Probably nothing that would get him on the cover ofHotelier Magazine.
“I wanted to be a chef.”
Thea screwed her eyes tight, cringing inside. She’d insulted his food the first time they’d met. Even laughed at his omelette-making earlier. He must think she was an awful person.
But instead of words of ridicule, of blame, a warmth met her skin, and Thea opened her eyes again. Felix had brought his hand to cover hers.
“Losing anyone is hard, but you find your own way again.”
She blinked, unable to look at him, only at the lightly freckled skin disappearing into his sleeve. His touch was gentle, reassuring, intimate even. Thea’s mind returned to the memory of his hand on her breast at the dinner dance, and goosebumps sprung to life on her arm.
She’d never forget the shock on his face when he realised what he’d done. His stunned expression. But there’d been something else in his eyes. She looked for it now, but only understanding and warmth remained. No flinty green, just a soft, deep sage.
Felix cleared his throat, but no sooner had he taken a breath than a clattering rang out in the hallway, followed by loud barking. Their heads spun round as Josh’s giant mutt, Wendy, flew around the corner and barrelled into the room.
Giving Thea a cursory nudge of her nose, the oversized hound rounded on Felix and without a thought, leapt up, tipping his mug of wine into his lap.
“What the hell?” Felix shouted, pushing the wriggling dog to the ground one-handed. He leaned back in the chair, staring down at a dark puddle of wine seeping into his trousers.
Thea winced. “At least they’re black. Wendy!” She snapped at the dog, ordering her to sit in the bed in the corner.
Thea shrank back. What was it about Felix Walsh’s groin and animals? His nether regions were like a wildlife magnet. Perhaps she should take him with her when she had a tricky rescue. He’d be able to trap animals with one wiggle of his hips.
She pushed her chair back and stood, grabbing an old tea towel that hung on the oven door. “Felix, I’m so sorry. Let me help.” Thea dropped to her knees between his legs, holding the fabric above his lap. Not daring to go any closer, she looked up at him and met his green eyes.
What she saw in them sprung a tingle of delight low in her belly. There was exasperation, a touch of amusement, and then a brief glint. A tiny glimmer of something way darker, as if a single, filthy thought had entered his head. Thea swallowed.
“I think it’s best if I mop myself up, don’t you?” he asked, his voice gravelly and deep.
A shiver ran through Thea at the sound, and her teeth tugged at her lower lip.
“Why is it every time we get anywhere near each other, one of us gets dirty?” he asked, taking the towel from her hands.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Am I interrupting something?”
Thea spun her head to see the imposing figure of her brother in the doorway, hands on his hips.
“Oh, crap!” squeaked Thea, getting to her feet as if she’d been cattle prodded in the butt. “Josh! How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough,” he said, eyes travelling to Felix, who was mopping his crotch, wide-eyed.
“Walsh,” Josh said, nodding at Felix and stepping into the room. “It’s been a while.”
“Felix came over to help me out.”
“Did he?” Josh’s lips quirked at the corners, taking in the scene. “I won’t ask in what way.”
Felix stood, folding the towel and feeding it back over the handle of the oven door. “It’s not what it looks like.”
One of Josh’s eyebrows sprung up high.
“Exactly,” said Thea. “The kids are in the house.”
Both Josh and Felix looked at her, and Thea’s cheeks burned. Damn, that hadn’t come out right. She’d made it sound like she and Felix were waiting for some alone time before they began, well, whatever Josh thought was going on.
Thea trailed her eyes over her brother’s face for a reaction. For some hint at how he felt about finding his sister far too close to the groin of the man who’d caused him a lot of grief last year.
