‘How long are you here for?’ His forehead wrinkled.
She had to swallow before she could answer. ‘Six weeks. But it might run a little longer as there’s more than was initially listed...’
He lifted one of the large, fluffy white towels from the rack and placed it beside the champagne bottle. ‘I didn’t realise Leo had got that underway.’
‘Mr Castle seemed to think the place would be empty for the duration of my contract.’
‘Ordinarily he would’ve been right.’ Ash’s mouth tightened. ‘Maybe it’s best if we continue this conversation downstairs. Ten minutes, okay?’
She stared at him, shocked. Wasn’t he going to apologise for thinking she’d been hired as his evening’s entertainment?
He stared back at her, his head tilting as he read her expression, and that wicked smile flashed again, banishing what had barely been a hint of remorse. ‘Unless you’re happy to negotiate terms in here...?’
‘Of course not,’ she mumbled.
‘Don’t be embarrassed. I’m not.’ He seemed amused by the colour she knew was climbing her cheeks again. ‘Sex work is legal in this country.’
‘I’m aware, but it’s not my chosen profession.’ She wanted to slide right under the bubbles, she really did.
He shrugged carelessly. ‘Can you blame me for the mistake? The scene was perfectly set—candles, champagne, and you were beautifully positioned to maximise the effect of your...assets.’
His gaze didn’t waver from hers—didn’t drop to assess those ‘assets’ once more. And right now, those assets felt tight and achy and it was appalling.
‘It’s not unusual for you to find a woman just waiting for you in your bath or bed?’ she asked huskily, shocking herself with the question. She never talked to anyone about such things.
‘Not unusual in the least.’ He grinned, the devilish lights in his eyes twinkling. ‘It’s something I enjoy. A lot.’
But he didn’t pay them to be there. They arrived by choice—because of want.
Merle glared at him, horrified by her own reaction, her own wild thoughts. Since when did she feel anything thing like attraction to someone so...so...smugly sexual?
‘Pleasure is something to be valued and appreciated,’ he added almost piously. ‘Not embarrassed about.’
And, with that pithy piece of sexual arrogance, he left.
Merle waited, almost completely submerged, until he’d vanished. The second he closed the door she scrambled out of the slippery bath. She dressed quickly in loose jeans and a tee shirt and threw on a baggy sweatshirt for good measure, despite still burning from that mortifying moment. She left her hair in its damp twist on top of her head and checked her reflection. For a millisecond she stared at her make-up-free skin and wished she was something she wasn’t.
Fool. Why suddenly think of mascara and lipstick? She did not want his interest. Judging by the pictures she’d seen in the media, she wasn’t anything like the women he usually met and that was a good thing. And, while she’d like a boyfriend one day, Ash Castle wasn’t ever anyone’s boyfriend. He was a lover, a seducer, an unrepentant playboy who doubtless left a mountain of broken hearts behind him. Merle’s wasn’t going to be one of them. As if he’d ever be interested anyway. It was only context that had made that glint flash in his face for those few seconds. She shrank in embarrassment, refusing to think about what he may or may not have seen of her in that bath. Or what he’d have thought.
‘Are you usually based on Waiheke or in Auckland?’ Ash called from where he stood in the centre of the atrium the second she appeared on the staircase. ‘Because it’s late. I’m not sure how we’ll get you back to Auckland now the last ferry has already left.’
Merle descended slowly, stopping three steps from the bottom so she could keep her distance yet be able to look him directly in the eyes. She couldn’t leave here. Not tonight or any other night for the next six weeks.
‘I came here to do some work. I need space and peace,’ he added when she didn’t reply, and his gaze grew pointed.
‘You’ll have that,’ she muttered, hoping to assure him despite the sudden racing of her pulse. ‘You won’t even know I’m here.’
His mouth tightened, then curved into a slow, deliberate smile that yet again didn’t quite reach his eyes. ‘Won’t I? When you’re naked in my bath and sleeping in my bed?’
She stared, sure he’d worded that deliberately to put those inappropriate images in her mind and unsettle her all over again. ‘I’ll switch to another room, of course.’
She tried to breathe away the blush she felt beating across her face and trained her own gaze a little lower. It wasn’t the wisest move. He had the most perfect cheekbones; they were like blades, angling towards the arrogant set of his chin and his full mouth. And she really shouldn’t look at his mouth. The full sensuality of it made her think of hunger and kisses. She forced her focus back up to his eyes. They were intent upon her, but within their heated gaze there was more than unhappiness growing. There was misery. Why?
‘Delay your work for a week,’ he said abruptly. ‘Head home for a holiday. Full pay, of course.’
She instantly forgot her curiosity. Head home? To where exactly? She stared, unable to think of a reply as her anger built. Why did he need this enormous house all to himself? Why this one, when he had all those others? Aside from being a whizzy finance billionaire in his own right, she knew he was the heir to the Castle Holdings luxury apartment empire in Australia. His father had amassed a huge amount of property over there—where Ash Castle was supposed to be living right now.
But the man standing before her was obviously used to getting everything his way. To ‘full paying’ away any annoying inconveniences. And, not so deep beneath her surface, she smarted from the sting of his rejection. It was stupid, especially given the fact that she was well used to rejection.
For once in his life Ash Castle wasn’t getting everything he wanted. At least, not tonight. He’d arrived on a whim and it was too bad for him that she was already here—under contract and with nowhere else to go.
‘I don’t need a holiday,’ she said stiffly. ‘I need to do my job. Which means I need to stay here.’
‘Until tomorrow.’ He nodded. ‘Then you can go home for a week.’
She gritted her teeth. ‘Unfortunately, I’m between residences at present.’ She hated having to inform him of the deeply personal fact.
‘Between residences?’ he echoed bluntly, his gaze sharpening. ‘You mean you’re homeless?’