Anna's point of view
I became aware of light, when I subconsciously expected darkness, and there was the tantalizing drift of fresh coffee teasing the air as I shifted in bed and slowly opened my eyes.
The hotel suite, Eric… Each descended in a heartbeat.
The small banker's lamp glowed on the desk where Eric was seated, keying data into his laptop.
What was the time? My watch…where was it?
I checked the bedside pedestal, saw the offending timepiece, and snatched it up.
Six.
The markets. She was in danger of missing the early morning fish market.
In one swift movement, she threw back the bedcovers and rose to her feet, then she quickly pulled on jeans and dragged on a sweatshirt.
'What do you think you're doing?
Eric's silky drawl drew a fraught glance in his direction as she slid her feet into her trainers.
'Going to the fish market, I said without thought to my voice, or it's returned. 'I should have been there an hour ago.
The sedative I'd taken had to have been responsible for my sleeping through the alarm. Or, did she even remember to activate it?
Whatever; it hardly mattered. My main priority was to reach the markets before the fishermen loaded up their catch and began their deliveries.
'Call in an order.
'That's not how I choose my supplies.
Deft fingers smoothed my hair into a ponytail, and then I reached for my jacket, collected my shoulder bag, and crossed the room. Only to find Eric blocking my way.
Clad in jeans and a cotton tee-shirt, he exuded a raw masculinity…heightened by the fact he had yet to shave, and the dark stubble added a primitive air I endeavored to ignore.
'Enlighten me.
'Personal selection sites are good quality, I elaborate.
'And I prefer wholesale to retail prices.
He let his gaze travel over my features. 'You had less than five hours' sleep.
'So what else is new? I wanted to hit him, and for a brief second, I considered it. Except there was a warming stillness that boded ill for any retaliatory action.
'Can we have this argument later, rather than now?
Without a further word, he shrugged into a jacket, collected keys, wallet, and the room keycard. 'Let's go.
I opened my mouth to protest, then closed his shin and followed him out to the bank of lifts.
I was aware of the concierge calling up Eric's car, whereupon I gave Eric directions as they traversed slick wet streets, and a short while later we caught sight of fishmongers loading what was left of the catch.
Without a word, I slid from the car and hailed two men by name as I raced towards them.
Eric cut the engine and emerged into the cool morning air, to lean lazily against the Lexus as I went into action, watching as I offered apologies and issued a plea to view and select my restaurant's daily order of fresh fish, lobster, local crustaceans and prawns.
Eric witnessed the men's expressions change from irritation to philosophical acceptance, and glimpsed myself answering with a smile as we conceded my choices.' A short while later, I returned to the car, and he straightened to his full height.
'I gather you saved the day.
I had, at wholesale prices. The alternative, if I'd been any later, would have meant buying at an inflated retail cost. 'Thanks.
'That's it.
'For now.
'Why do I get the feeling there's more?
I crossed around to the passenger side and relayed the day's schedule as I opened the door. 'I get to have an hour's sleep, grab breakfast, and hit the restaurant around nine.
He leaned an arm against the roof and regarded me carefully. 'Not today.
'Today. I slid into the seat, aware he copied my actions.
He fired the engine and cast a piercing look at me. 'It's not negotiable.
'The hell it isn't. My eyes sparked blue fire as anger rose to the surface. 'Our deal, for want of a better word, begins when we sign the marriage certificate.
Which, God willing, wouldn't happen for another week or more at least.
I needed time to adjust to the idea of sleeping with him.
Oh, get right…intimacy. Even the mere thought elevated her pulse rate and did strange things to my equilibrium.
If only I could indulge in the physical, and hold my emotions in check. Engage the body, but close out the mind.
Fat chance. He'd engaged me emotionally from the moment I'd first met him…something which hadn't changed in a decade.
And now I would soon take his name, share her body with his, and attempt to pretend it was OK.
The early morning rain shower had ceased, and the grey dawn subsided as the sun began coloring the landscape.
Light traffic traversed the streets, and within minutes we reached the hotel.
'I'll go work out in the gym, Eric indicated as he unlocked the suite.
I inclined my head as I toed off my trainers and shed my jacket, and then I set my watch alarm and backed it up by requesting a wake-up call.
While I did that, he exchanged his jeans for sweats, held up a towel, and slung it over one shoulder, then he exited the suite as I crawled beneath the bedcovers.
A short morning nap was so much a part of my daily routine that I was asleep within minutes.
The next thing I knew was the sound of the alarm buzzing in tandem with the insistent peal of the phone replaying my wake-up call, and I reached for the handset, closed the alarm, swung her legs out from the bed…and saw Eric unloading our breakfast tray onto the table.
'Hi.
'You had no trouble sleeping?
He'd showered, shaved, and exchanged sweats for tailored trousers and a business shirt left unbuttoned at the neck.
'The habit of years, I managed evenly.
He examined my features and the crumbled ash-blonde hair drifting onto each cheek.
There was evidence of faint bruising beginning to emerge on the underside of my jawline, and he masked a momentary surge of anger.
With me, for neglecting to fill in the finer details of precisely who she'd owed money to and when it had been due for payment.
Eric pointed at the table. 'Come and eat while the food is hot.
I rose to my feet in one fluid moment and automatically loosened the tie holding my hair in place. 'Give me a few minutes.
I collected fresh clothes and attempted to ignore the way my stomach executed a backward flip as I moved past him.
He disturbed me more than I was prepared to admit, and there was a sense of temporary relief as I reached the en-suite.
In a matter of minutes, I was done, and I emerged feeling better equipped to face whatever the day might bring.
I couldn't pinpoint the last time I'd had a cooked breakfast, and I slid into a chair as Eric joined me at the table.
Coffee—hot, black, and sweet—was liquid ambrosia, and I forked a portion of Eggs Benedict, savored it, then continued eating with renewed appetite.
'First up this morning is a legal appointment, Eric began.
'Followed by various real-estate inspections.
'You intend to buy a house?
'We need somewhere to live.
The plural 'we' caused a sensation to spiral deep inside, and I took a soothing sip of coffee, then carefully placed the cup down onto its saucer. There was the home Micheal and Maya had shared.
'No, Eric refuted quietly, accurately reading my thought pattern. 'That's not a consideration.
If he insisted on adding to his property portfolio, why should I attempt to argue?
'After lunch, we'll fit in some shopping before I meet with Micheal's managerial staff.