A Dangerous Infatuation by Chantelle Shaw Read Free Book Online

was intruding on her precious time with Holly and she was impatient for him to go. ‘What was it you wanted to discuss?’
    ‘Where are you moving to?’ Rocco parried her question with one of his own.
    She shrugged. ‘I don’t know. I only heard this morning that the owner has decided to sell Primrose Cottage. I’d like to stay in the local area, but if I can’t find somewhere affordable to rent I may have to consider moving closer to Newcastle.’
    ‘Cordelia would miss you if you moved away.’
    ‘I’d miss her, too.’ Emma bit her lip at the prospect of having to leave the village she loved and the many friends she had made in the past three years, since she had moved into Primrose Cottage with her month-old daughter. She had built a life for herself and Holly here, away from all the painful memories of Jack.
    ‘Why don’t you buy the cottage yourself?’ Rocco’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
    ‘I’d love to, but it’s impossible. I’m a single mother, and my nurse’s salary simply won’t stretch to buying a house.’
    The scent of Rocco’s cologne teased her senses, and in the small hall she had nowhere to look but at his broad-shouldered figure. He was dressed in pale jeans and a thick oatmeal-coloured sweater, topped by a black leather jacket; the look was casual yet sophisticated—and heart-stoppingly sexy. Emma resented her fierce awareness of him. She wished he would explain the reason for his unexpected visit, but he seemed in no hurry to leave.
    ‘Cordelia told me your husband died. Did he not leave some sort of provision for you and your daughter such as a life insurance policy?’
    Emma almost laughed at the suggestion that Jack might have behaved with any degree of responsibility. In fact she had been awarded compensation from the fire service after his death, but the money had all gone on settling his huge credit card debts that she had been unaware of until she had sorted through his paperwork.
    ‘Unfortunately not,’ she said crisply, her tone warning Rocco that it was none of his business. She faced him square on, preventing him from walking down the hall. ‘Look, I don’t mean to be rude, but I have a lot to do this morning …’
    ‘Mummy, I iced the cakes …’
    Emma turned her head and stifled a groan when Holly trotted out of the kitchen, her hands coated in sticky white icing. Thank heavens she’d had the foresight to cover her daughter’s clothes with an apron, she thought ruefully. She’d forgotten that she had left Holly stirring the icing while she dealt with the estate agent, and could not blame the little girl for becoming impatient.
    ‘I can see you have, sweetheart,’ she murmured, wondering if any icing had actually made it onto the cakes.
    Holly stared curiously at Rocco. ‘Are you a ‘state agent?’
    ‘You mean an
e
state agent,’ Emma corrected, but Holly’s attention was focused on the big man who dominated the narrow hall. Usually a shy child, she seemed unconcerned by the presence of a stranger in the cottage, and Emma understood why when she glanced back at Rocco and realised with a sinking heart that her little daughter had been charmed by his smile.
    ‘Hello, Holly.’ His deep voice was as soft as crushedvelvet. No, I’m not an estate agent. I am your mummy’s friend.’
    Since when?
Emma wanted to demand. But Holly appeared happy with the explanation.
    ‘What’s your name?’
    ‘Rocco.’
    To Emma’s surprise Holly gave Rocco a wide smile. ‘Me and Mummy made cupcakes. You can have one if you like.’
    The man could charm the birds from the trees—and obviously every female from the age of three to ninety-three, Emma thought irritably, adding the proviso
bar this one
. ‘I don’t think … Rocco …’ she stumbled slightly over his name ‘ … has time at the moment. He was just leaving,’ she added pointedly, flicking him a sharp glance.
    He returned it with a bland smile and an amused gleam in his eyes before turning his