The Ice Seduction (Ice Romance) by SK Quinn Read Free Book Online

woods. Go no further than the stream. Got it?’
    ‘Yes.’ The rebel in me is itching to ask why. But I don’t.
    ‘And the third rule. The most important one. The West Tower is completely off limits. Understood?’

19
    ‘Yes, Mrs Calder told me that too,’ I say. ‘But I wouldn’t worry. I don’t even know where the West Tower is right now.’
    ‘It’s above the main entrance.’
    ‘Oh.’ My brain starts tick tocking.
    Above the main entrance … where I saw that flash of something in the window yesterday …
    Patrick walks around the desk, resting one hand on the walnut wood.
    ‘Ready to be put to the test?’
    ‘Yes,’ I gulp, feeling my skin sigh at his nearness.
    He goes to t he door and opens it. ‘Ladies first.’
    ‘Tha nk you,’ I say, slipping by him. I feel his strong, hard body against my shoulders.
    Oh good lord, he’s a dangerous man. He must know the effect he has on women. Is he toying with me? Does he know that my heart is beating like a rabbit’s?
    In the corridor, I stand a little taller – trying to look all cool and calm. Which is a bit of a joke right now. I’m nothing of the sort, especially when Patrick joins me outside the office.
    ‘This way,’ says Patrick, stalking out and away at a fast pace.
    I half walk, half run after him, struggling to keep up.
    We stop outside a closed door – another office by the looks of things – and Patrick turns to me.
    ‘ Agnes will take over from here. I—’ Patrick turns to me, his blue-green eyes nearly knocking me over. ‘It’s good that you’re here, Miss Harper. Bertie needs someone strong.’
    ‘I won’t leave him,’ I say. ‘No matter how tough things get. That’s something you won’t need to worry about with me. The only reason I’d leav e is … I guess if you asked me to.’
    Patrick ’s eyes burn into me. ‘Why would I do that?’
    I shrug. ‘I don’t know. Why did all the other nanni es leave? Didn’t you lose patience with them or something?’
    Patrick laughs, and I’m knocked sideways by the handsomeness of his smile, all strong white teeth, square jaw and twinkling eyes.
    ‘Is that what you think?’
    ‘I … I guess I sort of assumed …’
    ‘You think I’d want Bertie to have a different nanny every week?’
    I blush. ‘No, I guess not.’
    ‘The nannies all chose to leave. They couldn’t handle Bertie so they packed their bags.’
    ‘That won’t be me,’ I say. ‘I don’t leave when things get tough.’
    Patrick’s face moves closer to mine, and for a moment, I feel my lips burning.
    ‘Is that so? ’
    Oh shit, shi t, shit. Stupid body! Blood is rushing all around, from my forehead all the way down my chest. I should step back, but I feel my body pulling towards him.
    But m y god, he’s beautiful. And so commanding.
    ‘Yes ,’ I manage to say.
    Our faces are inches apart now, and my breathing is getting quicker and quicker.
    ‘Seraphina Harper,’ says Patrick, playing with the words. Trying them out. ‘There’s something … intoxicating about you. Do you know that? You’ve been running around my mind since I found you yesterday.’
    I can see his strong, thick eyebrows and the little muscular creases either side of his mouth.
    ‘Intoxicating?’ I whisper. ‘Is that something you say to all the nannies?’
    ‘No. ’ He reaches out a hand, and runs a knuckle gently down my cheek. ‘I’ve never said that to anybody before.’
    My body is in turmoil. A crazy part of me wants to throw myself into his arms. The sensible part of me wants to run away as fast as I can. This is so dangerous. Our bodies are way too close …
    S uddenly, something like anger burns in my chest.
    No way am I falling for the boss. I have a job to do and a little boy who needs me.
    I’m stronger than this.
    I take a step back.
    ‘I’m here to do a job, Mr Mansfield,’ I say, my voice as firm as I can manage.
    Patrick doesn’t take his eyes from me. ‘I know,’ he says, his voice going low. ‘And for