“That was the plan, but my book was going well so I ended up working for most of the night.” He rubbed the edges of his hair with the towel. “I wanted to get it done while I was in the flow of it.”

“So you’ve finished?”

“Just a draft, but a draft is good.” His smile told her just how good.

She couldn’t imagine it, being able to create something from nothing like that. “You probably want to go right back to bed and catch up on sleep. I’ll finish off here and then leave you alone. I can come back later to clean the cabin and change the sheets and towels. I apologize for disturbing you.” She carried on unloading the food from the bag. She felt self-conscious, which was ridiculous because she was just doing her job. Of course, she didn’t usually do her job with a shirtless man hovering. But she wasn’t a teenager. She was past feeling flustered, surely?

“Why are you apologizing? We had an arrangement. I’m the one who changed it. No need to leave, unless it bothers you working around me.”

“It doesn’t bother me.” Although it might have been easier if he put his shirt on.

Perhaps he read her mind because he tugged on his shirt and strolled into the room. “What delicious treats are you bringing me today? That dish you left a few days ago—what was it? Roasted peppers and goat cheese. Sublime.”

She wasn’t a teenager but discovered she was still capable of blushing like one. “Good. You need to eat.”

“I appreciate it. It’s kind of you. Catering isn’t exactly part of my package here.”

“I’m bringing you leftovers, that’s all.” She didn’t say that these days she planned a portion for him into every meal she prepared. “I love to cook, and I always make too much. Ask Zoe.”

“Zoe is your daughter?”

“Yes.” Close up she could see how tired he looked. She imagined him in the early hours, hunched over his laptop on the deck, losing track of time. “Have you had breakfast? Coffee? I could make you something.”

“I’m sure you have things you need to do. It’s the weekend, after all.”

“I don’t have anywhere else I need to be. Zoe is with her dad this weekend.” And she was trying to fill her time and not to think too much about it, because dwelling on what might be happening was a quick way to make herself feel horrible. She’d been awake half the night worrying that Richard might say bad things about her in front of Zoe. She’d managed to upset herself over conversations that had only happened in her mind, but in her defense Richard didn’t seem to be exercising much restraint at the moment. Milly didn’t want Zoe to find herself in the middle of it all.