‘We’d better make sure that we give him an extra special service,’ my sister says flirtatiously, and I wish she wouldn’t. I’m flustered enough already.

I pick up my bucket and start to wash his car. He grins at me. ‘This is very enterprising, Annie.’

‘I’m determined to get to Peru.’

‘I like that kind of focus in a woman,’ he says, and makes my hormones go all silly. I drop my bucket and then fall off my heels and, in righting myself, knock my bunny ears all askew.

‘I think we’re going to have great fun on this trip, me and you.’

BC doesn’t stop watching me all the time I’m washing his car. When I’m done he gives me a lazy smile and says, ‘Great job. Ever thought of turning pro?’

Then, before I can come up with a suitably witty answer, he hands over a hundred pounds.

I just about stop my mouth from dropping open. ‘I . . . I . . . I can’t take this,’ I stammer. ‘It’s way too much.’

‘Worth every penny.’ He winks. ‘Believe me.’

Then he slides smoothly back into his Exige and purrs away.

‘Wow,’ Lauren says. ‘And he’s going to Peru too?’

I nod. ‘All of the company are.’

‘I bet they don’t all look like that.’

‘No,’ I agree.

My bunny twin punches my arm. ‘You dark horse,’ she says. ‘Are you sure you’re doing this entirely for the benefit of the poor kiddies?’ Lauren waggles her eyebrows at me. ‘Or is there an ulterior motive?’

‘Don’t be ridiculous.’ And, as I try not to think of BC and his sleek curves, my heart-rate returns to normal and I wave in our next customer.

Chapter 52

Chapter 52

On Monday morning, Jude signalled to Lauren to come into his office as soon as she arrived. He closed the door behind her. ‘I’ve been here since seven,’ he said pointedly. ‘Waiting.’

She’d thought about getting into work early as she normally did in an attempt to snatch a few moments alone with her lover but today, instead, she’d turned over in bed and had enjoyed another half-hour’s snoozing.

To be honest, Lauren was thoroughly exhausted after the weekend’s exertions. All the hours she spent in the gym were nowhere near as energetic as the car-washing adventures with her sister had turned out to be. All of her muscles ached. When they’d finished last night, Lauren thought she might never lift her arms again. But it had been fun and she always loved spending time with her twin whatever they did.