She settled herself near the door and his eyes flickered to the intercom that she placed next to her.

‘What’s that for?’

‘It’s so that I can hear Daisy.’ She lifted her fork and stabbed a piece of broccoli and made an attempt at civilised conversation. ‘It’s very beautiful here. Do you swim every evening?’

‘Yes.’ His answer was terse and she gave up on conversation, choosing instead to sit quietly and concentrate on her meal.

It was all very well wanting Alex to get to know Daisy but she was only too aware that it meant that he had to get to know her, too. And he’d made it perfectly clear that she was the last person he’d choose to spend time with. If she hadn’t been here she had no doubt that he would be doing something much more exciting than sitting on his deck eating noodles.

They ate in a tense silence for a few minutes more and then she tried again.

‘This is a fantastic spot.’

‘I chose it for its privacy.’ His meaning was crystal clear and she sighed, wondering how she was ever going to build any sort or relationship with him.

The truth was, she just wasn’t used to dealing with men like him. He was way out of her league and just being within a metre of the man made her nervous. If it hadn’t been for Daisy she would have legged it the moment he’d stepped out of his flashy sports car.

‘What’s the sauce?’

She jumped, startled that he’d actually spoken to her. ‘Pardon?’

‘I like the sauce.’ He took another mouthful and nodded approvingly. ‘It’s delicious.’

He liked her cooking?

She hid her surprise. ‘I—I made it. It’s a mixture of things.’

‘Well, it’s good.’ He lounged back in his chair, his glass in his hand. ‘You’re very domesticated, aren’t you? Homemade bread for breakfast, baby food from scratch, dinner in the evening…’

Jenny flushed, sensing that he was mocking her again. ‘I love cooking.’

‘Very wifely.’

She winced at his acid comment.

‘I’m not trying to be wifely, Dr Westerling,’ she replied steadily. ‘But both of us have to eat so it seemed sensible for me to cook. You may find this hard to believe but I don’t have any designs on you at all.’

Alex cleared his plate and lounged back in his chair. ‘I do find it hard to believe,’ he said shortly. ‘Women have used all sorts of tactics in the past to try and persuade me into marriage, but you’re the first one to actually go to the lengths of producing a baby. You’ll have to forgive me if I’m a little sceptical about your motives.’

Marriage?

She gaped at him. ‘Is that what you think? That I want you to marry me?’

He shrugged carelessly. ‘Why else would you move in here and start cooking me dinner?’

Marry Alex Westerling? It would mean sentencing herself to a lifetime of torture. She would never, ever be comfortable with him. He was just too…too…male.