But she didn’t run. Instead, she gave him that lovely smile that almost made him groan with longing.

‘Don’t be ridiculous, Alex,’ she said mildly. ‘I know you’re joking.’

He wondered what she’d say if she knew he was deadly serious. At the present moment there was nothing he’d like more than to share a bath with Jenny.

She was totally unlike any woman he’d ever been involved with before, but maybe that was part of the attraction, he mused silently.

One thing was sure, she’d be hideously shocked if she could read his thoughts.

Hell, he was shocking himself.

‘I’m going for a swim.’ Hopefully the freezing water would dampen down some of those hormones of his that were raging out of control. ‘I’m stiff after standing in one position for too long.’

She stared at him, appalled. ‘Alex, you can’t swim now! It’s already dark.’

He shrugged carelessly. ‘It’s fine. I often do it.’

‘Please, don’t.’ She bit her lip. ‘I’ve had about as much trauma as I can stand for one week. You’ve only just got over a horrid bout of flu. You’ve been at work all day. If you get into trouble in the water…’

His tension increased and he moved his shoulders and grimaced. ‘My shoulders are aching from standing in one place for so long.’

‘Then lie down on the sofa and I’ll give you a massage,’ she suggested, and then rolled her eyes. ‘I suppose you’ll take that the wrong way, too.’

He gave a wry smile. ‘You’re becoming harder and harder to shock, Jenny Phillips. That’s what comes of living with such a disreputable rake as me.’

Her eyes slid away from his. ‘You’re not so bad, but as you’ve brought the subject up…’ She hesitated and cleared her throat. ‘I have rung a couple of agents looking for a flat.’

He felt as though he’d been kicked in the stomach and then frowned. Hell, wasn’t that exactly what he wanted? For Jenny to move out?

No.

It was the last thing he wanted. ‘Why would you do that?’

She avoided his gaze. ‘Because the issue of Daisy’s paternity is taking longer to sort out than I thought it would. I—I truly hadn’t intended to land myself on you indefinitely. Sooner or later Daisy and I are going to need somewhere of our own,’ she said quietly, ‘and obviously I want to stay near to you so that you can see Daisy.’

Was he bothering her as much as she was bothering him?

He narrowed his eyes and looked at her closely, searching for clues, but he couldn’t tell much if she refused to look at him.

Unless that was a sign in itself.

‘Why would you want to move out? You’re struggling with money as it is and if you start paying rent…’ He shook his head. ‘No. Forget it. You and Daisy stay here until my lawyers come up with an answer on her paternity. Then we’ll work out the best course of action.’