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‘Pineapple upside-down cake!’ Nan calls, walking in proudly with a silver platter in her hands She places it in the middle of the table and everyone cranes their necks over, ad the masterpiece ‘This is my best to date Would you like to try some of my pineapple upside-down cake, Miller?’ she asks

‘I would love to, Mrs Taylor’

‘It’s so good you’ll inhale it in a second,’ I say casually, picking upmy eyes to Miller He takes the bowl from Nan when she hands it over the table and places it down before turning it a few millimetres clockwise

‘I’ve no doubt I will’ He doesn’t look atHe waits politely for Nan to serve everyone else before she takes a seat and picks up her spoon His estion to eat quickly either He just can’t help himself

His spoon is lifted and sunk into the cake, breaking a piece away Then he scoops it up with ultimate precision and pops it in hishis spoon fro in front of net toto resist hi him as much asat him as he takes another bite Not even his awareness todetersthat I’ve never seen anyone eat one of estive observation and Miller coughing, his hand flying to his lad I have a feeling that I’ll need toanother sixteen hours to him, so I may as well start now

‘Are you okay?’ Nan’s concerned voice hits my ears I’m sure her old face will display concern, too, but I won’t look to confir Miller flustered is too much of a novelty to , sets his spoon down and wipes his azes over to s should be savoured, Livy, not rushed’ He sips his wine, and I feel his foot brush uphi composed

‘It really is beautiful, Nan’ Islowly, then lickingof actions have had the desired effect because lare ‘Did you enjoy it, George?’

‘Did I ever!’ He leans back in his chair and rubs his belly on a satisfied huff of air ‘I e!’ Nan hisses, reaching over and slapping his arm ‘We’re at the dinner table’

‘Never usually bothers you,’ he gruuest’

‘This is your hoed to be welcoton I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting’

‘Oh’ Nan waves a dismissive hand over the table ‘You’re too kind, Miller’

He’s a brown-noser, that’s what he is ‘Better thaninnuendos all over the place, but I simply cannot help it

‘Your coffee was like nothing I’ve tasted before,’ he retorts softly, raising his eyebrows at me ‘I hope you’ll have one ready for ’

I shake e ‘Aars and topped up halfway’

‘I look forward to it’ He gives ain, the one I’ve seen only a few times since I’ve known him ‘Mrs Taylor, would you object if I were to ask Olivia to join ered by his confidence, and why didn’t he ask randmother wouldn’t say no, anyway No, she’ll probably try desperately to find a silk negligee inonin vain

‘I’d love to,’ I answer, halting the potential of the decision being rooman I make my own decisions I’m the master of my own destiny

‘How very chivalrous of you to ask’ Nan’s excite hopes on the basis of what very little she knows of theat her table The whole story would put her in an early grave ‘We’ll clear up and you two go and have fun!’

My chair is being pulled out from behinddirected towards Nan and George’s end of the table without delay ‘Mrs Taylor, thank you’

‘Not at all!’ She stands and lets Miller peck each of her cheeks while she widens her eyes at ’

‘I concur,’ he says, holding his spare hand out to George ‘It’s been a pleasure to e is on his feet, taking position beside Nan and the opportunity, while she’s in such a good ’ He takes Miller’s hand

I’es Dinner has been a painfully long process of secret, suggestive remarks and sneaky touches The pent-up lust in , but the overwhelence that I have, and I have lots of intelligence to block I’m a smart womanexcept when Miller is around

I feel the soothing kneading of his fingers into oing to try and find it because it’s long gone, leaving e and allow Miller to guideroom He doesn’t let his hold of me drop as he takes his jacket from the stand, and then unhooks s?’