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as he pulled the bedding from her grasp and left her naked to his hungry stare and grateful for the warm heat emitted through the newly installed steam ducts.
    “If it’s ravishment my lady wants,” he said as he curled his fingers around her ankles. He pulled her down the bed, sliding one slim leg on either side of his waist.
    Cara cast a glance to the tray by the bed and a thought flitted through her mind as warm breath tickled over the inside of her thighs.
    Nate growled. “Don’t even think of making a grab for the bacon.”

    Cara stood on the threshold of the dining room and could scarce believe the transformation Amy wrought in just over a week. Her friend arrived in desperate need of a distraction and she fell upon the challenge presented by the gloomy old house. The first room attacked was the impromptu breakfast room. She painted the dark panelling a soft cream and complemented the shade with cream wallpaper scattered all over with bronze dragonflies flitting amongst lotus blossoms. Even the large dining table seemed a pale gold under its fresh linen cloth. The silk drapes reminded Cara of buttercups scattered over a field and framed the French doors out to the patio and garden. Or what would be the garden, once spring arrived and Cara managed to chase the sheep and several goats out from the overgrown maze and weed-ridden beds.
    “It’s lovely, Amy,” she said to her beaming friend. “So light and cheerful, and I do believe you have vanquished every spider in the room.”
    “Lachlan and Mr Jackson removed the spiders, when they weren’t shoving them down each other’s shirts like a couple of school boys.” She gave Cara a hug. “Consider this my present to you, since I have nothing else to give.” A slight frown crossed her face at her newly cut-off status.
    Cara squeezed her friend’s arm. “I’m sure you’ll work magic on the house. You seem to have brought a treasure trove with you in those chests from Liberty’s.”
    A shy smile crept over Amy’s face. “I have a delicious chintz I am thinking would look perfect in the evening lounge.”
    A rumble vibrated through Cara’s body, setting sensitive nerves alight. Nate shot her an accompanying look. “We may have to negotiate on the chintz,” she murmured.
    “I’ll show you the samples later. But whatever took you so long to get dressed? We have all been waiting for you, breakfast is practically over.” She gestured to the assembled family, all in the throes of finishing their breakfast.
    “Nate was giving me my present,” she said.
    Nessy and Loki both gave a snort of laughter from the back of the room. Nessy stared at Cara’s tousled hair and flushed skin and then she elbowed Nan. “I’d be late too if he were giving me something first thing in the morning.”
    “Do tell,” Amy said, oblivious to the swirling innuendo. “What did he give you?”
    “Diamonds.” Cara shot a look to Nessy, willing her to hold her tongue in front of the less worldly Amy. She knew Loki was a lost cause, but she did chuckle to see the pirate preoccupied with reaching the sideboard for seconds while keeping Nessy in his line of sight. He had the look of a man confronted with a python who would draw him into a fatal embrace if he dropped his guard. Which Nessy no doubt would; she made no secret of her desire to wrap herself around the much younger man.
    Nan rose from her place at the table and gave Cara a hug before kissing her cheek. “Happy birthday, my darling girl.”
    “Quite.” Amy gave a shake, brushing off her thoughts. “Twenty two years old today and a married woman. Who would have thought it?”
    “I would never have imagined such a scene a year ago.” Cara took a seat on the brightly covered chaise by the large glass doors. The view outside revealed a grey day with clouds threatening to drop their burden of snow.
    “Where were you a year ago?” Amy asked as she sat next to Cara.
    A smile lit her eyes. “Pouring drinks at a saloon