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pressed against hers. He lowered his mouth, his kiss hot and fiery as he claimed her body as his own. She let him have his way, relishing the feel of his hands stroking her body, bringing her closer to his need.
    The music rose to a deafening crescendo. It was all she could do to take a breath. Her chest rose and fell as her body strained for more. She bit her bottom lip; her body quivered with release.
    The sounds grew softer as she brought her ragged breathing under control. Calm settled over her. Darcy opened her eyes, and looked around, surprised to find she still stood close to the piano, just behind Surlock, and that she was completely dressed.
    Clapping sounded behind them. She turned to look. Ms. Abernathy stood in the doorway, wiping her damp cheeks with her apron. “That was so beautiful. I’ve never heard anything like it in my life. Such a sweet sound.”
    Sweet? Had they heard the same music?
    A flood of heat rushed through Darcy. She hoped what she had felt didn’t show on her face.
    Surlock came to his feet. “Thank you,” he said humbly.
    “Was there something you needed?” Darcy asked.
    “No, I heard the music and knew it wasn’t you playing. I just thought I’d peek in to see who was making such a wonderful sound.”
    She couldn’t fault Ms. Abernathy for thinking Darcy wasn’t the one playing. The help had worn earplugs every time themusic teacher came to the estate. Even the teacher had worn them. Finally, Miss Crump had had enough and explained to Darcy’s mother that Darcy was tone deaf. After that, her mother had stopped the lessons.
    “I’ll just go back to my work.” Ms. Abernathy left the room.
    Yes, please go away. When Ms. Abernathy was gone, Darcy stole a look at Surlock. He studied her as though he knew exactly what she’d experienced, which was completely ridiculous, of course. He couldn’t, could he?
    She cleared her throat and kept her expression bland. “You play like a professional.” He was thoughtful for a moment and she wondered if he might have felt something, too.
    “Which doesn’t tell me much,” he finally said.
    She sensed his frustration. “I’m so sorry I hit you over the head.”
    “As you said, I scared you. Even so, I can’t continue to accept your generosity. What if it’s a very long time before my memories return? I doubt you would want me to reside in your guest house indefinitely.”
    The way he talked baffled Darcy. He didn’t talk like most people. His speech was more refined, besides the fact he could play like a genius. He was exactly the kind of man her mother would love to see her dating.
    Oh, that was a thought. She studied him for a moment. “How would you like a job?”
    “A job?”
    “You could live in the guest house and work for me, but the arrangement would have to be between the two of us. No one else could know.”
    “What exactly would I do?”
    “Be my boyfriend.”
    “Boyfriend?”
    “You know, like we were dating.”
    His forehead wrinkled. It was odd how some things he knew, and other things went right over his head, as if he didn’t quiteunderstand the English language. She was leaning more toward the idea he might be from another country. She was pretty sure Surlock wasn’t an American name—first or last.
    “Pretending we were in love,” she said.
    His eyes widened. “That would be a good job. Yes, I would enjoy that kind of work.” His gaze roamed over her in a way that only a blind person wouldn’t guess what he was thinking.
    “No fringe benefits. It would only be pretend.” She wanted to get that straight right up front.
    “I don’t understand ‘fringe benefits,’” he said.
    “Then I’ll make sure I explain them very well.”
    And then she thought about what she was saying. Had she lost her freakin’ mind? No fringe benefits?
She
wanted the fringe benefits, dammit!
    Of course, he didn’t know what no fringe benefits meant. She didn’t have to tell him it had anything to do with sex. She could