Free The Vintner and the Vixen (Vintage Love Book 1) by Alexia Adams Page B

We have air-conditioning, at least in the bedrooms.”
    “The Heritage Society won’t let you put in better windows, but you’ve got air-conditioning?”
    Jacques did not look pleased at his grandfather’s suggestion. “We didn’t ask,” he answered. “Most of the bedrooms have secret passages to them. Evidently when the house was constructed, my ancestors liked to have discreet access to their mistresses’ bedchambers. We simply routed the air-conditioning ducts through these spaces.”
    “Clever. And is that all the passages are used for these days, air-conditioning? There’s not a flurry of bed swapping every night?”
    “With me, Daniel, and Grand-Papa the only residents? No way.” Jacques moved towards his grandfather, who still looked at her expectantly.
    Her resistance wasn’t strong enough yet to sleep in the same building as Jacques.
    “Thanks for the offer, but I’m fine here.”
    Charles wasn’t even subtle in nudging Jacques. Maya hid a smile by pretending to drink her iced coffee. Big, important Jacques de Launay controlled by his elderly grandparent.
    “You are most welcome to stay at the chateau, Maya. In fact, I insist,” Jacques said.
    “Is this your plan to prevent me from starting up the chainsaw again at the crack of dawn?”
    “Of course not. Your comfort is my only consideration.” Not even he could say that lie with a straight face.
    Looked like she was moving up to the big house. Into the lair of the beast.
    ***
    Damn Grand-Papa and his meddling. Now he had temptation under his roof. Worse, his grandfather had insisted Clarisse’s old room was the only one suitable for their guest. Forty-two bedrooms and Maya was to have the one connected to Jacques’s.
    But arguing with his grandfather was about as useful as complaining to a rock about its shape. Jacques led Maya up the stairs and to the far end of a long corridor. He halted two doors from the end and sucked in a deep breath.
    He opened the door and gestured for her to enter. Maybe she’d be so disgusted by the decor, she’d return to the cottage or insist on another room. Almost everything was in shades of pink, and there were ruffles on the bedspread. Ruffles. It looked like Barbie had thrown up. But at least it was cool. He couldn’t have asked his worst enemy to sleep in the cottage in this heat. And as much as it galled him to admit it, Maya was no enemy. Inconvenient, unconventional, irrational, and possibly dangerous to his self-control, yes. But he’d bet money she never set out to hurt anyone deliberately.
    He placed her bag on the bench at the end of the bed. “There’s a closet through that door if you want to hang up anything. Or I can ask one of the staff to do it for you.”
    “I’m pretty sure I can manage to hang up the few things I’ve brought. What’s through that door?” She pointed at another panel at the opposite side of the room, near the bed.
    He strode over and opened it. “Washroom. I’ll get some towels for you.” He pulled out his phone and called the housekeeper, Marie, as Maya wandered around the room.
    “My bedroom is through the connecting door in the washroom,” he said after returning his phone to his pocket.
    “Wait, what? You’ve put me in a room that connects to yours?” Maya’s arms were crossed under her breasts, thrusting them up, but he forced his eyes to remain on her face.
    “Is that a problem? There’s a lock on the door if you’re worried. Or you can choose one of the other rooms, and I’ll ask the housekeeper to get it ready. Grand-Papa is downstairs. Daniel’s room is down at the other end of the hall, but he’s away at the moment, doing a photo shoot for some sponsor, I think.” He turned away as he mentioned his younger brother so she couldn’t see his expression.
    “Do you think I want to be closer to Daniel?”
    “Most women do.” He shrugged.
    She strode over to him and put her hand on his cheek, waiting until his gaze met hers. Dieu , did she have