by SJ
He bit his lip thoughtfully. He would be in England next week, he knew where Emily worked, and now he had her phone number. And, however busy she said she was, she’d make time for him. In his mind, there was no doubt about that!
He went across to the cabinet and poured himself a drink. ‘To us, Emilee-a,’ he murmured, raising his glass. ‘To you and me. And Lady Luck.’
CHAPTER FIVE
‘YOU can’t turn me down tonight, Emily,’ Justin said softly. ‘Not on my birthday!’
Emily looked up quickly, trying not to look as irritated as she felt. Justin simply would not take no for an answer—and it was beginning to get on her nerves. What made it worse was that they were always seated next to each other, so he was a constant presence in the busy upstairs office. Not to mention the fact that he happened to be the boss’s son—which made it doubly awkward for her to keep turning him down. But, the fact was, she didn’t fancy him, not one bit, and didn’t relish the thought of them being alone together off duty.
‘But how much more celebrating do you need to do, Justin?’ she said, giving him a rather watery smile. The entire staff had already been to a wine bar at lunchtime to honour the occasion, and someone had bought cream cakes to go with the afternoon cup of tea.
Justin gazed down at her thoughtfully. He couldn’t understand her reticence. He’d tried so many times to get her to accept his offer of a night out somewhere, and he’d certainly never been turned down by anyone before. But Emily was different from all the others…and, as far as he knew, she hadn’t been out with anyone else from work, either. He frowned slightly as he looked down at her. She always looked so fantastic in the regulation black suit and white shirt, her sheer black tights and high-heeled shoes doing full justice to her slim legs and dainty feet.
‘Well, it’s just that we might round off the day in spectacular fashion,’ he said, a slightly teasing note in his voice. ‘Make it one to really remember.’
Emily turned her attention back to her computer. She had made up her mind that she was not going with him anywhere tonight, but neither did she want to offend. He was a nice enough bloke, but his persistence was becoming over-familiar and she’d had enough of it.
‘I’m sure you’ve a whole list of suitable partners to make your dreams come true tonight, Justin,’ she said, ‘but I’m already spoken for, I’m afraid.’ She shifted some papers on her desk. ‘I’m entertaining someone to dinner at home tonight—a long-standing arrangement which I can’t possibly alter.’
He waited a moment before replying. Then, ‘I don’t believe you,’ he said teasingly—but meaning it.
Emily felt really angry at that. How dared the man doubt her honesty? But it was too late—she’d told a lie and now she’d have to brave it out. ‘Believe what you like,’ she said flatly, her colour rising. ‘The fact remains that I’m not free to accept your kind offer and, before I even begin to think about tonight, I’ve got all these lists to complete, so if you don’t mind…’
As it happened, it had been an exceptionally busy day for everyone, and it was gone seven o’clock before all the staff finally left the office, spilling out onto the pavement and making their ‘goodnights’ to each other.
‘What have you got lined up for this evening, Justin?’ one of the other men asked. ‘Something special?’
‘It was going to be special,’ Justin said breezily, glancing at Emily, ‘but I’ve been turned down. Still, I shan’t be spending it alone, I promise you.’
Everyone then went their separate ways and, to Emily’s annoyance, Justin fell into step beside her as she began to walk away.
Then, from a doorway close in front of them, a dark voice suddenly uttered her name and Emily could have shrieked in amazement—and delight!
‘Giovanni!’ she cried and, without a moment’s hesitation, she almost threw herself at him, clutching him around the neck and offering him her mouth to be kissed. And Giovanni, momentarily transfixed by her reception, wasted no time in closing his lips over hers—putting his arms around her waist and lifting her right off her feet.
‘Emilee-a,’ he began, putting her down gently but before he could say anything more, she cut in.
‘Giovanni, this is Justin—who happens to work with me,’ and, turning now to Justin, she said triumphantly, ‘and this, Justin, is Giovanni Boselli.’
To give him his due, Justin managed not to look too taken aback at what he’d just witnessed—he’d never realized that Emily could express herself so…so freely, like that—and he cleared his throat.
‘Good to meet you…Giovanni…’ he muttered. ‘So, you’re the lady’s choice, then, are you…? Well, I do hope that you have a pleasant evening with Emily.’ He paused. ‘I’ve heard that she’s a fair cook, so I’m sure she won’t disappoint you tonight.’
It hadn’t taken long for Giovanni to size up the situation, and he made good use of it, his arms still wound around Emily’s waist. He’d wondered what sort of greeting he’d get from her, because she’d had no idea that he was going to turn up—he’d decided to surprise her rather than give her time to think up an excuse. And it seemed to have worked better than he could have dreamed!
‘Emily has never disappointed me in anything,’ he murmured, smiling down into her upturned face, his eyes twinkling mischievously.
‘Well, have a great evening,’ Justin said. ‘See you on Monday, Emily.’
As soon as he’d gone, Emily disentangled herself from Giovanni, who made no effort to stop her, merely grinning down at her.
‘I had no idea that you’d missed me so much, Emily,’ he said smoothly. Then, more seriously, ‘I take it that I was a useful, shall we say, decoy just now?’
Emily glanced up at him rather shamefacedly as they began to walk towards the tube station, thinking how suave he was looking in his dark business suit and grey shirt, though the loosened tie around his neck hung down casually ‘Yes, sorry if I embarrassed you, Giovanni,’ she said. ‘But I refused to go out with Justin this evening, even though it is his birthday, saying that I was entertaining someone at home tonight. And he didn’t believe me—quite rightly, I’m afraid. But, when I saw you there, I was able to…well…play the part, shall we say. It was as if fate had stepped in to make things easy for me!’
‘I’m always very…happy…to be of service,’ he said softly, putting his arm through hers protectively and his touch—now that they were alone—made Emily’s breasts tingle. She quickened her step.
‘How did you know that I’d be around, anyway?’ she asked, not looking up at him. ‘I didn’t tell you where I worked…’
‘I knew the firm, but not the branch office,’ he said, ‘so I took a chance and looked in earlier this afternoon and asked if Emily Sinclair was in today—and the girl on the desk told me what I needed to know. My own office is only a ten minute walk away, where I’ve had to be for the last few days, so it was no big deal. And, if you hadn’t worked there, I’d have tried the other branches until I found you,’ he added.
After a moment, Emily said, ‘You could have rung me first.’
‘What—to have you turn me down?’ he said, that teasing note in his voice again. ‘No chance!’ He took her elbow more firmly, to steer her across the road. ‘And now that I am here, you have no choice but to be my date for the evening. I’ve several suggestions where we might go.’
Emily’s emotions were totally mixed up now. She freely admitted that she’d felt absolutely blown away to see Giovanni standing there—it couldn’t have worked better for her to convince Justin that she was spoken for that evening—but it wasn’t only that. She knew that the very sight of Giovanni had set her heart pounding. In the intervening days since they’d been together she’d hardly stopped thinking about him, and to see him again in the all-too-seductive flesh had set her senses spinning. Which was why she hadn’t wanted to meet him again—if she could help it. He was threatening to thwart her plans to remain emotionally uninvolved with anyone at all—at least for the foresee
able future. Remember Marcus, she kept telling herself, remember how you felt when he decided he didn’t want you any more, that he loved someone else. Can you bear the thought of that happening all over again? But Emily knew with a sinking heart that every time she was near to Giovanni it would be increasingly difficult to resist him, and it wasn’t her fault that he’d turned up tonight. So she’d have to deal with it as best she could.
Pulling herself away from all these thoughts, she glanced up at him as they joined the teeming home-going masses on the Underground. ‘Well, I think I owe you one, Giovanni,’ she said. ‘A meal, I mean,’ she added hurriedly. ‘If you think you can trust my cooking, I’d be happy do the honours this evening.’ She paused. ‘I am rather tired, as a matter of fact—it’s been a long week, and going out anywhere doesn’t really appeal.’
‘Sounds perfect to me,’ he murmured. ‘I hope Coral won’t mind my intruding on her space.’
‘Oh, Coral won’t be there,’ Emily said. ‘She’s staying at her parents’ home in North Wales. She’ll be back on Sunday night.’ She didn’t look at Giovanni as she spoke. She was going to make it very clear at the outset that she was merely being polite and returning his generosity by providing him with supper. It wouldn’t be quite up to the standard of the meal they’d had in Rome, but her reputation in the culinary stakes was fairly high. She was the one who usually cooked when she and Coral were together at home.
The flat which the two girls shared was in a quiet residential street in a suburb of the city and, as she opened the front door, Emily glanced up at Giovanni.
‘I’m afraid our place isn’t quite as grand as yours,’ she said lightly. ‘Not so big, anyway,’ she added.
He followed her up to the first floor, and as they entered the flat he looked around him appreciatively. ‘It’s very nice, Emily,’ he murmured. ‘Perfect for two working girls, I should have thought.’
As Emily had said, it was not large, only boasting a sitting room, two small bedrooms, a minute galley of a kitchen and a bathroom with only enough space to accommodate the usual facilities and a shower cubicle.
‘I shall own my own place one day,’ Emily said, ‘but this will do for the moment—and sharing the rent and all the expenses with Coral means that I can save up.’ She smiled at Giovanni, who stood with his hands in his pockets, glancing around him.
‘It’s a very…pretty…home,’ he said. He looked down at her. ‘Just the sort of place I’d imagine you to be living in, Emily.’
His speculative eye had noted the expensive curtains at the windows, the luxurious cushions scattered around and the framed pictures on the wall, three of which were graced with soft over-lighting. He went closer to inspect them, his eyes narrowing. They were all watercolours, mostly of charming pastoral scenes, with one seascape and a couple of still life.
‘I don’t recognize any of these paintings,’ he said, turning to look down at her.
‘No,’ she said, ‘because they’re originals.’ She paused. ‘They’re my own feeble efforts, I’m afraid.’
Giovanni was genuinely amazed—and impressed. He knew a good painting when he saw one, and these were, to his mind, professionally done. But then he remembered that she’d said she’d worked in an art gallery, so it was obviously a subject dear to her heart. ‘They are not feeble—they are fantastic, Emilee-a,’ he said slowly. ‘You have a real gift.’ He looked back at the pictures for a moment. ‘But you must know that, without me pointing it out, surely? What on earth are you doing in a travel agency?’
‘I did do an Arts degree at university,’ she said, ‘and I’m never happier than when I’ve got a paintbrush in my hand. But I’d have to be exceptionally good—and very lucky—to earn my living at it, so I work where someone will pay me.’ She turned away. ‘Maybe one day I’ll be able to afford to just sit at my easel and paint…but goodness only knows whether that’ll ever happen. I’d need a fairy godmother—or a big win on the Lottery, which I don’t do, in any case.’
‘Your family—your father—must think you’re brilliant,’ Giovanni said, still staring at the pictures.
Emily smiled. ‘Yes, I suppose he does,’ she said. ‘But he would, because I’m his daughter. All parents think their kids are brilliant, don’t they? And that’s not a good enough recommendation. He insisted on rigging up those lights, and he’s done the same for a few of the ones I’ve given him at home,’ she added.
‘Well, I’d recommend your expertise any day,’ Giovanni said firmly—and meant it. ‘Haven’t you tried selling any?’
‘I’d be too embarrassed to try!’ Emily said at once. ‘I’d only have to be rejected once, and that would be it! So I restrict myself to giving them away as presents to friends.’
‘I hope that I come into that category,’ Giovanni said, ‘because I’d love one of your paintings, Emily—for my flat.’ He turned to glance at her. ‘And I’d be happy to pay your price—whatever it was.’ He paused, looking straight into her eyes. ‘Feasting one’s eyes on beautiful things cheers you up,’ he added. ‘It’s good for the soul.’
Emily suddenly felt almost overcome by all this flattery and she said quickly, ‘Look, I must just change out of my work clothes, then I’ll start getting our dinner. Make yourself at home, Giovanni.’ She switched on the television, handing him the remote control. ‘And help yourself to something from our rather modest drinks table,’ she said as she went into her bedroom.
Doing as he was told, Giovanni poured himself a small whisky, then wandered over to the window thoughtfully. He was quietly amazed at how things had turned out today—amazed that he’d been able to track Emily down so easily, and gobsmacked when she’d thrown her arms around his neck in the street like that—although the reason for that had been made very clear straight away. He smiled to himself. Thanks, Justin, he thought. If it wasn’t for you, I mightn’t be here at all, now. He took a drink from his glass. Just another piece of luck which had come his way so unexpectedly.
Sitting down on the sofa, he switched on the TV, flicking through the channels for a few moments, and presently Emily emerged, wearing tight jeans and a white T-shirt, her hair brushed out loosely around her shoulders. She seemed to have removed her make-up, he noticed, as he admired the natural, fresh glow of her skin, and he stood up immediately, deciding not to compliment her on her appearance, even though it was the first thing he would normally do with any female he happened to be with. And most of them responded to it very happily. But he knew he had to tread carefully where this woman was concerned…She seemed to have her feet very firmly on the ground, and wouldn’t necessarily appreciate too much sweet-talk.
‘It won’t take me too long to get our food,’ she said lightly, ‘so do freshen up while I do it, Giovanni—if you want to.’ She smiled, indicating the bathroom. ‘You don’t need a map to find your way around our flat.’ She turned to go into the kitchen, saying over her shoulder, ‘My brother was supposed to be spending the evening with me—but he hasn’t been very well for the past few days so was going to go straight home to bed. And I always plan something a bit special when he eats here with me, so I hope you’ll approve of tonight’s menu.’
Giovanni grinned. ‘There won’t be any trouble on that score, Emily,’ he said. ‘Especially as I only had a very quick bite with the others at lunchtime.’
Emily took the two generously sized veal cutlets from the fridge. She’d prepared them before leaving for work that morning, wrapping them in cheese and a fine slice of ham before coating them in breadcrumbs. They’d only take a few minutes to cook, she thought. She’d also parboiled and sliced the potatoes, which were now ready to be layered with onion, butter and cream and baked quickly for a short time in the oven. And there’d be green vegetables or salad—Giovanni could make that choice, she thought.
She smiled as she busied herself. She did love entertaining—not that she did very much of it now. There never seemed much time, and she was often away from home in any case. But this was what she liked be
st-just cooking for two. Sometimes it would be for Paul or her father, very occasionally, but more often it would be just her and Coral.
She finished preparing the potatoes, popping them into the oven just as Giovanni came to stand in the doorway. Leaning casually against the wall, he said, ‘This was something I did not expect, Emily—to watch you beavering away on my behalf. I’d hoped to be able to buy you dinner somewhere tonight.’
She looked up at him quickly. ‘But you did that when we were in Rome,’ she said. ‘Now it’s your turn to be treated.’ She paused for a moment. ‘Now, would you prefer salad or green vegetables? Your choice.’
He stared down at her for a long moment, thinking that his ‘choice’ wouldn’t have anything to do with food. He’d glanced in at her open bedroom door as he’d gone into the bathroom—her bed looked extremely comfortable and very inviting! But he knew very well that his carnal instincts were not going to be satisfied—not here, not with Emily Sinclair. But he was an experienced lover of women, each of whom had to be treated as an individual, he knew that. No rushing in where angels fear to tread, he thought.
He cleared his throat, trying to keep his mind on food. ‘Any green vegetable will be great, Emily,’ he said in answer to her question.
‘Good. I was hoping you’d say that,’ she said lightly.
As she was fairly sure it would, the meal turned out well and Giovanni was unstinting in his praise. ‘Not only does the lady paint like an angel, she also cooks like one,’ he murmured, glancing across at her as they sat together at the diminutive table in the window. By now, it was getting quite dark outside. Emily had switched on the discreet lamps in the room and the effect was cosy, soothing and intimate. Giovanni, feeling relaxed and totally at ease, put down his knife and fork and looked around him. ‘I imagine that the décor here is all down to you, Emily?’ he asked casually.
‘Mostly,’ Emily replied, ‘and it’s a good thing that Coral is so easy-going. She never argues about anything, so she was quite happy for me to choose the material and make the curtains and the cushion covers.’ She took his empty plate and began to clear the dishes. She paused for a moment, the dishes in her hand. ‘There is one big matter on which we’re disagreeing at the moment though,’ she said. ‘It’s Nico…Do you remember that it was Nico who she spent the last evening with in Rome? Well, he not only turned up at the airport to see her off, but apparently he’s phoned her every single day since we returned to England, stating his undying love for her, and Coral, being Coral, is falling for it!’ Emily sighed. ‘She keeps phoning me to give me all the details and she’s so excited. I don’t like to pour cold water on her enthusiasm…but honestly—can anybody be that gullible?’