by Trish Morey
Funny how he couldn’t get that scent out of his head. Even in the chalet in Klosters, surrounded by beautiful women, perfumed and perfectly made-up and offering the ultimate après-ski experience, it had been the faint scent of apricots that had haunted his dreams. For someone who’d almost made a career of studying the effects of different perfumes on women, enjoying the effects of perfume on them, suddenly they no longer appealed. They were all too heavy, too sickly, too cloying.
It hadn’t been a good holiday. Instead of being relaxed he’d had too much time to think. And there were two women he couldn’t get out of his mind. One was a woman who’d let him make sweet love to her and then disappeared off the face of the earth, a woman who defied every attempt of his to track her down.
The other was a paradox, a strange mixture of innocence but with a hidden core, a centre he was finding more beguiling as the layers came off. And when he’d wanted her, she’d turned him down flat.
No one had ever done that before.
Two women, two totally unsatisfactory experiences. No wonder he was having trouble sleeping.
And now one of them couldn’t even make it into work on time. Things were going to have to change around here.
He heard her brief greeting to Enid and the older woman’s reply, followed by a low, ‘He’s waiting for you. Better go straight in.’ It sounded to Damien like a warning. Damned right.
He waited until he could hear her footfall near his door, her breath rapid but soft, as if she was trying not to let on she was worried. He turned.
‘You’re late!’
‘I’m sorry, but—’
‘Our meeting was for nine o’clock. It’s now closer to ten.’
‘I phoned you…Enid—’
‘You don’t work for Enid. You work for me. When you can be bothered to turn up.’
‘That’s not fair—’
Her protest was cut off with a violent slash of his hand through the air that ended with a slam of his open palm on the desk.
‘Are these the sort of hours you expect to be paid for? Because there’s no place for freeloaders in this organisation.’
‘I can’t help it if the trains are late.’
‘It’s your job to get to work on time. Period. If the trains can’t get you here on time, find a reliable form of transport.’
‘I’ll work through lunch. I’ll make it up.’
‘Damned right you will.’
‘Fine,’ she said with a sniff, pulling herself upright that way she did as if it added inches. ‘At least we agree on something.’
He stopped, the wind taken out of his sails as soon as she’d stopped defending herself. His pause gave him his first chance to really look at her. Her soft linen shift fitted her well without being tight, its pastel tones cool and perfect for summer. By contrast her hazel eyes were blazing but instead of her face glowing red she looked so pale, her skin almost translucent.
‘Are you okay?’
Something flared, bright and potent in her eyes, before it was just as quickly extinguished. ‘Perfectly well.’
‘It’s just that you look a bit…washed out.’
Could he tell? Was it that obvious?
‘Er, I ran all the way from the station and…’ She licked her lips. She’d been going to wait until after their discussion of the roll out of the new campaign, but maybe this was as good a time as any. It might serve to wipe that pompous look off his face.
He watched her. ‘And?’ he prompted.
‘And I’m pregnant.’
Stunned silence met her announcement. But only for a few moments. Then all hell broke loose.
‘You’re what?’
‘I’m pregnant.’ Actually, now that she’d said it out loud, she felt pretty good. It was good to say it. It was good to tell someone who didn’t have the title of doctor before their name. A smile made its way to her lips as her hand rested over her tummy. ‘I’m having a baby.’
His eyes followed the movement of her hand but there was no accompanying smile. In fact the way his lip curled made him look positively hostile.
‘How the hell did that happen?’
She shrugged, still unable to stop smiling. That smug look of his was nowhere to be seen. ‘The usual way.’ She thought about that for a second more, enjoying the experience of turning the tables on him. ‘Or not so usual, I gather.’
He grunted, clearly unimpressed, his anger wrapped around him like a shroud. ‘I didn’t pick you for being careless. I certainly hope you’re more responsible when you’re at work.’
‘I was careless? Oh, that’s rich, coming from y—’
‘If you don’t mind,’ his terse words interjected, ‘we’re supposed to be talking about the campaign—that is, if you’re up to it.’
‘Of course I’m up to it. But Damien, I need to tell you that—’
His body jerked up in his seat. ‘That what? You’re not thinking of leaving the company, are you? That would be damned inconvenient after promoting you. I’m relying on you to see this new campaign through.’
‘No, nothing like that. Not unless you think I should.’
‘Why would I think that?’
‘Well, it’s just that…’
She paused, aware of a disturbance down the hall which was rapidly escalating into a commotion—someone was arguing with Enid. A moment later the door was flung wide open.
Her mouth dropped open as her ex-fiancé, carrying a large bunch of stem roses and a bottle of champagne, burst in with Enid close on his heels.
‘Excuse me, Mr Chalmers, you can’t go in there.’
‘Relax,’ Bryce crooned as he lit up one of his dazzling smiles. ‘I’m sure whoever this is—’ he nodded dismissively towards Damien ‘—will excuse us. Philly and I have important business to discuss.’
‘Mr Chalmers, would you please leave. This is not Ms Summers’s office.’
‘Don’t worry, Enid.’ Damien took a step back as he lowered himself into his chair, sensing an opportunity to learn more about the secret life of Philly. First pregnant, now this character, whom one could only assume to be the father. Was he the reason she’d knocked back Damien’s advances at the Gold Coast?
He felt himself bristling at the thought.
Bryce completely disregarded everyone’s presence but Philly’s, sitting himself down on the desk opposite her. She made an attempt to get up but he pushed her back down, thrusting the bunch of flowers into her lap. ‘For you, sweetheart, and hey, you’re looking better than ever.’ He leaned over and pecked her on her still open lips before he began removing the foil from the top of the champagne bottle.
Philly stared blankly at the flowers but had finally found her voice. ‘Bryce—what’s going on? What are you doing here?’
‘I was going to surprise you when you got home but I thought it would be much more fun to whisk you away from here to a nice romantic restaurant some place. You’ve moved up in the world. Last time I visited you in here you were on a lower floor. Sam—someone-or-other told me where to find you.’
Damien made a mental note to have a quiet word with Sam about company security while he thought about grinding Bryce’s face into the carpet for stealing that kiss. But then why would she be so shocked about her child’s father turning up—unless they’d broken up after the baby had been conceived? His little brown mouse had more layers than the DeLuca Tower.
‘Bryce, why are you here? This doesn’t make sense.’
The visitor ignored her protest and, despite the early hour, levered out the cork, setting it free with a loud pop, and pouring the wine into two glasses he’d extracted from his pocket. He handed her one and took a swig from the other.
Then he turned and locked his baby-blue eyes on her, a lock of his blonde hair escaping from under the designer sunglasses perched on his head.
‘Then let’s go make sense somewhere private,’ he said. ‘Away from all these cronies.’
Damien couldn’t keep silent any more—whoever this gu
y was, there was no way he’d let Philly leave while he was paying her salary.
‘She’s not going anywhere with you.’
Bryce turned, obviously displeased to find the company he’d so readily dismissed hadn’t instantaneously vaporised.
‘Excuse me, this is a private conversation.’
Enid tut-tutted at the door and put her fists on her hips.
‘Imagine that, and we all thought it was you interrupting a private conversation.’
Bryce smiled a false smile that got no further than his bared teeth. ‘I appreciate your loyalty to Philly. It’s very…touching. But she’s safe with me. Aren’t you, Philly?’
Philly took a long look at Bryce as she put her untouched glass on the desk. Even in the midst of her surprise, when he’d first walked in she had been blown away with how good-looking he was, with his tanned skin, blue eyes and blonde hair. For just a while there she’d felt this huge sense of loss—she’d loved and lost this perfect specimen.
But then she’d noticed the way he treated people, the way he rode roughshod over anyone who didn’t serve a purpose to him, and the way he’d assumed she would fall into his arms without a thought to ask her what she wanted.
Why had she put up with him for all that time? She must have been so desperate to have a child it had completely blinkered her view. But the shutters were off now and there was no way he was barging his way back into her life.
‘Philly?’ Bryce prompted.
She looked around Bryce to where Damien was sitting poised, ready to pounce. With his face like thunder, he looked as if he was prepared to tear Bryce limb from limb. Standing behind her at the door, Enid looked more than ready to deputise.
It was empowering having them both here for moral support. And comforting. Only this was something she’d have to deal with herself. Besides which, if she was going to have to explain her pregnancy to Bryce it would be better not to have Damien around to complicate matters.
She exhaled on a long sigh before glancing up to Damien and Enid. ‘I’m sorry, I don’t know what’s going on, but if you’d give me just a moment to sort this out? I appreciate your support but we need a little privacy. If you don’t mind, we’ll continue this in my office. It won’t take long.’
Enid and Damien looked at each other, as if neither was prepared to be the first to leave.
‘You’re sure?’ Damien asked.
‘I’m sure.’
‘Then you stay here. I’ll be right outside if you need.’
She smiled. ‘Thanks.’ Their eyes met again and locked. It’ll be okay, they seemed to be saying. Warmth spiralled through her, touching her in places only he seemed to be able to reach. It was a good feeling.
‘Right!’ Bryce announced, clapping his hands and jolting her out of her mood. ‘You’ve both been a wonderful audience but the show’s over. Allow me to show you the door.’
Damien stood, visibly bristling even as Enid made for a quick exit. Bryce stopped dead in his tracks. ‘Come on,’ he urged, sounding less cocky, ‘you heard the lady. We’d appreciate a little privacy.’
From her chair Philly could tell Damien was itching to do something—she didn’t know what, but he looked as tight as a drum. His dark eyes took on the character of petrified wood—the hardness of stone, polished and glinting.
The contrast between the men hit her then. There was Bryce, elegant as always in his superfine wool suit and with his charming good looks, but soft on the inside. And there was Damien, rock solid, staring him down, exuding more masculine power in those eyes than Bryce owned in his entire body.
A breath caught in her throat as a thrill descended her spine.
He was defending her!
Something warm and luxurious enveloped her just as effectively as if Damien had wrapped his arms around her. She had a champion. Damien would look after her. She knew it just as surely as she knew to draw her next breath and that knowledge gave her strength.
He must care for her—just a little, at least. Maybe one day he could care for them both…
A movement caught her eye and she realised it was Bryce’s Adam’s apple jerking up and down.
Damien raised his chin fractionally and repeated, ‘I’ll be right outside,’ before he turned on his heel and left the room.
A moment later Bryce closed the door behind them. He shrugged. ‘Well, he’s certainly uptight about something. Why don’t we just clear out of this nuthouse altogether? Philly, grab your jacket and bag, we may as well hit the road and find that restaurant, even if it is still early.’
She leaned back in her chair. Already he was barking orders at her and he’d only reappeared in her life barely ten minutes ago. What would it be like if she took him back? Not that that was on the cards once he heard her news.
‘We don’t need a restaurant. We can talk here. What I have to say isn’t going to be any more palatable when accompanied with fine food and wine.’
He came back around the desk and reached for her hands. ‘Aww. Come on, Philly. Can’t you let bygones be bygones? I made a mistake, pure and simple. Everyone does. But I’ll make it up to you.’
She shook her head slowly. ‘Bryce, I honestly don’t think…’
‘Listen, I would never have left you if Muriel hadn’t told me she was pregnant. And she lied to me. It was never my baby! She tricked me into moving in with her. It’s all her fault.’
‘You were having an affair with her for at least a year before that happened. Or am I supposed to conveniently forget about that?’
Bryce shook his head, looking wounded. ‘But this is what you wanted. When you rang and told me you’d do anything to get me back, you weren’t worried about a meaningless little fling then.’
She bowed her head. It was true. In those first few days after Bryce had left she had wanted nothing more than for him to come back to her. She’d even been willing to overlook his straying ways if only he’d soothe the huge sense of rejection he’d left her with. And, after a great deal of hand-wringing, she’d swallowed what little pride she had left and called him on his mobile phone, pleading with him to come back to her.
Funny, but she couldn’t remember him saying that he’d see how it went with Muriel and get back to her if it didn’t work out. As far as she could recall, his parting words had been, ‘Get a life’.
She smiled inwardly at the words. How was Bryce going to feel when he found out she’d done just that?
‘That was a long time ago. I don’t think I could forget about it so easily now.’
‘It’s all in the past. Can’t we move on?’
She looked at him for a moment. Muriel must have put him through the wringer. Now that she was over the shock of seeing him again, close up she could see the tell-tale signs of strain around his eyes. His face had a more pinched look than she remembered.
He was obviously hurting and he’d come to her. Once she might have fallen for his hangdog expression. But no longer.
‘I have moved on. I don’t want to go back.’
He looked up. ‘You’re seeing someone else then?’
Philly laughed. The way he’d so confidently just waltzed in and assumed she was available and waiting for him to come back into her life—and now he looked almost worried.
‘Well, not exactly—’
Relief took over his features.
‘So why can’t you just give me one more chance?’
‘Even if I did, what’s to stop you having another affair?’
‘No, not a chance. I’ve learnt my lesson. I’ll stick with the tried and true.’
Raising her eyebrows, she could barely manage a response to that back-handed compliment. ‘Gee, thanks, that makes me sound special.’
‘You are special, Philly. I shouldn’t need to tell you. You’re sweet, you’re clever and you love me. What more could I ask?’
Philly knew full well that whatever her supposed attributes he’d wandered before while he had her love. What would stop him now that he didn’t?
<
br /> ‘Look, it just won’t work—not now.’
‘Because you won’t forgive me?’
For a moment the temptation to tell him she was pregnant was overwhelming. After all, this guy had featured large for over two years of her life. She was used to sharing secrets and life stories with him. Though that was before…
Now he was merely part of her history. There was really no reason to tell him about the baby at all. Sure he wouldn’t want her once he found out about the baby, but she needed him to understand she didn’t want him anyway.
‘No. Because you were wrong. I don’t love you any more. I’m not convinced I ever did. It’s taken me a while, but I’m getting my life together. I want it to stay that way. There’s no place in my life for you now.’
His face stilled momentarily before a slight tic started up under his right eye.
‘You’re joking, right?’ He tried to smile, but the tic got in the way, jerking up the side of his lip.
‘I’m joking, wrong.’
Putting his head down, he paced a few steps around the office. Suddenly he stopped and looked up at her. ‘Then what am I expected to do? I gave up my flat when I moved in with Muriel. I’ve got nowhere to go.’
Philly almost laughed, until she realised he was serious. ‘Excuse me, but I don’t think that’s my problem.’
His face took a bitter twist as his tic worked overtime.
‘Then think again, sweetheart. I’m moving in with you tonight.’
Suddenly she needed to get out of there—and fast. For someone who’d up until today had an enviable absence of morning sickness she felt pretty close to losing everything she’d managed to keep down in the last six weeks and more.
‘Excuse me—’ She rushed for the door and pulled it open, only to almost trip over the huddled form of Enid, who was trying to look inconspicuous watering the pot-plants just outside the door. Damien stopped his pacing in the waiting area beyond and looked up at her, the storm in his eyes giving way fractionally to concern. For a moment as their eyes met in the confusion she forgot her nausea completely. But only for a moment. Then she felt the surge inside her once more and she rushed past Enid into the rest-rooms beyond.