‘You always were a feisty little thing,’ Chris said with a grin, and Jenna returned his smile.
‘I’m so glad you’re here,’ she said softly. ‘It’s a great idea to have a gap year before university. How long do you think you’ll stay?’
‘A couple of months, if you’ll have me. I need to get a job and save up before I do any more travelling—but right now isn’t it time to collect Maisie? I can’t wait to see her.’
It was late in the evening before Jenna finally persuaded Maisie into her bath and bed routine, and the little girl was still bubbling with the excitement of her uncle’s visit when she snuggled under her duvet. She appeared quite happy after her long day at the nursery—indeed, she informed Jenna that she was now one of the ‘big girls’ and only babies were collected at lunchtime.
She was asleep within minutes of her head touching the pillow, and Jenna felt a surge of adoration for her little girl. Maisie had always been small for her age and had lost her baby chubbiness, her face as delicate as one of the fairies that adorned her bedroom wall. She had inherited Jenna’s grey eyes and red hair, although it was a shade lighter, and her long eyelashes curled on her cheeks as she slept.
She would lay down her life for her child, Jenna accepted resolutely. She would do everything in her power to protect and care for Maisie, and if that meant dealing with Alex Morrell on a daily basis, she had better get used to the idea.
Her shoulder was throbbing, and she toyed with the idea of taking one of the painkillers Alex’s doctor had given her but decided against it. She hated taking pills, especially ones that might make her drowsy. Despite Alex’s orders, she was determined to go to work the next day—and arrive on time.
Chris had gone to bed early, tired from travelling, and she was just about to do the same when the phone rang. She frowned as she went to answer it, recalling the spate of nuisance calls she had received a few months before. If Lee was starting his mind games again she would report the calls to the phone company, she vowed. But the voice at the other end of the line was very definitely not her ex-husband’s.
‘Alex!’ She fought to control the sudden pounding of her heart, and her voice sounded annoyingly breathless and excited.
‘I thought I’d better phone and check that you’re all right,’ he told her, his own voice so cool that the little flame of pleasure in her breast was quickly doused. He was merely doing his duty, she reminded himself. It wasn’t as if he actually cared about the injury she had received at the hands of the mugger. ‘Have you taken the painkillers Guy prescribed?’
‘I was just about to.’
‘Hmm.’ He was plainly disbelieving. ‘Make sure you do. What did Chris say about your attempt to be Superwoman?’
Jenna frowned. ‘I haven’t told him about it yet.’
‘You haven’t told your husband that you were injured?’
‘It’s nothing,’ Jenna said quickly, belatedly remembering that he believed Chris to be her husband. She wasn’t used to lying, and already it seemed that her one small lie was sprouting shoots like fast-growing ivy. If she wasn’t careful she could very easily trip up. ‘Thank you for ringing,’ she murmured huskily, and heard him sigh.
‘I owe you an apology; I should have believed the reason for your lateness this morning. I’m sorry.’
How could the sound of his voice affect her so strongly? Jenna thought frantically. Her legs felt like jelly, and a curious warmth, which had begun in the pit of her stomach, was flooding through her veins so that she felt hot and flustered. ‘It’s fine, really—a simple misunderstanding.’ She hesitated, remembering the other misunderstanding that had occurred in the park, when he’d thought she was inviting him to kiss her, and she prayed that he was not experiencing the same flashback. ‘I must go,’ she mumbled. ‘It’s been a traumatic day.’
‘For you and me both,’ he replied, somewhat obliquely, but before she could decipher his meaning he bade her goodnight and hung up.
Chris offered to take Maisie to nursery the next morning, so that Jenna could catch an earlier train, and consequently she was the first to arrive at the office—although to her chagrin Alex was not there to witness it.
‘Alex will be in court for most of the day,’ Margaret explained. ‘But he won’t be happy when he discovers that you disobeyed him and came into work this morning.’
It was a pity Alex hadn’t informed his numerous girlfriends that he would be out of the office, Jenna commented crabbily, after three different women had rung for him in the space of an hour.
‘He is popular with the ladies,’ Margaret agreed. ‘But so far none of them have managed to pin him down. He’s a brilliant barrister—a wonderful successor to his father—but I hope he meets someone special one day, otherwise work will take over his life.’
‘Selina Carter-Lloyd seems very keen. Perhaps she’s the one?’ Jenna suggested. ‘She was very insistent that I ask Alex to return her call.’
‘Well, the two families have been friends for years, and Selina is very cultured and charming, but I don’t believe Alex is in love with her.’
‘What’s love got to do with it?’ Jenna muttered bleakly. She had been in love once, and look where it had got her. The husband from hell and a mortgage the size of third world debt. ‘I’m not convinced that being in love is the best reason to get married.’
Margaret threw her a speculative glance, but said nothing. Her few gentle enquiries into Jenna’s private life had been in vain and she didn’t want to pry. If Jenna had problems she wished to confide she would do so in time, and Margaret was determined to provide a sympathetic ear. She had taken an instant liking to Jenna, and was certain that Pippa would not return to work after her maternity leave. She was also aware that Katrin Jefferstone would jump at the lower position if it meant working directly for Alex. Not if she could help it, Margaret vowed; sharing an office with Katrin was bad enough!
And with that thought in mind she invited Jenna to lunch.
Jenna had given up any hope of seeing Alex that day, and had almost convinced herself that it was a relief to be spared his sardonic humour. It was now four o’clock, she had worked like a Trojan all day, and was idly sketching a few ideas of illustrations for a children’s book that she had written for Maisie when a voice in her ear made her jump.
‘Very pretty—but it’s not exactly work, is it?’
‘Alex! I didn’t hear you come in.’ He moved with the stealth of a panther, she thought irritably, mortified to have been caught slacking.
‘That’s obvious,’ Alex replied dryly. ‘Although it beats me why you’re here at all. I specifically told you to take the day off to allow your shoulder time to recover.’
There was no warmth in his blue eyes, and Jenna gave up. It seemed that she could do nothing right in this man’s eyes. He was the boss, she reminded herself, and he had every right to expect high standards from his staff. If only he had returned to the office an hour earlier, he would have found her hard at work.
‘These are exceptionally good,’ he commented, flicking through her pages of drawings and ignoring the hand that tried to snatch them from him. ‘You’re very talented. Did you ever study art?’
‘I was studying for a degree at St Martins,’ she admitted, referring to the famous London art college. ‘My work was often criticised for being too finicky, but I love intricate drawings and sketching minute detail.’
‘So you have a degree in art?’
‘No, I wasn’t able to finish. There were problems, and studying didn’t fit in with married life…’ She tailed to a halt, unable to explain that her unplanned pregnancy had put an end to her dreams of being an illustrator. It would have been possible for her to return to college after Maisie’s birth, but Lee had been adamant that if she had spare time on her hands she should find a job.
Alex gave her an assessing look and then glanced back at the sketches, curious to know what kind of a man she had married—one who didn’t encourage her talent, obviously. �
��That’s a pity,’ he said quietly. ‘Perhaps you’ll have an opportunity to complete your studies in the future?’
‘Perhaps,’ she agreed, aware that there was no chance. That part of her life was over, and the hopes and aspirations she had once held seemed like childish dreams compared to the reality of life as a single mother.
‘I’m only here briefly.’ Alex moved away from her desk and distanced himself from the soft grey eyes that tugged at his heart. There was sadness in those eyes, a hint of regret, and he wanted to ask if her husband had forced her to give up studying the subject she loved.
It was none of his business, he reminded himself. Jenna Deane was married, had committed herself to another man, and he would do well to ignore the flare of awareness that dilated her pupils whenever their eyes met.
‘Margaret has filled me in on most things. Were there any other calls I should know about?’
Jenna flicked through her diary. ‘Selina Carter-Lloyd, Victoria Patterson, Sara Mittford. Although Miss Carter-Lloyd was the most persistent. You’re obviously a popular guy.’
Her sniff, the tilt of her small nose as she gave him a disdainful stare said it all, and a smile tugged the corners of his mouth. ‘You know what they say about all work and no play!’
His smile was her downfall, Jenna acknowledged ruefully. When he smiled his stern features softened, and she couldn’t drag her gaze from the sensual curve of his mouth. Her tongue unconsciously traced the outline of her lips. Suddenly the air was charged with a tension that was almost tangible. Alex’s smile had faded, his eyes narrowed, and there was a curious stillness about him, reminding her of a hunter stalking its prey. It was just a look, he wasn’t even standing close to her, yet her body burned. She could feel her nipples harden, and to her shame she was aware of a melting warmth between her thighs.
‘Alex, we weren’t expecting to see you again today.’ If Katrin was aware of the fraught tension in the office she ignored it, but Jenna recoiled from the look of sheer dislike she received from the other woman.
‘I only stopped by to collect a few papers.’ The spell was shattered and Alex strolled into his own office, knowing that his excuse was pathetic. There was nothing so vital that he needed to work on it that evening, but it had been a long day, and he had searched for a reason to return to his office, furious with himself for his need to see Jenna again.
‘Alex! This is a surprise. Is everything all right?’
Couldn’t he even visit his own office without everyone questioning his motives? Alex reined in his irritation and smiled at Margaret. ‘Everything’s fine, I just forgot a couple of things.’
‘Right.’ Margaret could not conceal her bafflement. Alex had an almost clinically precise mind, he never forgot anything, but as Jenna entered the office Margaret caught the unguarded look in his eyes and speculated on the reason for it.
‘If there’s nothing else, I’ll be off now, Alex,’ the younger woman murmured.
‘Give me five minutes and I’ll give you a lift.’ Alex glanced up as Jenna hovered in the doorway. ‘I’ve got a date this evening over your way.’
‘There’s really no need,’ Jenna replied hastily, balking at the idea of being alone with him for the forty-five minute journey across town.
‘It’s no problem.’ His urbane smile disguised the determination in his voice.
To argue further would evoke Margaret’s curiosity, so Jenna sighed. ‘Thank you.’
There was no chauffeur-driven Bentley in the underground car park this time. Instead Alex led her over to an expensive-looking sports car and helped her into the passenger seat before coiling his long body behind the wheel. In the confines of the small car Jenna was achingly aware of his every movement, the way his hand brushed against her thigh every time he changed gear, and she squeezed as far as possible into the furthest corner of her seat.
‘You can relax,’ he said dryly, his patience paper-thin. ‘I’m not in the habit of making a pass at unsuspecting secretaries while I’m driving.’
‘I didn’t think you were,’ she snapped, her cheeks scarlet as she forced herself to sit properly and stare resolutely out of the window for the remainder of the journey.
Now she must appear rude and ungrateful, she thought miserably, searching for something to say to break the silence.
‘Does Miss Carter-Lloyd—?’
‘Where does Chris—?’ Alex broke off and laughed. ‘You first.’
‘I just wondered if Miss Carter-Lloyd lived near here. You said you had a date,’ Jenna reminded him.
‘So I did. But, no, Selina doesn’t live in this part of London.’
Which must mean he had a date with someone else, Jenna surmised, and wondered why she was glad that he did not date Selina Carter-Lloyd exclusively. ‘What were you going to say?’
‘I was going to ask what line of business Chris is in.’
‘Chris is…um…’ There was a frantic pause while she racked her brains. By Chris, he meant, of course, her husband. Her ex-husband was a fireman, but she had no desire to discuss Lee’s heroics. Chris had mentioned that he was going to apply for a job at a popular fast food restaurant, so she murmured, ‘He’s a chef.’
‘Really? Does he have any Michelin stars?’
‘No, he works in a burger bar.’
Alex’s brows shot upwards. ‘So you’re the main wage earner? Is that why you were unable to finish art college?’
‘Kind of,’ Jenna said, her tone non-committal. The conversation was getting way to personal, and she gave a sigh of relief as Alex turned into her road. ‘Have a good evening,’ she urged as she bade him goodnight.
‘I intend to,’ he replied, and she watched his car race off, deriding her over-active imagination at the thought of him with some stunningly beautiful girlfriend. Alex Morrell was out of her league, she reminded herself sternly, and she had the responsibility of a child to consider—a child he knew nothing about.
The rest of the week flew by, and despite the heavy workload Jenna found that she enjoyed the challenge of her job. It felt good to stretch her brain and realise that motherhood hadn’t turned it completely to mush.
She enjoyed working for Alex Morrell—although enjoyed wasn’t quite the right word. By turn he teased and terrified her, and she quickly came to respect his brilliant wit. She’d discovered that the only way she could work with him was to avoid looking directly at him. One glance at his hard, handsome face was enough to distract her mind from even the simplest task, and so she carefully studied the carpet, the desk or a point behind his shoulder whenever he addressed her. Occasionally, when her eyes sought him of their own accord, she found him watching her, but she dared not meet his gaze, her cheeks glowing pink as she hastily turned away.
With the notable exception of Katrin Jefferstone, the other staff were friendly and welcoming, and Jenna was touched when she was issued an invitation to the other senior partner’s birthday dinner.
‘Alex has made a private booking at the restaurant, and we’re all meeting there straight from work,’ Margaret explained. ‘It’s fairly informal, so I’m just going to bring another blouse to change into before we go.’
It seemed good advice, particularly as she had little else apart from her work suit that was suitable for an evening out, Jenna conceded. She had arranged for Maisie to spend the night with her neighbours, Nora and Charlie, and as she slipped into the cloakroom on Friday evening to change her top she found herself looking forward to the party.
She rarely went out these days—in fact since Maisie had been born her social life had dwindled to virtually nothing, and her bitter experience with Lee had put her off dating for good. After the few times when she had gone to dinner with one of the younger partners at her previous job, the disturbing phone calls had started. Lee had made them; she was certain of it. Despite sleeping with every woman he’d met between the ages of sixteen and sixty, he had a fiercely possessive streak. But she had never discovered how he was able to keep such close tabs
on her movements, and it had been easier to give up socialising for good.
Everyone had assembled at the trendy wine bar that adjoined the restaurant, and Jenna blinked in surprise at some of the rather alarming African artwork on display, while heavy rock music pumped through the room.
‘Charles is panicking at the thought of reaching fifty and is trying to recapture his youth,’ Margaret confided with a chuckle. ‘This sort of place is more your cup of tea than mine, but the food’s supposed to be good, and there’s music after dinner.’
Jenna ordered an orange juice, determined to keep a clear head. She felt awkward and out of place amidst the other staff, who were obviously all old friends. It was like being the new girl in the playground, she thought wryly, glancing round for Margaret, who seemed to have disappeared.
‘Good evening, Jenna, is everything all right? You seem to be looking for someone.’ Alex suddenly materialised at her side, and she swallowed nervously and addressed his tie.
‘I was just wondering where Margaret had got to.’
‘She’s over there, talking to Charles’s wife. Can I get you another drink?’
He moved forward to place his order and she found herself trapped between the bar and his chest, her senses immediately soaring into overdrive as she caught the subtle musk of his cologne.
‘White wine, please,’ she requested, hoping that the kick of alcohol would loosen her tongue, which suddenly seemed to be tied in knots.
‘Nice carpet?’ Alex enquired dryly, and she stared at him in confusion.
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