Take Me Now

by Nancy Jardine

  Her glance strayed to the other two women, wondering if they could sense the attraction she constantly felt radiating between her and her boss. Nairn, she was glad to see could compartmentalize because he didn’t seem to find it too much of a strain as he caught up with a lot of USA news first, then he went global.

  Around three-thirty p.m., he looked up from the pile of correspondence he’d been consistently working through. Catching her glance, he fingered a card on heavy vellum he’d just removed from an envelope. She wasn’t sure how to interpret the little smirk sneaking around his mouth.

  “Shania?” Nairn’s enquiry sounded slothful as he turned to the woman who dealt with his Adrenalinn Adventuring business. “Is there anything in particular you need my physical input on tomorrow?”

  “No,” the young woman replied, shaking her neat bob of dark hair. “We’ve had no problems with any of our bookings recently, and since we didn’t expect you to be here I’ve no appointments made for you.”

  “Great!”

  Nairn’s return smile looked decisive. Aela watched him close down his laptop then he added paperwork to his carry case. “Tomorrow, Miss Cameron and I are going to do some sightseeing.”

  “We’re going sightseeing?” She wondered if his declaration had just catapulted her into some category which wasn’t quite P.A., but since he was preparing to leave the office she packed up her own gear. “What do you think you’ll be able to cope with, Mr. Malcolm?”

  “Don’t be so dismissive, Miss Cameron. I’m game for a lot of things I’ll have you know.”

  She bit her lip to prevent the huge satisfied smirk she wanted to produce. Didn’t she know what he was capable of? Squelching the truthful comment, she answered, “Like what, sir?”

  “How about we do New York by City Tour bus? Or maybe we could take a boat-ride on the Hudson? Something not involving a long walk and I’ll be fine.”

  He smirked as he shoved a pile of unwanted paperwork into the recycling bin beside him, and then turned to his employees.

  “As these fine workers will tell you, Miss Cameron, I’ve not often been to the New York office, and I’ve not done much in the way of sightseeing myself.”

  “You’re having me on,” she quipped, preparing to leave, daring him to deny her words. “You spent a year at Harvard Business School. You’re not going to tell me you didn’t take a few little body swerves from Cambridge to New York.”

  “Ah, but way back then my priorities weren’t sightseeing, Miss Cameron.”

  Nairn’s cheeky answer and laughing eyes made her blush. He rose a bit clumsily, rebalanced his cradled foot, clutched the vellum card in his hand, and made his farewells short and sweet. “I’ll see you two ladies next time I’m back this side of the Atlantic.”

  She gathered up their belongings and held the door open.

  “Back to my apartment first, Miss Cameron. I’ve a dinner engagement tonight.” His announcement was accompanied by a jaunty wave of the card.

  “If that’s what I think it is, Nairn, have fun!” Shania called to his retreating back as Aela made her rapid goodbyes.

  At the bank of lifts, she pressed the down arrow. “You have a dinner engagement tonight?” She hoped her reply didn’t sound as unenthusiastic as she felt.

  “Yes.” Nairn’s smile was inscrutable.

  “A business dinner?”

  “Not exactly.” His appraisal of her mouth was becoming more interesting by the second.

  “Nairn Malcolm you are so maddening when you do that!” She gently nudged his good arm.

  “Do what?” His question was innocent as he snuggled up close.

  “Innocent you aren’t!” Her tone chastised but also showed she loved his teasing. “Do I need to do anything for you?” She groaned at the thought of maybe having to be his chauffeur. He couldn’t possibly be squiring around some beautiful woman he’d pre-invited? Could he?

  “Just look your beautiful self, Aela.”

  The lift was full of crushed bodies. Their conversation halted till they reached the lobby of the building. She took up the threads again as they went out to flag a taxi. “That was no answer, Nairn. Is it business dress, or casual?” She waited but no answer followed. “Black tie?”

  “Definitely black tie, Aela.”

  “How exactly am I supposed to produce that for you at such short notice?”

  “I’ve a tuxedo at my apartment. Don’t fuss about it.” Nairn’s chuckle deafened her ear as he leaned over to smooch at her neck. He refused to say more as they piled into a cab: seven New York blocks way too much for his hobbling.

  “How long before you have to leave?” She stifled a sleepy yawn as she placed their laptops on the dining room table after reaching his apartment.

  “Before we have to leave. You’ll attend this event too, you lovely woman.”

  Nairn grabbed her round the waist and nestled into her neck. Pulling out the band securing her topknot, he fingered her ebony soft hair.

  “I’ve been dying to do that all day. And this…” he murmured, nuzzling behind her ear.

  “How long, Nairn?”

  Aela set her alarm for six p.m. knowing if she fell asleep they’d be snookered, and tumbled onto the bed. Nairn was already there.

  ***

  Nairn looked up from the dress shirt he attempted to button. Aela was a vision in a barely there floaty gown of blue-green. The one shouldered creation was beaded here and there, emphasizing her cleavage. It cinched in at her narrow waist then shimmered to her ankles, just above a pair of extremely high delicate shoes.

  She was stunning.

  “Aela,” his voice croaked as he reached for her. “You’re so beautiful, you steal my breath. I don’t know how you do it but you surprise me every day. You are one hell of a competent woman.”

  His reverent kiss could have escalated into much more if Aela hadn’t drawn back with a chuckle and stepped away from his reaching arms.

  “Time to go, lover. You agreed to this dinner engagement so let’s get on with it.”

  “Okay, but you’re a selfish woman to deny me so. My fingers are worse than useless now. Look at them shaking with sexual frustration.” He waved them laughingly in front of her, tendering his gold cufflinks. “You’re going to have to satisfy that little clause again.”

  “Get on with you, Nairn Malcolm.” She chided further as she buttoned him up, allowing him only the tiniest peck on her cheek as she yanked him into the tuxedo which was stretched to the limit over his casts.

  He knew exactly what he wanted to get on with. Once again she absolutely floored him. He’d expected her to wear the little red dress she’d worn in the Middle East, but like a conjuror she’d produced the incredible gown she was now wearing. When had she had the opportunity to shop? His demands on her time had made it seem impossible.

  “Where did you produce this sexy dress from?”

  “I’ll maybe tell you later.” His bow tie was fastened in a blink.

  ***

  Aela glanced around the New York venue: a room full of splendidly attired patrons. Nairn introduced her as his partner, followed with a by the way she’s also my PA and chauffeur. A warm glow settled around her heart. It had more of a permanent ring to it since the word temporary didn’t feature.

  Her impulse purchases in Barcelona were perfect for the glittering occasion. Dinner was tasty if not ground-breaking exciting, Aela finding it easy to relax as she conversed with people nearby. After the remains of the meal were cleared, and the charity pledging over, soft music filled the room.

  “Dance with me?” Nairn’s head indicated the already jam-packed dance floor.

  His request made her hoot as she pointed to his leg cast. “You can’t dance, Nairn.”

  “Then let’s shuffle.” Dragging her from the seat he hobble-towed her onto the dance floor and held her tight. Swaying, just swaying, to the slow, sexy jazz throb. “I couldn’t wait to feel your arms around me, Aela. You’re driving me crazy, you lovely woman.”
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  His lips hovered around her ear, close but not quite touching since it was a very formal event. Nairn’s groan almost deafened her.

  “This was a big mistake. I can’t do it.”

  “I told you so! I knew it would be too much for you.” Aela’s scold was softened by her quick peck on his cheek.

  “Sway-dancing’s not the problem. Holding you like this is too much. Get me out of here, please.”

  Tourist pursuits were the order of the following day. The hop-on-hop-off City Tour bus was lazily perfect for more than four hours. This time they both did a little bit of hopping off the bus. They stopped-off to take in a few of the well-known sites up close. Aela ate hot dogs with the works that Nairn bought from a street vendor. Later, she lapped up a rapidly dripping ice cream in the early July heat.

  Much more exciting though was their speedboat ride on ‘The Beast’ which whizzed on the Hudson, Aela having had to work really hard and grease a few palms to convince the pilot Nairn really was capable of coping with the ride. She wondered what could top it after their trip was over, but Nairn wasn’t yet done because they finished up with a tourist helicopter ride over the city at dusk.

  It was…breathtaking.

  They collapsed back into the apartment clutching a Chinese take-out meal, since eating at some fabulous New York restaurant had long since palled. All she wanted was to be on their own, away from the incredible crowds and the inevitable jostling Nairn had had to put up with.

  Later, they were tucked up in bed and languidly watching a movie, a refreshingly cold dry white wine sitting in a cooler beside them. The peal of his phone was unwelcome, but she knew it had to be important. Only on pain of death had the office been given leave to call Nairn. Reaching over for it, Nairn groaned when he glanced at caller ID.

  “Only a call from Detective Woods will make me take this right now.”

  Aela shifted out of his arms so that he could answer properly. Pouring some white wine, she watched his face as he received an update.

  “You picked Stella up at Heathrow Immigration?”

  One sided conversations were frustrating. She read between the lines as the call continued till Nairn slid his body up and sat with his back propped against the wall. Curving in alongside him, she listened when he flicked the volume higher.

  Detective Woods explained further. “It appears she was so unnerved by bumping into Miss Cameron at the resort that she scurried back to London.”

  Nairn asked, “And the man was with her?”

  “No, sir,” Detective Woods answered. “Her fiancée went back to Miami, apparently very disappointed in Grainger. He claimed she’d bungled very badly since you’d made it to the interviews. Apparently, they’d been confident you weren’t going to make it to the Caribbean.”

  “This guy, John Sanders, is her fiancée?”

  “Correct, sir. Grainger and Sanders both worked for the same employer in Miami, till around nine months ago. Their relationship fizzled out when Sanders decided to strike out and create his own company. His aim was to acquire contracts for hotel water sports upgrades, much like you‘ve been bidding for, sir.”

  “That was when Stella Grainger returned to the UK?”

  “So she informs us, sir.”

  “Not particularly supportive, was she?” Aela thought Nairn’s question was scathing but oh, so accurate.

  Detective Woods sounded a bit derisive. “We surmise that from her statement the lady in question was only interested in having a financially sound future, Mr. Malcolm.”

  It was no surprise to Aela that she had targeted Nairn as her future well-heeled husband.

  Detective Woods related that months passed before Sanders took up with her again while he was in London on business. By then, Nairn had rejected Stella’s advances many times and she’d realised she was on a hiding to nothing with him.

  “Sanders managed to convince Grainger his company was thriving, and would soon be rolling in big money if he got the Romala contract,” Detective Woods explained.

  Nairn’s voice was glacial. “What made the nasty bitch decide to take her revenge out on me?”

  Aela heard Detective Wood’s voice catch a little at Nairn’s vehemence.

  “Sanders heard about the Romala Hotels possibility around the same time you did, and he regarded you as his only competition.” The detective continued making a clear attempt not to sound judgmental. “It appears, by then, Miss Grainger liked the idea of Sanders making the profit, rather than you.”

  Again, Detective Woods intentionally cleared his throat before continuing. “During her confession, she was very happy to tell us you continually spurned her advances.” Aela could almost hear admiration in Detective Woods voice. “A determined woman, sir.”

  Beside her Nairn grunted into the phone. “She’s a bloody piranha!”

  “Beautiful sir, yes, but somewhat deadly I have to concur.”

  Aela could tell Detective Woods was quite enjoying the conversation though still careful to keep within the bounds of professional conduct.

  “What about my bike accident? And the other incidents?”

  “As to that, she has confessed to messing up orders; organizing the computer virus; setting the fire; and later on paying someone to sabotage the electricity supply. She was most put out that those delaying tactics didn’t have the effects she wanted, because she thought you would be too busy sorting them out to be on the move. Since you were still forging ahead with the Romala contract, she decided something more drastic had to happen. Sanders was in Miami so she coerced her young brother to tamper with your bike, unquestionably malicious intent, but it seems it was designed to stall you rather than kill you.”

  “What about the accident to Miss Cameron?”

  Aela felt Nairn’s desperate squeeze of her fingers before he realised and gentled the touch.

  “That was a spur-of-the-moment tactic to put your chauffeur out of operation and thereby keep you from travelling around.”

  “And what about my Range Rover problem?”

  There was a deep clearing of Detective Woods’ throat before he continued. “Again, spur of the moment sabotage. She’d heard Robin Ellesmere organizing his emergency dental treatment. It was easy enough for her to follow you to the Ad Exec car park.”

  “Bloody maniac! So what exactly did she do to my car?”

  Aela retained Nairn’s fingers before he yanked out all of his hair, and did a little bit of the finger massage she was getting very good at.

  “Well, it seems her ingenuity and her bravado were a little bit thin by the time she got to your parked car. All she could think about was loosening the wheel nuts in the hope you might have a little problem when you drove off.”

  “We certainly did. She almost damned well killed us!”

  Detective Woods was on a roll and wasn’t finished.

  “It appears the car park was busy and she only managed to loosen two of the nuts, a little bit. Since she was using the wrench from her own car it didn’t fit properly. It was sufficient to mangle them, though, and they eventually loosened at the worst possible moment for you. The mechanic’s opinion is they may not have slipped like they did if you’d been driving at thirty M.P.H. The fact you were doing sixty to seventy M.P.H. created enough vibration.”

  “So, with all of that, surely you have enough evidence to charge them?”

  “Yes, sir, we do, for Grainger, her brother and the electrician friend. Sanders, unfortunately no, since he was not in the UK when the incidents occurred.”

  Sanders had left Stella, and her brother, carrying the can.

  “Stupid friggin’…nincompoop!”

  Nairn was so furious he had run out of suitable words for using when talking to a police detective. He was scathing beyond belief when the call ended.

  “The deranged bitch thought she could put me off bidding with those unhinged tactics?”

  “She obviously knew diddly squat about you and your relentless work drive, Nairn Malcolm. It’s
incredible she could have been so infatuated with you that she needed to take out her revenge in such fashion.”

  Startling her with his speed Nairn rolled her over and tickled her ribs. “Are you saying I’m not worthy of infatuating over?”

  “Wanting your positive attention? Yes sir, that I can understand,” she squealed as she batted out of his playful reach. “But infatuated? No. Who’d want to be so taken by you, Nairn Malcolm?”

  “Are you saying you’re not the tiniest bit infatuated by me? Or want to be taken by me?”

  She remembered her initial thoughts on first seeing him at the castle wall. Taken by the sexy wild highlander? She’d achieved that…and never wanted it to stop.

  Nairn pinned her to the bed and kissed her soundly. Then started to nibble and tickle again. “Don’t I make you do passionately irrational things?”

  “Hands off,” she warned because he had indeed found her most vulnerable tickling spot. “Get back to your side of the bed!”

  Nairn was now in a mischievous mood, declaring that no one was out there plotting to harm them, or kill them. The relief was hard to believe. In turn, she no longer felt Nairn was under threat. He continued to tickle her along the bed till she cried, “Stop!”

  He clamped her down again till out of breath, he slumped over on the bedcover.

  “I’m definitely infatuated by you. You make me do passionately irrational things, all the time!”

  Aela watched his eyes close as he regained his breath. Had he just declared more than a passing fancy for her? She dared not break the mood, and instead found an answer in glibness.

  “Well, you’d better be nice to me, or maybe I’ll get crazy like Stella Grainger and do something ridiculously horrible.”