‘Just walking you to your door.’
‘You don’t need to do that. It’s just there.’
‘Yeah, I know. But I can’t see it from the truck and I want to make sure you get there safely.’
‘Worried you might end up without a date for tomorrow? I hardly think that’s a big concern for you.’ I laughed, knowing that given the chance, I’d be mown down where I stood if word got out this particular man was free tomorrow night.
‘I guess I did a pretty good job of convincing you I really was that shallow when we first met.’ I couldn’t see his expression in the low light but there was a tone to his voice that made me stop.
‘Michael,’ I put my hand on his arm, ‘I don’t think you’re shallow. You’re right, at first maybe I did. But that was what you seemed to want everyone to think. But people that know you know it isn’t true. And you’ve proved to me that it isn’t.’ I squidged the puffy fabric of his jacket under my gloved hand.
He lifted his hand and took mine in it, the gesture saying everything that was needed.
‘Thanks for today,’ he said as we reached my door.
‘You’re welcome. I actually had a lot of fun. And breakfast was ah-maz-ing.’
He laughed. ‘Good. Then maybe we should do it again.’
‘That’d be fun. But I’m not sure your bank account would take it.’
‘I just meant the breakfast part.’
‘Oh. Right, of course! Absolutely. But I’m paying next time.’
‘We’ll see.’
He leant in to give me a kiss on the cheek and I leant back. The moon had pushed itself from behind a bank of clouds and the light, reflected by the snow piled around us, cast a strange, almost magical light. It highlighted the confusion on his face.
‘I said I’m paying next time.’
Michael’s hands lifted to my face, holding it gently, palms resting against my cheeks, his outer fingers spreading down onto my neck. He leant in again, his eyes focused intently on mine. Gently his lips placed a kiss on my forehead and then his mouth moved close to my ear.
‘And I said “we’ll see”.’
The whispered voice, with its lilting accent and hint of gravelly roughness sent heat searing through my body. I half expected the nearby pile of snow to instantaneously melt into a puddle. Kind of like I felt like doing right now.
He stood upright and I took a pace backwards as casually as I could in an attempt to avoid Michael seeing just how well his charm and, let’s face it, downright raw sexiness was still working. Unfortunately my studied nonchalance hadn’t taken into account the step into the building and I tripped backward, landing with a damp thud in the muddy puddle of water that had accumulated in the slightly worn away dip of the step. I hastily pushed myself back up, as Michael put an arm out to help me.
‘You all right?’
‘Of course,’ I replied, not looking up. ‘And you can stop laughing.’
‘I’m not.’
I looked up. His face was serious but I could see the little glint in his eyes as they caught the moonlight.
‘But you’re dying to.’
‘I’m going to choose to refuse to answer that on the grounds that it may incriminate me.’
‘Arse.’
He laughed and wrapped his arms around me.
‘Are you really OK?’
My arms, despite strict instructions from my brain, wrapped themselves around his body: warm, solid…
It was perfectly acceptable to stay here for another hour, right?
‘I am.’ My voice was muffled as he squidged me close.
‘I’d better let you go in and get some sleep.’
I nodded, my hair making a scratchy noise against the fabric of his coat. Reluctantly I pulled away, reached up on my tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek and then unlocked the door.
‘I’ll see you at seven.’
Agreeing, I waved and headed inside.
Chapter Twenty-Two
‘Doing anything special tonight?’ Janey asked when I gave her a call to say hi on the way to my first client. Her tone was so overly innocent that it was clear she knew exactly what I was up to this evening.
‘I don’t suppose there’s any point in saying “not really”, is there?’
‘Absolutely none,’ she giggled. ‘You know, he usually hates these sort of things. He’s not into the whole schmoozing side of business. You know our Mikey, he’d rather just call a spade a spade and be done with it.’
‘The man on the phone seemed to think it was pretty important that he attended this one if he wanted the best shot at the job he’s pitching for.’
‘Mmmhmm.’
‘Mmmhmm what?’
‘I’m just wondering when one of you two is going to tell me something official.’
‘There is nothing official. That is to say there isn’t anything at all. I was there when the guy called and we got talking about it. Michael asked if I’d come. That’s all. Why? What did he say?’
‘About the same as you.’
‘There you go then. He even made a point of stressing that it wasn’t anything like you’re suggesting. So, there really is nothing to get excited about. Sorry!’ My voice was light so why my heart didn’t feel the same way?
‘I don’t know what’s wrong with that boy.’
From what I’d seen that day, there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with him. He looked pretty damn perfect actually.
‘There’s nothing wrong with him, Janey. We’re just not like that. I’m not his type anyway.’
‘No, you’ve got depth to you. It might be an idea for him to try something different for a change!’
‘Janey,’ I laughed, ‘much as I appreciate the sentiment of that statement – I think – I’m not really in the mood to be anyone’s relationship guinea pig.’
‘Aww, but they’re so cute!’
‘Ha ha. Right. I’m at my client’s. Better go.’
‘OK. Well have a great time tonight. In your non-guinea pig capacity.’
‘I’m just looking forward to having a meal that doesn’t start with it going ping.’
***
Bearing in mind this definitely wasn’t a date, I was disproportionately nervous. It was ridiculous. Even though I’d only known him a little over a month, in that time I’d actually got to know him pretty well and, despite early indications, we were now relaxed in each other’s company. So why the nerves?
‘Come on Kate. Pull yourself together,’ I said to the reflection in the bathroom mirror.
It didn’t reply but instead gave me a look that suggested it may take one or two stiff drinks before that happened on this particular evening. But at least my hair had gone right. OK, so it had actually taken six attempts for it to go right, but we’d got there.
I walked back into the bedroom and glanced at the bedside clock: ten to seven. I sat on the bed and put my shoes on, then checked on my dress. It was a simple Grecian-style halter sheath with a choker collar that joined to the main body of the dress with a delicate three-link chain. I’d bought it on a whim, which was most unlike me. And, having had no occasion to wear it, it had hung in my wardrobe for the last three years looking beautiful and a little sad.
I wasn’t usually one for keeping things I didn’t use – that was the ethos of my company after all – so tonight was this dress’ now or never chance and I just hoped it was right for the occasion. This was obviously an important night for Michael and I didn’t want to let him down. I’d never been to a big function like this one and, frankly, the whole cool, calm, cope-with-anything persona was desperately making a dive for the window. I grabbed onto her proverbial ankles and yanked.
It’s just a party. I can do a party.
The doorbell rang. I’d been expecting the intercom. The flats had an internal security system that was supposed to prevent people just turning up at a front door uninvited. In reality, people often just held the door for someone if they were close behind, whether they recognised
them or not.
Michael was early and at my door. I pulled it open: Except that it wasn’t Michael.
‘Calum. What are you doing here?’
‘She left me.’ His eyes skimmed me up and down. ‘You look amazing, babe.’
‘You didn’t answer my question. What are you doing here?’
He held out his hands. ‘I’m free now. There’s no need for us to hide any more. We can be together properly.’
I stared at him, unable to see what I had once seen, the charming persona that had attracted me before. Because now I knew that’s exactly what it was, just a persona.
‘Calum. If you recall, you were the only one hiding something and that was a pretty big something. You lied and made a fool out of me. What on earth possessed you to think that I would ever want to see you again?’
He stepped forward and took my hand before I could move it. ‘Kate. You know we were good together. And now there’s nothing to stop us being together for real.’
‘I’ll have to disagree with you there.’ Michael’s soft lilt caused us both to turn. He smiled at me across my ex, whose face darkened.
‘Well, that didn’t take long.’ Calum’s mouth was almost a sneer as he looked back at me.
‘I’m not one to waste the chance at something amazing.’ Michael stepped closer, causing Calum to automatically back out of my personal space, allowing Michael to fill it instead.
‘Sorry to just appear.’ He smiled down at me. ‘Someone left the front door on the catch. That’s not exactly high security, you know.’
I shrugged in a what-can-you-do manner.
‘You look stunning.’ His eyes met mine after a detour of skimming me and my outfit. ‘Are you ready?’
I nodded, still taking in what I was seeing after some eye roving of my own. The unpleasant surprise of Calum turning up on my doorstep was obliterated by the incredibly pleasant surprise that stood before me now. I hadn’t thought that Michael could possibly get any better looking, but he had proved me wrong. His hair was now short and cropped, his face clean-shaven and he was dressed in one of the beautifully cut suits I’d seen hanging unloved in the wardrobe. A pure white shirt stood out against the charcoal grey of the fabric, with a silk tie in subtle versions of the suit’s colour to tone.
I grabbed my clutch and wrap from the table by the door and closed the door behind me, throwing the double lock before dropping the key in my bag. When I turned, Calum was still there.
‘Calum you should leave.’
‘We have things to talk about.’
‘She asked you to leave.’ Michael spoke, his voice was calm but from the corner of my eye, I saw his jaw tense.
I reached down and took his hand, squeezing it gently to let him know I had this.
‘I don’t remember asking your – ’
‘Calum,’ I cut him off before he ended up saying something that might result in him taking an unexpected nap in the corridor, and possibly being fitted for a new set of teeth. ‘I’m not interested in getting back together with you, whatever the circumstances. Please don’t come here again.’
‘Shall we go?’ I looked up.
Michael smiled back at me. ‘Absolutely. Here.’ He took the wrap and draped it around my shoulders, his fingertips brushing against my bare skin, causing a flash of heat to whoosh through my body. We turned, leaving Calum where he stood.
‘Are you sure you’re warm enough?’ Michael asked as we got to the front door of the building? ‘The cab’s just out here but – ’
‘You have a cab waiting? Why didn’t you say? Oh God, the meter is going to be sky high after faffing about with bloody Calum. You should have just rung – ’
Michael placed his hands on my shoulders. ‘You might want to take a breath.’
That was a good plan. Nerves about the party, Calum showing up out of the blue and then Michael walking in looking like the sexiest, most gorgeous man I’d ever seen was a lot to cope with in ten minutes.
‘Good idea.’ And I did as he instructed. ‘But still. You could have just rung me and I’d have come down.’
‘Katie I’m happy to wait when it’s something worth waiting for.’
I didn’t really know what to say to that, so I opted for nothing. Or more to the point, my mind just stayed unhelpfully blank.
‘Besides,’ he said, opening the door of the waiting cab and holding out his hand to help me in whilst I held up my dress hem with my other one, ‘it would have deprived me of the opportunity of meeting the clearly charming Calum.’
‘Please don’t start.’
‘I wasn’t planning to. I’m just saying it’s nice to put a face to a name.’
Michael gave the driver directions and leant back. I slid a look to him. ‘You had the look of wanting to put something else to his face.’
‘And in my youth I might have done. Not, I hasten to add, something I’m necessarily proud of. But don’t worry, I’m older and wiser now.’
‘I’m glad to hear it.’
‘Of course, that doesn’t mean I don’t meet people I’d quite happily deck. Tonight was a prime example.’
‘You only met him for a few minutes.’
‘Which was plenty.’
I turned in my seat to face him, the lights of the city flashing across the windows and his now clean-shaven face. ‘Can we talk about something else?’
‘Sure. Pick a topic.’
‘OK,’ I smiled back, ‘let’s start with this.’ I waved my hand in his general direction.
‘What?’
‘You! The haircut, the shave, the wearing of a suit!’
He tilted his head at me momentarily. ‘Wow.’
‘What?’
Michael breathed in heavily. ‘Despite your assurances that you didn’t care what I wore, I apparently looked even worse than I thought I did.’
‘Oh, don’t be daft,’ I said, swatting him gently with my clutch. ‘If you looked that bad, you wouldn’t have scored every night you felt like it at the pub.’
He gave a head tilt.
‘That’s the bit where you’re supposed to show some humility,’ I prompted.
‘Ohhh! Right. Got you.’ And then he grinned, which made my point completely invalid because when that smile hit you, it didn’t matter what he was wearing.
‘You’re hopeless.’
‘But at least tonight I look smart whilst being hopeless, right?’
‘You look…very nice.’ That wasn’t exactly the description crashing around my head right now, but it was the only one that was acceptable for anyone other than me to hear.
We pulled up at the entrance to the hotel and a doorman stepped forward to open the taxi door. Michael handed over cash for the trip as I exited, then he followed.
I looked up at Michael. ‘You also look like just the right person for this job.’
He gave me a slow smile that set off tingles in my stomach. Reaching across, he took my hand, pulling me ever so gently towards him and then tucked my hand over his arm.
‘Now I do.’
‘Good luck,’ I whispered.
Michael’s other hand lifted and momentarily twirled a loose tendril of my hair. Leaning down, he placed the softest of kisses on my cheek, just to the left of my mouth.
‘Thank you. And thank you for coming. Even if I don’t get the contract, I still got to spend an evening with the most beautiful woman in the room.’
Smiling, I looked up at him as we walked in, another doorman heaving the heavy glass door open for us. Michael’s hand dropped to the small of my back as we stepped inside.
‘Please don’t think I don’t appreciate the compliment, but I do feel I have to point out you haven’t even set foot in the room yet to be able to make that judgement accurately.’
The green gaze settled on mine. ‘I don’t need to. I know what I know. I thought you were gorgeous when you were standing on my driveway freezing that cute little arse of yours off, and right now, Katie Stone, my statement still stands.’
/>
My brain was processing as fast as it could. ‘You thought I was…’
‘Gorgeous. Yes.’
‘But you were…’
‘Unforgivably rude? Yes. Arrogant? Yes. Blind? No.’
‘Well, you hid it well.’
He tipped his head towards me as we approached the door to where the main function was being held. ‘There are lots of things I do well.’
‘Such a shame being modest isn’t one of them.’
‘There’s a time and a place for modesty.’ His eyes flashed at me with mischief.
‘Just get in there and win that contract.’
***
From the looks of things, Michael was doing exactly that. All evening, he’d been charming and funny: the Michael I now knew him to be. And they appeared to be loving him. Judging by the look on the face of the man I’d been informed was his main competition for the contract, David Heath, he obviously thought Michael was doing pretty well too. I’d actually be feeling bad for him if he’d been a little more polite during our own interaction. When he’d asked what I did for a living, he’d tossed a superior look around, making some comment about how he wish he’d known tidying his room as a child could have turned into something that people would actually pay good money for. Michael’s arm had been resting on my waist, just lightly, his body close to me. At the jibe, I’d felt him tense, but he’d remained silent, taking on board our conversation of earlier.
As it was, Ed Solway, the man whom both men were trying to impress gave me a smile. ‘People will always pay good money for a service that they find useful, David.’ Mr Solway then turned to me. ‘Mrs Solway is so looking forward to her first appointment with you in the New Year.’
As Heath paled and made an attempt to laugh off his faux pas, Mr Solway gave me a conspiratorial wink and Michael gave me an almost imperceptible squeeze, his face betraying nothing.
It was true. I had indeed picked up the Solways as clients this evening, although I’d had no idea who the lady I’d been talking to was initially. She’d just introduced herself as Erin. I was already looking forward to having her as a client – straight talking, funny, with that down to earth outlook Australians often seem to possess. We’d hit it off immediately. It wasn’t until she’d called over her husband to fill him in and let him know that I was the woman who was, and I quote, ‘going to organise the shit out of us’, that I’d realised who she actually was.
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