He found Alex’s name on the console by the main entrance to her block of flats and pressed her buzzer. It was oddly gratifying that she answered almost immediately, buzzing him inside. He walked up the stairs and found her door. He’d been fantasising about what she might wear all the way here, and had decided that Alex would go for the understated. Black probably, figure-hugging without being showily tight, and classy. Definitely classy.
She opened the front door wide and he felt his mouth suddenly too dry to utter the compliment that he’d had waiting. His feet were rooted to the spot and only his eyes seemed to have any power of movement.
‘You look...’ Completely and utterly dumbfounding.
She flushed pink, a trace of awkwardness on her face. ‘Too much...?’
Far too much. How on earth did she think that he was going to wrench his gaze away from her and talk coherently to anyone else tonight?
‘You look stupendous.’ He took one step towards her, almost afraid to go any nearer.
She was a deeper pink now, but the uncertainty had given way to a smile. ‘You like it?’
Like it? Was she entirely mad? Her dress was jewel-green, simply cut, with sheer fabric at the neckline and covering her arms. Shimmering, iridescent sequins spilled from the right side of the neckline, spreading out across her shoulder and down her sleeve, with another trail meandering down across her breast and disappearing in the soft folds of her skirts. Her hair was swept up, and he could see silver pins anchoring the soft curls. Not quite Tara’s silver dagger pins, but reminiscent of them. She stepped back from the doorway and as she moved the sequins glimmered blue and green and the silver tracery on the cuff bracelets she wore sparkled.
Many women had dressed up for him before, but no one had ever done anything like this. This was a shared secret, a nod to their past, which only he got. Everyone else would simply think she was the most beautiful woman in the room.
‘It’s stunning.’ She was stunning. Leo stepped into the hallway, leaning towards her. ‘If you tell me you have an immobility gun strapped to your leg, I think I’m going to faint.’
She laughed. ‘No, it would spoil the line of the skirt. I am armed, though.’
‘And ready to go?’ He’d been wondering whether he’d get to see her flat, but now Leo didn’t care. All he wanted to look at was her.
‘Yes.’ She picked up her coat, along with a small silver clutch bag, and indicated a large zipped bag. As he bent to pick it up, Leo caught a subtle breath of her scent.
He held out his arm and she took it. ‘Armed how?’
‘That would be telling...’ Her eyes flashed with mischievous humour, and another layer added itself to the fantasy. ‘The first strategy is always surprise.’
Leo wondered whether he should have thought to bring a weapon as well. Every guy in the room was going to be fighting for her attention tonight. But he had the advantage. He’d bet everything he had that Alex was the kind of woman who always went home with the guy she came with.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
HE LIKED THE DRESS. What had started out as a bit of fun had turned into uncertainty over whether the idea was really going to work. Rhona and her mum had egged her on, and the three of them had spent an evening laughing over the application of sequins to the dress that Alex had bought. Then the terror had set in. But when she’d seen approval in Leo’s eyes she’d been able to breathe again.
It was an hour’s drive to the hotel where the dinner dance was being held, and Leo seemed to know that she was still nervous. He always knew how to calm her though, and when she walked into the enormous banqueting hall, hanging on tightly to his arm, it seemed less daunting than she’d thought it would be.
He found their table and Alex was relieved to see Justin there, along with a few other faces she knew. Leo was on good form, quietly attentive but at the same time laughing and joking with everyone, and she began to enjoy herself.
A meal was served and then came the speeches, which were mercifully short. Then the diners began to meander away from their tables, circulating and greeting friends. Leo seemed to know almost everyone here and he was clearly on a mission, steering Alex from one group to another, introducing her and working her charity seamlessly into each conversation.
‘What a nice man...’ Alex had spoken for a while to a white-haired man who had asked a number of perceptive questions about her work and listened carefully to her answers.
‘He’s on the board of one of the biggest publishing organisations in the country.’ Leo leaned in towards her, whispering the name into her ear.
‘Really?’ Alex’s hand flew to her mouth and she felt her ears begin to redden.
Leo grinned. ‘Just as well I didn’t tell you before. You would have clammed up, and smiled and nodded instead of being your usual interesting self.’
‘Well...yes. I’ll give you that. I would have clammed up.’
‘And he didn’t get where he is by standing grinning at people.’
Alex wrinkled her nose. ‘Do you think I was too...?’
‘You were perfect. Would you like to dance?’
Yes. She’d really like to dance with Leo. Have his arm around her waist, feel his body moving against hers. Maybe that was asking just a little bit too much of an already great evening, though.
‘I’d like to find the ladies’ room first...’
He gestured over his shoulder. ‘That way.’
She moved through the press of people, finding herself in a large, comfortable lobby. Two women were already there, standing by the mirrors, gossiping. Alex paid no attention to them until she was about to leave, and walked over to the mirror to check her lipstick.
‘I glimpsed Leo on the way in. Looking as mouth-watering as ever.’ The woman in the blue dress was talking rather too loudly to ignore.
‘Is he? I’ll have to go and strike up a conversation!’ the black dress replied.
‘Fancy a threesome?’ Blue dress laughed unattractively.
‘I don’t mind sharing, darling. Leo’s never struck me as the type for that kind of thing, though.’
Alex pressed her lips together, staring at her reflection in the mirror, willing it to be impassive. Going across to the women and reminding them that Leo was a person and not just a pretty face probably wouldn’t be all that tactful. She was meant to be putting on her lipstick, not listening to their conversation.
‘Did you hear his show on Monday? I was playing it in the car on the way down here. Marvellous chemistry. Apparently he’s brought her along tonight.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes—’ Blue dress broke off, but Alex could see her reflection in the mirror, mouthing to her companion. She’s only got one leg. Fancy bringing her to a dance.
‘Poor thing.’ Black dress shuddered ostentatiously. ‘Are you still thinking of making Leo an offer?’
‘I tried. Not interested. I offered him twice whatever he’s getting at the radio station and he turned me down flat. Said that he wanted to concentrate on serious medical issues, whatever that means, and that he was happy working with Justin. Justin, for goodness’ sake...’
‘Shame. With his ratings, he could do anything.’
‘Yes, and, between you and me, I need something. We’re already having to fight for our advertising revenue...’
Alex glared at the women’s reflections but they didn’t notice. It wasn’t the first time she’d heard any of the barbs they’d thrown at her and it wouldn’t be the last, but they still rankled. How dare these women call her a poor thing? How dare they think that having had part of her leg amputated was so shameful they couldn’t even say it? And how dare they assume that she couldn’t dance with Leo if she wanted to?
They weren’t worth her time, or her anger. She repeated the words over in her head a couple of times, looking at
herself in the mirror. Then she put her lipstick back into her bag and made for the door, even returning the smile that blue dress aimed in her direction as she walked past them.
She turned the corner which led to the door and heard one of the women speak again. ‘Don’t you just love that dress? I wonder where she got it.’
‘And did you see her shoes? So pretty.’
‘I must get a pair like that. She looks so graceful, and I can hardly walk in these heels...they’re killing me...’
* * *
Leo turned when she put her hand on his arm, smiling down at her. Alex reached out, running her fingers down the side of his lapel, not caring how unmistakably possessive the gesture was.
‘Do you still want to dance?’
He grinned. ‘I’d love to dance.’
He took her hand, leading her towards the dance floor. She felt suddenly both too warm and too cold, her fingers almost icy in his hand, her cheeks hot. Alex wondered how many other people here were looking at her, thinking exactly the same as the women in the ladies’ room.
When he laid his hand on her back she smiled up at him, but her whole body felt stiff and tense. Leo took a couple of steps and she moved with him, like an automaton.
‘What’s the matter?’ The tenderness in his gaze seemed to bore into her.
‘Nothing.’
‘Really?’ He was guiding her over to the very edge of the dance floor. He was going to stop and go and sit down. And then everyone would be looking at her, thinking she couldn’t dance.
‘No, Leo. I want to stay here...’ She heard the pleading tone in her voice.
‘Okay. But what’s up?’
‘I... It’s nothing. People just say things without thinking.’ Leo wouldn’t understand this. He was a doctor and he took it so much for granted that she was more than her disability that he probably didn’t even imagine that people could be that cruel.
‘Okay, so it’s nothing. Care to share it, all the same? In the interests of research.’
‘Research?’
‘Yeah. Crass things that people say. I’m always interested in that kind of thing.’
She couldn’t help smiling up at him. ‘You won’t like it...’
‘Well, clearly you don’t either, so we can not like it together. Call it a bonding exercise.’ His hand had been resting lightly on her back but suddenly he drew her in, trapping her against him. His other hand curled around hers.
‘It was just two women, talking in the ladies’ room. They started off by saying they wouldn’t mind a threesome with you.’
She felt his chest heave against hers as he choked suddenly. ‘Tell me you managed to knock that idea on the head. Please.’
‘I couldn’t. They weren’t actually talking to me. I overheard.’
‘Okay, I get it. You’re staring in the mirror, fiddling with your hair, and they’re off in a corner somewhere gossiping.’ His lips twitched into a smile. ‘Nice bit of undercover work there, Lieutenant. Did you get them with the hairpins?’
‘No. They’re actually not very sharp.’ Leo had this knack of making her feel better. Or maybe it was the way he was holding her. Almost an embrace, moving slowly along with the music.
‘So they’ve escaped for the time being. Never mind; we’ll get them later. Continue with the surveillance report, please, Lieutenant.’
Alex couldn’t help laughing. ‘They’d heard the programme. They called me a poor thing and wanted to know why you’d brought me along tonight, when I obviously couldn’t dance with you.’
Anger flashed in his eyes, and she felt his body stiffen against hers. Then he puffed out a breath. ‘And you didn’t kick them?’
‘I felt like it. But one of them said she’d made you an offer, for twice what you were earning now...’
Understanding dawned in his eyes. ‘I know who you mean. Trust me, Alex, Clara Goodwin is seriously bad news. Three-quarters of the industry wouldn’t even give her the time of day, let alone work for her. Anyway, it makes no difference, even if she’d made me the best offer in the world, you still should have kicked her.’
‘It might have been a bit unfair. A prosthetic leg can give you a bit of a wallop, you know.’
‘All the same. I’m disappointed in you.’ He leaned in, his lips touching her ear. ‘You are the most gorgeous woman in this room. You’re intelligent and kind, and you dance beautifully. And even if you didn’t, I’d still be proud that you agreed to come here with me tonight.’
Alex felt herself relax against him. ‘That’s nice of you.’
‘I’m never nice, you know that.’ He increased the rhythm of the dance a little, and Alex felt herself follow. ‘What is nice is that you’ve finally loosened up. Any chance of letting me lead now?’
‘I didn’t realise I wasn’t...’ He raised his eyebrows, and Alex grinned back at him. ‘Okay, maybe you’re right. Take the helm, Captain.’
‘My pleasure. Hang on, we have incoming on the starboard bow.’
His sudden turn almost lifted her off her feet, making her skirts float out behind her. It was like letting go without there being any danger of stumbling, because Leo was there.
They danced in silence for a while, their bodies moving together, staring into each other’s eyes. Leo was good at this. He made it feel like sex should be, and very seldom was. A pure indulgence. Lost in his arms and yet there, right with him. Letting him lead and yet feeling him react to each movement of hers.
‘So...’ He pursed his lips thoughtfully, mischief flashing in his eyes. ‘Am I correct in thinking that you’re using me?’
‘Absolutely. I’m showing the whole room that I can dance all night if I want to.’
‘Good. Go for it.’
‘But of course you’re using me too.’ He raised his eyebrows and she grinned at him. ‘Those two women are out there somewhere, looking for a threesome...’
‘Don’t! You’re going to have to stay right where you are until I manage to un-think that. And I warn you, it might take a while.’
‘Good. Go for it.’ She could do this all night. And then sleep for a while and do it all over again. But, since that wasn’t going to happen, she’d make the best of it while she could.
* * *
Leo had tried to hide his anger, but he couldn’t. How dared Clara Goodwin make Alex feel that she was anything less than perfect? Raising his hand to any woman was out of the question, but he might be persuaded to hold her still while Alex punched her.
And what made him angriest of all was that it wasn’t the first time, and it was unlikely to be the last. Maybe it had been a good thing that he was unable to hide how he felt about that. She was so protective of the kids in her charge, so positive and encouraging on the radio, that it was sometimes easy to forget that she had feelings too, and that the careless cruelty of others still hurt her.
There was a measure of safety here, on the dance floor. Alex was nestled against him and the world seemed right. As if nothing could touch them for a while.
Not long enough, though. After two dances he found that a number of the people he’d introduced her to earlier wanted to continue their conversations with Alex on the dance floor, and he gave her up. This was what she was here for, to make new contacts.
Finally he got her back. ‘Do you want to sit for a while?’ He wondered if she would admit it to him if she did, but she did so without hesitation.
‘Yes, I wouldn’t mind. Shall we give this one a miss?’
‘Good idea. There’s always the next one.’
But there wasn’t a next one. As they walked together over to the drinks buffet, he saw a commotion at the corner of the room. A couple of people looked around, and then someone pointed straight at him. A man dressed in the dark red jacket which was the livery of the hotel started to push hi
s way towards him.
‘Dr Leo Cross?’
‘Yes?’
‘There’s been an incident in the kitchen, sir. We need a doctor. It’s an emergency.’
‘All right. I’ll come now.’ Leo shot an apologetic look at Alex and she nodded, disappointment showing on her face. He followed the man through the crush of people, cursing whatever twist of fate had called him away from her a second time. Last Saturday had been unfortunate. This Saturday was beginning to look as if some malevolent force of nature had it in for him.
It couldn’t be helped. This was what he’d signed up for when he became a doctor. Alex would understand. She had to.
The man led him from the banqueting hall and along a service corridor. ‘What’s happened?’
‘One of the cooks, sir. He’s cut his finger off. I’ve got someone calling an ambulance, but we can’t stop the bleeding.’
‘You have a medical kit?’
‘Yes, there’s one in the kitchen. Gets used quite a bit so we keep it well stocked.’
‘And you have Health and Safety procedures for dealing with blood spillage?’ It sounded as if there was going to be a fair bit of blood, and there was no way of knowing whether there was a risk of infection.
‘Yes, they’re in place. I’ll get everyone out of there and cleaned up.’
‘Good.’
They rounded a corner and then hurried through a door, which led to a large kitchen. Even though it was late, there were still half a dozen people here who were currently all gathered around a man who was sitting on the floor in the corner. A trail of blood led from one of the nearby work benches, and was beginning to pool around his legs.
‘Everyone move back, please.’ Leo took off his jacket, rolling up his sleeves and grabbing a pair of gloves from the large medical box which stood open on the counter. The group around the man scattered, everyone craning to see what was happening.
The man was doubled over, cradling his injured hand and moaning loudly. Leo knew that he must be in a great deal of pain, but there was nothing he could do about that. He carried a medical bag in his car, but that didn’t include the drugs he needed now.
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