A burst of laughter came from the conference room. His steps slowed, and he hovered in the doorway, watching the group of hotel staff clustered around Harriet. The women treated her like a friend while the men watched her with a mixture of lust and anticipation.
Sam scowled, the surge of jealousy almost blindsiding him. His attention strayed to Harriet. He watched the absorbed way she peered into the teacup, her glance at the young male sitting opposite her and the way her lips curled up into a slow smile. Sam couldn’t tear his eyes away.
Then she laughed. He froze in place, halting at the edge of the group surrounding Harriet. He’d heard that exact laugh before and, combined with the full lips and the angle of her head, his mind finally added the clues together.
His breath exited in a harsh exhalation, a surge of adrenaline telling him to seize her and rush from the room, dragging her with him to demand the truth. But he didn’t. He studied her again in light of the new information. Now that he knew, he realized he hadn’t let himself look beneath the surface.
Helen.
He wasn’t going crazy or lusting after two different women at the same time. A relief, because he hadn’t liked the idea of being torn between two women. He wasn’t a cheater. But the question was why had she lied to him? Why hadn’t she said they’d met before? He waited for anger and righteous indignation, but it didn’t arrive. Instead, acute anticipation filled him. He looked forward to getting to know Harriet/Helen a lot better, and couldn’t wait for their date tomorrow night.
Chapter Six
“I placed an advertisement in the paper,” Sam said.
Hayley huddled on the far side of the black taxi cab, but still Sam managed physical contact. Their thighs brushed and his muscles flexed against hers each time the cab negotiated a corner.
“An ad?” Hayley’s mind dwelled on getting through the night fully sane.
“Yes, and a rather witty one, if I might say so.” Both the satisfaction in his voice and his words grabbed her full attention, her self-protection radar screeching a warning loud enough to deafen her.
“What sort of ad? Do you need more staff?” She forced out the question even though the uneasy tingle down her spine told her she was making a mistake. Heck, scratch that. She shouldn’t even be with Sam. That was her big mistake.
“Searching for Cinderella. That was my headline.”
“Why are you out on a date with me if you’re advertising in the personals?” Okay, when backed in a corner, attack is the best defense.
Sam’s chuckle dragged her unwilling attention, the tender smile curving across his sexy lips increasing the warning signals bombarding her. His eyes sparkled with their usual bad-boy glow, making Hayley glad she was sitting down. Her knees would never survive the strain. Or her conscience. She should come clean and admit everything.
“I didn’t do a traditional ad,” he said. “A friend of mine is editor of the paper. I wrote all the details in a letter to the editor and alluded to the bracelet without saying what it was.”
“What bracelet?” Ice spread through her middle region and, discarding every lecture her parents had ever given her about alcohol, she actively craved a large brandy. “Won’t you have every kook in the city contacting you? And the press will camp on your doorstep.” Hayley shuddered, imagining the creative headlines. Her hand crept toward the door of the taxi and she considered jumping out at the traffic lights.
“Ah, but what if I find the woman of my dreams?” His teasing voice did nothing to ease her fears.
Her one little white lie had taken on a life of its own. She should tell the truth, but that would be admitting her parents and older sister were right, that she didn’t consider consequences. She merely went through life acting on impulse, landing in trouble every time.
“Didn’t I mention my Cinderella left behind a bracelet?”
“No, you said nothing about a bracelet. Things with Cinderella sound serious.” The waspish tone of her voice echoed through the interior of the cab. Hayley closed her eyes and counted to ten. This was ridiculous. How could she be jealous of herself?
“I don’t know either of you well. It’s not as if I’ve made promises.” Sam smiled a killer grin that made her breath hitch. “Besides, I’m not hiding anything from you. I’m being open and honest.”
And she wasn’t.
Guilt struck Hayley. Secrets. Oh, boy. She had a few. Come to think of it, that had been another of her parents’ lectures. Truth and honesty were king. She hadn’t meant to lie, but her bending of the truth had escalated into a problem. All she’d wanted was to keep her job and read tea leaves at the same time. Suddenly Hayley was looking forward to getting back to work at the office. Old Mrs. Carter, her boss, didn’t seem quite the gorgon in hindsight.
“I’m not sure I like you dating both me and another woman,” Hayley said in a prim librarian-like tone.
“So you’re not into threesomes?” Sam’s grin widened, and she wanted to touch so badly, to trace the seductive curves of his lips and caress them with her own, despite his outrageous words. The man was a bad boy indeed, and she suspected he wanted to tease and shock her.
Spontaneous Hayley took over. “I haven’t tried anything like that,” she said. “But I’d prefer two men and one woman in the group rather than two women and one man.” There. Take that.
“An interesting topic and one we could debate all night.” His gaze drifted to her lips and Hayley could have sworn it was a physical caress. She sucked in her tummy and tried to ignore the signs of arousal ricocheting through her body. She must not touch. Must not touch.
“We’ve arrived.” Sam climbed from the cab and paid the driver before extending a hand to help her out.
It would have been childish to ignore his aid. Hayley grasped his hand and stepped from the cab. As usual, the contact created chaos, bringing an internal quiver and a rush of need. Like an addict wanting a fix, she craved more.
Sam opened the door to the restaurant and ushered her into the small bar at the top of the stairs.
“Would you like a drink before we go downstairs to the restaurant?”
“A glass of wine would be nice.” Hayley would have preferred something stronger, but the voice of reason overrode her desire. She hadn’t eaten since breakfast and needed food before she imbibed. Proud of her sensible decision, she sat in the corner of the tiny bar, the luxurious red cushions sinking beneath her weight.
Sam spoke to the barman before joining her. “I have had no replies as yet to my ad, but I’m hopeful.”
“That’s good.” Hayley could imagine the huge number of replies he’d receive, especially with his name involved. Cripes, what if he gave her bracelet away to the wrong woman? He wouldn’t? She glanced up at him in horror, already imagining the furor at home if her parents and grandmother discovered her loss of the bracelet. And her older sister. Oh, yeah. She could just imagine how that would go. “Um, what happens if you make a mistake and give the bracelet away to the wrong woman?”
“Ah, but you forget. Only the real Helen will know it’s a bracelet while anyone who is pretending to fit the part will give me the wrong answer.”
“That’s true.” There was hope for her yet. She couldn’t tell him. Not now, because she’d told so many lies. But she knew where his apartment was now, so maybe she could just waltz in and take it back. Hayley frowned, tossing the plan around for a few seconds before discarding it. Too many flaws. Firstly, she’d have to get past the doorman who, if he was doing his job properly, would ask lots of nosy questions. And secondly, she had no idea where he’d put the bracelet.
“What made you pursue a career in organizing special events?” she asked. “I’d have thought someone with your connections would pursue a more high-powered career. Real estate or banking.” A new topic of conversation, and one that wouldn’t drive her to drink. Sounded like a plan.
“I didn’t plan on it. A friend in high school used to help out his father sometimes when he arranged special events.
They needed an extra set of hands one weekend and dragged me along to help. I enjoyed it so much, I helped whenever they needed me. My interest grew from there.”
“You’re good at your job.” Nothing less than the truth. Suzie loved working for Sam and the attendees at the conference were full of compliments. While it was true Suzie had done the organization, Sam still had to deal with myriad details on the day, and he did it with efficiency and tact. “Have you heard from Suzie?”
Suzie was staying at home with her family while recuperating. Hayley had spoken briefly with Suzie’s mother earlier in the day.
Sam smiled. “She’s caught the flu that’s going around. She should be back at work early next week.”
They finished their drinks and walked down the stairs to enter the busy restaurant. A waiter showed them to a table in one of the quieter corners and left them to peruse the menus. Hayley noted the bright red tablecloths and the dark wood of the interior beams. Bottles of wine and liqueurs in various shapes decorated the walls along with trailing green plants. Waiters dressed in a uniform of white shirt, black trousers and waistcoats scurried back and forth, firing orders in Italian to the staff behind another bar area. The espresso machine whirred, noisy with constant use, and the scent of rich tomato sauce and coffee beans filled the air. Hayley loved his choice of restaurant and doubted any photographers would hang out here, looking to snap his picture.
“I know it’s not exactly quiet, but I love both the food and the atmosphere,” Sam said.
“It’s perfect.” She couldn’t have chosen better herself.
The waiter arrived back to take their orders, and they munched on breadsticks while they waited for appetizers to arrive.
“Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
At least they hadn’t had this discussion while she was in her Helen persona. “I have one older sister. She’s married with three children.”
“Are you close?”
“Abbey doesn’t live in London, so I don’t see her as often as I used to.” A tactful way of avoiding the truth. She and Abbey weren’t close because of the eight years between them. Plus the fact she hadn’t come close to living up to her sister, the perfect one. “What about you?”
“Twin sisters and one brother. I come in the middle. I see my brother and sisters every couple of weeks. They all live and work close to London.”
A sense of envy filled Hayley, hearing the obvious love in his voice. It brought home the tension within her family, the days of constant comparisons. Her exam marks were bad, her friends weren’t acceptable. Oh, yes, she was pretty, but that was dangerous. She shouldn’t dress to flaunt and attract attention. Nice girls didn’t do that.
“I was a trial to my parents,” she confessed. “A surprise baby.”
His brows shot up. “Oh?”
“I was a rebel. If they said I shouldn’t do something, I did it.”
He grinned. “Like what?”
“Smoking. Drinking. Cutting school. Boys.” Plus more she wasn’t ready to discuss. She knew now her misbehavior had been a cry for some of the attention her parents and grandmother bestowed on her talented and clever older sister.
“But you turned out all right. Do your parents approve of your job?”
“They’re pleased I settled into being a secretary.”
“You’re a secretary?” His grin widened.
“Um, didn’t I mention that? I only read tea leaves on a casual basis, mostly weekends to make extra money.”
He stared at her thoughtfully. “Your parents don’t know about your part-time job, do they?”
Oh, boy. When would she learn to think before blurting out things that were better kept to herself? She chewed on her bottom lip, some of the numerous lectures she’d received while growing up jumping into her mind. When will you learn to consider the consequences of your actions? You’re too impulsive, Hayley. Why can’t you be more like Abbey? “No, they don’t know. They wouldn’t approve.”
“Why? You’re good at it. The conference attendees loved you.”
Pleasure at the compliment melted away some of her apprehension. “Thanks.”
“No, I mean it. I’d like to book you for more conferences. You were a big success.”
“I know you mentioned it earlier, but I thought you said that to be nice. I’d love to do more since the money is great, but are you sure? This one was different because it was all about tea. Will my readings appeal to other conference goers?” This was a bad idea. She shouldn’t consider it.
“Don’t underestimate yourself, Harriet. You’re great with people.”
“My bank balance thanks you,” Hayley said.
“You saving for something special?”
“I’d like to buy my own flat.”
“That’s a good idea. It beats paying rent,” Sam said, warming her with his reply. When she’d mentioned her goal once to her parents several years ago, they’d pooh-poohed the idea, saying she’d never save that much money, given her impulsive nature. She’d be better off finding a nice man and settling down to build a future.
The waiter arrived with appetizers, deep fried squid for her and an antipasto plate for Sam. They started eating, exchanging tidbits of food and casual conversation about hobbies and interests, friends and family. Hayley relaxed again, enjoying getting to know Sam. Their relationship had begun so strangely with sex before they’d covered the basics, and yet, if she were honest, she’d do the same thing over again. Apart from one thing—she’d check the clasp on her bracelet first. She’d definitely do that if she had a rerun.
“How do you know Suzie?” Sam asked.
Hayley sighed. Another danger area, but she could give him a partial truth. “We went to school together and kept in touch. I hope she’s better soon. Suzie put so much work into the conference. You should watch your back, you know. Suzie is after your job.”
Sam laughed and topped up her wine glass. “She could do it with her arms tied behind her back. She’s both driven and talented.”
By the time they’d eaten their main courses plus dessert and enjoyed an after-dinner coffee and liqueur, the restaurant was almost empty.
“It’s time for us to go,” Sam said.
“I guess.” Hayley didn’t want the night to end. Despite the lies between them, she’d enjoyed herself. Sam was good company, despite his playboy reputation, and she liked him very much.
Sam signaled the waiter for the bill and, five minutes later, they collected their coats and left the restaurant. The cooler air hit her the moment they stepped outside. She wobbled slightly.
“Oops, too much wine.” Hayley giggled, overcompensating and tilting too far the other way.
“Here, let me help.” Sam slipped an arm around her waist and guided her down the road toward Regent Street.
She leaned into him, inhaling his masculine scent and enjoying the ripple of muscles when he moved. “You smell good.”
He smiled, his intense expression leading her to imagine more than scent. Touch. She knew exactly where she wanted to touch him, where she wanted to be touched in return.
“Come home with me,” he said.
“For a cup of coffee?”
“We can have coffee, if that’s what you’d like, but I have something else in mind.” He stopped walking and cupped her face with his hands, staring deep into her eyes. A tremor of awareness shook her followed by a distinct zip of excitement. The tip of her tongue darted out to moisten dry lips. She thought a moment longer, temptation a siren song whispering through her blood.
“Yes,” she whispered, knowing she was making a mistake, but not caring. Sam excited her, made her feel feminine and sexy. Every woman should experience that level of attraction once in her life.
A black cab pulled up to the curb and they climbed inside. This time Sam wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her against his chest. The trip didn’t take long at all, and less than half an hour later he ushered her into his apartment.
“Would
you like coffee?” he asked when he shut the door.
Alone with Sam. Seduction. Big time temptation. Her parents would have kittens but what they didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them. She liked Sam. A lot.
This night was for her.
Chatting with Sam tonight had made her realize one thing. All her life she’d tried to live up to her parents’ expectations and the tall shadow cast by her older sister. She had to live for herself. It was the only way she’d find happiness. Hayley smiled at Sam, not drunk but with enough alcohol in her system to give her a happy buzz.
“No coffee for me thanks.” She advanced on him, backing him against the door.
He closed one brown eye in a wink, amusement filling his expression. “Now you have me, what do you intend to do?”
Hayley cocked her head to the side and pretended to ponder. “I might kiss you for a start. A slow, sexy kiss—the sort that makes toes curl and pulses race.”
“Sounds promising. And then?”
“Then I’ll strip off your clothes bit by bit and kiss the bits I uncover.” She smoothed her fingers across his jaw, enjoying the contrasting roughness of stubble while she stared at him.
“Sounds very promising.” His hands dropped to cup her buttocks, and he drew her against him, sliding their bodies together. A helpless shudder shook her and when she rubbed against the hardness of his arousal, she shivered again, her skin hot and tight—a size too small for comfort.
“Next, I’d take you into the bedroom, for comfort, you understand.”
Sam nodded. “Comfort is good.”
“Yeah. I’d push you flat on the mattress and straddle your body.”
“Would I be face down or face up?” His husky voice touched places inside her and a primitive throb started in her veins. She’d never played word games like this before. It was fun, but she suspected Sam had a lot to do with her enjoyment.
“Face up,” she said. “I’d want to watch your eyes. The back view isn’t too shabby, but in this case the front panorama is better. The working end, so to speak.”
“There is that to consider.” Sam’s eyes filled with laughter while the rest of his face remained impassive. “What would you do next?”
Reformed Bad Girl Page 7