by Jennie Adams
A bowler hat? In black. Oh, groan. ‘You know. For fancy dress and stuff.’
His mouth twitched. She saw it. A little twitcheroonie, right there at the left-hand corner. Despite herself, she liked that twitch.
She straightened, stepped back. Distanced herself as best as she physically could, and hoped her reactions would follow. ‘We’re wasting time. We should get to the office.’
‘We’re not finished, but I’ll get us a taxi—’
‘I have my car.’ Good manners insisted she offer to drive him. Henry would expect it.
She led the way across the parking bays to the elderly yellow bug, praying he would forget all about whatever question he’d had in mind.
‘Make yourself comfortable.’ With her seat belt clipped, she sat bolt upright in her seat. It was as relaxed as she was likely to get with this man in her vicinity. ‘It will take a couple of minutes for the engine to warm up enough for us to leave.’
She allowed the vehicle to idle, and looked anywhere other than at the man seated beside her. Awareness of his closeness, of the near-touching of their bodies, increased her nervousness. ‘At least we’ll get into the office nice and early. It’s important to keep things running well for Henry.’
‘Your commitment to my grandfather’s health,’ Nate drawled, ‘and to the smooth-running of Montbank Shipping, is…commendable.’
While she pondered the hint of doubt in what should have been a clear-cut compliment, Nate punched a number into his cellphone.
Moments later, he had arranged for his grandfather’s transfer to Acebrook private hospital. ‘Praiseworthy indeed, if somewhat questionable in intent.’
‘Yes,’ she mumbled, her attention distracted by his ability to plan and organise Henry’s transfer so seamlessly. This was clearly a man of action.
There’s no need to dwell on the appeal of that trait. Five minutes ago his attitude struck you as overbearing and annoying. Besides, he might not always use such power for good.
Suddenly her thoughts caught up with what he had said, not just with the tone of his voice and its mesmerising quality.
Indignation narrowed her gaze as she turned to glare at him. ‘Are you suggesting that my relationship with your grandfather is anything other than honest, respectful and completely appropriate on both sides?’
‘Is the relationship appropriate on both sides?’ His shrug was pure nonchalance. ‘You appear to be hugely protective of him. I can’t help but wonder what could possibly engender such a degree of commitment.’
‘Then maybe you should contemplate the concepts of kindness and mutual respect,’ she snapped, and crunched Gertrude’s gearbox as she tried unsuccessfully to get the old car into first gear.
One minute the man made her want him and almost like him, and then this! Ooh, it made her blood boil.
Never drive while you’re angry.
Bella’s words of warning rang in her head. Chrissy dropped the car back into neutral, irritated that she had gone so close to being irresponsible simply because this man had annoyed her. He stirred her way too much.
A firm hand closed over hers where it rested on the gear stick.
‘I see I was off base.’ His deep words, although quiet, seemed to fill the small car space. ‘I apologise.’
The warmth of that hand over hers was far too comforting and she thawed a little. But some of her anger remained. ‘I care deeply about my boss. If that’s a crime, then I’m guilty.’
‘I’m glad…you’ve been here for him.’ He squeezed her knuckles and let go.
Why hadn’t Nate been here for Henry?
He’s here now.
That’s nowhere near enough.
‘You’ll make sure he doesn’t feel as though things are out of his control, won’t you, while you’re running the company?’
She had intended to extract a promise. Instead, it came out as a plea, but she cared so much about Henry. He hadn’t been himself lately, and now with the stroke—well, she just wanted him to have every chance to get better, that was all.
The scent of Nate’s spicy aftershave came to her subtly as he turned to face her in the confines of the car. ‘I’ll respect his dignity as much as I can.’
‘More zesty smells,’ she muttered to herself. At least this one wouldn’t tantalise her taste buds. ‘We should leave now,’ she snapped. ‘The car’s warm enough.’
And I’m even warmer!
She clamped her mouth tight as she eased Gertrude into the traffic and headed straight for the slowest-moving lane, where she wouldn’t feel quite so bombarded by the volume of traffic.
‘It’s just that Henry hates to acknowledge that he’s getting older.’ She disliked the defensiveness in her tone. ‘And there’s no reason to think he won’t be able to come back to work. It was a minor stroke.’
‘Not so minor at his age and when he has other health considerations. Heart. Blood pressure…’
Henry would show him. Chrissy didn’t know anyone with the amount of determination her boss had. Except maybe…his grandson.
Henry would be OK, wouldn’t he? ‘It was my fault,’ she blurted. ‘He wouldn’t have had the stroke if I hadn’t dragged him all over Melbourne that day.’
‘Surely you don’t believe that?’ Nate’s tone was openly surprised. ‘If a stroke is going to happen, it happens. And, in fact, the hospital staff told me your swift actions probably prevented an all-out heart attack.’
‘Oh.’ The load of guilt lifted somewhat. ‘Well, what I did when the stroke happened was little enough.’
Her hands tightened on the wheel as she fought to suppress the memories of the frightening event. And acknowledged how ungracious she had been back in Henry’s hospital room. ‘I’m sorry I tried to discourage you from taking over Henry’s work. I was out of line.’
‘Perhaps we should both forget the way we started this morning, and begin afresh.’ The suggestion was almost toneless. Definitely uninterested.
Just like that, he had turned off all feelings of attraction to her?
So much for thinking they had both been whapped in the face by it earlier. Whatever had happened, Nate Barrett had apparently simply chosen to be over it.
A humbling thought, but then, she wasn’t anything special, was she? She certainly hadn’t been special enough to hold her parents’ interest.
That’s over, and this is now, and has to be dealt with now. Her pride swelled to her rescue. ‘I couldn’t agree more. The only things that matter are those that relate to my boss’s recovery.’
‘I’m glad we’ve achieved Feng Shui on the matter.’
Was he being sarcastic? Somehow she couldn’t see this man putting himself out to try to live in harmony with the natural elements and forces of the earth. He would be more likely to try to bend them to his natural force!
‘Uh, right, then.’ She accidentally tramped the brakes a bit too hard when a car in front of her slowed suddenly, but he simply sat there, apparently calm.
Bella always ground her teeth. She thought Chrissy couldn’t hear it, but she could.
Once she was comfortable in the flow of traffic again, Nate spoke. ‘I see you’re on your provisional plates. How long have you been driving?’
‘I spent mumble mumble years on my learner’s licence. I got my provisional one a month ago.’ It wasn’t that driving scared her, exactly. She just found it uncomfortable. ‘I don’t drive as smoothly as I’d like to yet, but Gertrude has been very forgiving when I’ve crunched her gears and things like that.’
‘Gertrude, huh?’
‘Well, Gertie for short, but yes. It suits her, don’t you think?’ What else could three sisters name a bright yellow, elderly bug they all adored, other than Gertrude?
When she finally parked, after three tries, almost neatly in an allotted space beneath the Montbank office building, she sighed with relief. Nothing was outside the lines, anyway.
Nate offered a smile. ‘You did very well. It’s better to be a bit careful un
til you gain more experience.’
After a moment—once she’d got over the impact of that smile and his encouraging words—she realised she was smiling back. ‘Thank you.’
Maybe having him here wouldn’t be so awful. Maybe his presence would actually lighten the load while Henry got better.
If she could just overcome her attraction to him.
CHAPTER THREE
WHILE Chrissy gathered her travel mug, notebook, large shoulder bag and the canvas holdall that held the latest potted plants she had rescued from the last-ditch discount table at the supermarket, Nate exited the car. His gaze lingered on the bag of plants, his expression quizzical.
So she tried to save lost plants. Was that a crime? Defensiveness made her sharp. ‘Is something wrong?’
‘Not at all.’ He glanced from her to the paraphernalia and back, almost smiled, then shook his head. ‘Would you like some help?’
‘I can manage.’ She locked her car door. ‘I always have this much stuff with me.’ Which made her sound like a pack-horse.
‘Just give me the holdall, then.’ He stretched out his hand, clearly expecting her to yield up some of her bounty for him to carry.
Admit it. You’d like to yield in other ways.
Bah! She really could do without these conflicting feelings. Yet he had such a nice hand. Lean, with long, straight fingers. The same fingers that had stroked her face earlier. That had covered her hand so comfortingly. Not that she was fixated about his hands or anything.
‘Chrissy? The holdall?’ he prompted.
‘Oh, fine. If you insist on helping, here you go.’ She allowed him to take the bag from her. After all, she had nothing to prove.
He offered a wry smile as he took the bag. ‘Thank you.’
When their hands touched, that zing happened again. It made her imagine all sorts of hand-related things she shouldn’t. Heat swarmed up her chest and into her face, because she had just proved something she really didn’t want to prove.
Ergo, that she hadn’t been able to distance herself from this very sensual man one iota.
‘Something tells me it’s going to be a very long day.’ She made the pronouncement as they travelled into the building via the key-coded lift. Travel by stairs would have been preferable, but those were inaccessible from outside the building.
Their reflections stared back solemnly from the steel-plated doors. She and Nate Barrett, side by side and looking far too right that way for her comfort. ‘I mean, the day will be busy and demanding.’
‘I imagine it will.’ His gaze skimmed the coil of hair on top of her head, moved to her mouth and returned to her eyes. She saw it all in the reflection of polished doors. Yet it felt as though he had touched her. Caressed her.
‘What’s on the agenda today?’ He barked it out. ‘Any big problems looming?’
Any big problems? How about the problem of this unwanted attraction? She had thought he no longer felt it, but now realised he still did.
‘There are several things that will need attention today.’ Not one specific matter would surface in her brain. ‘I’ll be happy to debrief you when we get upstairs.’ Her face heated again. ‘I mean, I’ll brief you. I mean—’
‘I get the picture.’
At the roughness of his tone, a part of her rejoiced. She told herself that was simply because she saw no reason why she should suffer the attraction alone.
When the lift eased to a stop she stepped out gratefully. Perhaps the distraction of work would overrule the responses he drew from her. ‘Here we are. The hub of Montbank Shipping. As you worked here before you made your move overseas, I guess it’ll be quite familiar to you.’
Despite all the years you’ve stayed away.
She would remember to keep him in the place of the deserting grandson yet. At the thought she sobered, because in truth he was that person, and she could never reconcile herself to that. No matter how much he made her want him, or how much she thought he might want her.
One abandonment in her lifetime was enough.
Nate nodded to several ancillary staff who obviously knew him. They all showed their shock at seeing him. He seemed a little unsettled, too.
‘How does it feel to come back after so long? Does it make you melancholy?’
‘There is a world outside these doors, you know.’ His retort labelled her as unadventurous and insular.
Chrissy gritted her teeth.
When they were alone again, he asked, with a hint of disbelief, ‘Are you the only new staff member since I left? I knew the firm was close-knit, but—’
‘On this floor, I am, yes.’ So what if they liked to build an atmosphere of family among the employees?
She had been welcomed when she’d started here. He had no idea how much she had needed that. ‘I got the job as Henry’s PA straight out of school when his previous PA retired to the Gold Coast. All the company members were sad to see her go.’
Unlike the PA, Nate had returned, albeit only for the duration of Henry’s recovery. She hoped people would understand the temporary nature of his visit.
On that surprisingly depressing thought, she flung open the door to Henry’s suite of offices and stepped inside. ‘I’ll just be one minute.’
This was her territory. Among her ceiling chimes and experimental wall art and, of course, potted plants, she felt secure. At home. In charge.
After quickly disposing of the killed-off plants in the corner stand—it was always a bit sad—she replaced them with the new ones. From now, she had only one choice. She must think business and nothing but business for the duration of Nate Barrett’s stay.
Given the mixed emotions he brought out in her, it was the only hope she had of holding on to her sanity. ‘The UK imports first, I think.’
‘By all means.’ His agreement smacked of condescension.
She ignored it and launched into a list of problematical import issues.
He was swift to pick things up. He had a sharp mind and a decisive attitude, and he knew the business.
‘There’s also this lot of stuff.’ She brought in a pile of files.
They worked almost seamlessly then broke for lunch. Aside from the odd distraction, such as when she noticed he had a tiny birthmark high on his forehead and wanted to trace it with a fingertip, she managed to remain acceptably aloof.
It was early afternoon by the time they had cleared through the bulk of the most urgent work.
He sat back in his chair and rolled his shoulders. ‘Now that the worst is taken care of, I want a meeting with all the department heads. I need to let them know about Henry’s stroke, and get a verbal status on each of their areas.
‘Hopefully one of them will fit…’ He turned his head to glance out the window at the fog-shrouded cityscape. ‘You mentioned a difficulty with the stevedore company?’
‘They’re usually very good, so I don’t know what the problem can be, but yes, a memo came through earlier.’ She gathered their used coffee mugs and headed toward the kitchenette just off their offices.
Instead of remaining at his desk, Nate rose and followed. Immediately her awareness of him cranked up, and she had been doing so well, too.
You mean you’d managed to live in denial for a few moments.
‘I’ll phone the company right after I organise the meeting with the department heads.’
‘No need.’ He prowled behind her. ‘I’ll speak to the stevedore people while you arrange the meeting.’
She considered protesting, then changed her mind. Why waste her breath? If he wanted to micromanage the matter, let him. ‘As you wish.’
‘That’s settled, then.’ But he kept pace behind her, and she remained deeply aware of him the whole time.
‘How old are you?’ he asked abruptly. ‘Twenty-four?’
‘Yes. How old are you?’ She looked over her shoulder at him. Her words had a hint of goading that she couldn’t quite control. ‘Thirty-five? Thirty-eight? Forty, maybe?’
‘I�
�ll be thirty in December.’
‘My condolences,’ she quipped, but the spark in his eyes undermined her efforts to keep her interest in him at bay.
She stopped in front of the sink with her back turned to him, and simply didn’t know what to do. His awareness of her was palpable, and she responded to that awareness on a deep, instinctual level.
Her life plan didn’t include involvements with men who dodged commitment. No matter how much those men might—incomprehensibly—attract her.
She remained still and silent, and hoped he would ease back. Give her the breathing space she needed. She did not want him to move closer and answer her earlier question of how it would feel if he closed the distance between them completely.
Instead of moving away, he made a soft sound of frustration and shifted closer. ‘What is it about you? I can’t be in the same room as you without—’
‘It’s nothing. Nothing at all.’ She spun around, aggravation, curiosity and awareness bursting out at her seams. She had to get away before she did something stupid. Like welcome his closeness.
He shook his head. ‘You don’t believe that.’
‘I have to.’ Instead of getting clear of him, in her haste she smacked straight into him.
They both gasped. His hands encircled her upper arms. His deep blue eyes stared into her grey ones. Desire burned for her in that gaze.
All right. She admitted it. She wanted him to kiss her until they both stopped breathing. So there. It didn’t mean they should actually do it.
As though sensing her confusion, he stepped forward. Feet braced apart, he brought her into the cradle of his body.
She should have resisted, but couldn’t. Could only speak words to try to negate her body’s betrayal. ‘I don’t want this. We don’t even know each other.’
‘Don’t we? I feel as though I know you.’ His confusion rang in his voice. ‘You’re so familiar to me that it seems I’ve always known you.’
His words echoed the feeling deep inside her.
He inhaled deeply against her hair and sighed. ‘Your hair drives me mad. I want to unwind it. Let it fall, and see how long it is. I want to tug out those damned chopsticks and—’