by Kathryn Ross
CHLOE drew a line through the name of the third applicant on her list as the office door closed behind the woman. The interviews were not going well; there wasn’t one person she had spoken to so far that she would like to leave in charge of Beth. And that was the last of the candidates for today. All she could hope for was that the women she would interview tomorrow would be better.
She flicked through her notes again and tried to ignore the fact that Steven had asked her to step into his office as soon as her morning appointments were finished. Chloe didn’t feel she was ready to face Steven yet. Thankfully when she had arrived this morning he had been on the phone and there hadn’t been a chance to speak about anything other than work. But the explosive nature of their situation had hit her as soon as she had looked at him and tension had seemed to be palpably hanging in the air.
There was a knock on her office door and David from the accounts department came in. ‘Oh, good, you’re still here.’ He grinned at her, his boyishly attractive features lighting up as he saw her sitting at her desk.
‘Of course I’m still here—it’s only one-thirty.’ She smiled back. ‘When did I ever leave for lunch?’
‘If you are looking for sympathy you won’t get it from me,’ David laughed. ‘I keep telling you not to be so dedicated.’ He perched on the side of her desk. ‘So, how are things going?’
‘Not so bad.’ She leaned back in her chair and relaxed. She was used to David stopping and having a chat with her on the way through to Steven’s office. He was a nice guy…probably about thirty-four, blond, not bad-looking in a studious kind of way.
Although it wasn’t common knowledge in the office, Chloe knew he was seeing Cathy, one of the receptionists.
‘What about you?’ she asked.
‘I’ve had better days.’ He pulled a face. He nodded towards the inner office. ‘What kind of mood is the boss in today?’
Chloe thought about that for a moment. ‘I don’t know; I haven’t seen a lot of him. He’s been shoulder-high in paperwork and I’ve been conducting interviews.’
‘The work level here has been crazy, hasn’t it? Let’s hope this Renaldo deal goes through soon, before we all go nuts.’
‘Amen to that,’ Chloe said fervently.
‘Listen, there’s a bit of a celebration planned for Friday night and a few of us are going to the pub after work. Why don’t you join us for a drink?’
‘Yes, I’d love to come for a drink…’ Her voice trailed off. ‘Oh, wait a minute—I can’t. I promised Steven I’d accompany him to Manchester on Friday. I’ve got to take some notes at another board meeting. I don’t think we will be back until late.’
‘Steven Cavendish takes up far too much of your time.’
That was what Nile had said before he stormed out, Chloe thought ironically.
David leaned closer across the desk. ‘Tell him you’ve got friends who need you.’
‘Maybe I’ll be back in time to come—it’s hard to say.’ Chloe frowned. ‘I’ll ask Steven what time he thinks we will be back. I might be able to meet you later.’
Neither of them heard the office door open and they were both surprised by Steven’s voice cutting across the conversation.
‘You won’t be back until about ten.’ Steven supplied the information drily. His dark gaze flicked from her to David, watching as the other man hurriedly straightened and stood up from her desk. He did not give the impression of being pleased. And the atmosphere in the office that had already been highly charged suddenly seemed to shoot off the scale.
What was he looking so irritated about? Chloe wondered. David had only been in the office for ten minutes. David darted her a look of empathy before picking up the papers he had left on her desk. ‘I just brought up those figures you asked for,’ he said, handing them over to Steven.
For a moment there was silence as Steven flicked over the pages. Then he glanced up. ‘You haven’t done the figures for the Galley Restaurant.’
‘That’s because I haven’t received them myself yet.’
Steven frowned. ‘Well, will you get them for me?’
‘Sure thing.’ David started to beat a hasty retreat towards the door. ‘I’ll have them tomorrow.’
‘First thing,’ Steven said drily.
‘Yep…no problem.’ With a smile in Chloe’s direction David disappeared out the door.
Steven didn’t move from the front of Chloe’s desk, but continued to read David’s report. It was a bit unnerving, having him stand there. She turned her attention towards her computer and tried to ignore his presence.
She wondered if he was regretting what had happened between them last night. The idea floated into her head from nowhere. Maybe he had looked at her this morning and thought, What the hell was I thinking of yesterday?
It was quite probable. It was what she had been reflecting on all night.
‘How did the interviews go this morning?’ Steven asked suddenly.
‘Not too good, I’m afraid.’ She took a deep breath and forced herself to smile up at him.
‘I asked you to step into my office once you had finished.’
‘Yes…I just haven’t had a chance yet.’
He nodded. ‘Well, will you step in now, please?’
‘Yes, of course.’
He waited for her to precede him into his domain and then closed the door behind them.
‘So, what did David want?’ he asked tersely.
‘He was just bringing you those figures,’ Chloe said with a frown. ‘Oh, and he was telling me that a few of the staff are meeting for a drink on Friday night.’
‘Was that who you were supposed to be meeting last night for supper?’ Steven asked suddenly.
‘Who? David?’ Chloe’s eyes widened so much in surprise they almost rolled up through her head. ‘Of course not! Are you joking?’
‘No…just curious.’ Steven sat down behind his desk.
There was a few seconds’ silence, seconds where Chloe could feel her heart racing against her chest as his eyes moved over her contemplatively.
‘We need to discuss what happened between us yesterday,’ he said quietly.
‘I don’t think there is that much to discuss,’ she said coolly. ‘We had sex… I don’t think we should let that fact ruin our working relationship.’
Steven’s eyes held hers. ‘Are you on the Pill?’ he asked suddenly, and watched as her composure cracked slightly, a dull redness creeping up under the perfect velvet of her skin.
‘You’re a bit late asking me that now…aren’t you?’ she countered nervously. She didn’t know what she had expected Steven to say to her this morning, but it hadn’t been that.
‘So, are you?’ he asked again.
She pulled out the chair opposite him and sat down. ‘Yes, I am.’
‘Well, that’s one less thing to worry about, then,’ he said lightly.
‘I didn’t realise you were worried,’ she grated sarcastically.
‘I like to think I am a responsible male,’ Steven said tersely. ‘And, no matter what you might choose to think, I didn’t go to your apartment last night with the express intention of making love to you.’
‘I didn’t think that for one minute,’ she said heatedly.
‘So why are you looking at me with such accusing eyes?’
‘I’m not accusing you of anything.’ She frowned.
She had spent last night going over what had happened in her mind, and if anything she realised that she had been the one to lose her restraint yesterday—she had almost begged him to make love to her. The knowledge was deeply shocking to her. She hated the fact that she had lost her control…that she had given herself to him so freely…so wantonly…it scared the hell out of her.
She needed to be in control; to open up to a man the way she had last night was a sure way of getting very badly hurt.
‘I’m…I’m just angry with myself, that’s all,’ she admitted huskily. ‘I liked our working relationship the way it was
.’
‘So did I, but I also liked what happened between us last night…in fact, I enjoyed it very much, and unless you are an exceptionally good actress I think you enjoyed it too.’ He watched the discomfiture in her eyes. ‘I meant what I said last night, about us hooking up socially—’
‘And I meant it when I said crossing the line between work and social life could compromise our whole working relationship.’ She cut across him sharply.
‘I think we’ve crossed way over that line already, Chloe, don’t you?’
His eyes flicked down over her figure. As usual she was wearing a smart business suit. It was a pale grey colour with a crisp white shirt beneath. He remembered the way he had undressed her last night, the surprise of finding such gorgeously sexy underwear and the womanly soft, sweet shape as she fitted easily to him. Suddenly he ached to reach out and start to unfasten those buttons, to caress and kiss the sweet flesh beneath.
‘I think our relationship needs to go forward now, not back,’ he said softly.
She felt his eyes on her body almost as if he was touching her, felt the immediate heat of desire sear through her from nowhere. Her heart slammed fiercely against her chest as she tried desperately to fight the sudden weakness invading every part of her.
‘My offer to accompany you to your sister’s wedding still stands,’ he said firmly. For a second his eyes moved towards her lips.
‘I’ve changed my mind about that idea,’ she said shakily, annoyed by the way he was able to turn her on, just by looking at her. ‘I don’t think it’s a good idea.’
‘Well, I think it might be the perfect arrangement,’ he continued in a businesslike tone. He reached across to the calendar on his desk. ‘I’ve got that dinner on the twenty-sixth, which I could really do with you attending…and then there’s the big bash at my house at the end of May with all the directors. Your help would be invaluable.’
The sudden switch from huskily seductive to purely business confused Chloe slightly. The way he’d worded that made it sound as if she was back in familiar territory.
‘Look, Chloe, I realise Nile has hurt you, and maybe you are not ready to get involved with anyone else quite so soon. That suits me fine. In fact, better than fine; I don’t want a heavy involvement myself.’
‘No, I’m sure you don’t,’ Chloe agreed hastily. ‘That was another reason why last night was a mistake…you’ve only just finished with Helen.’
‘Absolutely.’ He smiled. ‘Last night was great. But I don’t think we should let it ruin our working relationship…or come between us in any way.’
‘Well, I agree with that,’ she said cautiously.
‘Great. Well, that’s all fixed, then; you come to this dinner with me next Tuesday and I’ll come to your sister’s wedding. We’ll be a great team.’
Chloe hesitated.
‘It’s a sensible arrangement, Chloe.’
His voice was so cool, so reasonable that she found herself nodding. ‘Fine…as long as it’s just dinner next Tuesday, Steven.’ She forced herself to meet his eyes. ‘I’m not going to sleep with you.’
‘As I recall, we didn’t do much sleeping.’
‘You know what I mean.’
‘Yes, I know what you mean.’ He leaned back in his chair and shrugged. ‘I’ve never forced myself on a woman in my life, Chloe; I don’t intend to start now.’
‘Just as long as we know where we stand.’
‘Of course.’ He smiled. ‘Right, shall we get down to business? I need to send a memo to the office in the Isle of Man,’ he continued matter-of-factly.
Hastily Chloe reached for a pen on the desk, the swift change towards business startling her.
‘Mr James McCord, re advertising account…’
Steven usually dictated at a rapid pace, and today was no exception. Chloe’s pen flew over the pad as she strove to keep up with him. Only when he paused for thought and to get his breath was Chloe able to glance up.
‘Let’s see…’ Steven’s eyes narrowed and he flexed his fingers as he thought.
Chloe’s eyes moved over him pensively.
Had she done the right thing, agreeing to take him to Ireland? Last night she had told herself in no uncertain terms that if he mentioned accompanying her to Sinead’s wedding again she would turn him down.
But why turn him down? Last night had happened; they couldn’t undo it. It was just one of those things—a passionate interlude between two consenting adults. It didn’t mean anything. In all honesty, she did think that Steven was probably still in love with Helen. He’d dated her for quite a long time. He might even have ended up marrying her if it hadn’t been for the fact that Helen hadn’t been particularly maternal towards his daughter.
Wanting a woman and yet having to give her up, knowing she was the wrong person for his daughter, would be hard for a man to reconcile himself with. It wasn’t something he would get over easily…
Her eyes drank in the lean, handsome features.
He was a nice guy. She really respected the way he put his daughter first.
Why not bring him to Ireland? Everyone would be very impressed, and it would certainly shut her dad up for a while.
What was it Steven had said last night? ‘I’m willing to live dangerously if you are.’
Well, why not? she thought. She had been trying to play her life in the safe lane for two years with Nile and look where that had brought her.
Steven continued with his dictation and she applied her concentration back to her work.
‘You need to ring the Waterside this afternoon,’ she reminded him briskly once he had finished. ‘Oh, and the manager from the Galley needs you to run your eye over their new promotion.’
‘Fine.’ Steven checked his watch. ‘I’ll do it a bit later. What was wrong with the childminders you interviewed this morning?’
‘Well…’ She turned the pages on her notepad, looking for her observations from the interviews. ‘The Scandinavian woman was very regimental; I think she would have had signs stuck up everywhere telling Beth not to do this and not to do that.’ She glanced up at Steven. ‘She was good-looking, however,’ she added with a half-smile.
‘That’s her off the list, then,’ Steven said with a glint of humour in his eyes.
For a second Chloe was transported back to the pub yesterday. She remembered the way Steven had looked at her across the table.
Quickly she continued reading from her notes. ‘Then the second woman, Mrs McArthur—she was obsessed with manners and cleanliness…which is all very nice, but I think it was to the detriment of any real feeling. I think she would be happy as long as Beth was scrubbed up, but if she put a muddy footprint on the carpet, God help her.’
‘So what about the third woman, then?’
‘Mrs Reardon; she was a nice woman, but unfortunately she has six children of her own, and although they’re all teenagers it means she definitely couldn’t stay after seven in the evening.’ Chloe glanced up at him. ‘She was a good cook, however, and seemed a warm personality.’
There was a long silence while Steven digested all of this.
‘I’ve got two more interviews tomorrow, so maybe we’ll be luckier with them.’
‘Maybe we will.’ Steven smiled.
Chloe returned her attention to the dictation she had been taking. ‘Do you want to send this memo to the Isle of Man today?’
‘Yep, soon as possible.’
The phone rang on his desk and he snapped it up.
‘I’ll get on with it, then.’ Chloe got up.
‘Fine; thanks.’ Steven sounded distracted, his mind fully on whoever was on the other end of the phone.
She had worried too much about what had happened between them last night, Chloe thought as she went back to her own office and closed the door. Steven was too much of a businessman to let a moment of passion ruin their relationship in the office. It looked as if everything was going to be all right, and apart from the odd business dinner things would just
carry on as normal.
Chloe sat back at her computer, trying to ignore the niggling voice at the back of her mind that was asking her why she had lied to Steven about being on the Pill.
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHLOE sat on a bench in the park and unwrapped her sandwiches. The smell of tuna was nauseating. Why hadn’t she noticed that the fish was off when she had opened the tin this morning? Irritated, she quickly wrapped up her lunch again and got up to toss it in a waste-paper bin.
There wasn’t time now to go and buy herself something else; Nile would be here in a minute and she had to be back in the office in half an hour. With a sigh she went and sat back on the bench.
She lifted her face up to the watery sun, thinking how pretty everything in the park looked. The cherry trees had suddenly burst into flower and tulips waved their heavy heads in the slight breeze that cut across the man-made lake. Hard to believe that only two weeks ago everything had been covered in a thick blanket of snow.
According to her watch, Nile was five minutes late. She wondered if she should wait for him, or if she should get back to the office early. Everything was in pandemonium back there, and had been for two weeks, because Renaldo had almost reneged on the takeover deal.
Steven had been stretched to the limit with it all; she had never seen him quite so tense. The only good thing to be said about it was that their…encounter at her apartment had been forgotten, swept aside under much more pressing concerns. Well, Steven had forgotten about it, at any rate, Chloe corrected herself. Unfortunately it did still creep into her subconscious from time to time. When his hand accidentally brushed against hers, when their eyes met in the few quiet moments between people rushing in and out of the office.
She had acted as his hostess for the first time last week. It had been an enjoyable evening: a relaxed oasis in the midst of what had been otherwise a turbulent week work-wise.
One of Steven’s restaurants had supplied the food and they had sat in the formal dining room at his house with about six other people, all business associates. Because Chloe was so clued up with the business, conversation hadn’t been a problem. And Steven had been the perfect gentleman, driving her home afterwards.