been an eventful day. I’d better get back to work.’
‘Hmm, and I have to check in with Joanne and the others.’ He let go, shrugged off his jacket, and hung it on his chair. Halfway back to the door, he swivelled round and gave her an ironic smile.
‘I know I haven’t been the easiest of people to work with or approach since taking charge. You’re a courageous lady, Lauren Taylor, and I will find a way to repay you for stepping in for me.’
His unexpected compliment threw her. Her first opinion of him eroded a little more as new aspects of his enforced position emerged.
Opening up to her on Thursday wouldn’t have been easy. He’d been forced by circumstances to take her into a confidence he’d rather have kept private. Something he only shared with those close to the family.
She went to her desk, determined to crack this puzzler and alleviate the pressure he was under. Her life in Sydney was on hold, her friends were there. When she returned everything would revert to normal. Except her vague fantasy was now a handsome, magnificently built real live male whose aroma, and every look, every touch weakened her knees and sent her pulse skyrocketing.
Her professionalism partially blocked him out at the office, and she managed to focus when dealing with hotel staff and other people. During those hours he was like an undercurrent in her head, surging to full force as soon as she was alone. With his muscled torso—clearly defined under his shirt—his trim waist and flat stomach, his image flicked through her mind like pages of a fireman calendar.
She’d succeed and then she’d have to leave him behind.
* * *
Matt returned to his office an hour later. Talking plans and strategies hadn’t kept his thoughts from straying to Lauren. The way her chin lifted when she became defensive. The way her hair swung across her shoulders when she turned her head. Her soft hazel eyes betraying every emotion.
They’d crossed a threshold today, and he wasn’t sure where it might lead. Surely they could become friends and stay platonic? Yeah, tell that to whatever part of his body was revving up his pulse and stimulating his libido. Initiating a closer relationship while she worked for him was fraught with danger.
She leant forward over her desk as if being closer would make something happen, her eyes riveted to the screen. Delightfully intense. She hadn’t noticed his arrival, and started when she did, falling back with her hand covering her heart.
‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you.’
She’d gone a delicate pink again, a shade fast becoming a favourite of his. Leaning on the door jamb, he wondered how far it spread, immediately banishing the enticing image.
‘I’ve got a call to make then we’ll talk.’
Why? Lauren blinked, stretched, and changed her mind about going for a cold drink. She did a few leg raises, wriggled her fingers, and resumed work.
She tried to ignore the steady drone of his husky voice, interspersed with laughter and long pauses. The gentle tone she’d never heard him use before implied it had to be a woman he cared for. Her stomach knotted and her fingers curled. If she’d dared, she’d have closed the communicating door so she wouldn’t have to hear.
His call ended, and she sighed with relief, entered a date for checking, and scrolled down peering at the screen. Neck tingles alerted her as he walked in and sat on the edge of her desk.
Letting her hands fall into her lap, she looked up. Her throat dried, and she wished she’d gone for that drink. Her chest tightened under the intensity of his gaze. It was as if he were searching for her innermost secrets.
‘Do you have plans for Saturday night?’
‘What?’ She jolted upright, gripping the armrests for support. Stared, mouth open, too shocked to think.
His sudden wide smile confused her more, sending her body temperature soaring. Heart-stoppingly handsome before, even with the ravages of fatigue, he was elevated to drop-dead gorgeous.
‘It’s a simple question. Are you free on Saturday night?’
‘I may not be here by then.’ Breathless and throaty, not sounding like herself at all.
‘No.’ Sharp. Irascible. ‘No.’ Gentler, more controlled. ‘Even if you find the cause of the anomalies, there’ll be tidying up to do.’
‘Why are you asking?’
What could he possibly want from her?
His light chuckle skimmed across her skin.
‘I’d like you to be my partner at a corporate dinner.’
‘Dinner? Why me?’ Her common sense brain patterns seemed to have deserted her.
He leaned forward, and what little breath she managed to inhale was pure ocean breeze.
‘A thank you for having my back today. Duncan and Clair like you, and we’ll be at their table.’
‘Surely there’s someone else you could take.’
‘After seven years away and working up to eighty hours a week? Anyone I knew is long spoken for. My sister only consented to accompany me out of pity.’
His sister. She flopped. She’d been jealous of his sister.
No! Not jealous.
‘Well?’ His eyes were like laser beams searching for the answer he wanted.
‘Won’t she be disappointed?’
‘Ah, that’s where my negotiating skills came in. I’ve offered to babysit my two nephews, and shout her and her husband dinner at the restaurant of her choice. She’ll have a romantic evening for two instead of set menu, speeches and dancing with her brother.’
Dancing. In his arms.
Too close. Too dangerous. You’re already in too deep. Say no, thank you.
The phone on his desk rang. He muttered a low hoarse sound, and appeared reluctant to move.
‘Will you come with me, Lauren?’
‘Yes.’
Wrong. Idiot. Wrong.
He stroked a feather-touch path down her cheek, immobilising her senses, then smiled again, sending them all haywire.
‘Thank you. I promise you won’t regret accepting. Do you want to take an early leave? You’ve had an eventful day.’
‘I’m fine. I’ll keep going, and you need to reply to that call.’
Fine didn’t come near to describing how she felt. Adrenaline coursed through her veins, her lungs were having trouble pumping air and her heart was pounding. And she couldn’t tell if it was joy or fear driving them.
Matt had avidly watched the ever-changing emotions in her eyes. Confusion, surprise, shock when he mentioned his sister,
