to get her hopes up that they could ever be more than the casual friends that they had become.
The reality of their situation hit her like the cold wind blowing in from the river.
A fling. That was what he was offering her. A short-term, time-limited relationship.
Of course she was tempted. She had done nothing but think about his offer for most of the afternoon.
Stupid, really. She would be back at work in a week, and she knew that the diary would be filling in with lots of overseas trips. Scott was only here for six months and then he would be gone and she would probably never see him again.
But whenever she was within touching distance of Scott there was this tantalising tingle of something in the air that seemed to toss logical thought out of the window and replace it with the idea that maybe he was the boyfriend that Amy had imagined that New Year’s morning.
Decision time.
She could enjoy her hot dinner and thank Scott for a lovely evening with a polite kiss on the cheek and then tell him that her time at Elstrom had run its course. She had given him a week. So thank you very much but she needed to work on his painting and the house now. Be in touch when the plumbing was all sorted out and he could move in. Goodnight.
She glanced up into Scott’s face as he cheerily chatted on about the time he’d tried to make a map of London at junior school out of tape and glue and poster paint.
He was a great man and it would be only too easy to fall and fall fast. She was already halfway there!
Or there was the other option. Take a huge risk and follow her feelings and play the fun friends with benefits card and live with the consequences. That was what she had promised Amy that she would do. Just another single girl having a good time with a great man while she had the chance.
Toni shivered deep inside her coat. This could be her only chance.
After what had happened with Peter she had struggled with her colleagues. Not one of them looked at her as a professional who could be their equal and over these past twelve months she seemed to have been offered projects where she was always going to be the assistant.
A strange idea crossed her mind and she pressed one hand to her forehead. Had she deliberately been accepting work where she knew that she would be in the background? That was all part of her training, wasn’t it? To be the apprentice learning her trade from the experts.
Just as she had done with...her father.
Toni exhaled slowly as that thought rattled around inside her head and made her feel sick. She had slipped into the old pattern and not even realized it.
Worse. She had actually looked for those jobs, afraid to put herself forward as already trained and ready to work alone. Just as she had done with the paintings.
Scott chose that moment to laugh out loud and grin down at her.
She was a coward! Scott had given up the work he loved to come back to London to try to save his family business and his relationship with his father. He wouldn’t let the Elstrom name go down without a fight.
A man like that was worth taking a risk on, no matter what happened.
Decision made.
Toni tucked her arm tightly into his elbow so that their hips touched as they walked but she didn’t mind one little bit.
‘Of course you do realize that your terrible secret is now out in the open, Scott Elstrom.’
Scott looked around as though shocked by the very suggestion and swallowed hard. ‘Which one? I have so many.’
‘No doubt. I was, of course, referring to the route march we have been following for the last few hours.’ Toni counted out the vices on her fingers. ‘Mr Scott Elstrom, Company Director.’ She waved her fingers around. ‘Not averse to a little travel on foot. Does not use a GPS, or at least I’ve never seen him use electronic mapping devices but, from what I saw this evening, he knows every highway, street and lane in this city like the back of his hand. Yes, Scott, I realise that you have walked me back to the same street as the Elstrom building. So that only leaves one question: how many maps of London have you drawn up over the years?’
He laughed out loud now. A real belly laugh, displaying his perfect teeth. ‘Eight worth printing. Nine if you include the one I painted on my bedroom wall when I was seven years old.’
Toni gave an over the top gasp and jogged around in front of him, forcing Scott to look down at her when he replied.
‘Wait just one minute. You can paint? When were you planning to reveal this secret skill? Or was it going to be a surprise?’
‘Wax crayons and coloured pencils are my media of choice. So vibrant, you know.’
‘Seriously?’
He looked at her for a split second, still laughing. ‘Not a bit. I like technical drawing. Black lines using a straight-edge ruler and circles made from saucers and plates. Now that I am computerised, the survey company allow me to colour in the big bits but only when it’s not important. They can always correct it later.’
Now it was Toni’s turn to laugh, before she thumped him gently on the arm.
‘You might have warned me this afternoon that we would be coming back here tonight! I spent ages choosing something smart to wear for my posh birthday dinner. I should have guessed that you would choose a restaurant close to home. Research—so important.’
‘Absolutely. Which is why I’m taking you somewhere very, very exclusive. Think of it as your birthday present.’
‘Exclusive! I like the sound of that. Even if I wasn’t expecting a present. Is it very far?’
He smiled, and surprised her by sliding around behind her so that his arms were wrapped around her waist, holding her tight against him. She felt the pressure of his head against the side of her face as he dropped his chin on to her shoulder, lifted his left arm and pointed.
She pretended not to notice as his fingertips gently moved against her skin to flick the imaginary ends of her hair back over the collar of her wool coat, which was being warmed by Scott’s hot body.
‘For one night only, Elstrom Mapping has become Elstrom Fine Dining.’
‘We’re eating here! Wait a minute,’ she said and tried to turn around to face him but the wall of muscle wouldn’t move an inch. ‘I asked for hot food and a tablecloth. Cutlery would be nice too.’
He brushed his stubbly cheek next to her throat so that when he spoke the words were whispered, hot and moist, in her ear. ‘The way I want to kiss you right now might get us arrested. Especially when I have something hot and spicy waiting inside. Would you like to find out more? Was that a nod? Excellent. Let’s go, birthday girl.’
* * *
Ten minutes later, Toni was starting to reconsider whether this was such a good idea after all.
‘You didn’t mention that walking upstairs wearing a blindfold would be involved,’ she giggled. ‘I hope you don’t think that my birthday party was my
