style="font-size:15px;"> He looked amused. ‘Why?’
‘Because … I feel this is an awkward situation, that’s why.’
‘My apartment has more than one bedroom, Katie.’
‘It’s not that,’ she said heatedly.
‘No?’ He looked over at her with a raised eyebrow. ‘Then what is it? Are you frightened you can’t be alone with me without wanting to return to my bed?’ The teasingly arrogant question created a tidal wave of anger and consternation inside of her.
‘Of course I’m not worried about that!’ Her voice rose slightly. ‘I haven’t even given such a thing a second thought!’
‘Well, I can’t see your problem, then.’ Alexi put on his jacket. ‘Did you make a note about the new environmental data, by the way?’
The swift return to their earlier discussion threw her. ‘Yes, of course.’
‘Good. When we get to the meeting this morning, we can go over the ideas. I think they will be well received.’ Alexi passed her the briefcase that she had placed in the overhead locker.
‘I’m sure they will.’ Desperately she tried to refocus her mind. She didn’t want to make too much of an issue about the apartment now, didn’t want him to think she was in any way frightened that she might weaken and go back into his arms. The conceited audacity of the question was still burning inside her. Or was it the fact that deep down she knew he was right? And she wasn’t just frightened, she was terrified!
When it came to Alexi she had a weakness—she acted first and thought later. It was a highly unusual mode of behaviour for her, but she had to be honest with herself: it was what had happened before, and she couldn’t let it happen again!
What she needed was to get out of this situation as soon as possible. ‘When are we flying back to London?’ she asked abruptly.
He flicked her an impatient look. ‘Possibly tomorrow; it depends on how these two meetings go.’
The door of the plane opened and he led the way out.
‘I thought there was just one meeting?’ Katie asked as she struggled to keep up with his long strides down towards immigration control.
‘No, there are two. The first and most important is at my main office in town. But there is a second one down at the docks later this afternoon. My ship, the Octavia, is moored here and the accountants will be on board. We’re in conference at three.’
‘I see. Well, that should be straightforward enough. We could fly back tonight.’
‘Except that I have to attend a champagne party tonight, which is also on board the Octavia.’ He glanced over at her. ‘I want you to tag along to that,’ he added casually. ‘It will be a chance for you to get to know a few people socially.’
‘You didn’t tell me there would be a party!’ The last thing she wanted was to attend a social function with him! ‘I haven’t brought anything to wear!’
‘Don’t worry, you can pick something up at one of the boutiques on board this afternoon. It’s no big deal.’
He made it sound all very logical, very relaxed. But to her this was a nostalgic tug of remembrance. She’d attended one of these parties in the past on one of his cruise liners docked at Southampton. It had been a very enjoyable occasion; she’d loved indulging in a glass of champagne and socialising with Alexi. Although she had been there in a work capacity, and she’d had to write up a report afterwards, it hadn’t felt like work. Later when everyone had left she’d danced with Alexi under the stars, and he had held her close in his arms.
‘You better not put this in your report,’ he’d murmured as he slid the zip of her dress down.
The memory made her body tense.
She needed to avoid anything remotely approaching a social occasion with him, because it felt like perilous territory. In fact the whole damn trip now felt like a minefield.
Before she could say anything, however, they were next in line for the formalities of Immigration, and then they were outside and getting into Alexi’s waiting limousine.
‘That didn’t take too long.’ Alexi glanced at his watch. ‘We should have time to get a few hours in bed.’
Katie looked away from him, out at the sparkling skyline of Manhattan.
Just over a month ago she would have enjoyed a few hours in bed with Alexi. And she would have been excited about being here; she’d never visited New York before. She’d have been hoping they could get away from work to see the sights—she would have been looking forward to spending time alone with him, going into his arms, cuddling in next to his powerful body …
But that was when she had foolishly thought she could handle a no-strings affair, she reminded herself quickly. And she knew differently now.
Alexi’s mobile rang and he spent the remainder of the journey talking to someone in London about a staffing solution he was putting together for Tellesta’s international chain of shops.
This was the reality of being with Alexi, she reminded herself. All his time was utilised; even when they’d been having an affair their love-making had been slotted in around the important deals.
They were gliding down through a mid-town tunnel now, and then a little while later Katie was craning her head, looking up at the skyscrapers towering over them.
Suddenly they were on Fifth Avenue. Katie recognised shops and names that she had only ever seen on the pages of glossy magazines and in the films. The limousine rounded a corner and pulled up outside an impressive building that was glass-fronted.
‘I’ll phone you back later today, Harry, when the offices are open.’ Alexi ended his call as the driver got out to open the door for them.
Instantly the sounds of the city spilled in. Despite the fact that it was the early hours, still the traffic was constant. There was a smell of tar and road fumes.
For a moment it made Katie feel distinctly queasy again.
She followed Alexi along the strip of red carpet that ran up the steps into the building. A doorman tipped his hat at them and swung the heavy glass doors open.
Then they stepped into a waiting lift in the marble foyer and were swept upwards.
Neither spoke, but Katie was aware of Alexi’s eyes on her. She wondered what he was thinking.
She wondered if he had a new girlfriend in his life now. As soon as the question occurred to her, she berated herself severely. It was a month since their affair had ended, and Alexi probably wouldn’t even have waited a day before replacing her in his bed.
No doubt he was dating some stunning model or debutante now.
Katie, on the other hand, hadn’t even looked at another man. But she would soon, she reassured herself firmly. And in the meantime whoever Alexi was dating was welcome to him, because like all the others she wouldn’t last.
‘You
