was feeling a little unnerved by the effect he was having on her. Unnerved by the fact she was sorry he’d just sat back. It was a dark, cool night and she felt warm and wobbly.
Gina popped into view again and Lissa watched as her face lit up as an unfamiliar man walked towards her.
‘Oh, that must be the infamous Rory.’
Karl turned his head sharply and looked back through the window. ‘Where?’
‘With Gina.’ Rory stood absorbed by Gina as she talked, her arms gesticulating wildly with her effervescent enthusiasm.
‘Well,’ said Lissa practically, ‘I don’t think she’s going to have too much trouble, do you?’
‘Trouble with what?’ Karl looked back at Lissa.
‘Rory,’ she replied impatiently. ‘She must have told you about him. He’s just landed after a stint at the New York office. Come back as the youngest consultant ever to be promoted to partner. He’s due to start tomorrow but there was a chance he might look in tonight. She’s wearing the blue top specially.’ She watched the couple for a while longer.
‘I can’t believe she thought she didn’t stand a chance. I thought she hardly knew him. But he’s obviously interested, don’t you think? And so he should—she’s amazing.’
‘If you like that sort,’ came the noncommittal response.
Lissa turned to him startled. ‘She’s a petite, natural blonde with amazing blue eyes and is totally vivacious.’ She paused before adding with perverse pleasure, ‘The only sort that doesn’t like that doesn’t like girls.’
‘Ha!’ he laughed softly. ‘You think? I think many men might prefer tall, willowy types with big brown eyes and hair like golden honey.’ Before she could stop him he reached out and touched a strand of her hair.
She stared, unable to move. Felt him gather a lock and tug gently. Crazily she wanted him to run his hand the length of it. What he’d said finally registered and she bit back a smile. She tried to ignore the tantalising quality in his voice. He’d just, very flatteringly, described her.
‘Willowy?’ she asked, amused.
‘Uh-huh. Very graceful.’ His fingers twirled the strands of hair.
She took a deep breath. She was feeling no more comfortable. The whole purpose of her stroll onto the balcony was being sabotaged. He sure knew how to trot out a line. She pulled her hair free and decided to reiterate the position. ‘I told you. You needn’t bother.’
‘It’s no bother.’
He was watching her intently. She crossed her legs away from him and wiggled her foot. ‘You know, he doesn’t look anything like I imagined.’
‘Who—Rory?’
‘Hmm, I thought he’d be taller and more noticeable.’ Her attention was wandering back to the presence beside her. He was definitely noticeable. She became acutely aware of his knee pressing against her leg. He must have moved nearer. It was warm and hard. She fidgeted and recrossed her legs.
‘Why? How did she describe him to you?’
‘Apparently, he’s like God’s gift.’ Grateful for the diversion, she laughed and ticked the items off on her fingers. ‘Tall, dark, handsome, great body, a tough boss, but one that they all admire.’ She made a face. ‘Sounds too good to be true doesn’t he? This is the Gina version, of course. But the clincher is, and I’m quoting here, “when he looks at you, it’s like you’re the only person in the world. Amazing eyes.”’
Her attention snapped to Karl beside her. She couldn’t see his eyes at all clearly. The colour was impossible to tell in the shadow. Gina hadn’t described them, she’d been more concerned with impressing on her that he’d be a lot of fun. Lissa had the feeling he’d be more than fun and that was dangerous.
She switched back to her description of Rory. ‘Apparently he’s Mr Hard-To-Get. According to office legend, he has never had even the teeniest brush with any of the crew.’
‘And that makes him hard to get?’
‘Well, you know what this place is like, they’re all over each other.’ The flirty nature of the management consultancy where she was temping was legendary. It was staffed by about forty-five bright young things who were all athletic, artistic, intelligent and gorgeous—fun after hours was standard.
‘It’s not that bad, is it?’
‘No, probably not.’ She giggled. ‘It just seems like it. They’re all such shocking flirts. Office affairs never end well. Too complicated.’ Complicated being an understatement—it was something she well knew, thanks to Grant. ‘Then with Gina trying to set me up with you…’ Her voice drifted.
‘And what did she say about that?’ He sounded very amused now.
She glanced at him and opted for the truth. ‘That you were a gorgeous player who knows how to give a girl a good time.’ Lissa felt a needle of guilt for so blithely repeating Gina’s description but, sod it, Gina had meant it as a compliment and, frankly, the way things were going, she was absolutely right.
‘And you’re a girl who needs a good time?’
‘Gina obviously thinks so,’ she answered giving a rueful laugh. ‘But actually no. When I want one, I’ll find one myself, thanks all the same. She was concerned about you because you haven’t been dating the last couple of months. She thought we’d be great for each other.’
‘What, you haven’t been dating either?’
She’d been thinking about it—trouble was the only people she met were co-workers and after Grant that was such a no-go. Precisely why Gina wanted to set her up with Karl for a farewell fling before she left the country. But Lissa was adamant the last thing she needed was to go out with a well-experienced flirt. Playing with fire and being the novice she was, it would only end in carnage. Slow and steady when someone safe appeared, that was the answer.
This guy wasn’t safe. His knee was pressing against hers again and she could feel the warmth of him. She had the sudden desire to sit even closer to him, feel the length of his leg press against hers, not just his knee. That would be warm, she thought. Who was she kidding? It would be hot. He seemed to read her mind.
‘Are you getting cold? We’ve been out here a while.’
She shook her head and answered quickly, ‘I’m fine. Don’t let me keep you, though, if you want to go back in,’ she said sweetly, half hoping to get rid of him and half hoping he’d stay. He was amusing, and she had to admit she was quite enjoying the light flirtation. Nothing wrong with a little practice was there?
‘No, I’m enjoying being out here. It’s very refreshing. What is it you’re drinking anyway?’ He was looking at the contents of the glass dubiously.
‘I’m not quite sure.’ She studied the colour in the light. ‘I think it might be an apple flavoured one.’
‘An alcopop?’
She
