yet she acted as if he were an acquaintance. Or, worse, as if he were a guy she could flirt with.
‘If there’s nothing else, I’ll get started?’
Nodding, he tried another frown for good measure. It had little effect as a sunny smile banished the last hint of any susceptibility and transformed her into cheeky ingénue in a heartbeat.
‘Fine. I take it you had your tour following the interview?’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘Then you can start in the Australia Gallery today. It should be quiet in there as we’re not expecting many school groups and Mondays are notoriously flat around here anyway. Any questions?’
‘No, thanks. I’m ready and raring to go.’
He blinked, struck by how every word tumbling out of her lush mouth sounded like a naughty invitation.
Annoyed at his wayward thoughts, especially in relation to an employee, and hating how she’d had him on the back foot since he’d first laid eyes on her, he injected the right amount of coolness into his voice. ‘That’s all for now. Good luck.’
Her confident smile didn’t waver. ‘Thanks, but I don’t need it. I’m good at what I do.’
With that, she turned on those ridiculous three-inch heels and strutted away—in the wrong direction.
‘Beth, the Australia Gallery is that way.’
She stiffened and paused mid-step, swinging back to face him, and he pointed over his right shoulder.
Something akin to panic flickered in her eyes for a second, though it could’ve been a trick of the light as the bright sun’s rays of a Melbourne spring morning filtered through the towering glass comprising the museum’s shell.
‘I knew that.’
She fidgeted with the strap on her bag, sending him a tight smile at total odds with her previous self-assurance. ‘I was hoping for a quick caffeine fix before I started.’
‘The staff cafeteria’s that way too.’
He grinned, somewhat satisfied to see her flustered as she gripped her bag tighter.
With a dismissive shrug, she set off in the opposite direction. ‘I’ve always had a lousy sense of direction.’
‘Well, I expect you to get up to speed pretty quick around here. After all, how do you expect to take tours if you need a map and a compass yourself?’
‘I’ll be fine.’ Some of her earlier pluck returned as she tilted her chin in the air to send him a glare. ‘Thanks for the welcome, but it’s time I started my new job.’
He couldn’t help but smile at her confidence, eager to return to his office and check out her résumé again.
Either his father was losing his touch at reading people or there was a lot more to their newest tour guide than met the eye.
‘I hear the boss is a compulsive clock-watcher.’
With that parting comment she waltzed away, looking way too appealing in that snazzy suit, the tight skirt with a little flare grazing her knees leaving him with an unimpeded view of those sensational legs.
Oh, yeah, he definitely needed to read up on his newest employee.
Anyone who could wear shoes like that on her first day and not be intimidated by him was worth watching and he had every intention of keeping a close eye on her.
Very close.
CHAPTER TWO
‘COULD this place be any bigger?’
Beth muttered under her breath, scanning the endless corridor for a sign of the Australia Gallery.
She’d been the length and breadth of the rabbit warren of corridors, following the clearly marked signs, but had somehow ended up in the dinosaur room, the creepy crawly room and the reptile room without a glimmer of Australiana in sight.
‘Can I help you?’
Beth inwardly groaned. Just what she needed, someone else pulling her up for being late or lost when she should know her way around here.
Fixing a smile on her face, she turned towards the tentative voice. ‘Actually, you can. This is my first day on the job and I was a bit frazzled after the interview when I got the grand tour and can’t seem to find the Australia Gallery.’
The young woman’s bemused expression spoke volumes. She obviously thought the new tour guide was a brainless bimbo.
‘I’m heading that way myself.’
‘Great.’
She fell into step with the woman whose name badge had ‘Dorothy’ typed in bold black print as she surreptitiously checked out Dorothy’s footwear for signs of sparkly red shoes—and was not in the least surprised when she found staid black flats instead.
‘I’m Beth, by the way.’
‘Dorothy. I’m a volunteer.’
‘You don’t get paid to be here?’
Jeez, she could think of any place she’d rather be if she wasn’t doing this for the stability factor. Steady job plus adequate funds equalled a lease on a small gallery to showcase her work and right now she needed that lease. She’d waited long enough to set her dream in motion.
‘I’m an archaeology student. I do this for a bit of extra experience.’ Dorothy’s brown eyes lit up for a moment, brightening her make-up-less face.
‘You must really love what you do.’
Dorothy nodded, her bobbing head setting her bun wobbling precariously atop her head. ‘And the opportunity to work alongside someone of Aidan Voss’s calibre was too good to pass up.’
Beth’s ears pricked up. She’d been so busy trying to find her way around this maze she’d deliberately pushed aside thoughts of her boss.
Guys who looked like Aidan Voss didn’t enter her sphere too often. The proverbial tall, dark and handsome seemed way too trite when describing his devastating looks. If it hadn’t been for the inch-long scar near his right eyebrow, he could’ve modelled rather than dig around old ruins and keep watch for recalcitrant tour guides.
‘So he’s good?’
Beth kept her tone casual despite the sudden urge to learn more about the guy with the sharp cheekbones, strong jaw, slate-grey eyes and hint of a dimple. Not that she’d memorised every detail of that striking face or anything.
Dorothy’s incredulous expression had Beth biting the inside of her cheek to prevent laughing out loud.
‘Good? He’s the best. Not only does he come from one of the most renowned historian families in Australia, he’s been responsible for
