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She stared at his mouth again. It would just be so easy to lean forward, take a step, tiptoe and kiss him once more, wrap her arms around that firm, hard body.
She froze. To soften the guy up for an interrogation of his motives, not for anything else.
Her whole body ached. ‘Then?’ she blurted. ‘What? It was a mistake? The flowers were sent to the wrong address and it wasn’t me you were thinking of? It was someone else entirely and I took it to mean that you were as interested as your amazing blue eyes said you were and—’
Case stepped forward, the distance between them gone. He lifted his hand and touched her lips with his finger, stilling the words rushing from her mouth. ‘The kiss was amazing.’
The echo of her embarrassing jabbering faded in the wake of the look that shone in his sapphire-blue eyes, the incredible intimacy in his touch, the flames that scorched through every nerve in her body.
She couldn’t look away and couldn’t move.
He drew his finger back, watching her mouth, the tip of his finger brushing her bottom lip sending bolts of desire through her.
‘So?’ she whispered.
He dragged in a deep slow breath. ‘I…I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to—’
She stood taller. ‘Of course.’ Tahlia nodded tightly, trying to fight the surge of heat in her veins.
She would never have considered crossing the line herself under normal circumstances. How could she have thought a man like Case would cross it just because of her?
Had she really thought he’d be some office playboy looking for a quick roll in the copy paper? That the man could be flattered into blurting out his background and connections so she could use them against him?
She shook her head. ‘I understand. I am your personal-assistant-cum-glorified-secretary and I’m sure you don’t want any scandals on your CV.’
‘It’s not that.’
She stiffened. ‘It’s not? You’re not worried about what an affair with your PA could do to your future?’
‘An affair?’
She bit her lip. Oh, darn, where had that come from? How could she say so many stupid incriminating things around him? ‘Well, I guess I could be thinking along those lines,’ she said more carefully. If he wasn’t sitting in her chair and messing with her workplace. ‘And I wasn’t going to be so forward to suggest anything as threatening as a relationship.’
He crossed his arms over his chest. ‘Why would you think I’d be threatened by a relationship?’
She shrugged. ‘Most men are.’
He dropped his arms to his sides. ‘I’m not most men.’
She swallowed hard. ‘I can see that. So, if it’s not your employment future you’re worried about—’
‘No.’
‘Then?’ She looked towards the ceiling. Please let there not be an unrequited love, a dead girlfriend, an ex with a brood of kids. She caught herself. She didn’t care.
He slipped his hands into his pockets. ‘I already guaranteed you that I wouldn’t get too personal with my assistant.’
Relief washed through her like spring rain. ‘I’m sure I could overlook that under the circumstances,’ she said softly, smiling. Back to Plan A—flirt him into making a fatal mistake.
‘And those circumstances are?’
Tahlia looked at her heels, wishing she didn’t feel quite so much for the idea. ‘That your assistant is me.’
Chapter Twelve
Too many cooks spoil the… bachelor?
‘HELLO, handsome.’
The redhead stepped out from behind a large fern in the hallway, her modest attire doing nothing to dampen the gleam in her eyes.
Case stopped. ‘Good afternoon, Chrystal,’ he offered casually, looking past her to where he wanted to go.
‘Case,’ she lilted, fluttering her lashes and looking up into his eyes.
‘Is there something I can do for you?’ he asked, cringing. He had a fair idea what the woman wanted and there was no way he was going there.
‘Actually, yes,’ she purred, leaning into him as though she still had her revealing top on. ‘I was wondering if you’d like to go out with me some time, you know, like on a date.’
Case swallowed hard. ‘I’m flattered by your offer, but I—’
She touched his arm, pouting. ‘You want to get to know all your staff, don’t you? Well, some of your staff are worth getting to know better.’
Tahlia’s smiling eyes leapt to his mind.
Chrystal stroked his arm. ‘And there’s only so much you can find out about a person by working with them.’
‘Ye-es,’ he said slowly, the idea tumbling through his mind.
She sighed deeply. ‘I understand that it’s just so much easier for some people to open up to others after hours, away from the workplace.’
He nodded slowly. ‘Look, it’s been lovely talking to you but I have to get back to work.’
‘Don’t you think I’m pretty?’
Case froze. He was on dangerous ground. He knew more than anyone what a woman scorned was capable of. ‘Yes, but—’
She reached up and stroked her fingers down his cheek. ‘So don’t you think you should give “us” a chance?’
Us? Case stepped back. ‘I’m sorry, but I can’t.’ His mind spun. ‘I’m just not…up to it.’
The woman’s forehead creased. ‘Okay, but whatever the problem is, I think I could help.’
He sucked in a deep breath. ‘It’s something that only time can heal, I’m afraid.’
‘Oh?’ She touched her palm against his chest.
‘Yes,’ he rushed on, extricating himself from her hand. ‘I’m not ready. I can’t. I’ve just been divorced, only a few months ago…and I can’t. It was tough. Nasty. You know, bad.’
Chrystal’s eyes widened. ‘Oh.’
‘So thank you for your kind offer, but—’
‘I understand,’ she said softly, patting his shoulder. ‘Sure. I get it. Just know I’m here for you…for anything, even talking, if you need to.’
He sighed. ‘Thanks.’ He sidled past her, shaking his head. He couldn’t believe he’d said that to her. It was the truth. He’d been divorced…nearly twelve months ago. And although he’d dated on and off, he wasn’t dating anyone manipulative and self-serving like Celia. No chance in hell.
Case detoured via Sales. She had been right about one thing, though.
He glanced into the Sales Director’s office, at Tahlia, bending over her desk, gathering files, juggling coffee and balancing a pen between her lips. Was he asking too much of her?
Doing her job and helping him was a big ask. But by the gleam in her eyes she seemed to be enjoying the challenge.
He was glad she thrived on it. He liked being near her. Had enjoyed the day with her, having her leaning close to him, her perfume sweeping around him, her warm body close, her sweet voice explaining patiently the ins and outs of the place.
He knew enough about WWW and what a Marketing Executive did; now all he wanted was to know about her.
Any time he managed to get her mind off the business at hand she started asking questions he couldn’t possibly answer about himself, yet.
She was driving him crazy.
She swung around.
‘What are you doing for dinner tonight?’ he blurted.
She lifted an eyebrow.
Case moved forward and plucked the pen from her lips, searching her eyes for the answer. ‘I’d like to take you to dinner.’
She hesitated.
‘Somewhere nice.’
‘O-kay. Sure. Why not? We can get to know each other a bit better. You know, you could tell me all about yourself,’ she rushed on.
‘Yes.’ He smiled. ‘Ditto.’
‘Ditto it is.’ She shot him a smile, sweeping out of the door, her eyes glittering.
TO: TahliaM@WWWDesigns.com
CC: EmmaR@WWWDesigns.com
FROM: KeelyR@WWWDesigns.com
RE: Baby shower
Gals,
Re my baby shower on Saturday. No strippers—my mother is coming. (This is not a hen night, that’s for Em. Save stud for then. My mum is not coming!) Have you met our born-again virgin, Chrystal? Yes, she’s taken a vow of…da-da da-dum…celibacy. Is the world still the right way up? Chrystal is a virgin wearing a skirt that covers not only her thighs but her knees! And has a blouse covering her breasts. Who said the impossible isn’t possible?
K
‘How do you get a good guy?’
Tahlia stared at Chrystal’s reflection in the mirror. ‘I don’t know. I’ll let you know when I get one.’ Her mind tripped to Case and she shook her head. She wasn’t sure he was a good guy and he wasn’t hers. ‘You should probably ask one of the others.’
‘True.’ Chrystal nodded slowly, brushing her wild hair back and tying it at her nape, doing a good imitation of a school marm. ‘You’re as messed up as me, only more socially acceptable.’
Tahlia shot her a look. ‘Gee, thanks. Why do you say that?’ Did she have a ‘Romantically Challenged’ label stuck on her forehead?
‘You’re not caught up in the must-haves.’
She swiped her lips with her Peach Passion lipstick. ‘I have a career, an apartment, a car and investments. What else could I possibly need?’
‘You’re joking, right?’ Chrystal’s eyes widened. ‘Even I’ve worked out that it’s not about material things. It’s about the people in your life. And sure, I know, I’ve had a lot of people in my life, men mostly, but it’s about keeping them there, you know, people that care for you.’
Tahlia stared blankly at the woman she’d known had hidden depths, but had never realised just how deep.
Chrystal sighed heavily. ‘And you need a good man to give you a good—’
‘I don’t think so. I’ve done very well without a man in my life, and I don’t intend to get one until I get my career all sorted out,’ she rushed on. Which, if all went to plan, shouldn’t be long, right after she sorted out Darrington.
Chrystal shrugged. ‘Could be too late. All the good ones will be gone.’
Tahlia felt the words echo down her spine, and down, settling heavy in her toes.
‘All I’m saying is, don’t leave it too late,’ Chrystal said softly, collecting her handbag.
‘Is that what this makeover is about? Finding someone to share the rest of your life with before it’s too late?’
‘Yes,’ Chrystal snapped, flicking a stray strand of her hair back. ‘And there’s nothing wrong with it.’
‘Of course not. If that’s what you want.’
‘And you don’t?’
Tahlia moved towards the door. She did not. How could she? Most people went into relationships blindly, not realising the cons. She’d seen the cons close-up and it was not pretty. She didn’t want that.
A fling here or there she could do, but that was it.
‘I have to go,’ Tahlia said softly. ‘I’m still at Mr Darrington’s office, so send anything or anyone after me there, okay?’
‘Absolutely.’ Her eyes shone. ‘You know all you have to do is ask and I’ll be there. I don’t know why you’re looking after Case Darrington when you could be looking after your own stuff in the comfort of your own office…’
Tahlia interrupted. ‘I know, but I have to do this.’
‘Like closure for that promotion that you didn’t get?’
