Книга - The Millionaire’s Agenda

The Millionaire's Agenda
Kathryn Ross


Self-made millionaire Steven Cavendish had enjoyed a purely professional relationship with his extremely efficient assistant, Chloe Brown. Until one unexpected night when work was forgotten in the heat of passion…However, Chloe had decided against any emotional involvement, so if Steven wanted her by his side and in his bed, he'd have to appeal to her business side. Steven's agenda was set. If a business deal was the only way to win her, that's the way he'd play it…but ultimately, Chloe would be his wife!









“You mean it would be like a business arrangement?”


He could tell by the tone of her voice that the idea appealed to her. Steven shrugged. “We don’t need to write the terms down in stone, do we? You need a partner at this wedding. I’ve got a few engagements when I need a woman by my side.”

“And it would be just a straightforward arrangement that would suit us both,” she reiterated.

“Why do you keep emphasizing that?” Steven asked tersely. “Because I’m not your type?”

“Maybe I’m not your type either, Steven,” she said quietly. “That can work two ways.”

But the truth of the matter was that Chloe was starting to think that he was very much her type. Maybe that was why she was so keen to emphasize the fact that anything between them would be strictly business—she was desperately trying to keep her feet on the ground where he was concerned. Desperately trying not to think about how much she wanted to kiss him again, because she knew he spelled danger.


KATHRYN ROSS was born in Zambia, where her parents happened to live at that time. Educated in Ireland and England, she now lives in a village near Blackpool, Lancashire. Kathryn is a professional beauty therapist, but writing is her first love. As a child she wrote adventure stories, and at thirteen was editor of her school magazine. Happily, ten writing years later, Harlequin


accepted Designed with Love. A romantic Sagittarian, she loves traveling to exotic locations.




The Millionaire’s Agenda

Kathryn Ross





www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)




CONTENTS


CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN




CHAPTER ONE


CHLOE glanced up from her typing and her eyes fell on the calendar on her desk. It was three weeks until her half-sister’s wedding! She could feel a wave of panic creeping over her as she thought about attending on her own. Then she was angry with herself. It was no big deal; lots of women attended social gatherings alone these days, she told herself firmly. She wasn’t going to feel pressurised about it.

She turned her attention to the last of the letters on her desk and flicked a glance at her wrist-watch; it was four-thirty, almost time to go home. Usually at this time on a Friday evening she would have felt happy, the weekend would have stretched before her, filled with glorious freedom. Nile might have taken her to dinner or to a new wine bar or…

She switched her mind away from Nile. The engagement was off; Nile was a thing of the past. At the age of twenty-nine, she was once again single. Two years wasted on a man who had turned from Prince Charming into Quasimodo in one afternoon. How could she have been so stupid? she asked herself for what had to be the hundredth time.

The printer next to her spewed out the letters and she snapped them up, running an eye over them to check for any errors, trying very hard not to think about Nile Flynn for one moment longer. Trouble was, it was very difficult, especially as she was in a complete financial mess because of him.

The connecting door through to the inner sanctum of the office opened and Steven Cavendish’s voice boomed out. ‘Chloe, did you ring Manchester to inform them I’d be up there tomorrow?’

‘Yes, Steven, I did.’

‘What about Mr Steel—did you deal with that problem in the Waterside Restaurant?’

‘Yes, it’s all sorted out.’ Chloe stood up and ran a smoothing hand down over her smart black suit, mentally preparing herself to face Steven Cavendish. She needed to ask him for a pay rise, had been waiting all week for the right moment to bring the subject up, but unfortunately there didn’t seem to be a right time to catch her boss these days.

He had been involved in months of lengthy negotiations to secure a takeover bid of a chain of restaurants and the strain of long hours plus a series of setbacks had made him unusually grouchy. But she really couldn’t wait any longer, she told herself firmly. Whether it was the right moment or not she was going to have to ask him tonight before leaving.

Chloe reached for the desk diary, picked up the letters that she needed him to sign and with a determined stride headed into the heart of the Cavendish kingdom.

She was momentarily taken aback to find that her boss wasn’t seated behind his enormous desk, but was standing with his back to the office, looking out at the wintry silver cast of the London skyline.

‘Weather forecast says it’s going to snow,’ she said briskly. ‘You’d better allow extra travelling time for your journey up north tomorrow.’

‘Yes…thanks, Chloe, but I don’t think a bit of snow will affect the company jet.’

‘Actually they are predicting blizzard conditions.’

‘Are they? Well, as they rarely get their predictions right, I’ll worry about that tomorrow.’

‘Please yourself.’ Chloe put the letters down on the desk. ‘You need to sign these…oh, and John Hunt asked if you would ring him back before six.’

Steven didn’t turn from his contemplation of the outside world.

She noticed he had taken the jacket of his suit off; it was hung over the back of his chair.

Chloe’s eyes flicked over his tall, broad-shouldered frame. For a man who spent long hours stuck behind a desk he had a very attractive body, powerfully honed and very masculine.

The first time she had met him when she had come here for an interview two years ago she had been quite bowled over by just how attractive Steven Cavendish was. Raven-dark hair and dark eyes that seemed to slice straight into her very soul had unnerved her slightly. He had the cool confidence of a person very much at ease with himself, very aware of his own powerful sensuality. He was also a complete stickler to work for and that, oddly enough, had been a wonderful salvation for their working relationship.

Chloe liked his straightforward businesslike approach. She enjoyed the challenges that working for him presented, maybe because she was a bit of a perfectionist herself. After the first week she had forgotten to be overwhelmed by his good looks, and anyway she’d had Nile in her life. Besides which there really hadn’t been time for such matters in the fast pace of their office. She’d had to focus solidly on her job as his PA. And, though she said it herself, they made a formidable team.

She tore her eyes away from Steven and opened her diary. ‘Renaldo rang to say he’s running late, but he’ll be here for your appointment around five-thirty.’

‘Great—another late evening.’ Steven’s voice was dry.

‘Oh, and I ordered the bouquet of flowers to be delivered to your house on Wednesday afternoon. A dozen red roses, as you requested.’

‘Thanks.’

He must be going to deliver the roses in person, she thought. Chloe wondered fleetingly about this latest development between him and his glamorous girlfriend Helen. She had organised many a bouquet for his women over the last two years but never red roses. Then again, according to the grapevine in the office, none of the women he had dated since the death of his wife three years ago seemed to have lasted as long as Helen Smyth-Jones.

Chloe tapped her pencil against the diary as she waited for him to spring into action. After two years she knew her boss fairly well, had learnt to judge all his moods so that she could evaluate pretty accurately what was coming next.

She knew now, for instance, not to be misled by this quiet, reflective stance. When Steven Cavendish fell silent he was usually at his most dangerous, the quicksilver of his mind regrouping, planning ahead and about to burst forward with some earth-shattering remark or whirlwind of activity.

She flicked over the pages of the diary as she waited for him. It was best to adopt a laid-back attitude when Steven was like this. To try and hurry him into signing the letters, or indeed to try and swing the conversation towards her pay rise, would be a big mistake at the moment.

‘It’s Beth’s sixth birthday next week, isn’t it?’ she reflected softly. It was an observation, not a reminder. Chloe spent her time reminding Steven about appointments and schedules but she didn’t have to remind him about his daughter. Beth was the one person who took priority in his mind over business.

‘Yes, it is. You remember everything, don’t you?’ Steven turned around then and looked at her, his dark eyes skimming sketchily over the glasses she always wore and the way her honey-blonde hair was severely drawn back from her face. Chloe was used to him looking at her like that, as if he was seeing her but focusing on something else.

‘Well…I write everything down. And it’s my job to remember everything,’ she said quietly.

He nodded. ‘Well, we can’t stand about talking all day,’ he muttered. ‘Better get these letters signed.’

Chloe smiled to herself. She had been right; Steven was focused on something else, and as usual it was work.

‘Did you ask John Hunt what he wanted to talk to me about?’

‘Yes, it’s the normal problems at the Cavendish Cuisine Restaurant,’ Chloe answered. ‘He said to tell you that the chef there may be a creative genius, but he’s as mad as the proverbial March hare.’

Steven grunted and pulled out his chair to sit back behind his desk. ‘John is the damn manager there; I pay him to take care of those problems. Send him an e-mail and tell him I said to just deal with it.’ There was a steely note in the firm voice. Steven Cavendish wouldn’t tolerate anyone who couldn’t pull his or her weight. Chloe didn’t rate John’s chances of lasting long within the company if he didn’t start showing some initiative. The boss was not renowned for being sentimental when it came to weeding out any dead wood from the company. In fact, there were times that Chloe thought Steven could be quite ruthless, but then, she supposed you didn’t get to be a self-made millionaire by the age of thirty-eight unless you could play hard-ball.

Steven finished signing the last letter and then pushed them across the desk towards her. ‘Is everything set for the board meeting next week?’

‘Yes, and I ordered some refreshments from the Galley Restaurant. Just sandwiches and a few assorted cakes from the continental selection in their bakery.’

‘What, not baking them yourself?’ Steven looked up, a glimmer of teasing humour lighting his dark gaze for just a moment.

‘Give me Monday morning off and I’ll see what I can do,’ she retorted swiftly.

He laughed. ‘Touché. Sorry, Chloe, didn’t mean to sound patronising. It’s just that you never cease to amaze me; you are always so clued up, so in front with everything.’

This was it, her opportunity to ask for her increase in salary, and she jumped in quickly before the moment was lost. ‘I’m glad that you’re pleased with my work, Steven. But if you have a few moments there is something I’d like to discuss.’

‘Fire away.’ Steven put down his pen and waved her towards the chair opposite. ‘What’s the problem?’

‘No problem as such,’ she said brightly, and tried not to think about the massive demands for immediate payment that lay on her desk at home.

‘Good. Things have been pretty hectic around here, haven’t they? It’s unfortunate timing with you planning a wedding soon.’ As he spoke Steven was riffling through some papers on his desk, looking for something. ‘How’s that going, anyway?’ he asked absently. ‘Are you any nearer finalising the purchase of your new house?’

‘Well, we’ve paid the deposit…’ Chloe felt herself tensing up. She wasn’t surprised that Steven hadn’t noticed she was no longer wearing her engagement ring. She supposed she should say something…tell him the relationship was finished, that the purchase of her new house would not be going through…but they only ever discussed their personal life in passing, and even then in the most offhand way.

She couldn’t just tell Steven that her fiancé had run off and left her with a load of bills for a wedding that would now never take place, plus he had emptied their joint bank account. All Steven was concerned about in relation to her was her work, and that was fine by her.

Now, for instance, he had asked her questions, but he wasn’t waiting for her reply—he was more interested in looking for something on his desk.

‘What are you searching for?’ she asked him as he flicked through the papers again.

‘The notes from that last meeting with Renaldo,’ he muttered. ‘You haven’t seen them, have you?’

‘Blue folder underneath,’ she told him and watched as he went straight to the relevant papers.

‘Thanks, Chloe.’ He smiled at her. ‘Now, where were we?’

‘Well, I—’

The phone rang on his desk and with a brief apology he snatched it up. ‘Steven Cavendish,’ he said briskly.

Chloe sat back in her seat and tried to relax. It was always like this in here; there was rarely a space to breathe, let alone talk.

She wondered why she felt so incredibly tense.

The worst that could happen was that Steven would say no to the pay rise, and if he did she had an alternative option. The company she had worked for previously two years ago had recently contacted her and asked her to come back, had offered a ten per cent increase on whatever Cavendish were paying.

Trouble was, she didn’t really want to go back there. She liked working for Cavendish. She felt her career was going places here; it was much more go-ahead. The money was pretty good here as well; if it weren’t for this damn situation with her finances she would be quite content to leave the status quo.

Her eyes rested on Steven’s face. ‘I need a little more information before I answer that,’ he said. ‘OK, well, just get the figures and I’ll look up the report; phone me back.’

‘Who was that?’ Chloe asked automatically as he put the receiver down.

‘Nothing—just the accounts department; they want some clarification on one of the Renaldo restaurants in Paris.’

‘They will want the list I printed out yesterday; it’s in my desk.’

‘Well, it will do later.’ Steven leaned back in his chair and glanced at his watch. ‘Renaldo doesn’t want to come in until five-thirty anyway.’

‘Yes. So, as I was saying, Steven—’ Chloe pressed on swiftly, but once again the phone rang.

Maybe she should send him a letter, Chloe thought wryly. Or go back out into her office and phone through on the extension. It seemed the only way she was going to get an undivided minute of his time.

She sat watching him, thinking it was probably the accounts department again, and started to feel impatient. Maybe she should just hand in her notice and take the offer from her old company? At least back at Brittas there had been time to speak to her boss occasionally.

Then she saw Steven’s face blanch. ‘Gina, calm down.’ His voice was crisp and authoritarian. ‘I can’t work out what you are saying. Is Beth all right?’

Chloe leaned forward in concern, her exasperation forgotten as she realised something was very wrong.

‘OK.’ Steven glanced at his watch. ‘I’ll be home directly.’

The phone slammed down, Steven got to his feet and reached for his jacket. ‘I’m sorry, Chloe, but whatever you wanted to say will have to wait until later. I’ve got to go home. That was my childminder, Gina.’

‘Is Beth all right?’ she asked anxiously.

‘Yes…it’s Gina’s father. He’s been taken to hospital and she has to leave.’

‘But you’ve got another appointment with the director of Renaldo,’ Chloe said, aghast. ‘He said it was urgent.’

‘You’ll just have to apologise for me,’ Steven muttered. ‘I’ve no one to watch Beth. My mother is on holiday and—’

‘I’ll go,’ Chloe said impulsively.

Steven stopped in the process of opening one of the drawers to get his car keys. ‘You?’

‘I’m quite capable of watching a five-year-old,’ she murmured crossly. ‘And this meeting with Renaldo is important. It might just be the turning point you’ve been waiting for with this takeover bid.’

Steven’s eyes narrowed on her thoughtfully. As always her clear, confident tones dispelled any theory that lurking behind those scholarly glasses was a shy librarian-type.

‘It makes sense for me to go, don’t you think?’ she persisted when he didn’t answer her immediately.

‘Yes, I suppose it does. Did you drive to work today?’

She nodded. ‘My car is downstairs.’

He put his keys back in the drawer and closed it. ‘Thanks, Chloe, I really appreciate this. I’ll try not to be too long here, so I don’t take up the whole of your Friday evening.’

‘I wasn’t doing anything tonight anyway,’ Chloe said as she got up.

Steven watched her from the doorway as she quickly organised herself and then left. Then he sat back down behind his desk.

That phone call had rattled him. In the few garbled seconds as he’d tried to make out what Gina was saying he had instantly feared that something was wrong with Beth. And the memories of another call, the moment when he had known he’d lost his wife, had immediately flooded back. Maybe the recollection had been so vivid because it was coming up to the anniversary of Stephanie’s death and he had been thinking about her earlier this afternoon. It was almost three years ago to the day. Where had that time gone? What had he done with it? He felt as if he had been wandering around in a blinkered haze through most of it.

From nowhere he remembered his mother telling him in that sensible, no-nonsense tone of hers that he needed to find a wife and a mother for Beth. He had answered in an equally firm tone, telling her that he didn’t need a wife. But it was at times like this when he wondered if his mother was right. It was difficult being a single parent and running a big business. And he desperately wanted Beth to be secure and happy.

Steven shook his head, impatient with himself for worrying like this. Beth had a secure environment. Their lives ran smoothly. Gina was great with Beth and he had capable Chloe winging her way there now.

But if he did decide he wanted to settle down and get married again, there was Helen.

The notion crept surreptitiously from the back of his mind, where it had been simmering for a while. He was well aware that their relationship had come to a crossroads. She wanted more from him and he was hesitating. Steven couldn’t figure out why he was. Helen was beautiful and bright and, although she hadn’t been entirely relaxed around Beth at first, that was only to be expected…wasn’t it? She had never been married before, never had children, and she was a very high-powered career woman.

Anyway, she was a lot better around Beth these days…he told himself forcefully…a lot more at ease. But even as he said the words to himself he knew deep down that what he had with Helen wasn’t really enough…not for marriage.

The phone rang again and swiftly he picked it up. It was the accounts department again. Remembering that Chloe had said the information they needed was in her desk, he put them on hold and went through to her office.

He smiled to himself as he noticed how tidy and organised her desk was. To one side were lists of the day’s appointments, along with specific notes of reference so that she could brief him fully before each.

He slid open the top drawer; it contained blank stationery, and he was going to close it again when he noticed a letter tucked to one side. The printed heading was a company name he vaguely recognised. Curiously he took it out and read it.

It was from the managing director Chloe used to work for. He skimmed through it with a rising feeling of horror. They had recently expanded and were headhunting her, offering an increase on whatever Cavendish were paying!

Steven sat down in her chair and stared at the letter. Was this what she had wanted to talk to him about this afternoon? Had she been about to hand in her notice? He was stunned and then appalled as the full realisation of how much of a gap Chloe’s leaving would make.

She couldn’t go—it was unthinkable!




CHAPTER TWO


THE clouds seemed unusually low in the sky; there was a strange yellow cast to them that reflected off the roads, giving London a sepia glow. A smoky shroud hung over the Houses of Parliament and swirled over the river Thames, and in amongst this eerie setting there was the usual chaotic, very modern Friday-night scramble for people to get home.

Usually Chloe would be amongst the crush of people heading down into the underground. Her flat was central and she didn’t generally bother with her car because of this traffic. Today, however, she had wanted the solitude of her own vehicle, which was just as well, she thought now as she switched on her radio to catch the traffic reports. Steven couldn’t have risked not meeting with Renaldo.

It seemed to take for ever before Chloe was out of the jams and heading south. She wondered if Steven ever got fed up with this long business of commuting every day. Then she turned her car into the picturesque village of Hemsworth, with its thatched cottages and village green, and remembered why he might think this journey was worth it.

As she turned into Steven’s driveway the light was fading fast and the first flurry of snow started to hit the wind-screen. The ivy-clad Georgian manor was a welcome sight, its mullioned windows alight with welcoming warmth.

She pulled the car to a halt and hurried up to the front door, battling against the sudden gust of a bitter breeze that blew snow into her eyes and mouth. She lifted her hand towards the heavy knocker on the red front door but it swung open before she could use it.

‘Thank heavens you’re here.’ Gina was already dressed in a heavy coat; she was pulling on gloves and a woollen hat over her thick dark hair as she spoke.

‘I got here as quickly as I could.’ Chloe stepped into the warmth of the house.

‘I know; Steven phoned me and told me how long you’d be,’ the girl murmured tearfully. ‘Thanks for coming, Chloe. I’m just so worried about Dad.’

‘I hope he’s OK.’

Gina nodded and hurried out of the door. ‘Try and phone Steven tomorrow some time; let him know how things are,’ Chloe called after her as she ran across the driveway towards her car.

Gina waved, but whatever she called back was lost in the wind.

Chloe turned her attention back into the house. Beth stood further down the hallway. She looked like a little lost soul: her long blonde curls were rumpled, as if she had been standing on her head, and she was wearing a pair of dungarees and a pink jumper and only one shoe on her foot; the other dangled in her hand as if she been in the process of trying to put it on. Chloe got the distinct impression that she had wanted to go with Gina.

‘Hello, Beth.’ Chloe grinned at her, putting a determinedly cheerful tone in her voice as she pushed the door closed behind her. ‘My goodness, but it’s cold outside. I’m glad I’m here with you in this nice warm house.’

‘Is Daddy coming home soon?’ The bright blue eyes gazed up at her solemnly.

‘Yes, Daddy will be home very soon.’ Chloe took off her coat and hung it up. ‘He’s just got one more meeting. Meanwhile, I’m going to look after you.’

Beth made no reply to that. Chloe crouched down so that she was on eye level with the little girl. ‘Have you had your supper yet?’

Beth shook her head. ‘Gina was going to make sausage and chips.’

‘That sounds great. Shall I make that for us?’

‘If you want.’

‘Come on, then. You lead the way to the kitchen.’

Beth was very quiet, Chloe thought as they walked down the hallway. She wondered if she was just feeling shy. Although Beth had met her on several occasions when she’d had to come out to the house on business, the little girl didn’t know her that well.

Chloe had never been in Steven’s kitchen before. It was enormous, with a huge refectory table at one end and so many cupboards that it took ages to find something as simple as a cup. She remembered Steven telling her that this house had once been the old vicarage, and a path led directly through the gardens to the picturesque church of St Mary. It wasn’t hard to imagine the vicar’s wife in here, baking scones for the village fête. The house had a lovely, homely atmosphere.

‘Gina was crying before you came,’ Beth said as she watched her filling the kettle and opening and closing doors.

‘That’s because she’s worried about her dad.’

Beth sat on one of the chairs at the table. ‘Will Gina’s daddy die?’ she asked suddenly, and her voice wobbled precariously.

Chloe looked over at her, and suddenly she knew why she was quieter than usual; she wasn’t shy, she was worried. ‘He’s very poorly, but people get sick and then they get better again when they take the right medicine.’

‘Or they go to heaven like Mummy.’ Beth kicked her foot against the leg of the table. ‘I don’t want my daddy to be sick and go to hospital.’

Chloe went across to her and knelt down beside her. ‘Your daddy is fine, Beth,’ she said gently. ‘He’s back at the office working really hard.’

‘He hasn’t gone to hospital?’

‘No, darling, he’s his usual self. A bit grouchy now and then, but on the whole wonderful.’

Beth giggled at that, and looked a lot happier.

Smiling, Chloe went back to making the dinner. ‘You know, you remind me of someone in a nursery rhyme,’ she said. ‘Someone with one shoe on and one shoe off—was it Humpty Dumpty?’

Beth thought about this for a moment then shook her head.

‘Was it the three blind mice?’

Beth giggled. ‘Mice don’t wear shoes, silly.’

It was strange how the sound of a child’s laughter was so infectious. Chloe found herself smiling as she worked. And it was only later, after they had eaten and she was clearing away the dishes, that she realised that for the first time in weeks she had gone several hours without thinking once about Nile.



Steven closed the front door with a feeling of relief. What a night, he thought, shaking the snow off his coat before hanging it up in the vestibule.

‘Hello?’ He walked down the hallway, expecting to find Chloe in the lounge. He was impatient to talk to her about this business of her leaving. But all the lights were off in the lounge and the fire was dwindling down to just a red glow.

He retraced his steps and went upstairs.

The bedside lamp was still on in Beth’s room and it cast a warm pink light over the patchwork quilt and the peacefully sleeping child. Steven went over to tuck her in and kiss her cheek. Then his eyes moved to Chloe, who was curled up in the chair next to her. She was also fast asleep.

He wondered suddenly if he had been working her too hard recently. Perhaps he was even a little bit guilty of taking her for granted? That would change if he could persuade her to stay, he told himself.

His eyes moved over her. She looked vulnerable in sleep; her glasses were pushed up on top of her head, and she looked different without them. Steven noticed the delicate heart-shape of her face, and the fact that her cheekbones were well-defined. Her dark lashes looked incredibly long against the pallor of her skin. Her mouth curved in a soft smile. She was exceptionally pretty—why had he never noticed that before?

He smiled as he noted Beth’s storybook balancing from her fingertips, about to drop at any moment to the floor. But as he took the book from her he frowned as he noticed for the first time that she was no longer wearing her engagement ring. How long had that been missing?

Now he came to think about it, she hadn’t been her usual bouncy self these last few weeks. Her customary cheerful optimism that usually made him smile had been completely absent.

‘Chloe?’ He touched her arm gently, feeling almost protective about her; she looked so young and vulnerable sleeping there. ‘Chloe, honey, wake up.’

Her eyes flickered open; bright sapphire-blue, they stared up at him and for a moment he felt as disorientated as she looked. She had the most gorgeous eyes…why had he never noticed that before either?

‘Nile…?’ She murmured the name huskily.

‘No, it’s Steven. You’re at my house, remember?’

‘Oh…yes.’ If there was a faint flicker of disappointment in her eyes her lashes came down swiftly to hide her emotions. ‘I’m sorry, I don’t usually doze off like that. I guess I must be making up for the fact that I’ve had some sleepless nights recently.’

He watched as she tried to gather herself together, smoothing down her skirt, slipping her feet back into her shoes and then running her fingers over the arms of the chair as she searched for her glasses.

‘Have you seen my glasses anywhere?’ she murmured, looking around her in an unfocused way.

He reached out and pulled them down from the top of her head, smiling as he noticed the bright flush of embarrassment in her cheeks.

‘Sorry…I haven’t woken up yet.’

‘Stop apologising. I should be apologising to you for keeping you here so late.’ He sat on the edge of the bed, his knees almost touching hers. ‘Thanks for coming over here, Chloe.’

‘That’s OK. I don’t mind at all.’

Unless it was her imagination, Steven seemed to be looking at her very intently, most unlike the way he usually looked at her. She felt such a mess. She tried to push her hair back neatly into place as tendrils escaped to curl softly around her face. ‘What time is it?’

He glanced at his gold wrist-watch. ‘Almost ten o’clock.’

Steven glanced back up at her and something about the way his dark eyes moved over her face made her stomach dip.

Maybe it was his close proximity but Chloe felt suddenly very conscious of him, very aware of the raw power of his masculinity.

He smiled. ‘Come on downstairs and we’ll have a drink.’

‘No, I’d better go.’ She stood up. ‘I’ve got loads to do at home and I want to have a shower.’

‘Chloe, you can’t go anywhere tonight,’ Steven told her softly. ‘The weather is diabolical, and so are the roads. It’s taken me ages to get home. You’re welcome to stay in the spare bedroom.’

‘It can’t be that bad, surely?’ She crossed over to look out of the bedroom window. The snow was coming down so heavily that it almost obliterated the driveway in a white-out.

‘Dire, isn’t it?’ Steven said. ‘You’d never think it was April.’

‘No, you wouldn’t.’ Chloe pulled the curtains closed and turned to look at him. ‘Guess you’re stuck with me, then.’

‘Well, I’m hoping so.’

The tone of his voice seemed strangely weighted on those words and he was watching her with an intensity that she really wasn’t used to.

‘Chloe, you are not thinking of handing in your notice at work, are you?’

The abrupt question took her aback. ‘Why are you asking me that?’

‘I was looking for the list for the accounts department and I found that letter from Brittas in your desk,’ he said quietly.

‘Oh…I see.’ She felt her skin colouring with embarrassment as she remembered leaving the letter there in order to answer it in her lunch hour, but lunch had been overtaken by work and she hadn’t got around to it. ‘I was going to talk to you about that this afternoon—’

‘So are you thinking of leaving?’ Steven stood up from the bed. ‘Look, whatever Brittas are offering I’ll better,’ he said sharply.

The intensity of his tone startled her. ‘Well, actually, I wasn’t going to hand in my notice. I was going to ask you for a pay rise,’ she said truthfully.

‘Really?’ He pushed a hand through the darkness of his hair. ‘Thank God for that; you gave me quite a jolt.’

‘Did I?’ She was quite touched by the note of sincere relief in his voice. Then she smiled teasingly. ‘Enough of a jolt to give me a pay rise?’

He laughed. ‘Yes, Chloe…definitely enough for a pay rise. I’ll get on to the accounts department first thing on Monday.’

‘Thanks.’ She smiled. ‘When I was trying to get a minute of your time today to ask you this I never thought for one moment our conversation would end in Beth’s bedroom.’

‘No…it’s been a bit of a strange day all around.’

‘How did you get on with Renaldo?’ she asked.

His lips slanted wryly. ‘OK…I think. Renaldo is one tough cookie.’

‘Did he mention the meeting with the bank last week?’ She put her hand up to her hair as she felt it escaping the confines of its clips.

‘Yes, he did…’

Her hair wouldn’t go back in the clips, so impatiently she just let it loose, running her hand through the silky length as it tumbled around her shoulders. ‘I don’t suppose he brought those extra accounts with him?’

Her mind was firmly focused on the conversation, but Steven’s wasn’t. He was distracted by the way her hair had fallen in a long swathe around her shoulders. He noticed the golden lights amongst the darker strands of honey, giving it a rich vibrancy.

‘Steven?’

‘Huh?’

‘Did he mention the extra accounts?’

‘Yes…’ Steven stared at her abstractedly. He could hardly believe how beautiful she looked with her hair down. He shook his head as he realised she was waiting for him to expand on the subject. ‘Sorry, Chloe, I’m really tired. My brain seems to have gone into shut-down mode.’

‘I’m not surprised; you’ve been in that office since eight this morning.’

‘Yes, well, hopefully I’ll just have a couple more weeks like this and then everything will settle down once this acquisition has gone through.’

Chloe nodded. She watched as he loosened his tie, then ran his hand over the back of his neck. ‘Do you want me to make you a sandwich while you freshen up?’ she asked impulsively.

He looked as if he was about to decline the offer, then he shrugged. ‘Thanks, Chloe; I reckon I’m well and truly in your debt today.’

‘Watch it or I might ask for another rise.’ She grinned at him, a hint of mischief playing in her blue eyes now.

He watched as she moved over to check on Beth. Her fingers brushed gently to sweep a stray strand of golden curls from the child’s face, and then she bent to kiss her forehead.

The gesture was completely natural and so tenderly instinctive that it startled him. Why, he couldn’t have said; there was just something in the picture she presented, something familiar about the tableau of the sleeping child and the woman watching over her that jolted something inside him. Maybe it was the long golden hair that hid her face… Stephanie’s hair had been long and golden, just like Chloe’s.

‘Was Beth good for you?’ Abruptly he tried to snap out of whatever held him transfixed. He was overtired, he told himself briskly.

‘Yes, she was fine.’ She straightened and looked over at him. ‘You’re very lucky; she’s a lovely child.’

‘Well…I think so.’ Steven shrugged. ‘But then, I’m biased.’ His eyes flicked to the book he had taken from her hand earlier. ‘How many times did she get you to read The Elves and the Shoemaker?’

Chloe laughed. ‘Only four.’

‘You’re obviously a soft touch—I bow out at twice.’ He grinned at her and she smiled back.

She had a lovely smile, he thought contemplatively, perfect white teeth and a soft, sensual curve to her lips.

Chloe noticed the way his gaze rested on her lips for a second too long. The dark gaze was so intent that she felt herself tingle with awareness. Then their eyes met and she felt a delicious, shivery sensuality jolt through her body from nowhere. She couldn’t have been any more surprised by the feeling than if she had reached out and touched an electric current.

As he switched off Beth’s bedside lamp she turned away from him and went out into the hallway. That feeling just now was all in her imagination, she told herself crossly. Steven never looked at her with anything but the most cursory of attention. In fact, although he was always polite and respectful, she got the distinct impression that he saw her more as a piece of the office furniture than a woman.

He followed her out onto the landing. ‘While we’re up here I’ll show you your room,’ he said cordially as he led the way further down the landing and opened another door.

Chloe glanced around, noting the restful lilac colour on the walls and the white bed linen on the enormous double bed. ‘Gina sometimes uses it if she has to stay over when I’m away on business. There’s an en suite bathroom through there.’ He nodded to a door at the far side of the built-in wardrobes. ‘Just make yourself at home. Go and have a shower if you want…that’s what I’m going to do now.’

‘OK…thanks.’ She smiled at him and then felt that awkward sensation of awareness again. What the hell was the matter with her? she wondered. Maybe it was just the unusual situation. She was used to standing across a desk from him, discussing work. Finding herself in a whole different environment was bound to make her a bit edgy, a bit shy of him. Possibly that was what had been wrong with her back in Beth’s room as well, she realised suddenly.

‘I won’t be long.’ As Steven headed into his bedroom Chloe made her way downstairs. There was no point having a shower now, she thought, because she had nothing to change into.

She made a pot of tea and quickly made some sandwiches with some ham she had found in the fridge earlier. Then as she waited for the tea to brew she flicked through the CDs sitting beside the small music centre. Steven had similar taste in music to her, she noticed, and on impulse she put one in the CD player and pressed ‘play’.

Upstairs in his room, Steven heard the distant sound of the haunting romantic ballad and he frowned. The song that was playing had been his wife’s favourite. He remembered when they had first been married how he’d used to tease her about the fact that she played it over and over again…

He saw her green eyes laughing at him.

He took off the jacket of his suit and then his tie, trying to ignore the prickling sensation that was running down his spine. Chloe was nothing like his late wife. He was just tired and Stephanie was close to his mind because of the anniversary…that was all it was.

Chloe flicked the ‘repeat’ button so that the song would play over again. She hadn’t heard the tune in ages and it was one of her favourites. She stared out at the snow falling past the kitchen window, so white against the blackness of the sky.

She wondered where Nile was. He could at least have got in contact to explain about the money, to apologise. Surely he owed her that much?

The music snapped off behind her and she whirled around. Steven was next to the music centre.

‘Sorry, Steven…was that disturbing Beth?’

‘No, Beth could sleep through an earthquake.’ He hesitated for a second before adding, ‘I’ve just got a bit of a headache.’

‘Probably all that paperwork today.’ Chloe went across to pour the tea.

‘I think I’ll have something a bit stronger than tea,’ Steven said, opening one of the cupboards. ‘I’ve got a bottle of whisky in here…somewhere.’

Chloe was about to tell him that if he had a headache whisky was not the best thing to drink, then thought better of the comment. Steven didn’t need her counsel.

She noticed that he had changed into jeans and a blue shirt and his hair was still damp from the shower. Chloe had never seen him dressed in such casual attire before; it suited him—made him look more boyishly attractive.

‘Care to join me?’ Steven asked, looking up from his perusal of the drinks cupboard.

She shook her head. ‘I’ll stick to the tea,’ she said with a smile. ‘I’m not a whisky drinker.’

‘In fact, no bad habits at all?’

‘I wouldn’t go that far.’ She wondered if there had been a dry edge to that question. Did Steven Cavendish think she was boring? The idea needled her. ‘In fact, I’ve got more than my fair share of faults.’

His eyebrows rose. ‘Name one, then?’ he asked with a grin.

‘I could name loads,’ she retorted swiftly, ‘but, as you’re my boss, I don’t think that would be a very good idea.’

His dark eyes glimmered with amusement. ‘You’re on your best behaviour around me…is that it?’

‘Of course.’

He smiled and turned back to his contemplation of the cupboard. ‘How about a glass of red wine, then?’ He held up a bottle and looked around at her. ‘Come on, help me out—am I sailing anywhere near a weakness here?’

She laughed at the absurdity of the question and then found herself acceding. ‘A glass of red wine would be nice.’

‘Great; I hate to drink alone.’ Steven transferred the drinks and his sandwiches onto a tray. ‘Let’s go and sit in the other room and relax for a moment.’

The lounge was in darkness. Chloe turned on one of the side lamps as Steven put the tray down and went over to stoke up the fire.

She sat in one of the comfortable royal-blue chairs and watched as he encouraged the dying embers in the grate then threw on a few logs. As the blaze sprang to life the flames hissed and spat greedily in the silence of the room.

‘There’s nothing like a real fire,’ she murmured.

‘There’s something romantic about it, isn’t there?’ he agreed. ‘During the day we have to keep the fireguard on because of Beth, but in the evening, when she’s in bed, it’s nice to sit and gaze into the flames.’

By ‘we’ she presumed he was referring to Helen.

He sat on the floor and opened the bottle of red wine before leaving it to warm by the flames for a moment. ‘If this snow keeps up I doubt I’ll be able to go to Manchester tomorrow.’

‘I thought you said a little bit of snow wouldn’t affect the company jet?’ she reminded him light-heartedly.

He glanced up at her and grinned. ‘I was wrong, wasn’t I?’

‘Gosh, Mr Cavendish is admitting to being wrong!’ She turned laughing eyes towards the patio windows. ‘Are there pigs flying around out there in that snow?’

‘Less of the sarcasm, Ms Brown,’ he reprimanded with a glint of humour in his eyes. ‘May I remind you that according to that little speech you made in the kitchen you are supposed to be on your best behaviour around me?’

‘Sorry…don’t know what came over me.’ With a smile she settled herself even more comfortably in her chair. ‘Must be approaching the witching hour or something.’

Steven smiled back and leaned against a chair as he poured the wine. ‘Tell you what, I’m glad it is approaching the witching hour; I’ve seen enough of that office over these last few weeks to last me a lifetime.’

‘It has been very tense in there,’ Chloe agreed. She took off her glasses and put them down next to her on the coffee table.

‘So let’s drink to Friday, then,’ Steven suggested lightly as he passed her wine across to her. ‘And my wonderful PA, of course, without whom my office would disintegrate into chaos.’ He raised his own glass in salute.

Smiling, she took a sip of the wine; it was warm and mellow against her throat.

For a while they sat in companionable silence. The room was in semi-darkness, and she glanced around, admiring the elegance of the decor.

All the rooms were very big in this house, possibly because it had been built in a bygone era, where style and space had been more important than practical considerations such as how much the land cost. She admired the beautifully framed watercolours on the plain cream walls, the Louis XV fireplace and the ornate marble surround, the huge mirror stretching up to the ornate coving around the high ceilings.

‘You have a beautiful home,’ she remarked absently.

He smiled. ‘You sound as if you’ve never been here before.’

‘Well, they have always been flying visits, haven’t they? Usually when we are both so stretched with work that we’ve had to use every available minute to catch up with things by working from your office here.’

‘Yes, I suppose you are right.’ He glanced over at her thoughtfully. ‘I rely on you quite heavily sometimes, don’t I?’

She shrugged. ‘No more than any other boss relies on his PA.’

Steven decided that wasn’t quite true. Thinking that Chloe was leaving today had made him review exactly what he had with her.

He watched the way the firelight played over her face. Her skin had a smooth, creamy quality. She looked very young, and as her eyes lifted to look over at him there was a vulnerable air about her that intrigued him. And what about her engagement ring?

‘I hope I haven’t disrupted your weekend too much,’ he said casually. ‘What were your original plans for tonight?’

‘They were nothing special. I’m glad I was able to step into the breach. Did you find that list for the accounts department, by the way?’

He noted how she swiftly changed the personal question back to business. Now he came to think about it, Chloe did that a lot.

She was a wonderful PA, probably the best he had ever employed. He knew he could trust her implicitly, yet she kept herself to herself more than any other woman he had ever met.

If someone had asked him two years ago, when he’d been having problems with a personal assistant who’d had a crush on him and blushed every time he spoke to her, what his ideal PA would be he would have said someone like Chloe, someone who got on with the job and didn’t have any personal interest in him. Yet perversely, now that he had exactly the right person in the job, he found himself wanting her to talk to him a bit more about something other than work. She had this kind of closed-off look about her, a ‘do not touch’ attitude.

‘Yes, I found the list, thank you.’ He took a sip of his wine before saying slowly, ‘But let’s not talk about work tonight. I’ve had enough of that all week.’

‘As work is our common denominator, there might be a few long silences if we do that.’ She tried to laugh off the request, because in truth it made her feel nervously self-conscious.

Steven noted the sudden colour in her cheeks and knew he had ruffled her a little with the remark. He had no intention of overstepping the boundaries of their working relationship…for one thing, he didn’t believe in mixing business with pleasure. Yet his curiosity was aroused sufficiently to want to push those boundaries aside for just a while, just to quell the sudden need to know what exactly lay behind Chloe’s businesslike façade.

‘Maybe we have a few other things in common that we have yet to discover,’ he said lightly.

‘Like a love of old houses and fine wine?’ She kept her voice equally light.

‘There you are, we’ve found two things we have in common already.’

She smiled at the teasing note in his voice. ‘It does seem a bit strange for us to be relaxing like this,’ she said honestly. ‘I keep expecting a telephone to ring, or someone from one of the other departments to come barging in to ask for something.’

‘We never get a minute’s peace, do we?’ Steven agreed. ‘Naïvely I thought when I floated the company on the stock exchange four years ago that I’d be able to take more of a back seat. But I think I’m putting more hours in now as managing director than I ever did as the sole owner.’

‘Perhaps that’s the heavy price of success.’ She smiled.

‘Perhaps.’ He took a sip of his drink.

She wondered what he was thinking about as she watched the flickering firelight playing over his features. Maybe he was remembering the heady thrill of that business deal. For a man who wasn’t a chef, Steven Cavendish was a remarkably successful restaurateur.

From humble beginnings with one restaurant he had developed a style and a flair for the imaginative, setting in place the correct chef, the right location and something more…a flair for elegant dining that had struck a chord with Londoners, so that within a year the first Cavendish restaurant had been an overwhelming success and more had followed.

‘I suppose I shouldn’t complain. After Stephanie died I was glad to be working so many hours; it helped take my mind off things. In fact, there were points when I felt better in the office than I did at home. I had the peace of mind of knowing my mother was here with Beth…and at least at the office I could pretend everything was normal.’

‘It must have been a dreadful time,’ Chloe said sympathetically.

‘The worst ever.’

There was silence for a moment. Steven stared into the fire reflectively. ‘One of the reasons we bought this house was that we thought it was a fine family home. It has five bedrooms and we planned to fill them. Stephanie was from a big family and so am I. We both liked that and wanted the same…’

‘I’m so sorry, Steven.’

The gentle sympathy of her voice jerked him from his contemplation of the past. He shrugged. ‘Life goes on, Chloe. I’ve learnt to deal with it.’

Despite the calm tone, she knew that he had found his wife’s death very difficult to come to terms with. Chloe had joined the company almost twelve months after the tragedy and she was used to a rather stern and very intense boss who could be more than a little aloof on occasion, but other members of staff had told her that before his wife had died he had been a different man, that her death had made him withdraw into himself.

Sitting here next to the fire with him, she realised that she was seeing more of that real Steven Cavendish than she had in two whole years in the office. Underneath that enigmatic cloak that he wore so well, he was a nice guy. A nice guy who just happened to be very handsome as well…she thought as she studied his rather aristocratic profile, the chiselled features, square jaw-line and the sensual curve of his lips.

He glanced over and caught her staring at him. ‘What are you thinking about?’ he asked lazily.

‘Just…just how awful it must have been to lose someone you loved so much.’

‘Yes, it was.’ As he looked over at her Steven was thinking how right Chloe was—it was kind of strange to sit here talking to her like this. But the funny thing was, she was so easy to talk to. He hadn’t meant to open up to her like that; in fact, he couldn’t remember the last time he had talked to someone about Stephanie. He leaned over and topped up her wine glass. ‘Anyway, let’s not get maudlin,’ he said. ‘It’s Friday night, reason to be celebrating.’

Realising that he might not want to talk about his wife any further, Chloe took the hint and changed the subject. ‘And if this weather keeps up you might not have to go to Manchester tomorrow.’ She raised her glass.

‘Even if the weather improves I might find it difficult to go anyway…because by the looks of things Gina won’t be back tomorrow.’

‘Well, if by some miracle the weather does improve I’ll stay on tomorrow and look after Beth,’ Chloe offered.

‘Thanks, Chloe.’

‘That’s OK. Beth and I get on very well together,’ she said lightly. ‘It would be no hardship.’

Steven smiled at her. ‘Well, that’s very nice of you, but what about Nile—won’t he mind?’ The quietly asked question made her nerves jump. ‘Where’s he tonight, anyway?’

‘I don’t know.’ She smiled a trifle over-brightly. ‘Probably out drinking with his mates…’ She was aware of his dark gaze moving towards her hands, to the finger that had worn Nile’s ring. ‘We called our engagement off almost four weeks ago,’ she admitted huskily.

‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ He frowned. ‘You’ve never said a word about it.’

‘I suppose I’m still trying to get used to the idea myself. ‘And we don’t really talk about our personal lives, do we?’ she said. ‘In fact, I had a hard time even trying to talk to you about work today.’

He grimaced. ‘Sorry, Chloe; hopefully things are going to settle down soon.’

She smiled. ‘We’ve been saying that for ages. Actually, I don’t mind how busy it is—at least the days go quickly.’

‘So your break-up with Nile was very sudden, was it?’ He went back to the subject, his voice gently probing. ‘You two have been together for a long time.’

‘Yes; I met him just before I came to work for you, two years ago. But we were probably just not meant for each other. These things happen.’ With massive determination she tried hard to sound as if she was very together about the whole thing, and she tilted her face up and smiled.

Steven wasn’t fooled by the brave front for a minute. He noted the pallor of her skin and the bright glitter of her blue eyes. ‘Just as well to find you’re not suited now instead of after you married.’

‘Yes…that’s what I keep telling myself. But we were living together for over a year…and I did think…well, obviously I thought he was the guy for me. We’d even booked the registry office…’

‘So…if it’s not too personal a question…what happened? Was it another woman?’

She noted with grim amusement that his first surmise was that Nile had dumped her. ‘Well, not exactly, although it turns out that there is another woman in the background now…’ Maybe that other woman had been there all along and he had just picked that argument with her as an excuse to leave…and take their money, she thought grimly.

‘Well, he’s an idiot to give you up,’ Steven said briskly. ‘A complete idiot.’

The compliment took Chloe aback. She wished now that she hadn’t taken off her glasses so that she could read the darkly impassive features more clearly. ‘Thank you.’ She looked away from him, feeling suddenly embarrassed. She couldn’t really believe that she was talking like this to him; it felt really weird.

‘You’ll meet someone else, fall in love and thank your lucky stars that you didn’t marry him.’

Her lips twisted drily. ‘I didn’t realise you were such a romantic.’

‘Neither did I.’ He smiled. ‘But it sounded good, didn’t it?’

Chloe thought about that for a moment and then shook her head. ‘I don’t know about that…’

‘Why not?’

She shrugged. ‘Well, this business of the earth moving and lightning zinging through you when you kiss someone—it’s all just a big distraction, isn’t it?’

‘Distraction from what?’

‘The reality of whether you really are suited to spend the rest of your life with someone.’

‘You’re a bit young to be so cynical.’

‘I don’t think it’s cynical; I think it’s sensible.’ Chloe stared at the fire as she thought about Nile and their relationship. She had thought she had it all worked out with Nile Flynn…thought they were on exactly the same wavelength. Then came the argument four weeks ago, and she had discovered not only were they not on the same wavelength but they were tuned into entirely different frequencies.

He had accused her of being too interested in her work! It had been a ridiculous thing to say—she’d always been into her career. And, although she hadn’t said it to him, she recalled all too well that he hadn’t complained when he had needed her support for the long period during his own business difficulties. She had been the main breadwinner for well over a year. The strange thing was that now he was getting back on his feet financially again he seemed to hold that against her.

She would never understand men, she thought angrily. She hadn’t minded helping him, had been there for him both emotionally and financially. It hadn’t mattered to her who earned the most money. She had just thought that they were working in unison with the goal of their new house now well in sight.

And she had loved him; OK, there had been no wild sparks between them, there never had been. It had been more a quiet, steady kind of feeling. But Chloe had liked it like that, had liked the fact that they both had their feet on the ground; she had thought Nile felt exactly the same. He’d certainly led her to think he felt the same.

The angry rhetoric of four weeks ago had come as a total shock. It had started innocently enough because she’d been late home from work. He’d said she didn’t have enough time for him. That she had all her priorities all wrong; she put her work ahead of him. She had made one little remark about the fact that she needed her job and had to treat it seriously and he had flown into a complete rage. He had made some very disdainful and derogatory remarks about her work and it was then that she had realised suddenly that he deeply resented the fact that she had been the one to keep things together financially when work hadn’t been going well for him.

When she had suggested quietly that they sit down and discuss things he had arrogantly dismissed the idea and stormed out of the apartment.

It had been such a ridiculous argument that she had thought he might have reflected on the conversation, come back, sat down and discussed things in a more reasonable manner. But Nile hadn’t come back, or at least not while she had been there. She had returned from work the following day and all his belongings had gone, leaving no trace that he had ever shared her life.

‘I thought Nile liked the fact that I had an independent streak,’ she said, turning to look at Steven. ‘But it turned out that he didn’t like that at all.’

For a second Steven had a glimpse of such raw vulnerability in Chloe’s eyes, it was the first time he had ever seen that and it startled him slightly. Chloe was always in control, and together.

She looked away from him hastily and he was left wondering if he had imagined it.

‘Anyway, I reckon the bottom line is he’s seeing someone else. One of my friends saw him out with her not so long ago.’ She looked back sharply at Steven. ‘So much for love,’ she said pointedly. ‘I think the next man I meet I’m going to push that particular emotion even further down on my list of requirements.’

Steven surveyed her through narrowed, thoughtful eyes. ‘So what attributes would you put at the top of your list of requirements?’ he asked curiously.

‘Mutual respect.’ She closed her eyes for a moment as she thought about the question. ‘And he’d have to be someone who is kind and thoughtful.’

Watching her, Steven couldn’t help wondering if passion would figure anywhere on her list. He had a feeling that under the sensible, businesslike exterior she liked to portray she would have an extremely passionate side. His eyes drifted slowly down over her clothing. For one thing, he suspected that beneath those suits there was a very delectable body hidden away.

Aware that he was watching her with close attention, Chloe felt suddenly flustered and wondered why on earth she had told him all that! ‘Anyway, that’s enough about me,’ she said awkwardly. ‘Where’s Helen tonight?’ she asked, swiftly moving the conversation.

‘She’s been working on a very big case down at the crown court all week. Verdict came in today and her client has been acquitted. So I think the whole team are out celebrating.’

‘Must be a bit difficult juggling your social life sometimes,’ she considered. ‘What with Helen being such a high-flying barrister and you running Cavendish.’

‘It takes a bit of effort to co-ordinate our schedules,’ he agreed wryly.

Outside in the hallway the grandfather clock struck two, its chimes echoing through the silence of the house.

‘I didn’t realise it was that time,’ Chloe said in surprise.

‘No, neither did I.’ Steven grinned. ‘For two people who don’t usually talk about our personal lives, we’ve certainly made up on some lost ground.’

‘Yes.’ She smiled at him.

‘And it’s been very enjoyable.’

As she sipped her wine she thought how Steven was right—it was pleasurable sitting here with him like this. He was a nice guy. And there was almost something romantic about the half-light of the fire, the snow falling silently and thickly outside the patio doors. Trouble was, they were the wrong two people. He should be with Helen, she should be with Nile, she reminded herself sternly.

Her eyes moved over him contemplatively. He looked incredibly sexy in that casual attire. She wondered suddenly what it would be like to curl her fingers through the thick darkness of his hair and be kissed by him. She recoiled in shock from the thought. He was her boss! The man who barked orders and threw paperwork at her. The man who unnerved her with that dark, steady gaze. Had she taken leave of her senses?

He looked over and met her eyes and smiled. It was such a warm, attractive smile that it made her feel even more confused. Steven Cavendish was simply gorgeous, she thought hazily. But if he knew what she had just been thinking he’d be horrified, she told herself.

‘I’d better get to bed.’ Chloe finished her glass of wine.

‘We haven’t finished the bottle of wine,’ he said. ‘Stay and have another drink.’

‘I’d better not.’ She stood up and Steven also got politely to his feet.

‘Well, goodnight.’ She smiled at him a little self-consciously.

‘Goodnight.’ His gaze seemed to move from her eyes towards her lips as he spoke.

Chloe didn’t move away; something held her rooted to the spot.

He reached out and smoothed a stray strand of hair away from her eyes. It was a strangely intimate gesture and the touch of his fingers against her skin made her feel hot inside.

‘You look lovely with your hair loose like that,’ he murmured. ‘You should wear it like that more often.’

‘It…it gets in the way.’ As she stared into his eyes she felt her heart thundering against her chest.

‘You are so practical about everything,’ he said gently. ‘The way you dress…even the way you think about relationships.’ His lips slanted into a wryly teasing smile. ‘I bet you even alphabetically index your CD collection, don’t you?’

‘No…’ She smiled. ‘But it’s a very good idea…’ Her voice trailed off as he leaned closer and she realised suddenly that he was going to kiss her.

She could have moved away from him, but she didn’t want to. Some kind of madness seemed to take hold of her and she leaned forward, meeting him halfway and then responding to the soft pressure of his mouth with a rising feeling of hunger.

Being folded into his arms was the most amazing feeling. His lips were sensually provocative as they moved over hers, gently at first and then with a fiercer heat that set her on fire. She felt his body pressed hard against hers and it sent a thrill of excitement flooding through her. Chloe wanted to be closer; she wanted him to caress her body. When she felt his hands stroking up over her back she wanted to melt into him, feel his hands against her skin.

She wound her arms up and around his neck and the kiss deepened further, Steven exploring her mouth with a sensual mastery that sent her control spinning wildly. The sudden touch of his hands against the bare skin of her waist made her realise that her blouse had been pulled from the waistband of her skirt. The sensation of his hands against her naked skin made her tingle all over, her thoughts incoherent with a desire that was totally overwhelming.

She wanted him to unbutton her blouse, wanted to feel his hands moving and caressing over her breasts, which were now tight and aching with the weight of her desire.

He kissed the side of her face and found the soft, sensitive skin at her neck in a way that sent even more darts of pleasure through her.

If he continued like this she was going to want to make love totally and completely, and this was all wrong.

The knowledge hit her like a seed of sanity in a storm of desire.




CHAPTER THREE


AS SHE stepped back from him she felt dazed and disorientated. No one had ever kissed her like that before; no one had ever turned her on so easily in such a wildly exhilarating way. Her loss of control had been scary.

‘I don’t suppose I should have done that,’ Steven murmured huskily.

‘Not the most sensible of moves,’ she agreed, her voice uneven with the raggedness of her breathing. ‘We’ve got to work together…’

His eyes lingered on her mouth again and she found herself forgetting what she was saying…where she was, even.

With the utmost difficulty she forced herself to move away. ‘We’ll forget it and put it down to the wine…and…and…’ She couldn’t think straight and her heart rate was wild, drumming chaotically with a need that was so intense it was shocking.

‘And a moment of madness at a late hour,’ he finished for her. In contrast to her, Steven sounded very much in control.

Sharply she tried to pull herself together. ‘Yes, it was definitely madness. We’ll just forget it.’ It was a relief to hear her voice sounding so cool. She couldn’t let him know how deeply that kiss had affected her…especially as it had just been a light-hearted, meaningless gesture to him.

Chloe turned away from him and tried surreptitiously to tuck her blouse neatly back into her skirt. She cringed as she remembered how she had wound her arms around his neck, openly inviting his caresses. How could she have behaved so shamelessly, and with her boss, of all people?

She picked up her glasses from the coffee table. As she put them back on it was as if she was slipping back behind her mask. ‘Would you like me to take these dishes back into the kitchen before I turn in?’ She tried to pretend that her mind had now moved away from what had happened, that she was now concentrating on practicalities.

‘No, I’ll see to them. I’m going to stay down here a while, finish my wine.’

‘OK, well, I’ll say goodnight, then.’ She forced herself to turn and face him. Then remembered his response when she had said goodnight last time and wished she had just left without saying anything.

She was aware that he was watching her closely but she couldn’t bear to meet his eyes. What was he thinking? she wondered… Was he just amused by what had happened? Or maybe amused by the effect it seemed to have had on her—one kiss and Chloe’s thrown totally out of kilter?

‘Goodnight, Chloe; sleep well.’

‘Yes, I’m sure I will…I’m exhausted, actually…probably fall asleep the moment my head touches the pillow.’ She wasn’t going to let him think she would lose any sleep over one silly kiss.

It was a blessed relief to escape to the sanctuary of her room. She sank down on the bed and sat there for a moment, trying to steady her breathing and gather her thoughts.

Why had he kissed her like that?

A moment’s madness, he had said…probably all there was to it. One thing was for certain: if they were to work as easily and comfortably together as they had in the past, she was going to have to just forget it.

She got up and went into the en suite bathroom to strip off and stand for a long time under the refreshing force of the power shower. Then, having no nightdress to put on, she had to slip naked between the sheets of the double bed. They were cool and refreshing against her heated skin. She reached out and switched off the bedside light, then lay staring up into the darkness.

She remembered the passion of Steven’s kiss. There was no doubt about it; he was a very sexy man. She couldn’t remember Nile ever being able to turn her on like that, just with a kiss. What would it be like to have Steven make love to her? she wondered. The memory of his hands moving over her skin made her body burn with a desire that alarmed her.

Turning, she buried her head into the pillow and told herself to stop thinking about it. She was only just getting over Nile; her emotions were in bits, and maybe she was even imagining the wild effect Steven had on her senses. Maybe she was on the rebound from Nile?

And anyway, whatever the truth of her feelings, Steven wouldn’t be interested in her, not when he had such a glamorous girlfriend as Helen. Tonight had just been a blip; he was tired, he hadn’t eaten properly…maybe he had even momentarily forgotten whom he was with.

Some time in the early hours of the morning Chloe finally fell to sleep. But her dreams were a jumbled, disturbed mix of Steven and then Nile, her body tossing fretfully as the night ticked by. When she opened her eyes she couldn’t remember where she was. There was a strange silence, most unnatural to her ears, as she was used to the distant hum of the London traffic outside her apartment.

Then there was the sound of footsteps running down the hallway and a little girl giggling. And her memory returned with a whoosh. She looked at her watch. It was almost nine-thirty; she had overslept.

Chloe was about to throw the duvet back and climb out of bed when the door burst open and Beth ran in.

‘Hi, Chloe.’ She smiled impishly and then paused just inside the doorway as if uncertain about her welcome.

‘Good morning, Beth; how are you today?’ Chloe struggled to sit up whilst holding the duvet protectively around her.

Beth came further into the room. Chloe noticed she was fully dressed in a pair of jeans and a thick woollen jumper, her hair neatly in a ponytail. ‘It’s stopped snowing outside and Daddy says I can make a snowman.’

‘Wow!’ Chloe smiled at her. ‘It’s like Christmas, isn’t it?’

Delighted with the analogy, Beth nodded and then climbed up on the bed beside her. ‘Will you come and help me build him?’

Before Chloe could answer Steven appeared in the doorway. He was also dressed in jeans and a jumper. ‘Beth, I told you not to go in there and wake Chloe up,’ he admonished sternly.

Beth frowned and her bottom lip quivered slightly.

‘It’s all right, Steven, I was awake anyway,’ Chloe interceded quickly.

She tried not to feel embarrassed as Steven transferred his attention away from the child to her. Suddenly she was extremely conscious of her hair, tousled and wild over the pillows, and the fact that she was wearing nothing beneath the covers.

He smiled at her, and it was a smile that did very strange things to her heartbeat. ‘Morning, Chloe; how did you sleep?’

‘Out like a light as soon as my head touched the pillow,’ she lied cheerfully.

‘Good. I’m going to fix breakfast; come down and join us when you are ready.’

‘Thanks. What’s the latest on your trip to Manchester?’

‘I’ve had to cancel it. There’s no way the jet would be able to leave this morning.’ He stretched out a hand to Beth. ‘Come on, Beth, come out and leave Chloe to get dressed in peace.’

His daughter pointedly ignored him. ‘After breakfast, will you build a snowman with me?’ she asked Chloe again, her big blue eyes very wide.

‘Well, I haven’t really got the right clothes for going out in the snow,’ Chloe said gently. ‘I’ve only got my suit that I wear in the office.’

‘Beth, I’m not going to tell you again.’ Steven came further into the room.

‘Oh, please, Chloe,’ Beth entreated, then scrambled quickly from the bed as her father advanced. He swung her up into strong arms and she giggled. ‘Please, Chloe,’ she said again as he swung her over his shoulder to carry her out of the room.





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