Better Together

by Annalisa Carr

  Sasha widened her eyes at him. “I think it’s an aberration. I think you’re having an early mid-life crisis. I’m not going to give up on you. You’ll get past this. It’s my duty—”

  “We’re going to be married.” Will she never give up? If she was really in love with him, she’d be upset, not analytical. “Anyway, I’m not old enough to have a mid-life crisis.”

  “What?” Her voice rose into a squeak. He’d never heard that note from her before.

  “I’m not old—”

  “Not that.” She leaned back in her seat. “You’re getting married. I don’t believe it.”

  “I know,” he said, avoiding her eyes. “I’ve never felt the urge to tie myself down before. That’s how I know this is the real thing.”

  “You have no idea how much that insults me.” Sasha glared at him with a mixture of shock and irritation. “We were together three years, and now, after a month . . . When is this wedding going to take place? Have you set a date?”

  “Not yet.” He shook his head. “She doesn’t believe I’m serious. She says it’s too soon. I had to beg her to agree to an engagement.”

  “She might be right. She sounds like she’s got more sense than you,” Sasha said. “What do your parents think?”

  “I haven’t told them yet.”

  “Maybe you should step back and reconsider?”

  Sasha was definitely bossy.

  “No.” Aiden leaned forward, beginning to enjoy the story he was spinning. “I need to see a ring on her finger. I need everyone to know she’s mine. I need to know she’s mine. I need—”

  “You need therapy.” Sasha stood up. “Poor woman. I’m sorry we had to end this way. I’m sure we could have made it work, but maybe you’re right. I should look for someone who wants the same things as me.” She held out her hand.

  Aiden instinctively shook it.

  “I hope we can still be friends.” She placed her sunglasses back on her nose.

  “I hope so too,” he said. It hadn’t played out the way he’d expected. Sasha was almost business-like.

  “Tinkerbelle?” She shook her head in complete disbelief.

  The two of them walked back to the office where she followed Aiden to his desk, picked up her things, and turned to him. “I never congratulated you. I think you’re mad, but congratulations anyway.”

  She nodded to Tallulah as she left. “I don’t understand it at all, but I wish you the best. Tinkerbelle?” She shook her head.

  Tallulah stared after her with intense suspicion written all over her face. “What was she on about? Why did she call me Tinkerbelle?”

  Aiden lifted one shoulder in dismissal. “No idea. She’s always been a bit odd.” He closed his door before Tallulah could say anything else. Hopefully that would be the end of Sasha, at least until she decided she could do better than him.

  He was just about to leave for his two o’clock meeting when Francesca rushed into his office.

  “What’s going on?” She folded her arms and rested one hip on the side of his desk. “Sasha came to see me. Is it true?”

  “Is what true?” Aiden scooped up a pile of papers he didn’t need. “You can’t believe everything Sasha says.”

  She followed him to the outer office where Tallulah’s desk was conspicuously empty. She must have gone out to lunch, Aiden thought with a feeling of relief. What have I done?

  “About you and your assistant,” Francesca said. “Engaged? Seriously? To a girl named Tinkerbelle? Someone you’ve known for a month?”

  “She’s not called Tinkerbelle, and I don’t—” Aiden dodged round her and ran for the door.

  “How long have you really known her? Have I met her?” Francesca followed him into the corridor.

  “How should I know?” Aiden paused in front of the door to the conference room. “I’m sorry, Fran. I’ve an important meeting I need to go to. I’ll talk to you later.” He slid round the door, closing it firmly behind him. How do I get out of this? It had seemed like such a good idea at the time. Maybe it’s just as well I’ve never stretched my creative talents before.

  Becoming aware of the men staring at him, he muttered an apology for his lateness and took his seat at the table. Everyone stared at the pile of papers he placed in front of him, but he smiled as inscrutably as he could manage and listened in silence to an extremely boring presentation about a difficult planning application.

  He hoped Francesca would forget about it. She didn’t know Sasha that well, and as far as she knew, the other woman might live in a fantasy world. Yes, and Francesca might grow wings and run her own commuter service to San Diego.

  Unfortunately for Aiden’s peace of mind, Tallulah was waiting for him when he returned to the office.

  “What the hell is going on?” She leaned back in her chair and glared at him. She didn’t look at all pleased to hear that she was engaged. If that was what she’d heard and if that was the thing that was bothering her.

  “What do you mean?” He tried to sound innocent.

  “Why has your sister been in to see me? Why did she congratulate me on my engagement? And why did she call me Tinkerbelle?”

  “What engagement?” Aiden smiled guilelessly. “Who are you engaged to? Should I add my congratulations?”

  “Don’t mess with me.” She rose to her feet and jabbed her forefinger at him. “That might work with some people, but I’ve got your number.”

  “What?”

  Tallulah folded her arms. “I told her I had no idea what she was talking about, and she told me not to be coy. We hit it off very well. Not.”

  Aiden swallowed the bubble of laughter rising in his throat and turned it into a cough. “I might have said something to Sasha.”

  “Something?”

  “I was a bit vague,” he said. It was only a slight understatement. “I was trying to dissuade her, discourage her. She wanted to marry me and have my babies. I wasn’t so keen, but she was a bit persistent. I was trapped. I had to say something.”

  “Hmm.” Tallulah picked up her coffee cup and sipped from it while she eyed him over the rim. “What did you say?”

  “That I’d fallen in love with someone else. That—”

  “Never mind. I don’t want to know.”

  “She just wouldn’t give up. She said she had to save me from myself, so I told her I was going to get married.”

  “To me? You’d better put her right then. Before she spreads the good news around the entire company.” Tallulah put her cup down and folded her arms again, while her stare turned combative.

  “Best keep quiet,” he said. “Then the rumours will die down by themselves.”

  “In your dreams.”

  He couldn’t contain his laughter.

  “You think this is funny?”

  She looked as though she wanted to throw her coffee at him, so he retreated into his office and closed the door. The only positive thing about the day was that Sasha appeared to have given up on him with a surprising lack of acrimony. She was weird, and it was odd he hadn’t noticed that earlier. Three years? Where was my brain? He must have been blinded by her beauty.

  Chapter 17

  Tallulah stared at the closed door. So Aiden started this rumour. At first, she thought it had arisen because someone had seen them working late together or walking home together. She knew she should never have let Aiden hold her hand. Engaged? What could have possessed him?

  She forced herself to concentrate on work. That was the way she had always dealt with problems—tucked them in the back of her mind until it was the right time to think about them. She concentrated on the moment and hoped the problem would pass. Unfortunately, the door to the back pocket of her brain kept swinging open, and temper bubbled to the surface. When the phone rang, she snatc
hed it up with relief. “Aiden Marlowe’s office.”

  “Tallulah?” It was Cathryn from the last department she’d worked in. “Is it true that you and Mr Marlowe—”

  “No,” she snapped. “I can’t talk now.”

  She slammed the phone down, jumped up, and strode over to Aiden’s office door, gave a peremptory knock, and pushed it open.

  Aiden clutched the phone to his ear. “I’m sorry, Loretta. I’m going to have to go. Could you make sure I get that data?”

  He put the phone down. “What’s wrong?”

  “What’s wrong?” A pulse started to pound at the side of Tallulah’s forehead. “I’m engaged, and I don’t know how it happened. I want you to tell me exactly what you said. And then I want you to tell me exactly what you’re going to do about it.”

  Aiden heaved a sigh. “I thought you didn’t want to know?”

  “Aiden?” Tallulah stamped her foot before she could stop herself. This isn’t a joke.

  He stood up and walked round to the front of his desk, where he leaned on the edge, folded his arms, and fixed an earnest gaze on her face. “You’ve met Sasha?”

  Tallulah nodded. He knew that.

  “What would be the first thing about her that you noticed?”

  “She’s absolutely stunning?”

  “No.” Aiden scowled. “Once you’ve got past that?”

  “She’s very polished?”

  “No. Don’t be so shallow.”

  That does it. Tallulah rarely lost her temper, but sometimes things needed to be said. Loudly. “Don’t patronise me. I’ve met the woman twice, for less than a minute both times. How the hell am I supposed to know what she’s like?”

  “I would have thought it was obvious. Sasha is one of the bossiest people I’ve ever met. She never takes no for an answer. She—”

  “And I would have worked that out in thirty seconds? When the only thing she’s said to me is ‘congratulations,’ and I didn’t have a clue what she was talking about?” Tallulah wanted to slap the condescending smile off Aiden’s face. “And she called me Tinkerbelle?” She couldn’t believe she’d let him kiss her. And play with her body. It wasn’t going to happen again, that was for sure. I was right about good-looking men. They’re toxic. “Poison candy,” she muttered to herself.

  “What?”

  “Nothing. And how the hell am I supposed to—”

  “I thought you were perceptive about people,” Aiden said. “Obviously I was wrong.”

  Tallulah narrowed her eyes at him. They’d drifted away from her original question, and she had a feeling he’d manipulated her away. “Obviously. So tell me in simple language. What did you say to Sasha that made her think we were engaged?”

  Aiden’s mouth twitched. It looked very much to Tallulah as if he was trying not to laugh. She gave him a fierce glare.

  “I told you. I said I wanted to marry you.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “I thought you were joking.” He must be mad.

  “I told her it was a coup de foudre.”

  “A coup de foudre?”

  “A coup de foudre is—”

  “I know what it is,” she said. “I think you must have it confused with a bang on the head. That’s what it sounds like to me.” She chewed on her lower lip. “So what did she say to that?”

  “Asked when we’re planning the wedding.”

  “And that would be when?” Tallulah was reluctantly fascinated by the web of untruths Aiden was shamelessly weaving.

  “I said you wouldn’t have me,” Aiden told her.

  “Well that sounds about right. So why does Sasha, and probably the whole world by now, think we’re engaged?”

  “Because I persuaded you that we could have a long engagement while we got to know each other. I had to put a ring on your finger.”

  Tallulah took a step backwards and leaned against the wall. “Are you insane?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “You would say that, wouldn’t you?” She made a mental note to ask his sister. “Have you always been a fantasist? A liar?”

  “Not really. I didn’t know I had it in me. I impressed myself.” Aiden pushed himself away from his desk and stood in front of her. “Anyway, calling me a liar’s a bit harsh. You must see my problem?”

  She shook her head, refusing to look up at him. “No.”

  “I could see myself marched into marital hell with Sasha. I could keep on saying no until I was strapped into a morning suit and a top hat and the only thing that would save me was someone coming up with a just impediment during the service. I wasn’t going to let it go that far.” He rested one hand on the wall above her head, trapping her with his body, while his finger drifted along her cheekbone.

  “I can see that would have been a bad idea.” She raised her head and squinted into his hypnotic eyes.

  “Did you know you look like a Siamese kitten from this distance?” he said.

  “You—” What’s he on about? Tallulah couldn’t keep up with the jumps in his conversation. He was too close.

  “And I know you’d have wanted to help.”

  She nodded, mesmerised, before pulling herself out of his spell. She ducked out from under his arm. “You don’t know that. I wouldn’t have agreed to—”

  “I’d have offered you double pay.”

  Tallulah ground her teeth. “Will you stop implying that I’m mercenary?”

  “I thought you were here because of the money?”

  “I was but . . .” Tallulah let her sentence trail away as she became confused. He was definitely messing with her head. “Everyone’s here for the money. Even you.” She pushed past him. “I’m going out for more coffee. Proper coffee. You’re giving me a headache.”

  He stopped her with a hand on her arm. “I’m sorry, Tallulah. You’re so sweet when you’re angry.” He backed her against the wall and kissed her, sliding his lips along her cheek to her ear. “Like a killer fairy.”

  Her resolve wobbled, and she took a breath that was filled with him. She wrenched herself away. “Coffee.”

  Aiden nodded at her sympathetically. “Take as long as you like.” He paused. “And bring one back with you. For me.”

  Tallulah growled, clenched her fists, and stalked out of the office.

  Sweet? She’d show him sweet.

  It was coming up for three thirty. Perfect coffee break time. Perhaps it was unprofessional to go out during the working day, but if she didn’t, she’d probably hit Aiden with the cafetière. Or strangle him with the cord from the kettle. And that would definitely be unprofessional. Her tense mouth relaxed into a smile as she pushed open the door into reception. She thought about not going back, but knew that really would be a career killer if she’d ever wanted that sort of career.

  Kyle was picking up a sack of mail from the reception desk. She tiptoed past but not carefully enough to avoid his eagle eye.

  “Hey, Tallie.” He dropped the bag and made a beeline for her. “What’s this about—”

  “Sorry.” She increased her speed and darted through the automatic doors as soon as they opened. “I’m in a hurry. I’ll talk to you later.” As she left the building, she looked back over her shoulder. Kyle was staring after her, his hands in his pockets and a suspicious expression plastered over his face.

  She ordered her coffee and sat at a small table in a dark corner of the café to drink it. She was in no hurry to go back to the office so pulled one of the complementary newspapers over to read.

  A ping from her phone pulled her out of a fascinating article on the falling price of technology stocks, and she drew it from her pocket to read the text message. It was from Zoe, who could make 7.30 that evening, and she’d managed to get hold of Mia. For a change, Mia had a free evening
and would join them for pizza.

  Tallulah texted back, realising with relief that she wouldn’t be able to work late. She wasn’t sure she could be around Aiden at the moment; he annoyed her so much. Her lips twitched as she imagined him spinning more and more complicated stories in an attempt to repel Sasha. Perhaps it was funny after all.

  She finished her drink and magnanimously ordered an espresso for Aiden before returning to the office. Knocking on Aiden’s door, she carried his drink in. “Your coffee, sir.”

  He looked up. “What? What have you put in it?”

  She smirked and closed the door behind her before he could say anything else. Wisely, he didn’t follow her out.

  The remaining two hours crept by slowly, and at five o’clock, Tallulah logged off, closed down her desktop, and picked up her bag. She knocked on Aiden’s door and opened it a crack.

  “I’m off now,” she said. “I can’t work late tonight, but I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

  Aiden jumped up from his desk and hurried to the door. “You aren’t upset, are you?”

  She scowled. “I’ll get over it by tomorrow. Or in ten years’ time. Whenever you’ve sorted out this fiasco you’ve created. I’m having dinner with my brother and sisters, so I’ll leave you to it. I don’t want to be late.”

  She could feel Aiden watching her as she left. She hurried down the stairs and jumped on a bus going in the direction of King’s Cross. She was hot and sticky, and the residue of her stressful day and brief loss of control made her feel dirty. A shower sounded marvellous.

  It was a quarter to six when she arrived back home, and she grabbed her washbag and headed to the bathroom. The water was lukewarm— (it varied between freezing, usually in winter, and lukewarm at the hottest part of summer). Lukewarm suited her perfectly, but she turned the tap to ‘cold’ for the final thirty seconds, letting the slightly cooler water stream through her hair.