Bargaining With The Boss (Harlequin Romance)

by George, Catherine

  ‘She put a lot of stuff in, including my blazer.’ Nico sprang to attention and saluted. ‘I must hang it up immediately, be helpful, and no staying up all night watching television, mind,’ he chanted, with a wickedly accurate Welsh lilt.

  Eleri giggled and took out the neatly folded blazer to find toilet things, underwear, jeans, a white shirt, her yellow sweater, some thick tights and a pair of flat black loafers—and at the bottom of the bag a biscuit tin full of Catrin’s famous Welshcakes. She beckoned to Nico. ‘I’ll show you where to sleep. Hang up your blazer in the spare room, then you’d better meet James. If I do need help with him at any point he might as well get to know your face first.’

  James looked up with interest when Eleri ushered the tall, good-looking youngster into the room.

  ‘James, this is Nico,’ she announced with a hint of pride.

  ‘The chaperon, I assume,’ said James, with a hoarse chuckle.

  Nico grinned. ‘Eleri’s minder.’

  ‘Totally unnecessary,’ she said tartly. ‘My mother thought I might need help if you—er—’

  ‘Got familiar with my nurse,’ said James blandly, and Nico chortled.

  ‘If your temperature rises and you get delirious again,’ contradicted Eleri crossly, and waved a hand at Nico. ‘Off you go, love, or you might catch James’s bug.’

  ‘Right. Goodnight, Mr Kincaid.’

  ‘James, please.’

  Nico put up a thumb in smiling acknowledgement and went bounding upstairs to watch James’s television.

  Eleri sat down in the chair near the bed. ‘How are you feeling, James?’

  ‘Every bone aches, my head’s on fire and it hurts to breathe,’ he said bitterly. ‘And I feel guilty as hell.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because you, not your impressive kid brother, will inevitably catch whatever it is I’ve got!’ He glared at her, coughing, and Eleri got up to fill a glass with fruit juice.

  ‘Too late to worry about that now. Would you prefer a hot drink?’ she asked when the paroxysm subsided.

  James drank thirstily, then put the glass down. ‘I’d prefer you to go home and leave me to it,’ he croaked irascibly. ‘I’m perfectly capable of swallowing a couple of pills now and then.’

  ‘Right,’ she said promptly. ‘Where’s your alarm clock?’

  He eyed her suspiciously. ‘Alarm clock?’

  She nodded. ‘So I can set it for one-fifteen. But when you take the pills you must remember to reset the clock for five-fifteen, and then again for nine-fifteen, and so on. And if you perspire and drench your sheets again, please change them at once. I’ll leave fresh bedlinen on the armchair when I go—’

  ‘OK—you’ve made your point.’ He slumped against the pillows, defeated. ‘But I’m worried about you.’

  ‘I’m never ill,’ she assured him.

  ‘Neither am I, normally. But this bug’s been rampaging through Northwold—Bruce was off for a week with it.’ His heavy eyes met hers. ‘Though I didn’t miss him nearly as much as I miss you, Eleri.’

  Her velvet-covered heart gave a thump. ‘I’ve missed my job too,’ she said coolly. ‘And now I’m going to change this dress for something more practical and blow the whistle on Nico. He’s got school in the morning.’

  James smiled. ‘He’s quite a lad—must be a serious danger to the local maidens.’

  ‘For the moment, surprisingly, he’s more interested in football.’ Eleri smiled ruefully. ‘He’s also a walking appetite, so I’m sure you won’t mind if I make him a sandwich. What can I get for you at the same time?’

  James coughed dryly. ‘I’m not hungry. But I’m tired of my own company. If you feel the damage from infection is done by now, would you make a pot of tea and share it with me down here?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Eleri,’ he said, as she got up to go, ‘I laid in quite a stock of non-alcoholic stuff for my little soiree, plus nuts and potato chips and so on. Tell Nico to help himself.’

  ‘He’ll be your friend for life!’

  CHAPTER FIVE

  ELERI changed her clothes in the spare bedroom, then ran Nico to earth in front of a television in what was obviously James’s study. An open, bulging briefcase lay on a swivel chair behind a large desk littered with paperwork, and a side-table held a computer, printer, and the inevitable fax machine.

  ‘Neat room, this,’ said Nico. ‘How’s the invalid?’

  ‘Fretting in case I catch his flu. I’m going to make tea,’ she added. ‘James said to help yourself to drinks.’

  Nico shot up to follow her to the kitchen, and returned to his film armed with a can of diet cola and a vast bag of potato chips.

  Eleri made a pot of tea, put white silver-rimmed mugs on a tray, added a plate of her mother’s Welshcakes, and went downstairs to James, who raised an eyebrow at her change of clothes.

  ‘I’ve never seen you in jeans. You look cute.’

  ‘Cute!’ She pulled a face and sat down to pour tea. ‘My mother sent some Welshcakes over. Would you like one?’

  James eyed the plate she was offering, but with reluctance shook his head. ‘Eleri, I don’t think I do. Don’t tell your mother,’ he added hoarsely.

  ‘Don’t worry, I won’t. But drink your tea,’ she said sternly. ‘You really must keep up your fluid intake.’

  ‘Yes, Nurse,’ he said meekly. ‘What’s Nico doing?’

  ‘Stretched out on a sofa in your study with a fix of junk food, eyes glued to a Western.’ She eyed him curiously. ‘Why all the diet cola, by the way?’

  ‘Camilla’s tipple.’

  Eleri turned her attention to the books on the bedside table. ‘Have you read all these?’

  ‘No. I had a go earlier with the thriller, but my eyes are full of sand. They can’t cope.’

  ‘I could read to you,’ she offered.

  James looked at her in surprise. ‘Would you really do that?’

  ‘Yes, if you’d like me to.’

  ‘Does this mean you’re going to stay in here all night with me?’

  ‘I won’t if you’d rather I didn’t,’ she said quickly.

  ‘Eleri, of course I’d like you to stay. But it’s too much to ask!’

  ‘It’s just for tonight.’ She looked him in the eye. ‘To be honest, you look rough, James. Besides, thanks to my mother, Nico will be in the spare bed. I need to dose you at one, then afterwards I’ll curl up in this glorious chair for the night. I’ll be fine.’

  He settled himself lower in the bed, wincing as he stretched his aching limbs. ‘I know I should argue, Eleri, but I don’t feel up to it at the moment.’

  ‘One always feels worse at night,’ she assured him, and picked up the book. ‘I’ll start from the beginning.’

  The young Eleri had gained practice in the art of reading aloud when Nico was small. Her low-pitched voice was very expressive, and the thriller she chose gripped from the first page, making it easy for her to read with animation. James lay motionless, watching her as he listened. Her hair, as usual, had two thick front strands thrust behind her ears, and shone like ebony in the muted light which lent a tinge of colour to her absorbed face.

  Eleri knew James was watching her, but after the first page or two forgot about the unwavering grey eyes as she concentrated on the convolutions of the plot. At one stage Nico put his head round the door and waved a silent goodnight. James raised a hand in return, and Eleri smiled affectionately as she went on with her reading. Out of the corner of her eye she could see James’s long body outlined beneath the bedclothes, and at first he shifted restlessly from time to time, unable to control the occasional cough. But after a while he grew quieter, and by midnight he was asleep. Eleri put the book down and curled up in the chair, yawning. She checked that the alarm on her watch was set for James’s next dose of medication and closed her eyes in an effort to get some sleep herself.

  She woke with a start, feeling cramped and stiff, and very cold, despite the warmth of the room. She
got up to look at James, who was lying on his back, breathing heavily, his face flushed. He moved restlessly and flung out an arm, muttering incoherently. A look at her watch confirmed that it was almost time for his pills. Eleri touched his hot, dry hand gently.

  ‘James,’ she whispered. ‘Time to wake up.’

  His eyelids flew open and he stared blankly into her face, then heaved himself up. ‘Who—? What—?’

  ‘It’s only me, James,’ she said briskly, secretly dismayed by his blank, staring eyes. ‘It’s time to take your medicine.’

  ‘Bathroom,’ he muttered, and staggered from the bed to weave his way across the room, banging the bathroom door behind him.

  Nico came racing in, wearing a black and white Juventus football shirt and brief boxer shorts. ‘Eleri, is he all right?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ she said tightly. ‘Pity I had to wake him, but it’s time for his antibiotics. See if he’s all right, love.’

  Nico crossed the room to knock on the door. ‘Mr Kincaid—James. Are you OK?’ He threw an uncertain look at Eleri. ‘Shall I barge in?’

  ‘Yes, please.’

  Nico opened the door and let out such a howl of dismay Eleri pushed him aside to find James semiconscious on the floor.

  ‘James,’ she rapped out. ‘Wake up.’

  His eyes opened, looking up in bewilderment at the two anxious faces bent over him. ‘What happened?’

  ‘You keeled over,’ said Eleri. ‘Nico, you take one arm, I’ll take the other.’ With difficulty, since James’s legs seemed unwilling to support him, they manoeuvred him to his feet and stood him upright, with an arm around each of their shoulders. ‘Do you need to stay in the bathroom on your own for a moment?’ panted Eleri. ‘Or can we get you back to bed?’

  James thought it over. ‘Back to bed, please.’

  Eleri was heartily glad of Nico’s help as they got James to the armchair and sat him in it while she tidied the bed. They heaved James out of the chair again and got him back into the bed, both of them breathless by the time James was neatly tucked up against the pillows.

  ‘Could you hang on here a minute, Nico, while I go upstairs for more mineral water?’ asked Eleri.

  ‘You stay. I’ll get it,’ he said, and sprinted from the room.

  Eleri sat on the edge of the bed and took James’s hand. ‘How do you feel?’

  ‘Not so hot,’ he admitted. ‘Sorry about all that. Damn good thing Nico was here. Great kid, isn’t he?’

  Eleri nodded, deeply worried by the febrile heat of the hand she was holding. Added to the glitter in the sunken grey eyes it told a very disquieting story. She looked up with a determined smile as Nico came back with a large bottle of mineral water and fresh glasses.

  ‘I’ve put the kettle on, El. I thought you’d want tea.’

  ‘Thanks, love. You’re a star.’

  James eyed the boy ruefully. ‘Sorry about all this, friend. Don’t hang about here, though.’

  Nico grinned. ‘I’ve already had flu, before Christmas. That’s why Eleri’s such an ace nurse. She practised on me.’ He yawned suddenly. ‘But I suppose I’d better get back to bed. Double maths first thing in the morning!’ With a melodramatic shudder he went from the room.

  ‘Right,’ said Eleri briskly. ‘Time for your pills.’

  James swallowed them obediently, but baulked at the entire glass of water. ‘I’ll have to go to the bathroom again. And look what happened last time!’

  ‘Never mind. All the water, please.’

  He groaned, but obeyed her, gasping for air as he gave the glass back to her. ‘Tyrant!’

  ‘Just following doctor’s orders,’ she said, unmoved. ‘Now try to sleep. I’m just going up to the kitchen to make myself some tea. Don’t move. I won’t be long.’

  Eleri took advantage of the brief respite to visit the guest bathroom herself, where she brushed her teeth and washed her face in an effort to perk herself up. She made herself a mug of tea, peeped in the guest room to find Nico was already fast asleep again, then went back to James.

  ‘Shall I read to you again?’ she asked as she curled up in the armchair.

  James shook his head. ‘Talk to me for a while instead. You’re cold,’ he added accusingly as she shivered a little.

  ‘The tea will warm me up.’

  ‘Go and get some blankets,’ ordered James, ‘and have some of these pillows.’

  Eleri got up. ‘No need. I’ll get some from the bed in the other room.’

  Five minutes later Eleri was comfortably settled in the chair in a cocoon of blankets, a pillow from the guest room behind her head, suddenly struck by the improbability of the situation.

  ‘Why the little smile?’ enquired James. Eleri explained, and he chuckled. ‘I never dreamed I’d be so lucky!’ He sobered abruptly. ‘But what about tomorrow? You’ll be fit to drop after this.’

  ‘My mother’s filling in for me.’

  James swore under his breath. ‘She must be cursing me.’

  ‘No. She quite understood that I couldn’t abandon you on your bed of pain.’

  ‘Did your father understand too?’ he asked dryly.

  Eleri grinned. ‘I wouldn’t take bets on that.’

  ‘I don’t blame him. If I had a daughter like you I doubt I’d be very happy with the situation either.’

  ‘Nonsense,’ said Eleri promptly. ‘You’re ill, and I just happened to be on hand. Anyone else would do the same.’

  ‘I seriously doubt it,’ he retorted. ‘You’re a one-off, Eleri Conti. Before I even arrived at the Gloucestershire brewery George Reeder told me I was lucky to get you. I hadn’t been there a day before I knew exactly what he meant.’

  ‘Which didn’t keep you from suspecting me when the takeover was leaked,’ she retorted, unable to keep a biting note from her voice.

  ‘I knew there had to be some logical explanation.’ He smiled bitterly. ‘I never had the least intention of firing you. Only a fool would have dispensed with services like yours, Eleri. You smoothed my path enormously during those first few weeks as MD.’ His eyes locked with hers. ‘I’ve been like a lost soul since you walked out on me.’

  Although this was hard to imagine, his words were balm to Eleri’s soul. ‘It’s nice to know I was missed.’

  ‘Tell me the truth,’ he demanded. ‘If you could, would you like to come back to Northwold?’

  ‘Oh, yes,’ she said without hesitation.

  ‘But you won’t desert your family.’

  ‘No, I won’t. But that’s not the only reason.’ She looked James in the eye. ‘Your suspicions hurt. Badly.’

  He winced, his eyes glittering in his colourless face. ‘And you can’t forgive me?’

  ‘Exactly.’

  ‘Would it make any difference if I grovelled?’

  Eleri shook her head, smiling reluctantly. ‘No, it wouldn’t. Nor can I picture you grovelling—any more than I can see you as a lost soul.’ She gave a sudden, involuntary yawn.

  ‘You must be exhausted,’ said James grimly.

  ‘No. Just tired. We’re both tired,’ said Eleri firmly. ‘Do you need anything?’

  ‘Nothing at all—other than an end to this blasted bug.’

  ‘Which will come all the sooner if you rest.’

  ‘Yes, Nurse,’ he said meekly.

  She chuckled. ‘Very good. You’re learning. I’m going to turn out the light now.’

  ‘Pity. I like looking at you.’

  ‘Try to sleep, please.’ Eleri switched off the lamp and settled deeper into her nest of blankets, wishing she could have kept the light on to read. Wakeful in the silent darkness, she recognised only too plainly what a rash undertaking this was. But no way could she have handed James over to some nursing service, as she should have done.

  Her family obviously thought her mad to volunteer her own services to the man responsible for her resignation from her job. And she could see their point of view. But it had been worth it to learn how much he regretted his pa
rt in that, and wanted her back. But it would be worse than rash to return to work for a man she was still in love with. If she’d persuaded herself she no longer cared for him, her frantic anxiety about his illness had set her straight on that score. Very clearly. And even if he had genuinely missed her at Northwold, the fact remained that James Kincaid’s private life belonged to Miss Camilla Tennent.

  Eleri sat very still, alert to any noise from the bed. And for a long time James lay quiet, his breathing harsh but regular as he slept at last. But after a while he began to flail about in the bed, muttering, and she switched on the light to see blankets and quilt lying half off the bed.

  She left her chair, and stealthily, trying not to wake him, pulled the sheet into place, and anchored the blanket and quilt more securely. The sheet was damp, and his forehead was beaded with perspiration. Eleri hung over him, desperately worried. He was obviously burning up again. Suddenly his eyes flew open and stared at her blankly for a second, then lit with sudden heat.

  Without warning James pulled her down to him and held her in an iron-hard embrace, impeding her frantic opposition very effectively by rolling on top of her and smothering her protests with a hot, masterful mouth as he kissed her in a way which demonstrated only too plainly that kisses were only the preliminaries for what he had in mind.

  Only he wasn’t in his right mind, she reminded herself, struggling frantically. He was obviously delirious again. Which just wasn’t fair. Her efforts failed ignominiously, because James seemed possessed with manic strength. His body kept hers captive by sheer superiority of size and weight, his mouth and tongue so wildly importunate that her traitorous body began to respond to him—all her secret fantasies about James realised, caution forgotten as he held her close. His mouth and hands ignited flames which raged out of control, his clever, relentless fingers hot on her skin as he wrought such turbulent magic she was helpless in the thrall of sensations which surpassed the most vivid of her fantasies. As she writhed, gasping, beneath him he made a smothered, relishing noise against her mouth. Then his shaking hands were fumbling at her belt and the spell was broken. Cold, prudent sanity came rushing back in force.