* * *
‘A fling? Why on earth would you want a fling with me? You could have your pick of girls to fool around with.’
He stepped closer and ran his hands up both sleeves of her jacket and smiled as his gaze locked on to her eyes. ‘I’ve been through one very difficult divorce and since then my focus has been totally on my work. The last thing I want is to rush into that sort of commitment again. But I would like to get to know you better. A lot better. Maybe even get used to the idea that I can start looking for love again. Do you understand that?’
‘Looking for love again? Yes. Yes, of course I understand that. Isn’t that what we all want?’
Scott gave a small shoulder shrug. ‘Maybe. But in the meantime we’re both adults who understand the difference between a casual arrangement and a long-term relationship. This way, we can have the benefits. Without the messy complications.’
Then the tone of his voice cooled. ‘But I’ll be back in Alaska by the autumn. I can’t promise you anything but a good time for the next few months and I need to know that you understand that very clearly. No confusion or recriminations. A fling. Short and sweet. Now. What can I do to tempt you to take up my offer?’
‘Oh, Scott,’ she replied, shaking her head. ‘You’re temptation on legs.’
A smile that could defrost icebergs warmed the air. ‘It’s been said. And you’re a lovely girl, Toni. We seem to make a great team at work. Now that has to say something.’
Make a great team at work! Oh, Scott, if you only knew. That was the worst thing that you could possibly have said.
Those were the precise words that Peter had used, right before he’d whisked her off to his hotel room and off her feet. She had fallen hard and fast in weeks not months. Blind to all the warning signs that screamed out to her not to go there. Her head full of dreams of a wonderful future working together. And all the time he was using her to get the work done and be his dirty little fling at the same time.
Six months with Scott Elstrom? Oh, no.
Toni chuckled under her breath and slowly slid out of the warmth of his embrace, even though it killed her to do it.
‘Lovely and convenient! Sheesh. I’m the one who actually pushed to work in your office and take your photograph.’
She flipped her right hand over from side to side. ‘Painter. Client.’ Then she blew out hard and shook her head. ‘So many great artists have fallen into that trap. Disaster waiting to happen.’
Then she gave a casual shoulder shrug. ‘Sorry, Scott. My answer is thank you but no. You’re going to have to work harder and find yourself another fling partner.’
She braced her back and shoulders and lifted her chin as Scott formed a reply, but was saved by her cellphone.
It was Amy’s personal ringtone.
Great timing, sis!
‘Sorry,’ she whispered to Scott, who was glaring at the phone as though he wanted to toss it out of the nearest window. ‘Amy...Peru. I should really answer it. Really sorry.’
It took a moment for her to slide her body sideways and out of the circle of his arms but even as she lifted the phone she could feel his gaze burning a hole in her back.
Tugging down the hem of her top as if Amy could see her, she opened the call and, before she could say a word, an entire orchestral chorus of Happy Birthday belted out at huge decibels into the quiet room.
Oh, great! Amy had sent her a musical birthday card to add to the surprise birthday present of a tiny locket that she had left for their neighbour to deliver that morning.
Scrabbling with her phone, she quickly turned it off, took a breath and turned sideways to look at Scott, who was standing with his arms folded and a lazy grin plastered all over his face.
‘Today is your birthday? You might have mentioned that earlier. I could have brought back extra chocolate.’
‘I had my party on Saturday, remember? At Freya’s house. No big deal.’
‘Oh, no—’ he shook his head and pushed out his lips ‘—you don’t get away that easy. I would fail in my duty if I didn’t take you out for a birthday dinner. What time do you want me to pick you up for your date?’
My date?
Her heart was thumping so loudly he could probably hear it from where he was standing. He smelt wonderful, his touch sent her brain spinning and he was so handsome that her heart melted just looking at him.
But a date? Oh, no. That was something else. What was she doing?
She had felt that wicked pull of attraction in the coffee shop and then working side by side and had forced it deep down. And she would have to do the same now, because the high tension wire that was pulling her closer and closer towards Scott would only lead one way—to heartbreak and pain.
She had learnt her lesson with Peter and dared not place her trust in a man like this again. She just couldn’t risk being used then cast aside.
She wasn’t ready to date anyone. Nowhere near.
‘A dinner date? Thank you, but I don’t think that would be a very good idea, Scott.’
‘Elstrom Mapping just had a big success today. That’s worth celebrating over hot food and a nice glass of wine. I might even run to a slice of birthday cake, seeing as I ate most of your brownies last Saturday night.’
Toni made the mistake of looking into those blue eyes. He was challenging her to take him up on his offer. And she didn’t have any plans for her birthday.
‘So this would be a business dinner? The hot food part does sound tempting.’
‘If that is what you want. I can do hot food and talk business.’
She sniffed once then nodded. ‘Okay, you’re on. Throw in a tablecloth and cutlery and you have a dinner date. Not a fling, of course. Oh, no.’ Then she opened up her smartphone. ‘Do you want me to book somewhere?’
Scott covered her hand with his long clever fingers.
‘Leave this to me. My treat. Let’s make it a night to remember.’
Then he flashed her a cheeky wink and strode back to his office, his taut bottom teasing her with every step.
No messy complications and not a fling. Toni groaned to herself. Right.
NINE
Scott stood with his legs braced in front of the stone balustrade and looked out across the Thames to the south bank of the river. The early evening traffic was still fierce behind his back but he blocked it out and focused on the lights twinkling in the old stone buildings to the east that he knew led away towards the financial district and St Paul’s Cathedral.
He was so engrossed at working through his mental map of the city he knew so well that it took a full second before he recognized the female voice behind him.
‘Hello, handsome. I’m conducting a survey on people’s favourite London walks and I’m keen to know what yours is. Do tell.’
Scott turned around just as Toni stepped forward. His reward for hanging around close to the busy road for the last ten minutes was the touch of her tantalising cold lips on his cheek. So, before she had a chance to move away, he grabbed her and kissed her on the side of the mouth. But pretended that he had been aiming for her cheek.
The kiss only lasted a second but he instantly felt the heat of her smile on his face.
‘Cheeky,’ she scolded, but then her eyes softened and that smile made him feel that it would have been worth running here through the snow.
He would love to touch her again and hold her in his arms. Instead, he held out his hand towards her and gave a low whistle.
‘Hey, look at you, birthday girl! That colour is amazing!’
Toni held out the skirt of her long tailored Russian-style coat which was in a shade of bright cherry-red which he usually associated with Christmas decorations. And yet, with the black lace-up boots and black knitted hat pulled down over her ears, she somehow managed to look elegan
t and chic instead of too bright.
‘You like? These boots are ancient but they’re so warm and comfy I couldn’t resist.’
‘I like. Cute hat too.’
‘Amy made it for me! We Baldonis are so talented.’
‘It’s a miracle that you stay so grounded and modest.’ Scott laughed and when her gloved hand reached out for his, it seemed perfectly natural for him to mesh his fingers with hers. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d held hands with a woman in the street. Alexa used to hate public displays of affection of any type. Maybe he should have taken a hint from that?
Either way, he liked this just fine. For the next few hours he was going to put aside the problems back in the business and do his best to enjoy himself.
‘Now, about that walk,’ he said in a casual tone. ‘I have so many favourites it’s hard to choose.’
‘Um...I agree. I’ve lived in this city all my life and I still find parts which are completely new to me! It’s astonishing.’
‘Then here’s a suggestion. Let’s see where our feet take us. No particular direction or destination. Just free to go where we want. Then back to my very favourite place for dinner. And yes, hot food is on the menu.’
Toni gave his hand a squeeze. ‘Somehow I suspect a map will be involved but that’s okay. Lead the way, oh, great explorer.’
* * *
If someone had asked Toni to describe where they had walked and how long it had taken and what they had seen, she would not have been able to. Westminster Abbey was involved at one point and possibly Trafalgar Square because she did recall roaring with laughter about feeding bananas to the lions in London Zoo.
What mattered were the shared experiences of growing up in the same city. Their parents and their lives were so very different and yet the more they talked movies and music and the fun things they enjoyed the more connected she felt.
It was hard hearing Scott talk about his parents’ divorce and how he and Freya had to struggle to keep in contact with their father when he’d remarried so quickly to a woman with a grown-up son.
With each step she felt that he was opening up to her, sharing his life and his love of the natural world. And all the time his hand kept a tight hold on her, taking her with him on the journey.
Scott was talking about his team of sled dogs and how he loved to watch them tug at the traces and take off on the trail across frozen forests and lakes. She looked up into his face and it was so alive and intense she could feel the heat and the passion for what he did burning in every word.
Maybe that was when a vague sense of unease started to creep into her thoughts.
What was she doing here? Sled dogs? Frozen lakes?
She didn’t know whether to feel privileged that he felt able to talk to her about the precious things that mattered to him or overwhelmed by how quickly her fun birthday dinner stroll had turned into something much deeper.
He wanted her to know about his life, which was wonderful. But, if anything, it only made her feel inadequate and ill prepared for the new world she was facing in the coming months. She had never travelled or done any of these exciting things. The biggest challenge she faced every week was dragging Amy out of bed and now even that was gone. Lifting a camera might exercise a few arm muscles but that was it.
Their lives were so very different it wasn’t funny. He had been to university and studied with the best in his field and she had barely survived college. She’d had Amy to take care of. But it didn’t make it any easier.
It was foolish to compare her life with Scott’s. They were such different people.
Problem was—she liked him more than was healthy.
A sudden flash of light snapped Toni out of her dream and she smiled at Scott as they strolled up to a road crossing. Suddenly a group of tourists ran across towards them and as she stepped left, Scott moved right and her gloved fingers slid from his. And she immediately missed that simple connection with the man.
Inhaling sharply and cursing her ridiculous crush, Toni quickly plunged her hand into her coat pocket so that Scott would not reclaim it, casually glancing from side to side.
Big mistake. Because in one step he had closed the gap between them and pressed his hand into the small of her back and then around her waist, holding her to him as they crossed the busy London road, which was a whirl of traffic and cyclists who apparently took red lights to mean go faster.
Her foolish heart relished that contact with the muscular body that was so close to the surface of his relatively thin all-weather short jacket and how his hand felt on her back.
Crazy girl! It was madness to get her hopes up that they could ever be more than the casual friends that they had become.
The reality of their situation hit her like the cold wind blowing in from the river.
A fling. That was what he was offering her. A short-term, time-limited relationship.
Of course she was tempted. She had done nothing but think about his offer for most of the afternoon.
Stupid, really. She would be back at work in a week, and she knew that the diary would be filling in with lots of overseas trips. Scott was only here for six months and then he would be gone and she would probably never see him again.
But whenever she was within touching distance of Scott there was this tantalising tingle of something in the air that seemed to toss logical thought out of the window and replace it with the idea that maybe he was the boyfriend that Amy had imagined that New Year’s morning.
Decision time.
She could enjoy her hot dinner and thank Scott for a lovely evening with a polite kiss on the cheek and then tell him that her time at Elstrom had run its course. She had given him a week. So thank you very much but she needed to work on his painting and the house now. Be in touch when the plumbing was all sorted out and he could move in. Goodnight.
She glanced up into Scott’s face as he cheerily chatted on about the time he’d tried to make a map of London at junior school out of tape and glue and poster paint.
He was a great man and it would be only too easy to fall and fall fast. She was already halfway there!
Or there was the other option. Take a huge risk and follow her feelings and play the fun friends with benefits card and live with the consequences. That was what she had promised Amy that she would do. Just another single girl having a good time with a great man while she had the chance.
Toni shivered deep inside her coat. This could be her only chance.
After what had happened with Peter she had struggled with her colleagues. Not one of them looked at her as a professional who could be their equal and over these past twelve months she seemed to have been offered projects where she was always going to be the assistant.
A strange idea crossed her mind and she pressed one hand to her forehead. Had she deliberately been accepting work where she knew that she would be in the background? That was all part of her training, wasn’t it? To be the apprentice learning her trade from the experts.
Just as she had done with...her father.
Toni exhaled slowly as that thought rattled around inside her head and made her feel sick. She had slipped into the old pattern and not even realized it.
Worse. She had actually looked for those jobs, afraid to put herself forward as already trained and ready to work alone. Just as she had done with the paintings.
Scott chose that moment to laugh out loud and grin down at her.
She was a coward! Scott had given up the work he loved to come back to London to try to save his family business and his relationship with his father. He wouldn’t let the Elstrom name go down without a fight.
A man like that was worth taking a risk on, no matter what happened.
Decision made.
Toni tucked her arm tightly into his elbow so that their hips touched as they
walked but she didn’t mind one little bit.
‘Of course you do realize that your terrible secret is now out in the open, Scott Elstrom.’
Scott looked around as though shocked by the very suggestion and swallowed hard. ‘Which one? I have so many.’
‘No doubt. I was, of course, referring to the route march we have been following for the last few hours.’ Toni counted out the vices on her fingers. ‘Mr Scott Elstrom, Company Director.’ She waved her fingers around. ‘Not averse to a little travel on foot. Does not use a GPS, or at least I’ve never seen him use electronic mapping devices but, from what I saw this evening, he knows every highway, street and lane in this city like the back of his hand. Yes, Scott, I realise that you have walked me back to the same street as the Elstrom building. So that only leaves one question: how many maps of London have you drawn up over the years?’
He laughed out loud now. A real belly laugh, displaying his perfect teeth. ‘Eight worth printing. Nine if you include the one I painted on my bedroom wall when I was seven years old.’
Toni gave an over the top gasp and jogged around in front of him, forcing Scott to look down at her when he replied.
‘Wait just one minute. You can paint? When were you planning to reveal this secret skill? Or was it going to be a surprise?’
‘Wax crayons and coloured pencils are my media of choice. So vibrant, you know.’
‘Seriously?’
He looked at her for a split second, still laughing. ‘Not a bit. I like technical drawing. Black lines using a straight-edge ruler and circles made from saucers and plates. Now that I am computerised, the survey company allow me to colour in the big bits but only when it’s not important. They can always correct it later.’
Now it was Toni’s turn to laugh, before she thumped him gently on the arm.
‘You might have warned me this afternoon that we would be coming back here tonight! I spent ages choosing something smart to wear for my posh birthday dinner. I should have guessed that you would choose a restaurant close to home. Research—so important.’
Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Boss? Page 12
