She could feel the awkwardness descend and there was no frothy coffee this time, her marching orders were given.
‘I am expecting a client...’
‘Please don’t make excuses,’ she said, pulling on her dress and trying to get her arm in, which wasn’t very easy with a body that was damp. ‘I’m going.’
Now there was regret.
There was embarrassment on Libby’s part that she’d practically handed herself to him and also the knowledge that their behaviour had been risky.
On Daniil’s part, there was unease that he might care about her.
It hurt to care and he avoided that at all costs.
She went through her bag, where thankfully she had fresh underwear and she pulled it on as Daniil selected a fresh shirt and suit.
She tied up her hair and, even though she could feel his impatience, she took her time putting on her lipstick so she could at least look as if nothing had taken place.
She did that odd little wave at the door and got his grim smile in return.
She had that same feeling of having stepped out of a movie theatre as she came out of his office. Cindy’s desk was empty. Presumably she was at lunch and there was no sign of the client he was waiting for.
The worst thing about seeing him was the parting.
She never knew if this was it.
CHAPTER SIX
DANIIL DIDN’T CALL HER.
He woke one morning, more than a week after she had stopped by his office, and lay in his bed, thinking. He didn’t like how at any given hour his mind drifted to her, how he worried about whether or not she was okay, how he lay there wondering what she was feeling and also how he had to fight himself not to get in touch.
So after several moments doing his best not to think about Libby he went out and poured himself a long glass of water and checked his phone and scrolled through contacts.
Tonight he would go out, he decided.
Libby Tennent had occupied way too much of his headspace of late.
He pulled on some shorts and went into the room he hadn’t allowed her to go into.
No one came in here, not even his domestic. This was strictly his space and he took care of it himself.
It was more than a gym, it was his sanctuary. There were training mats, punch bags and weights. This morning he did consider going to the club that he went to on occasion—they knew nothing about him, there he was Dan the moody Russian.
There, he taught kids drills and could spar with others, but he didn’t feel like seeing anyone today.
He warmed up and then took a rope and skipped till he would usually be panting for breath, then he worked on some rhythm drills but he could not focus.
His mind was elsewhere.
He looked at the ledge and there was the thing she had brought him and next to it... Daniil took a drink and then walked over and picked up a very old photo.
Twenty years old, because he had been ten when it had been taken.
There he was, a slight smile on his mouth, excited that Sergio had brought in the camera, and that he was having his first photo taken.
Roman was next to him, unsmiling, and Daniil could remember every word of the conversation.
‘Come on, Roman,’ Sergio had said. ‘Smile, you’re going to be famous. This photo will be worth a lot one day—The Zverev twins.’
‘When do we get to fight?’ Roman had asked. That had been all he’d wanted to know.
‘Soon,’ Sergio had said.
For it had been a case of drills, more drills.
Daniil put down the photo and then picked up the card Libby had given him. He hadn’t read it while she’d been there, instead it had remained unopened after she had gone, but curiosity finally won and he opened the envelope.
Thank you for making my dreams a reality.
Libby
He read it several times, searching for the inference, the little trip of guilt, a demand for more.
Was she talking about the dance school or their night together?
He closed the card and went to put it back on the shelf and then he saw a little postscript she had written on the back of the card.
Both...
She had answered his question.
He could almost see her chewing her pen before adding it.
Yes, he wanted to call her.
Instead, he put on gloves and went to the punch bag and reminded himself why he would not.
He thought of the upcoming anniversary party.
His cousin would be there, of course, smarming up to them.
Daniil didn’t give a toss about the inheritance, more it was the thought of that greedy, cruel man getting a free ride that galled him.
‘Face it, Daniel,’ George had often said. ‘You just don’t fit in.’
Daniil could hear his cousin’s voice as he took his anger out on the punch bag.
From the day you got here Aunt Katherine realised her mistake.
Oh, the punch bag earned its keep this morning as he recalled George’s words.
Have you noticed how she blanches when she introduces you as her son?
But the worst one, the one that still hurt even now, especially now, was the one that held him back from pursuing a relationship—This used to be such a happy home until you came on the scene.
Daniil well remembered the toxic atmosphere of home—his mother’s frequent tears and his father berating him for not living up to their son’s ghost. He believed to this day what George had said—that the house, until he had arrived, had been a happy one, that it had been he who had caused all the pain.
He took out his anger on the punch bag till he was physically exhausted but with his mind still racing. He could not stand the thought of dimming the light in the star that Libby was.
He drove to work and took a slight detour. Slowing down, he saw a large pink poster and discovered that between four and seven she was holding an information evening.
Tonight.
Fortunately he had a very important dinner meeting tonight because still, despite a workout, despite the knot of dread at going to his parents’ at the weekend, there was the temptation to make contact.
Getting too close to anyone was something he avoided at all costs and yet Libby had simply stepped over the walls he had put up. Direct as she was, he never felt invaded and, he thought, she made him smile.
He made her smile, too, Daniil realised as he drove on. She had walked into his office, and the closer she had got to his desk the wider her smile had become.
She seemed happy when she was with him.
For the first time Daniil was considering that he might make somebody happy.
* * *
Libby should be at her happiest, she well knew.
The turnout for the information evening had surpassed her expectations—parents had brought their children, lots of women had come to find out about classes during the day and some had suggested she hold a class once or twice a week later into the evening, so that they could come once the children were in bed. A young girl called Sonia, Libby was particularly impressed with. She was fifteen years old and very talented, and was looking for an opportunity for part-time work.
Libby had thought it would be a very long time before she could even consider hiring someone but, given the impressive turnout, she had told Sonia to come along next week so that she could speak to her one on one. For now she took out the garbage and came back in and smiled when she saw that she had only three little pink cupcakes left. She had bought loads but at first, not wanting to look presumptuous, she had only put out a small plate. The rest of them she had hidden in the little kitchenette.
Presumptuous.
Yes, that word was the reason why, even during her busiest
most exhilarating week, she couldn’t quite hit happy.
Oh, she’d tried not to get her hopes up, or to assume that he’d call, but such was their chemistry she just couldn’t believe how easily he could let her go.
She’d given him a business card, for God’s sake, so it wasn’t as if he didn’t have her number.
Worse, Libby knew that she had made things far too easy for him.
She should have left the present at Reception. Yes, she had practically handed herself to him with a pink satin bow on top.
Maybe he thought she was easy?
Well, so was he!
She angrily pulled down the blinds, terribly cross with herself.
The writing had been on the wall from the start and she had chosen to ignore it.
What had she expected? For man like Daniil to send flowers with a little love note?
Hell, yes!
As she turned Libby saw a broad shadow at the door and realised it was him. He’d startled her so much that instead of opening up Libby pulled down the blind on the door.
‘We’re closed,’ she said. ‘The information night finished at seven.’
‘Libby...’ He opened the letterbox and spoke through it. ‘It’s me.’
She said nothing.
‘I think we both know that I’m not here for a ballet lesson,’ he said.
She shouldn’t open the door—it was as simple as that, she knew. She should tell him to go away. While she was thrilled that he had turned up, a week between meetings was far too long.
‘Libby?’ Daniil pushed open the letterbox and his voice was as if he was there in the studio. ‘Are you going to let me in?’ His answer was hearing the lock release on the door.
Libby thought, Why does he have to be so beautiful? With just one look at him she felt like melting but she remained firm with herself.
‘I assume you’re not here for a cupcake? I have three left,’ she said, rabbiting on as he stepped in. ‘Honestly, I thought I’d have to freeze them and that Rachel and I would be living off them for weeks.’
‘Rachel?’ Daniil checked.
‘She’s my flatmate,’ Libby said.
‘Another dancer?’ Daniil checked, and she nodded.
‘So if you’re not here for a cupcake then what are you here for?’ Libby said. And then answered her own question. ‘Oh, I know—sex!’
‘What the hell is that supposed to mean?’
‘Well, given that this is almost within walking distance from the office, I guess it might make things easier for you. If you suddenly get bored in your lunch break...’
‘Stop right there,’ he said, and looked at her. She was wearing a dark purple dance outfit, with leggings over the top, and though similar to the woman he had met just a couple of weeks ago she looked tired now. He could see that there were dark circles under her eyes and that she was paler than she had been before.
He knew that she had been busy and had every right to look tired but he acknowledged the certain fact that some of the sleeplessness might be down to him.
He wasn’t being arrogant. Daniil had spent many hours awake himself, willing himself not to get in touch, not to tarnish her world, and now he was here, about to ask a favour—for her to come to his parents’ with him.
He couldn’t do it, though.
‘I was just wondering how your information evening went,’ he said instead.
‘Well, if you want to discuss my business, you can make an appointment,’ Libby said, stuffing all her belongings into her bag, determined to just lock up and go home.
‘Libby...’
He came over and she was on her knees, looking up at him. ‘I don’t for one minute believe that that’s the reason you’re here.’ She looked up at his groin. ‘Are you disappointed that you didn’t get everything you wanted the other day?’
He had the gall to laugh. ‘I’m actually on my way to a dinner meeting. I’m already running late.’
‘Oh, I’m sure they’ll wait for you to suddenly appear!’
He heard the barb, and one of the things he adored about her was that, just in case he’d missed it, she made very sure he got her point.
‘I mean, we’re all supposed to be happy to idly wait for you to drop by. Am I not even worth a single bunch of flowers?’ she asked, as she angrily stood up.
‘Libby,’ Daniil said. ‘I have never sent flowers in my life.’
‘If I hadn’t come to your office I’m quite sure that I’d never have seen you again.’
‘Exactly. You came by my office! You took it further.’
Libby furiously shook her head. ‘Daniil, you broke the rules. You were the one who turned up out of the blue the next day with a business plan for me. If you’d just left it at one night then I’d have known where I stood. Now I don’t have a clue. You don’t call me, you don’t text...’
‘What is it with women and texting?’ he asked.
‘It’s nice to know that you’re being thought of.’
‘I never took you for needy.’
‘I never took myself for a slut,’ Libby said. ‘But when you frogmarched me out of the office after we’d had sex, that was what I became.’
‘Please.’ He scoffed at her exaggeration, but he did relent just a touch. ‘I was uncomfortable,’ he admitted. ‘I never bring my personal life to work.’
Libby was dubious. From what she’d read, he was at it all the time but then she did remember that there had been no condoms to hand.
‘What about Cindy?’ Libby asked.
‘Her husband is twice my size and three times as miserable.’
‘What about your clients?’ She simply had to know more about him, about his world, about what she was dealing with.
‘Most are portly middle-aged businessmen.’ Daniil shrugged. ‘If I want sex I go out. I don’t bring my personal life to work.’
She got that what had happened had been a rarity but, still, the endless stretches of silence from him galled and she told him that.
‘I said from the start—’
‘You did,’ she responded, ‘and maybe when you offered your little warning about not expecting you to love me I should have offered you a warning of my own—if you’re involved with me, then you’re involved. I’m not dangling on for weeks, wondering if you’re going to call.’
‘Fine,’ Daniil said. ‘I won’t be calling. So now you know.’
‘Or drop in on me unannounced.’
‘Very well,’ Daniil said. ‘I shan’t do so again.’
She wanted to stamp her feet in frustration as he complied with wishes she didn’t really want and so she pushed him instead, pressing one hand up against his broad chest. She might as well have been a fly for all the impact she had. ‘You make me so cross.’
‘I know I do.’ He shrugged. ‘Tell you what, why don’t you come with me tonight?’
‘To dinner?’
‘No.’ He shook his head. ‘It’s going to be a very long, boring meal and there are no partners allowed given that all we’ll be doing is talking business. I do, though, have a suite booked.’
‘Oh, I bet that you do,’ she sneered.
‘I won’t lay a finger on you,’ Daniil said. ‘You could have a sleep or order room service, maybe have a massage or even just spend the night in the bath.’ He smiled as her rapid blink indicated that the last suggestion was the one that tempted her most. ‘They have a bath menu...’ Daniil said.
‘Really?’
‘Really.’
‘Is that what you came here for?’ Libby asked. ‘To ask me to come with you tonight?’
‘No.’
‘Then, why are you asking me now?’
‘You bring out the niceness in me,’ he said. ‘You look tired. It might
be pleasant to be spoiled. My driver can take you home or back here tomorrow.’
Libby stared back at him and thought of the frozen meal waiting for her in the freezer at home after a long ride on the underground. And then she thought of another long ride on the underground to get back here tomorrow.
Then she thought of a bath in a luxury hotel suite, room service and the bliss of having his driver in the morning.
And then she thought of one more night in his arms.
She didn’t for a second believe that he wouldn’t touch her.
He watched her eyes as all those thoughts raced through her head and he guessed exactly the moment she decided to accept, because she gave him an angry look.
How she wished she could be a little more haughty and aloof and say no to him, but instead her shoulders sagged in defeat. ‘Yes,’ she said, and gave his chest another push. ‘I’m still cross, though.’
‘I know you are.’ He didn’t try to change her mind. ‘You lock up and I’ll wait in the car.’
Yes, she was cross, Libby thought, but there she went dreaming and hoping again because after all he had come around.
The drive was a short one and they were soon at the hotel. Of course, Daniil didn’t have to worry about checking in the way mere mortals did. He was greeted with a handshake and taken straight up to his suite.
As she stepped in it wasn’t the huge bed or the luxurious surroundings that made a shiver run down her spine—yes, things in Daniil’s world certainly moved quickly because he picked up, from a walnut table, a huge bouquet of the palest pink peonies, roses and calla lilies and handed them to her.
There was even a card!
It took a week to find the perfect blooms—Daniil
‘I don’t believe it took a week,’ she said, but gave a little humph noise, because the blooms were so perfect and her favourite colour. Possibly she could pretend it had taken him a week to find them and that he hadn’t ordered them from the car while she’d locked up.
‘I can be thoughtful when pushed,’ he said, and she buried her face in the flowers when she wanted her hand back on his chest, but for different reasons this time.
The Price of His Redemption Page 8
