The New Guy

by Kathryn Freeman

  He heard her take several deep breaths. Yet her answer, when it finally came, was so quiet he almost missed it above the noise of the forty-year-old engine. ‘No.’

  The tension in his shoulders relaxed a fraction. ‘He asked me if I was happy working for you.’

  ‘Good God, he was trying to poach you?’

  Her clear disbelief pricked at his ego. ‘Thanks.’

  She started to laugh, then clearly realised it wasn’t appropriate so tried to stop herself, which just made it worse. ‘Sorry.’ Another round of laughter, softer this time. ‘I’m not laughing at you. Just … the situation. The arrogance of the man who thinks he can just do whatever the hell he likes.’

  ‘He must have been okay once. You set up in business with him.’ And yes, he was trying to wangle some gossip out of her. Frustratingly she didn’t take the bait.

  ‘Dare I ask what your reply was?’

  ‘I told him you were a kick-ass boss.’

  Out of the corner of his eye he saw her head snap round to look at him. ‘Wow, how did you work that out? I mean it’s a great compliment, so thank you, but you hate my style. You don’t agree with open-plan working, you laugh at employee awards. You think the previous software developer managed to successfully lie to me about what he could achieve with the app update only so he could … how did you phrase it? … “get into my pants”. Need I go on?’

  He felt a stab of discomfort. Had he really been that much of a shit to her? ‘Aside from all that, you kick ass.’

  She let out a bark of laughter. ‘I do, huh? Then you must be the master at kissing ass.’

  He glanced quickly at her. She had one brow raised in a got you there kind of look. ‘I’m very particular about whose ass I kiss.’

  The reminder of their night together, when he’d kissed every part of her body, including her very fine backside, was all it took for the amusement in her eyes to die. The brief camaraderie now over, he figured he might as well raise the next elephant. ‘How did the meeting with the journo go?’

  ‘Good.’

  ‘You know he was a lech, right?’

  ‘He was also a journalist with a strong reputation in the technology field. And I’m not wet behind the ears.’

  So she was still pissed at him. Well, that went both ways. ‘Point taken. I know you can handle yourself. I just didn’t like seeing him look at you like that.’

  Resolutely he kept his eyes on the motorway, but he felt her gaze on his face. ‘You can’t be the jealous boyfriend, Ryan. You’re my employee.’

  ‘A fact you’ve made crystal clear.’

  She let out a sharp exhale. ‘I know you didn’t like the way I introduced you to Whittaker.’

  ‘One of your software developers.’ Grimly he repeated what she’d said. Not a software developer, or our software developer. Not even hers, but one of hers. And yeah, he knew he wasn’t being rational. If it had been any other boss who’d referred to him like that, he wouldn’t have batted an eyelid. But he hadn’t slept with other bosses.

  ‘I didn’t mean it to sound so arrogant. I was cross that Whittaker had assumed you were the one in charge. I wanted to put him in his place.’

  ‘You succeeded. With both of us.’

  ‘I’m sorry.’

  Though she said the words quietly, he didn’t doubt their sincerity. Fact was though, he was in that place. The one where she held all the cards. And every time he spoke out of turn, he was at risk of losing his job. For a man who only knew how to speak his mind, that was one hell of an edge to be walking along. Especially when every time he looked at her, he wanted her.

  The sound of his mobile ringtone cut through the silence. Damn, he meant to turn the thing off. His car didn’t have any fancy hands-free system.

  Sam angled her head to look at where the sound was coming from. ‘It’s in my jacket pocket.’ Which he’d dumped into the small gap behind them.

  ‘Do you want me to answer it?’

  ‘It can wait.’ The sound faded, but then started up again. By the third time of ringing, worry pricked. There weren’t many people who had his mobile number. The bank, his landlord. His mum. He felt his stomach start to knot. ‘Can you check who it is?’

  She reached behind and tugged out the phone. ‘It’s your mum.’

  For her to ring at all meant something was wrong. Not that she’d ever admit it directly. When he’d run out of the meeting last week to take her call, she’d insisted everything was fine, she just wanted to chat. This from a woman who hated talking on the phone. It was only when he’d pressed that she’d admitted she wasn’t feeling well. A bit of indigestion, nothing to worry about. He’d urged her to go to the doctors. To his shame, he’d not called to check on her, his mind too full of himself: work, making the crappy flat he was renting at least habitable. Obsessing about a woman who was totally out of bounds.

  ‘Can you answer it. Please.’ Fear made his voice tight, and his hands grip at the steering wheel.

  Sam saw the fear spread across Ryan’s face, and her heart bounced. For a private, solitary man like him to ask her to do something so intimate as to answer his phone – and to his mum – spoke volumes about how worried he was.

  ‘Hello, this is Sam Huxton. I’m answering for Ryan because he’s driving at the moment. Can I help?’

  There was a pause, during which Sam wondered if his mum was still there. Then a young voice came on the line with a faint Midlands accent. ‘Tell him it’s Erin.’

  Sam frowned and turned to Ryan. ‘It’s not your mum, it’s Erin.’

  If anything, Ryan’s expression became even tighter. ‘Put her on loudspeaker.’ Sam did as he asked and held the phone up to him. ‘What are you doing on Mum’s phone?’

  His voice, usually smooth, sometimes edging towards a drawl, was so abrupt Sam winced. Whoever Erin was, they weren’t friends.

  ‘I’m doing what you should be doing.’ Erin’s accusing words echoed round the car. ‘Looking after her.’

  Sam watched as Ryan’s face paled, and his knuckles turned white. ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘She had a turn; dizziness, out of breath. Pains in her chest.’ Erin’s tone retained its edge. ‘The doc says it was a bout of angina.’

  Ryan cursed under his breath. ‘Put her on.’

  ‘Bossy, much? I’ll do it, but only ’cos she wants to talk to you.’

  There was a moment of silence. All Sam could hear was the rumble of the car engine, and Ryan’s uneven breaths. Then a hesitant older voice came over the speaker.

  ‘I told your sister not to worry you.’

  Because she was watching Ryan’s face, Sam saw every bit of the emotion he obviously felt at hearing his mum’s voice. The pain, the worry, the guilt. And in the tender way he spoke the next words, she heard the love. ‘How are you doing?’

  ‘I’m grand, love. It was just a funny turn. The doctor’s given me some spray to use if it happens again.’

  He breathed slowly, clearly clinging to his control. ‘I’m in the car now, Mum. I’ll give you a call when I get home. You take care of yourself.’

  ‘Don’t you go mithering, now. I’m fit as a fiddle.’ There was a pause, and Sam could hear her take a rasping breath. ‘Erin tells me a woman answered your phone. Who is she? Anything you’re not telling me?’

  Pulling up at a red light, Ryan sighed and rolled his eyes upwards. ‘She’s my boss, Mum. I’m giving her a lift home.’ He glanced sideways at Sam, a small smile hovering on his lips. ‘And you should know you’re on speaker. She can hear every word you’re saying.’

  ‘Oh my.’ His mum laughed, which turned into a cough. ‘Hello, love, nice to meet you. I hope he’s behaving himself.’

  As Ryan shook his head, Sam started to giggle. ‘I think you know your son better than that.’

  More breathy laughs echoed down the phone. ‘Aye, you’re right there. Well, if he gives you any trouble, tell me. I’ll give him a good lampin’.’

  Sam raised a brow at Ryan and he shook
his head again, but the half-smile was still on his face. ‘“Lampin’” is Midlands-speak for beating,’ he clarified. ‘Apparently my five-foot-nothing mum still thinks she can tan my backside.’

  It was the affection in his voice, the warmth, that Sam found hard to equate with the man she knew. ‘Well, thank you for the offer, Mrs Black. I’ll let you know if I need your help bringing him in line.’

  ‘It’s Maggie, and be sure to do that. I’ll be on my way now. Ta-ra.’

  The call ended and Sam tucked the phone back in his jacket, her mind a jumble of thoughts. In barely five minutes she’d found out so much more about him. He had a sister he didn’t get on with; okay, hardly a shock. Yet other parts of the conversation had definitely taken her by surprise. ‘You have a mum.’

  His lips twitched. ‘Most people do.’

  It was hard to imagine the blunt, very male guy sitting next to her as anyone’s son, and yet he was clearly a devoted one. A tough outer shell, definitely, but maybe not as hard on the inside as she’d imagined. ‘Sorry. I just can’t see you as a boy, somehow.’

  ‘Good.’ He paused, giving her a quick sidelong glance. ‘I’d rather you saw me as a man.’

  The words, the way his voice had lowered, combined to cause a slow sizzle in the pit of her stomach. Swallowing hard, she grasped for something to say that would take them out of dangerous territory. ‘Are you worried about her health?’

  His hands tightened imperceptibly on the wheel, but the look he shot her was one of wry amusement. ‘Nice deflect.’

  ‘I thought so.’ She smiled back, the sizzle now more of a flutter, and just as hard to ignore. ‘The question is a genuine one, though.’

  ‘The short answer is yes.’

  ‘Can I have the long answer, please? We’ve got plenty of time to kill.’ And she really needed him to fill it with conversation that wasn’t going to leave her yearning for what she mustn’t have.

  ‘That a request or an order?’

  ‘You’re off the clock. It’s a polite request.’

  He heaved a sigh. ‘She’s got a weak heart so yes – I worry about her.’

  ‘I’m sorry to hear that. Sounds like you have a good relationship.’

  ‘We do.’

  Suddenly the car seemed to go quiet. A quick look at Ryan confirmed her fears.

  ‘Damn it, I’ve lost power.’ He angled the steering wheel and they glided onto the hard shoulder, coming to a rather serene stop. His shoulders lifted as he let out a long, deep breath. ‘How good are you under a bonnet?’

  ‘About as good as I am at coding an app?’

  He huffed softly as he reached for the door handle. ‘Wish I could say the same.’ A few seconds later he was opening her door. ‘I think you need to get out, too. Safer sitting behind the barrier.’

  ‘Sure.’ As she stepped over the safety barrier and settled on the grass verge behind it, she was grateful for the warm June evening. And the fact it was still light.

  Jacket off, tie off, sleeves rolled up, she allowed herself to watch as Ryan did … whatever it was people did … under the bonnet.

  A few minutes later, though, he was striding towards her, jacket slung over his shoulder, shaking his head. ‘Bloody alternator belt’s gone.’

  ‘But you have a spare, right?’

  ‘A spare? What sort of planet …’ He tailed off when he saw her smiling. ‘Funny.’ Sighing, he dragged his phone out of his pocket and threw his jacket on the ground. ‘There, sit on that.’

  She eyed the jacket, and then his face. ‘Is that a request or an order?’ she asked, mimicking his retort from earlier.

  He gave her a faintly exasperated smile. ‘Please, boss lady, do me the honour of planting your fine arse on my jacket while I call the rescue service.’ He grimaced then, staring down at his phone. ‘We might be here some time, and I’d hate your bum to get cold.’

  Smiling to herself, she shifted onto the jacket. It seemed that somewhere inside the grumpy man, lurking very deep, was a reluctant gentleman. Who’d have thought it?

  Chapter 12

  Ryan ended the call to the rescue service and hunkered down next to Sam.

  ‘They say within the hour.’ It was the stock reply. He should know, he’d called them often enough. So often their number was now in his contact list.

  ‘That’s not too bad. At least it isn’t raining.’

  Typical Sunshine Sam remark. ‘That’s really what you’re thinking? Not angry that you’re forced to sit by the side of a motorway for an hour. Just grateful you’re not getting wet?’

  ‘Why would I be angry?’ She glanced sideways at him. ‘You didn’t deliberately sabotage the car, did you?’

  ‘Give me some credit.’ He grinned. ‘If I was going to manufacture some lone time with you, it wouldn’t feature a prickly verge and a busy motorway.’

  Her big eyes rolled back at him. ‘So, where were we? Talking about your mum, I think?’

  He winced. ‘You’re really going to use this time to’ – he mimed quotation marks – ‘find out more about each other?’

  ‘Yes.’ She shifted, pulling her legs up so she could rest her hands on her knees, her expression quietly determined. ‘You have a mum and a sister.’

  ‘Half-sister,’ he corrected.

  ‘What about your father?’

  He slid her a look. ‘You really want to know all this crap?’

  Her response was a big, sunny smile. ‘Are you kidding? I love finding out about people. The more I know, the more it helps me understand them.’

  He wasn’t so sure he wanted that. The more she knew, the more she’d find not to like. ‘Dad buggered off when I was eight and I haven’t seen him since. Can’t say I missed him.’

  Her eyes watched him carefully and he had the sense she wanted to know more, but his deliberately closed-off expression was stopping her. ‘And Erin’s father?’ she asked finally. ‘Was he your stepdad?’

  He laughed at the notion. ‘Hardly. Never met the guy, neither has Erin. I’m not sure Mum ever told him he was a father.’ And because he didn’t want her to delve any deeper into his dysfunctional family, he added, ‘I reckon it’s my turn now. What really happened between you and Lynch?’

  He heard her sudden intake of breath. Felt the tension run through her as her back stiffened, and hands that had been clasped loosely round her legs suddenly clutched at them as if they were the only thing holding her upright. ‘It’s not a secret, though there are plenty of times I wish it was,’ she answered finally. ‘Damien wasn’t just my business partner. He was my partner in every sense. We weren’t married, but we were living together. I thought we were happy.’ Slowly her eyes lifted to his. ‘Then I found out he’d been having an affair with our office manager.’

  ‘Ouch.’ Though he’d suspected her fall-out with Damien was more personal than business, it irked him to hear her say it. He wanted to believe his anger was for her, but had an awful feeling it had more to do with jealousy.

  ‘Yeah. Big ouch, considering how I found out about the pair of them.’

  It didn’t take a genius to guess. ‘You caught them at it?’

  ‘I’d been out all day, meeting with one of our investors. I knew he had to work late so instead of heading straight home I decided to go and see him. I found him bending our office manager over his desk.’

  He cursed. ‘Christ. Guess it explains your vendetta against offices.’

  She huffed. ‘It’s part of the reason, maybe, but I still believe open plan—’

  ‘Makes us all one big happy family,’ he cut in. ‘Yeah, I heard you the last time.’

  Her eyes caught his and when she gave him a small smile, he felt something flutter in his chest. Shit, what was she doing to him? ‘Was today the first time you’d seen him since then?’

  ‘Pretty much, yes. We bumped into each other a few times after it happened as he cleared his stuff out of the office and I cleared my stuff out of the place we shared. After that, everything was done through l
awyers.’ She paused and he thought that was it, but then she seemed to come to a decision and carried on. ‘I made him sell his share of the company, but of course I couldn’t afford it, so I went back to the investors. It soon became clear they saw Damien as the major brain behind the operation. He was a man, after all,’ she added in a rare display of bitterness. ‘It looked like I was going to lose the business, but then my parents stepped in to rescue me.’ Her gaze met his. ‘That’s why Becky asked if they were coming to the investor meeting.’

  Shame rolled through him. ‘Yeah, the bitchy remark about Mummy and Daddy funding your pet project. Not one of my finer moments.’ He nudged her, giving her what he hoped she could see was a genuinely apologetic smile. ‘Sorry.’

  She smiled back. ‘As you’ve got a cute smile, when you bother to use it, you’re forgiven.’

  Cute? He laughed quietly to himself. He’d take it.

  Silence descended, except for the hum of the traffic as it sped by. He felt her shiver and shifted closer to her so she could share his body heat. ‘Lynch is clearly not very bright,’ he said after a while.

  She blinked up at him. ‘Why do you say that?’

  ‘Come on, he has you to go home to every night and he starts looking somewhere else?’

  Her breath hitched and he wondered if he was going to get a bollocking for veering from the professional into personal. Instead a small frown settled across her face. ‘I didn’t think you thought of me like that.’

  He gave her his best you’ve got to be kidding look. ‘Thought I’d made it pretty obvious.’

  God, those eyes of hers. They were luminous against the descending darkness. ‘No.’ She shook her head. ‘You were just talking sex.’

  Had he been? Sure, he wanted to tumble into bed with her again. And again. But his reaction to Lynch earlier, and then to that sleaze of a journo? The pricks of jealousy, the sudden urge to protect her even though he knew very well she didn’t need protecting? They weren’t feelings associated with just sex. ‘I guess there’s only way to know if it could be more.’

  Once again he felt her stiffen. But when she looked at him, he didn’t see anger, or annoyance. He saw distress. ‘I can’t have another office-based affair. The last one nearly ruined me.’