by Marsh, Susan
‘It doesn’t have to be this way, you know,’ she murmured, trapped beneath the burning intensity of his stare, her breath catching at the smouldering desire in his eyes.
‘Yes, it does.’
His yearning expression made a mockery of his words and he didn’t flinch or shrug off her hand or move a millimetre when she slid her palm over the expensive cool wool of his designer jacket slowly upwards until it rested on his bicep, the muscle flexing deliciously beneath her tingling palm.
‘I know this has the potential to be awkward, but it doesn’t have to be.’
She hoped her touch conveyed that she understood, that he wasn’t the only one caught up in this spellbinding attraction, that they could handle it even if working together.
‘Awkward? That’s an understatement.’
With a shake of his head, he stepped away, turning his back on her to lean against the back of the chair, arms outstretched, leaving her with a tempting view of his butt.
Oh, yeah, there was definitely some major attraction going on here and it wasn’t all one-sided.
But what could she do if he didn’t acknowledge it? They couldn’t go on pretending it didn’t exist, if even the most innocuous of time spent together such as him showing her the ropes around here ended up with them in an almost clinch.
Injecting lightness into her tone, she said, ‘Look, why don’t we get out of here?’
‘Why?’
He swivelled to face her, his expression comical, as if she’d just asked him to strip down and get naked with her in front of his precious Ica Stones.
‘My head’s spinning with facts. I think it would do us both good to get away from here for a while, clear the air a bit, so why don’t we go grab a coffee and have a chat?’
His jaw clenched, the tiny muscle near the scar on his right eyebrow twitched, but his molten silver eyes still hadn’t lost their ‘I want you but I’m trying to fight it’ expression.
‘I don’t want to do this.’
‘I know you don’t, but it won’t be too heavy, promise. Just a little friendly conversation over the best cake you’ve ever eaten, accompanied by coffee to die for.’
‘You can’t be referring to the cafeteria.’
His wry smile showed her she did have a shot at this, just as she suspected. For all his CEO bluster Aidan was a bit of a softie beneath that tough, sexy exterior. And if she could just get him to face up to this thing between them …
‘Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of Brunetti’s.’
‘Never been there.’
She pretended a mock swoon with a dramatic hand to the forehead. ‘You haven’t lived in Melbourne very much, have you?’
He shook his head.
‘Brunetti’s is an institution. Come on, you absolutely, positively have to try it. You’ll thank me.’
She stood and smoothed her jacket, her eagerness to get to the fabulous café having as much to do with getting Aidan to a guaranteed packed public place before she launched herself at him as consuming the mouth-watering delicacies the place was famous for.
‘You’re the most exasperating woman I’ve ever met.’ He pushed off the chair with a resigned sigh, sending her a ‘this better be good’ glare.
‘In that case, you need a great piece of cake. Quality cake is balm to a weary soul like yours.’
‘You’re crazy.’
He shook his head while shrugging into his jacket.
And you love me for it.
Thankfully, she thought before she spoke for once and, sending him her best bewitching smile, she preceded him out of the gallery.
‘Okay, I’ll admit it. You were right.’
‘Told you. Always trust a woman when it comes to good cake.’
Beth grinned before taking a bite out of a gigantic chocolate confection, the flaky pastry melting on her tongue alongside the creamy custard filling. ‘So, is your soul soothed yet?’
Waving his fork at her, Aidan sent her a glare with all the force of a giant pussycat. ‘Not while you keep staring at me the same way you’re looking at that chocolate thing you’re gobbling.’
‘Oh, and how’s that?’
‘You know damn well. Now, let me finish this cake in peace,’ he muttered, his expression wary as he forked the last piece of white chocolate mud cake from his plate into his mouth.
Enjoying herself way too much, she leaned forward a fraction, delighting at the tortured expression that flicked across his face as he glanced at her cleavage and away in less than a second.
‘Good idea, eat up. I have a feeling what we’re about to discuss may give you indigestion.’
‘You’ve already done that.’
He tried a mock frown and failed, and she laughed; nobody could stay mad for long while savouring a Brunetti’s delight. Maybe she should order him the entire mouth-watering display in the front counter considering what she was about to do.
Laying down his fork and pushing his empty cappuccino cup away, he folded his arms.
‘I suppose now is as good a time as any to talk about this.’
Stuffing the last of the mignon into her mouth to buy time, she held up a finger to ask for a minute. Now they were here and it was crunch time to face this attraction simmering between them, suddenly her confidence had gone AWOL.
Confronting it was one thing, talking about it with those intense grey eyes locked on hers another.
Well, here goes nothing.
Savouring the last silky slide of chocolate custard down her throat, she washed it down with a sip of latte before leaning back in her chair and sending him a beguiling smile.
‘First up, I want you to promise you’ll hear me out.’
A fine line appeared between his brows as he leaned forward, his face mere inches from hers.
‘Just cut to the chase.’
She didn’t move, momentarily captivated by the warmth of his breath fanning against her cheek and the hint of coffee on his breath, knowing if she broached the short distance between them and laid her lips on his, he’d taste like the sweetest decadent chocolate blended with superb coffee.
‘Beth …’ His warning growl roused her and she blinked, pulling away before she followed through on yet another insane impulse to kiss him.
Taking a great gulp of air, her lungs flooding with his spicy blackcurrant scent mingled with aromatic coffee, she knew it was now or never. She had nothing to lose.
‘I’m attracted to you,’ she blurted, clasping her hands in her lap to stop from reaching out, grabbing his lapels and shaking that impassive mask off his face. ‘And I’m guessing the feeling’s mutual but you’re reluctant to get involved because we work together. I’m also guessing we’d have a lot of fun together given half a chance.’
He sat bolt upright, as if she’d prodded him with her fork, and she quickly continued before she lost her nerve. ‘You’re an adventurous guy and adventurous guys take risks. They take chances on things even though on face value they probably shouldn’t. And that’s what I’m asking you to do. Take a chance on me.’
On us, was what she was really saying, and by the astute gleam in his eyes he knew it too.
‘You don’t mince words, do you?’
She shrugged, thankful he was honest enough not to deny it. ‘What’s the point? I’ve always been up front. I say it how it is.’
Shaking his head, he ran a hand over his face before fixing her with that steady grey-eyed gaze that did delicious, tummy-tumbling things to her insides.
‘I could give you the brush-off but that wouldn’t be fair, considering you’re right.’
If her tummy had tumbled with a single look from him, it leaped and punched the air at his admission.
‘So you’re attracted to me?’
His rueful smile spoke volumes. ‘I think it was that kiss that did it.’
‘And don’t forget the shoes.’ She leaned forward and whispered behind her hand, ‘You seem to have a thing for those.’
His spo
ntaneous laughter warmed her better than the fabulous lattes she always ordered here.
‘So now that all this attraction business is out in the open, what are we going to do about it?’
His laughter petered out as he rubbed the back of his neck as if she’d given him an ache there. Yep, that was her, a real pain in the neck when she wanted something, just as her dad had always said.
With him, all she’d ever wanted was a little attention, some sign he loved her enough to put her needs first rather than his stupid quest to obliterate her mum’s memory by traipsing around the countryside in the search of goodness knew what. Pity what she’d wanted she rarely got back then. Hopefully things would be different with Aidan now.
‘Do about this crazy attraction? Don’t ask.’
She batted her eyelashes at him, sending him a coy smile designed to tease. ‘And what’s so crazy about it? I’m pretty cute, you know.’
He smiled, a genuine, easygoing smile that transformed his face to off-the-scale gorgeous in a second.
‘Yeah, I know. That’s half the problem. I can’t seem to forget it.’
‘And what’s the other half?’
His eyes darkened to stormy pewter as he leaned forward and murmured, ‘How much I want you.’
‘Oh …’ she breathed out on a sigh, desperate to close the short distance and kiss him, to leap across the table and straddle his lap, to wrap her arms around him till he had no choice but to admit how fantastic it would be to give in to the heat searing between them.
‘But we can’t always have what we want.’
He broke the spell by leaning back and folding his arms as if trying to ward her off. As if that would work.
Matching his serious tone, she wriggled back in her chair and laid her hands palm-up in front of him. ‘Look, no tricks up these sleeves.
‘You know what I want?’ Apart from you. ‘I want to give this job all I’ve got. I want to be a success at it and you helping me means a lot. I promise I won’t let anything at work interfere with … us.’
His right eyebrow twitched, the scar beneath it doing a little dance at the mention of ‘us’, but apart from that one tell-tale sign, no reaction. Not a glimmer of a smile. No amused glint in those slate eyes.
Nothing.
In desperation, she grabbed a serviette off the table and twisted it in her lap, gnawing at her bottom lip before she said something she’d regret, like, Take me, I’m yours.
When ten seconds stretched to thirty and the napkin lay shredded in her lap along with her fading hope, some of her old fire kicked in.
‘Well? Are you going to keep me in suspense for ever or do you want me to beg?’
She bit the tip of her tongue as his eyes finally sparked, the shooting heat sizzling her all the way down to her toes. Heck, even if he said no, what hope did she have of maintaining her distance? She had as much chance of following through on that as resisting anything chocolaty in the window any time she walked past this place.
Steepling his fingers together, he leaned forward, rested his elbows on the table and smiled, an utterly spellbinding, irresistible smile that left her quivering with desire.
‘Begging might be fun.’
Realisation dawned in that moment. He was going to give them a chance.
‘Fabulous!’
Before she could think twice she jumped up from her seat, leaned across the table, grabbed hold of his head and planted an impulsive kiss on his lips.
She’d meant it as a brief, spur-of-the-moment, I-can’t-believe-this-is-happening kiss.
However, it soon turned into something more as she registered the soft warmth of his mouth beneath hers, the feel of the faintest stubble against her palms and the stimulating taste of coffee and wickedly delicious chocolate lingering on his lips.
Wishing she could stay like this for ever, savouring the sensations assailing her body, she reluctantly sat back down with a defiant toss of her hair, bracing for a warning that aberrant kisses in public shouldn’t happen.
His warm smile took her completely by surprise.
‘If that’s what I get for a bit of mild flirting, I’d sure like to see what’s in store when I actually try and charm you.’
Her heart kicked over at the power packed behind that smile and the implication behind his words while she wondered for the umpteenth time what it was about this guy that had her so hot and bothered.
He wore designer suits and sedate ties; she preferred jeans and T-shirts on her guys.
His hair was short and too tidy; she preferred long around the collar and unruly.
He was a CEO, she preferred creative guys, musos and artists and writers, guys who didn’t conform.
Then why couldn’t she stop thinking about him, let alone control her hormones? She heated from the inside out whenever he looked at her and as for their sparring … if he only knew how much a quick comeback and quicker wit turned her on.
Then again, maybe she was protesting too much? Maybe his latent adventurous side matched hers all too well? Maybe it scared the living daylights out of her how quickly she’d acted on their attraction? How much she’d like to take it further given half a chance?
More flustered than she cared to admit, she wriggled in her chair. ‘So, you think you can charm me, huh?’
Aidan watched Beth squirm, her hands shifting from fidgeting with the sugar sachets on the table to tucking stray strands of hair into her bun to toying with the cutlery.
And he inwardly smiled. He’d never met anyone so impulsive, so spontaneous, so downright amazing.
Even now he couldn’t believe she’d been gutsy enough to confront him like this and verbalise their attraction, and silently applauded her bravado.
‘Well?’
Her smooth brow puckered and he wondered if her skin felt as velvety-soft as it looked. He’d fantasised about how she’d feel ever since that kiss the other night, though in his dreams he didn’t just stop at feeling.
He imagined how she’d whisper his name as he caressed every inch of her body, how she’d moan as he tasted her, how she’d plead for more as she arched against him as he entered her …
‘If you’re going to make me wait for your answer, I guess it’s not so bad if you look at me like that.’
Snapping back to attention, he stared at her, the faint pink of her cheeks and the knowing smile playing about her lips telling him she knew exactly what kind of effect she had on him.
Damn it, he shouldn’t even be contemplating this.
Searching for artefacts around the world usually gave him a buzz, but without his precious job he needed something in his life, a touch of exuberance, of excitement, something to make his blood fizz. The kind of thing that Beth had going on … in spades.
When she entered a room, everything seemed brighter.
When she opened her mouth and dropped one of her typical gems, everything seemed funnier.
And considering stepping into the CEO job for his father even for a limited time wasn’t quite as satisfying as he’d imagined, he needed a spark in his life and that spark was Beth Walker.
Knowing what he was about to do was absolute madness but desperate to get some of his old enthusiasm back, he said, ‘Oh, yeah, I know I can charm you.’
One of her eyebrows formed a perfectly inverted V, challenging him, teasing him. ‘You do know that I won’t be immune to your charms? And that we’ll probably take this all the way?’
‘I know.’
There was no denying the chemistry between them any longer and, while he’d been a stickler in the past for not mixing business with pleasure, he now had no choice. He had to make an exception to the general rule, for his gut instincts screamed Beth Walker was worth it.
‘This is going to be fun.’
She clapped her hands and beamed, her dazzling smile hitting him like a punch to the gut, leaving him gasping for air. When she smiled at him like that, it wasn’t only sparks that shot through him, but a cartload of fireworks, the whole d
amn exploding shebang.
‘You’re the best, Professor.’
With her lips curved in a delicious smile, a cheeky glint in her sparkling eyes and the lingering scent of peaches and vanilla clinging to his lapel where she’d grabbed him, he knew he was in way over his head.
‘Now we’ve established there’s something going on here that both of us have absolutely no control over, can we get back to work?’
Glancing at her watch, she screwed up her pert nose. ‘I’m beat. Do you mind if I head home and we pick up on the history lessons tomorrow evening?’
‘Sure, though I need to run something by you before tomorrow. I have a job for you.’
‘Name it.’ She snapped her fingers, all bright-eyed enthusiasm.
‘Actually, it’s not too arduous and doesn’t involve hoicking around any encyclopaedias of knowledge.’
‘Sounds like a piece of cake.’
Her gaze drifted longingly towards the front counter brimming with baked goods and he briefly wondered if she was as zealous about anything else as she was for sweet things.
Damn, he had it bad. He’d known this would happen. As soon as he’d acknowledged their attraction, he couldn’t stop thinking of getting physical with her.
‘It’s company policy that the head curator accompany the CEO to the yearly fund-raiser for the museum. It’s a silent auction thing, pretty boring by all accounts, and, seeing as your cousin can’t make it and you’re filling in her tours, you’ll need to step up. Think you can handle it?’
‘No worries.’
She sagged in relief and he chuckled.
‘Let me guess. You thought I was going to ask you to clean Steggy.’
Her eyebrows creased into a cute frown. ‘Steggy?’
‘The stegosaurus skeleton in the entry foyer. You know, that pile of old bones you walk past every day?’
‘Oh, that.’ She waved her hand as if the priceless dinosaur exhibit were nothing. ‘No, I thought you were about to ask me to do something much worse.’
‘What’s that?’
‘Wear those standard-issue flatties most of the staff wear.’ She wrinkled her nose and pursed her lips in a delightful pout as he clamped down the urge to kiss it away. ‘Have you really looked at them? They’re hideous.’
