by Maggie Cox
Two little girls, both in jeans and T-shirts, raced by holding hands and Morgen saw her daughter’s pretty face light up. ‘There’s Chloe and Lily. They’re both in my class! Can I go and play now, Mum? Can I?’
She was off like a rocket through the wooden swing gate before Morgen had a chance to steal a kiss and warn her to be careful. She had a mother’s natural tendency to spot danger everywhere, but tried not to be too uptight about it and transfer her anxieties to Neesha. Finally, satisfied that Neesha had found her friends and was off climbing a rope ladder in the jungle area, Morgen left her things on the table and went to buy herself a much anticipated cup of tea from the cafeteria.
She’d enjoy having a few minutes to herself while Neesha played with her friends, and if her thoughts happened to stray back to yesterday and that kiss that Conall had floored her with, then it was only natural and who could blame her? Even if he’d made it perfectly clear that he only wanted to get her into bed and nothing more.
He was completely out of his depth. As he stood scanning the colourful chaos all around him Conall knew if his rich corporate friends could see him now they would swear he had taken leave of his senses. And without a doubt they would be right. To pursue a woman on a visit with her daughter to a children’s indoor play arena just because he had the hots for her was not something he would normally ever have contemplated. But Conall had had to throw out his rule book where Morgen McKenzie was concerned, and now, God help him, he was definitely in uncharted territory. He’d even lied to the girl at the check-in desk just now to gain access, telling her that he was Morgen McKenzie’s boyfriend, come to meet her and Neesha.
‘Whoa! Steady!’ His long legs almost buckled as a sturdy young boy suddenly careened into him out of nowhere.
‘Sorry, mister!’ With an apologetic grin the boy was off, chasing after his friend before Conall had got his bearings back.
‘They didn’t warn me I’d be taking my life into my hands coming in here,’ he muttered to himself as his gaze settled on the huge play area full of ropes and ladders, swings and slides.
Where were Morgen and her daughter? Calling at her house on the off-chance, he’d sent up a silent prayer of thanks when he’d found her mother in residence. Once Lorna McKenzie had established Conall was who he said he was, she’d helpfully given him directions to the Tumble Drum and had been only too eager to assure him that Morgen would be there at least until four o’clock.
Spying some empty tables near the front, he made his way towards them, wondering how parents coped with all the noise and the chaos but inwardly experiencing unexpected pleasure at the sight of so many delighted children clearly enjoying themselves. As he was about to sit down on one of the white plastic chairs Conall did a double take.
On a bouncy castle, amid several small girls and boys, was Morgen. Dressed in faded blue denims, belted round her shapely hips with a fringed suede belt, and a tight pink T-shirt that exposed her midriff, she was bouncing up and down with the children as if she was one of them, long dark hair flying and her cheeks flushed with heat. He also couldn’t fail to notice that her exceptional breasts were bouncing nicely along with her. Heat slammed urgently into his groin and Conall felt his heart stall in his chest. Was there a sexier or more beautiful woman alive?
Feeling the chair behind his knees, he sank down slowly into it, content to just sit there and watch. What she’d say when she saw him he didn’t know, but right now he didn’t care. It was enough to just sit and admire the object of his desire at his leisure, and when he heard an appreciative comment from a father sitting behind him with another male friend Conall smiled to himself, knowing he wasn’t the only one who was enjoying the impromptu floor show.
Still out of breath from her recent exertions, Morgen froze when she saw the big confident male lounging in one of the white plastic chairs just by the swing gate. In his classic-cut denim jeans, blue chambray shirt, boots and tan suede jacket, he stuck out in the sea of parents and children like a sore thumb—surely he’d be more at home in some trendy up-market wine bar than in a converted industrial unit that had been transformed into a children’s play park? What on earth was he doing here? And how had he known where to find her?
Finally able to get her limbs to move once more, Morgen took her time reaching his table, her lips pursed and her green eyes flashing clear disapproval.
‘Well, well, well. All this time and I never guessed you were a parent.’
‘All this time and I never guessed you like to get so…’ Conall’s provocative gaze slid deliberately up and down her figure and back again to her face ‘…physical.’
Heat bloomed in Morgen’s already flushed cheeks and throbbed right through her body down to her toes.
‘What do you think you’re doing here? And how did you know where to find me?’ She sat down opposite him in a huff, and Conall had to force himself to peel his gaze away from the luscious shape of her breasts outlined by the tight-fitting T-shirt.
‘I wanted to see you this weekend. I dropped by your house and spoke to your mother; she told me where to find you. We need to talk. Specifically, about what happened yesterday.’
‘Yes, well, the whole point is that it should never have happened in the first place.’ She stuck out her chin, daring him to argue with her. What was wrong with him, for goodness’ sake? Couldn’t he see that their association was fraught with pitfalls? He owned the firm she worked for! He moved in entirely different circles from her. He’d seen where she lived, so he could be under no illusion as to her personal circumstances. What was his game? Why was he pursuing her like this?
‘I’m afraid I can’t agree with you.’ His deep frown drew his smooth brows together, and Morgen found herself wishing those unsettling blue eyes of his weren’t quite so blue…then maybe she would have a chance of staying immune from his charm. Yeah, and the government would declare that everyone should work a three-day week with full pay…
‘I’d really like us to see each other outside of work,’ he told her.
‘And when did you decide this? Yesterday you didn’t seem very sure.’ Folding her arms across the plastic table, Morgen leant forward a little as she asked the question. For a long moment Conall was simply bewitched by the beauty of her face.
‘You know I’m very attracted to you. And if that little kiss we shared was anything to go by I’d stake a bet that you feel the same way about me. So let’s knock down a few barriers, Morgen, and come clean. I want you. I want to spend some time with you, and not just in bed. I’d like to get to know you and your daughter better. Are you willing to give me that chance?’
CHAPTER EIGHT
‘I DON’T take chances where my child is concerned. I can’t afford to get involved with you, Conall, however fleetingly. My first priority is as a mother. I’ve tried the relationship thing and, apart from having Neesha, came off the worse for trying it.’
Feeling a sudden chill descend on her, Morgen leant back in her chair. Trying to sound as if she meant what she was saying was difficult when the man sitting opposite her was consuming her with his long slow gaze, making her stomach do cartwheels and stirring up feelings she wasn’t sure she wanted stirred up.
‘So what are you saying? You’re never going to have a relationship with a man again?’ Despite feeling frustrated with her reasoning, Conall couldn’t help a rueful grin. ‘That’s like showing a kid the biggest box of chocolates in the shop and then telling him he can’t have one.’
‘For once in my life I’m putting me and Neesha first. Children need stability. Our lifestyle may not be ideal, but it works for us, and that’s the way I like it.’
‘So what happened between you and Neesha’s father? I take it he’s the one who made you so anti-men?’
Morgen was discomfited by the fact he made her sound as if she had a personal vendetta against his gender. ‘I’m not anti-men. I just don’t particularly want one in my life right now. I need all my energy just to do what I have to do. And I’d rather
not talk about Simon, if you don’t mind.’
To be perfectly truthful, Conall didn’t particularly want to talk about Morgen’s ex-husband either. Whoever he was, and whatever he’d done, he’d made a big mistake letting Morgen go, as far as Conall was concerned. Colossal. Conall wasn’t the marrying kind, but if he had made such a commitment to Morgen he was damn sure he would have done everything in his power to honour it—despite his mother’s insistence on comparing him to his father.
His whole body went on alert every time he was near Morgen—his senses so consumed by her presence that all he could think about was his need to make her his. For the past week, every morning his first thoughts had been of her, and then at night there’d been the dreams…If this went on much longer without resolution he’d be investing a serious amount of cash in therapy.
‘Well, let me buy you a cup of coffee at least.’
He started to get up from the table, but Morgen slid her hand across his to stop him. As soon as she touched him she cursed herself for being so stupid. The man was sexual dynamite and her heartbeat was off and running like a greyhound out of its trap. Their gazes met and locked, and helplessly Morgen’s fingers curled around Conall’s. The connection was so profound it shook her.
‘Mummy, I need a drink!’
Guiltily she snatched her hand away as Neesha drew up breathlessly beside the table. Her dark hair clung to her forehead in tendrils and she looked excited and happy. Morgen felt a strong wave of love and pride suffuse her.
‘So this must be the lovely Neesha?’ Smiling broadly, Conall studied the beautiful child with interest. No need to wonder which parent she got her looks from. Neesha shyly dipped her gaze, then moved closer to her mother.
‘Darling, this is Mr O’Brien—the man I’m working for at the moment. He wanted to speak to me about something so he came to find us.’
‘You can call me Conall,’ he told her, his expression somewhere between a frown and a smile, ridiculously disappointed that Morgen had introduced him to her child so formally. ‘And isn’t this a great place? They never had anything like this when I was growing up.’
‘Didn’t they?’ Her natural curiosity vying with her shyness, Neesha stared interestedly at the man she’d seen holding her mother’s hand.
‘We had parks and museums and stuff like that, of course, but this must be great—especially when it’s raining outside.’
‘I can climb right to the top of that platform and swing on that rope.’
Conall’s gaze followed the direction of her finger, his blue eyes widening in pretended amazement.
‘Wow! That’s a pretty big achievement for a little girl like you.’ He grinned. ‘Seems like us boys have some stiff competition in the playground these days.’
‘Isn’t that the truth?’ Morgen’s lips curved in a knowing little smile and her eyes glinted with amusement.
If he’d been standing next to a volcano about to erupt Conall couldn’t have got any hotter. He had to remind himself exactly where he was, because his first instinct at the sight of that heavenly smile was to haul her into his arms and kiss her until his lips went numb. Not a good idea, under the circumstances, he mused ruefully. Not with Morgen’s pretty little daughter studying him intently, as if she was trying to fathom him out.
‘Let me buy you a drink. What will it be?’ Glad to have a distraction other than Neesha’s beautiful mother, Conall reached into his jeans pocket for his wallet and got to his feet.
‘You don’t have to do that.’
‘I want to. Do you mind?’
Morgen gave a little shake of her head. ‘No. She’ll have some blackcurrant juice, please, and I wouldn’t mind a cola. It’s thirsty work getting in touch with your inner child, believe me.’
‘If you promise to get in touch with your inner child one more time on that bouncy castle, just for me, I’ll buy you as much cola as you can drink!’ Chuckling out loud at the mortified look on Morgen’s face, Conall made his way to the cafeteria.
Thinking of the friends he usually hung around with socially, he reflected that this visit to the Tumble Drum with Morgen and her daughter possibly beat anything he’d done with them hands down. In fact, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d enjoyed himself more.
‘Can I help you with that?’
Startled, Morgen glanced up from the plate she’d been rinsing and wondered what little devil of mischief had prompted her to invite her boss to dinner. Perhaps it was because she’d been so sure he would refuse? She’d been certain he had far better things to do on a Saturday night than spend it with her and Neesha, but yet again he had surprised her.
Turning up unexpectedly like that at the Tumble Drum was one thing, but agreeing to share pasta and meatballs in front of the TV, watching Neesha’s video, was something she hadn’t really been prepared for. Now, as Morgen watched his perfectly relaxed figure monopolising her narrow doorway, she wondered how long he would stay before telling her he had to go. It alarmed her intensely to realise she was in no hurry for him to leave.
‘I’m just rinsing them to stack in the dishwasher,’ she explained, tucking her hair behind her ear and blushing slightly.
‘It was a great meal. Thank you.’
A sexy dimple at the corner of his mouth, Conall smiled, and Morgen immediately wished he wouldn’t. It was a weapon that never failed to miss its target, she was sure, and could probably entice her into things that could get her into all sorts of trouble. She was certain she wasn’t the first female to fall for it either. How many women had been so expertly seduced by that gorgeous smile? Victoria Kendall, for instance…? And how had that lady felt when Conall hadn’t shown up that night for dinner and sent her yellow roses instead? Morgen knew how she personally would feel. Crushed.
‘You must be easy to please,’ she quipped self-consciously. ‘It was nothing special. But pasta and meatballs are Neesha’s favourite, I’m afraid.’
‘Then your daughter has good taste. The movie was great too. I don’t think I’ve enjoyed myself so much in a long time.’
‘Really?’ Drying her hands on a clean teatowel, Morgen leant back against the sink to face him. Every nerve in her body seemed to quiver at the very sight of him.
‘Why look so surprised?’
‘They’re such simple pleasures.’ Shrugging, she threw the teatowel down onto the drainer. ‘A man like you must—’
‘A man like me?’
To her alarm, Conall moved across the kitchen towards her. His glance was very direct and extremely potent. Beneath it, Morgen felt as if her spine had just melted like hot candle wax.
‘Just what kind of man do you think I am, Morgen?’
‘Not the kind of man who eats pasta and meatballs in the front of the TV with a six-year-old girl and her mother—not usually, anyway. You’re probably much more used to five-star hotels and restaurants. You’re the head of a premier firm of architects and it’s obvious you move in very different circles to me.’ Heat surged into her face and her eyelashes fluttered self-consciously downwards.
‘And that bothers you?’ Conall asked speculatively.
‘You start out thinking those differences don’t matter…’ Her throat tightening, Morgen wished the ghosts of the past would leave her alone. Simon was history. She should have got over how he’d made her feel a long time ago. She shouldn’t let feelings of inadequacy ruin her future…or her present. But that was easier said than done. ‘But they do.’ Her voice cracked. ‘They do.’
‘Not to me, they don’t.’ All of a sudden his big muscular body was very close—just a hair’s breadth from her own, in fact. Morgen felt her breath hitch as those sensual blue eyes of his gazed hungrily down into her upturned face. ‘You’re a beautiful, intelligent woman, Morgen. Any man would be proud to know you. No matter where he came from or what he did. Don’t you know that?’
Her lip trembled and she sank her teeth into it to quell it. Seeing the gesture, Conall tilted her chin towards him, then dropped a
gently experimental kiss on her mouth. Morgen’s eyelids automatically closed to absorb the full intensity of his touch. That featherlight kiss reverberated throughout her body like a small but deadly explosion, and set up such a longing inside that she trembled with the force of it. When she opened her eyes again Conall was studying her as if he was really seeing her for the first time. Almost as though her soul had been laid bare to him.
‘Whatever it is you’ve got, Morgen McKenzie, you could bottle it and make a fortune.’
She placed her palm on his chest. Her hand looked very pale and slender, outlined by the sky-blue chambray of his shirt, but it was his heat that undid her. The warmth of his body seemed to burn right through the material.
‘Do you say that to all your girlfriends?’
‘I can honestly say I’ve never said that to another woman in my life. And I’m not seeing anyone else at the moment, if that’s what you’re asking.’
Morgen hesitated before asking the question that had been on her mind throughout the evening.
‘What about Victoria Kendall? The woman you got me to send flowers to the other day?’
‘What?’ A wide smile breaking free, Conall looked heartbreakingly handsome as mirth lit up his eyes. ‘Victoria Kendall is my mother.’
‘Really?’
‘She reverted back to her maiden name after she got divorced from my father.’
‘Oh.’ Relief flooded Morgen’s insides. She wanted this man, but she wouldn’t succumb to this tempestuous attraction if he were seeing somebody else. There were certain standards she very definitely wouldn’t transgress.
‘Happy now?’
‘Happiness is such a fleeting thing. It doesn’t last.’
‘Then live for the moment. Hmm?’ His arms sliding seductively round her waist, Conall wished fervently that he could banish every trace of sadness from her beautiful green eyes. He couldn’t ever remember feeling that way about any other woman, and he’d dated many.
