by Kathryn Ross
‘Not really.’ Steven darted a glance at her. ‘We’ve decided to finish things.’
‘Oh! I’m sorry.’ She said the words politely, yet at the same time she wondered if they were strictly true. She wasn’t quite sure how she felt about that piece of information. There was a part of her that thought, Good! Helen Smyth-Jones didn’t deserve Steven and Beth…how could she, when she had suggested something as awful as sending Beth away?
‘Well, don’t be too sorry,’ Steven said drily. ‘If I’m truthful I think it’s been on the cards for a while. Maybe if I had been a bachelor things would have worked out…but a widower with a small child was never really Helen’s ideal partnership. We spoke very candidly on the phone this morning, and I think we both felt better for it. It was all very amicable. She even said herself that she would never have made a good stepmum, and really if I get married again that is a priority for me.’
‘Yes, of course.’ Chloe looked over at him, very impressed by that sentiment. There were times when she liked Steven Cavendish…so much.
‘But it’s good that we can remain friends because I do think highly of her,’ Steven continued as he swung the car into a pub car park. ‘Is here OK?’ he asked.
She looked up and noticed it was the Rose and Crown, her local. Virtually around the corner from where she lived. ‘Yes, fine.’
The bar was packed with people who had just finished work. The background music from the jukebox was drowned out by the hum of conversation and the occasional tone of a mobile phone ringing. They jostled their way through the crowds of people in business suits and then Steven spied a seat in the corner. ‘You go and sit down and I’ll bring the drinks,’ he said. ‘What would you like?’
‘White wine, thanks.’
He nodded and disappeared towards the bar while she headed in the other direction.
She sat down and watched the buzz at the bar. It was surprising how busy it was for a Monday. Chloe rarely came in here midweek. Sometimes she had met Nile for an after-work drink here, but only on a Friday, when they had both been able to relax.
Because Steven was almost a head taller than most of the other men at the bar he seemed to get served faster. Chloe was so deeply absorbed watching some women a little further down from him, eyeing him up with interest, that she jumped when a familiar voice spoke her name.
‘Hello, Chloe; fancy seeing you here on a Monday!’
Chloe turned and saw her friend Gillian sliding into the seat beside her. Gillian lived in the apartment across the hall from her. She was about the same age as Chloe, a stunningly attractive redhead with the most gorgeous figure.
‘How are you?’ Gillian smiled. ‘You don’t usually come in here midweek?’
‘No, well…it was a spur-of-the-moment decision.’ Chloe smiled. ‘Where’s Brian—is he not with you?’ Brian was her equally attractive partner.
‘Playing football. I’m with Samantha…you know, who works with me at the bank. She’s here somewhere—don’t ask me where. You’re not here with Nile…are you?’ Gillian was scanning the bar.
‘No. There is no going back, Gill,’ Chloe said firmly. ‘It really is all over.’
Gillian pulled a sympathetic face. ‘I still can hardly believe it.’
Chloe shrugged.
‘Who are you here with, then?’
‘Just my boss; he’s at the bar, getting the drinks.’ Chloe nodded over towards Steven.
‘Which one is he?’ Gillian asked, following her gaze.
‘Tall guy with dark hair.’
Gillian’s eyes widened. ‘Not that gorgeous Adonis?’
Chloe smiled. ‘Yes, he is good-looking, isn’t he?’ she said.
‘Well, put it this way—I wouldn’t kick him out of bed.’ Gillian looked back at her with admiration. ‘Wow!’
‘It’s just a business drink,’ Chloe found herself saying hastily.
‘Really? Well…all I can say is, grab him quick. Is he single?’
‘Yes, but—’
‘No buts, he’s gorgeous.’
‘He’s my boss, Gill, and anyway he’s not really my type…’ She cut her words off in mid-sentence as a glass of wine was placed before her. She glanced up, directly into Steven’s eyes, and felt her heart miss a beat.
‘Who’s not your type?’ he asked with a raised eyebrow.
‘Oh…nobody.’ Chloe felt herself blushing. How the hell had he heard that in this throng of people? ‘Steven, this is my friend and neighbour Gillian Denton. Gillian, this is my boss Steven Cavendish.’
‘Pleased to meet you.’ Steven smiled politely at Gillian and Chloe watched as her friend seemed to light up like a beacon.
‘It’s really nice to meet you.’ She smiled.
Instead of leaving, Gillian continued to stay where she was as Steven sat down on the stool opposite.
Chloe noticed he was drinking a pint. It was strange to be out in a social environment with him. Although Chloe occasionally joined her fellow office workers for a drink, Steven rarely did…with the exception of the Christmas party and the intermittent leaving dos, he was usually winging his way home to Beth as soon as he could get away.
‘So you’re Chloe’s boss.’ Gillian leaned a bit closer.
‘Yes, that’s right.’ Although Steven was being polite, he didn’t really look very interested in Gill, which was unusual. Most men showed a lot of interest when Gillian was around.
‘She’s a wonderful girl,’ Gillian gushed. ‘One in a million.’
Steven looked over at Chloe and smiled as he noted the look of embarrassment on her face.
‘Yes, I know,’ he said to Gill.
‘But sometimes too kind-hearted for her own good,’ Gillian continued.
Chloe was starting to feel as if she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. Was Gillian drunk?
Gillian met her eyes and winked. No, she wasn’t drunk, just on a mission, Chloe realised, trying to think of something to say to make her shut up.
‘Of course, Nile will be back once he realises his mistake…’ Gillian continued, undeterred by Chloe’s look of discomfiture.
Somewhere across the crowded bar, Gillian suddenly spotted her friend. ‘Well, I’ll go and let you two get on with your business meeting,’ she said, giving a wave over at her friend. ‘See you later, Chlo…nice meeting you, Steven.’
With a grin and thumbs-up to Chloe behind Steven’s back, Gillian melted off into the crowds.
Chloe met the look of amusement in his eyes and cringed. ‘Sorry about that… But she means well.’
‘Who did you say she was?’
‘My neighbour; she lives in the apartment across the hall.’ Chloe sipped her wine. Considering the noise level in the pub, she was suddenly acutely aware that there was an awkward silence between them. What was she doing here? she wondered wildly. Her eyes collided with Steven’s across the table and quickly skirted away from him again.
‘So what did you want to say to me about the interviews tomorrow?’ She tried to put the emphasis back on business.
‘How many applicants have you got lined up?’
‘Five.’ She reached for her bag and searched through it to find the piece of paper that she had jotted notes on when she had phoned the agency that afternoon. She found it and smoothed out the creases so that she could read her writing. ‘Four of them are English; one is from Scandinavia.’
Steven took a sip of his beer. ‘What did they say about the one from Scandinavia?’
‘Well-qualified…speaks good English.’
She glanced up and caught the gleam of humour in Steven’s eyes. ‘What’s so funny?’
‘Nothing.’ He grinned. ‘Well, actually, I was wondering more what she looked like…whether or not she was a Scandinavian blonde bombshell.’
‘Oh, right; that matters, does it?’ Chloe muttered, not in the slightest bit amused. ‘Is that what you want me to put on my list of requirements—“Must be a gorgeous blonde bombshell”?’
St
even laughed. ‘No, definitely not; I don’t want any distractions on that front. Life is complicated enough. No, just find me a nice woman who seems trustworthy and kind and genuinely loves kids and I’ll be happy…looks are not a requirement.’
Chloe nodded and took another sip of her wine. Some people sat down next to them; they were loud and full of boisterous high spirits.
‘So what about hours?’ Chloe said, trying to concentrate.
‘I can’t hear you.’ Steven leaned closer across the table. ‘What did you say?’
She leaned closer as well. ‘I said, what about hours? Gina used to stay late during the week sometimes, didn’t she?’
Steven didn’t answer her straight away. He was looking at her as if studying her for a painting. Their faces were only inches apart across the table and as she looked directly into the darkness of his eyes she felt her heart speeding up.
‘Where did you say you were going tonight?’ he asked suddenly.
‘I…I didn’t say.’
‘So…is it a date?’
Mindful of the fact that she wasn’t going anywhere, Chloe pulled back. ‘Why do you want to know?’
‘No reason; I was just interested.’
‘It’s just…I’m meeting someone for supper, that’s all.’ She felt herself blushing under his dark scrutiny. When he looked at her like that she felt sure he knew she was lying, felt sure he could look straight into her soul. Why was she lying? she wondered. What would happen if she said she wasn’t doing anything this evening…? The temptation to come clean was almost overwhelming…but she didn’t dare. It was better to keep barriers up where Steven Cavendish was concerned. He was her boss.
So why was he so interested in what she was doing this evening?
‘Shall we get out of here?’ Steven asked suddenly. ‘I can’t hear myself think.’
‘OK.’ Chloe finished her glass of wine and watched as Steven had a long swallow of his beer before leaving it.
‘Whew I’m glad to be out of there!’ he muttered as soon as they got out in the fresh air. ‘It was stifling, wasn’t it?’
‘Yes.’ Chloe had to agree, although she didn’t know if it was the conversation with Steven that had been giving her warm flushes or the packed environment.
‘How far is your flat from here?’
‘Only about ten minutes.’ She nodded towards a side road. ‘Look, Steven, when you get home tonight, why don’t you just jot down your requirements for a childminder—you know, hours et cetera; I can look at it in the morning before I begin the interviews. A bit like we did last time.’
Steven nodded. ‘Yeah…OK.’
Why hadn’t he just done that in the first place? Chloe looked at her watch, more for something to do than the fact she was at all interested in the time. ‘Well, I may as well walk from here, seeing as it’s such a nice evening.’
‘I’ll walk with you,’ Steven said.
‘There’s no need.’ She flicked him a puzzled glance.
‘I know I don’t need to…’ He smiled. ‘But I want to. Anyway, I could do with the exercise myself and, as you said, it’s a nice evening.’
‘Oh…OK.’ She put her handbag firmly over her shoulder and stuck her hands in the pockets of her long trench coat. This was just getting weirder and weirder. She couldn’t work it out at all.
Neither of them made any attempt to break the silence between them as they walked. It was as if they were both lost in their own private worlds. Chloe darted a couple of glances over at Steven, wondering what he was thinking about, and why he wanted to walk her home. But the handsome features were closed.
Maybe he was just glad to be out of the stuffiness of the office. Away from the main arteries, these back roads and gracefully elegant squares were quiet and peaceful and a gentle balm to the soul, especially at this time of the day.
They cut through another side road past mews cottages and then back out onto the square where Chloe had her flat.
As they approached the Georgian terrace Chloe started to cast about in her mind for something to say, something to put a close to the day and lessen the tension she felt inside. Nothing came to mind.
‘Is Gina with Beth?’ she asked finally.
‘Yes; she’s given four weeks’ notice.’ Abruptly he changed the subject. ‘Do you think your friend was right when she said Nile will come back?’
They came to a standstill outside her front door. ‘No, definitely not.’
‘So you are not meeting Nile tonight, then?’
‘No.’ Chloe shook her head and searched hurriedly in her bag for her keys.
‘Well, just as long as that caring heart of yours that your friend was commenting on doesn’t overcome your better judgement.’ His eyes moved with a kind of tender concern over her face. ‘I wouldn’t like him to get a second opportunity to hurt you—you’re too nice, Chloe.’
‘Am I?’ Chloe’s voice was light-hearted, but really she wasn’t too pleased with the analysis. ‘Too nice’ sounded sugary and without substance. ‘Well, thanks for the vote of confidence,’ she said lightly. ‘But you don’t really know me. For instance, I don’t think I’m going to sign over my share of the house deposit to Nile until he pays some of these bills he’s left.’
‘I didn’t know he had left you with bills.’
Chloe flushed. ‘Well…he has,’ she admitted. ‘That was the main reason I asked you for that pay rise.’
‘I see.’ Steven’s gaze seemed very serious suddenly. ‘I assumed it was because you had been offered a better deal with your last company.’
She shook her head. ‘No… Nile left things in a bit of a mess…’ She trailed off, not wanting to even think about Nile. ‘But I’m getting everything sorted out now.’
Steven had no doubt that Chloe was well able to handle the business side of her affairs. She was a capable and competent woman. But the hurt he had glimpsed in her eyes just now made him realise just how vulnerable she was feeling, and just how much of a betrayal she had felt at Nile’s hands. ‘Would you like me to sort things out for you?’ he offered impulsively.
She looked slightly startled by the offer. ‘No…thank you, but I can sort it out myself.’
Steven was aware that he was more than a bit disappointed by her reply. He would have liked to sort Nile out for a start…the guy sounded a real sharp character. The strength of his anger towards the other man astonished him. Maybe it was Chloe’s gentleness or that vulnerability he had glimpsed for a moment in her eyes, but, whatever it was, he hadn’t felt this protective towards a woman in years.
‘Well, if you change your mind the offer stands,’ he said casually. Steven reached over and took her front-door key from her. ‘Have you got time to ask me in for a coffee?’ he asked quietly.
The touch of his hands against hers sent a shiver of desire racing through her from nowhere.
The church clock from the far side of the square chimed the half-hour. Chloe’s mind seemed to chime with them; in fact, alarm bells were racing through her entire system. ‘Well…’ She raised her face and looked at him. ‘Just a quick coffee, then…because I don’t want to be late for my supper date.’
‘I won’t outstay my welcome,’ Steven promised.
CHAPTER SIX
STEVEN didn’t sit down as Chloe went to make the coffee; instead he wandered restlessly around the lounge. He stood for a moment in the bay windows and looked out at the small park in the centre of the square. The sky was starting to turn a misty red as the daylight started to fade. One by one lights were flicking on in the houses around the square.
He turned his attention to the room. As he would have expected, it was very tidy. Vibrant tangerine settees contrasted with the pale walls and carpets. Candles lined the mantelpiece and also a few photographs. He went across to have a closer look.
‘Who are the photographs of?’ Steven asked as Chloe came back into the room with the coffee.
‘The wedding photo is my dad and Margaret. One is my mother, taken
on her twenty-first birthday.’ Chloe went over to hand him the mug of coffee and glanced down at the photo he held in his hand. ‘And that’s my sister, Sinead.’
‘She’s a very attractive girl,’ Steven commented, looking back at the photo again.
‘Yes, very.’ Chloe smiled. ‘She is also extremely clever. She’s training to be a doctor.’
He noticed how her voice was laced with pride.
‘Are you close to your sister?’
‘Yes; despite the age difference and, of course, the fact that we live so far apart now…we are still close.’ Chloe perched on the window-sill and sipped her coffee.
Steven put the photograph down again. ‘So, in spite of everything, you are really looking forward to her wedding.’
‘Yes…’
There was a hesitation in Chloe’s answer that Steven didn’t miss.
‘Who is she marrying?’
‘Mark. He’s a really nice guy and they seem very well-suited.’
‘So what’s wrong, then?’ Steven leaned back against the fireplace and studied her intently from across the room. ‘Why do I detect a hint of apprehension about attending the wedding?’
She frowned. ‘I’m not apprehensive.’
‘There’s something wrong,’ Steven said intuitively. ‘Something that’s putting you off going to your sister’s wedding.’
‘Nothing is putting me off going.’ Chloe took a sip of her coffee and tried to ignore the silence, the way Steven was waiting for her to continue.
‘You don’t really want to go on your own, though…do you? Today, for instance, you were saying you might ask Cliff Roberts to go with you!’
‘That was a joke.’
Steven looked at her with a raised eyebrow. ‘But you don’t want to go to this wedding on your own, do you?’
‘Well, nobody likes to go to a wedding without a partner—it’s one of those rare occasions when everyone seems to pair up, isn’t it? Like Noah’s ark.’
Steven smiled at the analogy. ‘But there’s more to it than that, isn’t there?’ he said gently.
She stared at him, her eyes narrowed. ‘There’s not much gets past you, is there?’
