by Sofia Grey
“I’ve brought you an invitation. It’s a very special party. Two of our best friends just got married, and this is in lieu of a wedding reception.”
Alex found his voice. “Ah, I don’t think I can make it, but thanks anyway. I won’t know anyone.”
This clearly wasn’t the right answer. Kate frowned but continued undaunted. “What better way to meet the local people and make new friends? And you know us now.”
He nearly choked on his wine, at her cheekiness. She’d been in his kitchen for two minutes. His glass was empty already, and he poured himself a top-up, while he tried to find the words for a second refusal. Inviting them in was a mistake. How quickly could he get rid of them?
Kate leaned forwards, brown eyes sparkling. “Have you heard of Jonathan Craigowan? The racing driver?”
Puzzled by the change of direction, Alex was curious to know where they were going with the conversation. “Yeah. Didn’t he just move into Formula 1?”
Kate nodded, a teasing grin lighting up her face. “It’s his wedding party. He married Anita when they were in Italy for the F1 trials. They’ve got a house near Holyhead, but we’re hosting the party. They asked us to invite our friends, and you might enjoy it.”
Alex took a large gulp of wine, wishing it was vodka. “When is it? I’m not sure how long I’m going to be here.”
“Three weeks’ time. Saturday, the fifteenth of November.” Kate slid a handwritten card across the table. “Here’s an invitation. So you can’t forget.”
He picked it up and twirled it between his fingers. “It’s... um... very kind of you.” By his calculation, their five minutes were up. He could ask them to leave.
The blonde lifted her hand and put one finger on the edge of the invitation. “Please say yes.” A hint of a smile danced over her heart shaped face. “Kate has a bet with her husband that you’ll come. If she loses, she owes him ten pounds.”
“Louisa.” Kate’s cheeks pinked, and she placed a hand over her eyes. “Just shoot me now. I’m sorry. Please don’t be offended.”
It was the last thing Alex expected her to say, and he snorted with laughter. “Ten quid, huh? You’re not into big bets. Or is that all I’m worth?”
He couldn’t remember the last time he found something so funny. “Yeah. I may come. I’ll think about it.”
“You may?” Kate perked up. “To save you the embarrassment of turning up on the night and only knowing us, why don’t you come over before then? You can meet my husband.”
Alex liked her attitude, and he could do with a distraction. “Sure. What are you doing tonight?”
She hesitated for a nanosecond. “We haven’t eaten yet, if you’d like to join us.”
Maybe Sam was looking out for him, from wherever he’d ended up. It seemed bizarre that these two angels should turn up today of all days. And so he said yes.
* * * *
With the briefing over, the newly formed audit team dispersed, and Sylvie walked back to her desk with Lara. She turned to her friend and grinned. “At last, some eye candy at TM-Tech, and he’s on our team. Not including Nick, of course. You already nabbed the only other handsome man here.”
Lara quirked her eyebrows. “Pete Tandy? Is he really your type? It takes all sorts, I suppose.” Teasing lined her words, and Sylvie laughed.
“Duh. I mean Rico, of course.”
“Marcus Reeve isn’t bad looking, if you like the surf-dude thing.”
“Yeah, and married. Rico isn’t wearing a wedding ring, although that doesn’t mean much.”
Sylvie wanted to hug herself with excitement. Marianne had stressed the importance of this audit, and the office buzzed with energy. Everyone wanted a good result. Being picked for one of the coordinator roles was a fantastic opportunity, and Sylvie couldn’t wait to get started.
Lara tapped the partition that separated their desks. “Rico’s desk is next to the water cooler. In case you hadn’t noticed.”
Sylvie tried not to laugh at her friend’s shameless attitude. “As it happens, I’m rather thirsty. Lara, would you like some water?”
Dispensing two cups of water took a few seconds, and Sylvie observed him poring over his email. He was even more delicious up close. Thick dark hair flopped onto his forehead above a slim tanned face with dark brown eyes behind tiny glasses and a light covering of stubble across his jawline. His hair and clothing were slightly rumpled. He looked as though he’d tumbled into the office straight out of bed.
His fingers paused on the keyboard, and he glanced up, to stare straight at her. She saw amusement and a flare of interest, and his lips curved in a brief smile before he resumed his work.
She turned to face Lara and pretended to clutch at her chest. “Be still my beating heart. He smiled at me,” she whispered.
“I noticed,” she said. “And so did the boss.”
Sylvie looked up and saw Marianne, who watched them from the conference room, while talking to Marcus.
There was a rumour that Marianne and Rico were an item, but there was also a rumour that Marcus was seeing Marianne and he selected her for this assignment in order to bring her to the London office. Either way, Sylvie wanted to keep her new boss happy.
Sylvie had to set up a series of meetings, daily stand-ups for the audit team, and update sessions for Marianne, Rico, and Pete, to report to Marcus Reeve. Her phone buzzed as she worked, and she snuck a quick look. It was Matt, one of her brothers.
Sis, bad news. Dexy broke his arm. Lucky we had no gigs lined up! We’ll take a break from practice for a few weeks.
“Bugger,” she muttered under her breath. She played bass guitar and had finally persuaded Matt to let her join his band, The Connection, only for the drummer to wreck himself falling off a bar stool. She’d been practicing every night, looking forward to getting up on stage with the guys, but that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. Technically it was Dexy’s band, so there was no way Matt would try to replace him.
On the upside, it meant Sylvie had more time for the overpriced gym she belonged to. She may as well get her money’s worth from the membership fees. It was handy for work, a short walk away, and it had plenty of classes on offer, including the kickboxing she loved.
Maybe she should ask Rico if he’d be interested in joining the gym. There was little chance of that happening, but it would totally make her day. It’d even make up for the news about Dexy.
She might yet end up as a crazy single cat-lady, but she’d be a guitar-playing kickass one.
****
Marcus had been working since before seven that morning, and he decided he could leave early for a change. “You and Rico must be tired,” he said to Marianne. “Let’s grab a beer and an early dinner, and you can bring me up to speed on the news from Houston.”
She picked up her laptop and peeked through the window to the office space beyond. Rico was there, talking to some of the team. “Sure. Sounds like a plan. Hey, Rico never mentioned you knew each other.”
“He’s consulted for Thaddeus before. He’s solid, and that’s what we need.”
“It’s not a problem. I was just surprised, I guess.” She turned to face him, a smile hovering on her face. “How are you, Marcus? I mean you, not TM-Tech.”
He considered how to reply and went for a safe option. “Good. Thanks. Apart from all this business. How about you?”
“Busy. You know how it is. I’m glad to be back in London though, and not far from a decent curry. You Yanks haven’t the faintest idea about hot food.”
In the midst of his despair, she still made him laugh. “Houston has some of the finest cuisines in the world, and you’re grumbling about curry?” It was an old argument.
“Yeah. While I’m here this time, I’m going to take you out for Indian. A hot one. See how your tame American taste buds cope with real food.”
The gauntlet had been thrown down, and his tiredness lifted at the challenge. “Let’s do that sometime.” He softened his voice. “We’ve got some c
atching up to do.”
Rico rejoined them, and they headed out to a nearby bistro, a short walk from the residential block adjoining the office. TM-Tech kept a number of apartments for visiting employees, and Marianne and Rico would be staying there.
Marcus tried to keep the conversation flowing over dinner, but it was a struggle. If they didn’t fix the data leak, if TM-Tech secrets continued to be sold on the open market, would Thaddeus replace him? Was that what the veiled threat meant? Marcus’s stomach clenched at the idea. He’d never worked anywhere else. The prospect of starting over terrified him.
He was married to Louisa, Thaddeus’s niece, but the old man cared nothing for family ties. His own son, Jordan, received no favors. If Thaddeus believed Marcus wasn’t up to the job, he’d cut him out without a second thought.
Not for the first time, Marcus wished Jordan were here, and not living hundreds of miles away. He missed his friend. Considering Jordan knew the European and U.K. operations better than anyone, maybe Marcus could entice him back for a few weeks? It had to be worth a try.
“I’m done,” announced Rico. “You guys stay. I want to look over some more data before I turn in.”
Marcus watched him leave, and then turned to Marianne. “You fallen in love with him yet? I hear he leaves a trail of broken hearts behind him.”
She rolled her eyes. “He’s pretty, but not my type.”
A swathe of memories hit him. The first time he met her, in a hotel bar. The two of them working side by side, as they ploughed through a major contract negotiation. Celebrating a new client. Sitting up late and shooting the breeze over a bottle of wine.
Common sense told him to back off, but he ignored it. “What is your type, Marianne?”
She met his gaze, before hers skittered away. She worried her bottom lip with her teeth, and then sat back in her chair and reached for her drink. “I’m not drunk enough to answer that, so I’ll pass.”
That was probably for the best. Marcus swallowed his disappointment and pasted a smile on his face. “Want a malt?”
“Whisky?” Her confusion was amusing. “Don’t you drink that Hicksville Bourbon crap?”
Marcus called the waiter. “Two large malts please.” He held up a finger to stop Marianne interrupting. “Do you have any Bruichladdich?” He pronounced it in the traditional Scottish way—Brookle-Addie—and when he caught her gaze, he delighted in the astonishment he saw. “That one good enough for you?”
She laughed and flapped her hands at him. “Delicious. So where have you been learning about malt whiskies? You’ve not been up to Scotland, surely?”
“Jordan gave me a crash course last time we got hammered together.”
Her eyes softened. “I’ve never met Jordan. What’s he like? I mean, everyone talks highly of him, but he gave it all up. Why?”
This was more comfortable territory for conversation. Once the drinks were delivered, Marcus spoke easily. “He fell in love. He wanted a family with Kate, his wife, and decided to quit the day job. He does freelance consulting for us now.”
“How did Thaddeus take it? I thought Jordan was in line to run the company.”
“Thaddeus had no choice. Once Jordan makes up his mind about something, he doesn’t budge. Having said that, I’m thinking of asking him to come back and do some consultancy for us. I’d value his input for our current problem.”
The fine malt and good company made him feel mellow. “Why don’t you come up to Anglesey with me some weekend, and you can meet him?”
“I might. It’ll probably be more fun than spending every weekend in the office.” She yawned and tried to hide it with her hand.
“I’ll walk you home. I need you to be nice and fresh in the morning.”
After the muggy heat of the bistro, the street was cold, and she pulled her coat tighter. “It’s only eight thirty. Feels closer to midnight. Don’t you just lurve jetlag?”
He figured she was tipsy, but knowing Marianne, dinner was probably the first time she’d eaten today. He nudged her with his elbow. “Not far to go, for either of us.”
“Don’t tell me you’re planning to go back to your desk?”
Marcus grunted assent. “Too much to do—so few hours in the day.”
“Do you ever give yourself a night off?”
He just shrugged in answer.
She closed her hand over his and squeezed. “We’re here.”
* * * *
In my world, intelligence is everything. The right information sold to the highest bidder. It’s simple economics, and so far everything is going to plan. It’s a bit like a game of chess—moving the pieces into the right positions, eliminating the pawns, and then going for checkmate.
Three weeks to go, and TM-Tech will be on their knees.
* * * *
Alex grabbed another two bottles of wine and headed into the drizzle with the two women.
“We’ll take the side entrance,” Kate said. “It’s quicker than going down the drive.”
Did she mean one of the many gaps in the wall between the two properties?
Apparently she did. “Watch your step,” she called over her shoulder. “It’s a bit muddy.” She shone a flashlight in front of him, and he saw the space where the wall used to be and a narrow stream snaking along the ground.
Kate and Louisa scrambled over, and so he followed, grabbing at a dangling tree branch for support. His feet skidded on the slippery grass, but he kept his balance.
Louisa applauded him. “Well done. I fell over the first time I tried that.”
He’d wanted a distraction, and they didn’t come any better than this. He linked arms with Kate on one side and Louisa on the other, and they cleared the garden and made for the house lights ahead.
Kate led them into a brightly lit kitchen, and Alex’s stomach rumbled at the delicious smell of cooking food. While Louisa placed the wine on a scrubbed wooden table, Kate greeted a man who sat on the floor, playing a game with two small children. The man stared at Alex in surprise, then scrambled to his feet and came up to greet him, his hand outstretched.
“Hey. I’m Jordan Merrill. Please don’t tell me these two bullied you into coming over.” He spoke in the same soft drawl as Louisa.
Alex matched his firm grip. “Alex Hamilton. Pleased to meet you. There was mention of a bet. How could I refuse?”
Jordan laughed and shook his head. “Louisa?”
“Yep,” said Kate. “Alex is staying for dinner, and I think you owe me a tenner.”
“Sit down and have a drink, while I get the kids into bed.” Jordan pulled out a chair for Alex, then picked up the children, one under each arm. The little girl squealed with excitement, while the little boy laughed in delight.
“Great kids. You just have the two?”
“The boy, Ted, is mine.” Louisa sat next to Alex and poured them each a glass of wine. “Poppy is Jordan and Kate’s. Jordan’s my cousin, and we grew up together.”
Jordan disappeared, and Kate busied herself with pans and dishes.
Alex felt like a spare wheel. He tried to remember how to make polite conversation. He was sorely out of practice. “Is your husband here too? Do you all live here together?”
Louisa pursed her lips. “Marcus works in London.” There was more than a hint of bitterness in her voice. “I hate living there and being alone all the time, so I’m staying here with Jordan and Kate for the moment.”
It sounded a bit like a come on, and Alex was relieved when Kate turned around and poured herself some wine. “I’ve made Shepherd’s pie. Is that okay?”
“Yeah. Sounds great.” Like the sort of home cooking his mum used to do. The kind of food he hadn’t eaten in forever.
Dinner was as delicious as it smelled, and between them, they polished off another bottle of wine. Alex was wondering if they expected him to leave yet, when Kate touched his arm.
“I’m so sorry. I just remembered what today is. They were talking about it in the news. I can’t apologize e
nough for bursting in on you. You probably wanted to stay at home.”
For a blissful couple of hours, Alex had pushed Sam to the back of his mind. He dredged up a smile. “I’m glad you did. This is better than staying home on my own.”
Jordan and Louisa looked at each other with matching puzzled expressions.
Kate spoke softly, her hand still on Alex’s arm. “Today’s the anniversary of Alex’s brother dying.”
There was a flurry of embarrassed and furtive looks, then Jordan stood, every inch in charge. “What better reason to have a proper drink? Malt anyone?”
He poured generous measures of scotch—a delicate Islay—and they solemnly toasted Sam.
The rattle of hail against the window was startling. “You wanna stay tonight? There’s a perfectly good spare room if you want it.” Jordan poured Alex another measure and matched it with one for himself.
Alex laughed, his somber mood broken. “I might just do that. It beats fighting my way through the side entrance again.”
“Side entrance?” Jordan’s brows shot up into his hair, and Kate cleared her throat, a bright flush lining her cheeks.
“Over the stream. We thought it was quicker than going all the way down the drive,” she said.
Jordan groaned, and then snorted with laughter. “Lemme get this straight. Not only do you barge in to our newest neighbour and bully him into coming to dinner, but you also force him to walk across the stream to get here.” He shook his head, clearly trying to hold back his laughter. “If that’s how you treat guests, what the hell do you do for unwanted visitors?”
Alex relaxed a little. He was on the way to making a bunch of new friends. He’d get through tonight after all.
Chapter Three
Marcus was just so damned nice. Marianne had almost forgotten what good company he was and how easily they slipped back into being friends. She sensed there was something he wasn’t telling her. He’d lost weight in the past year, and had new worry lines on his forehead and shadows under his eyes. She almost asked if the rumours about him and Louisa were true, but managed to stop herself in time.
Was this the right moment to ask if his wife was on the verge of leaving him? Was there ever a good time?
