Читать книгу At The Boss's Command - Darcy Maguire - Страница 18

Tahlia’s rule number 103: when in doubt, wear black and show a lot of leg.

TAHLIA threw another dress on to the bed. She had to get exactly the right outfit for tonight—one that said she was cool, calm and collected.

The phone rang.

Tahlia dropped the coat hanger, the outfit dropping to her feet. Please let it not be Case. She didn’t want him to cancel…

She snatched up the phone. ‘Tahlia, how may I help you?’ she chimed.

‘Hello, honey, how is everything with you?’

She swallowed hard, the butterflies in her belly subsiding. ‘Mum. I didn’t expect to hear from you again so soon.’

‘Can’t a mother ring her daughter to find out if she got the promotion?’ There was a pause. ‘Surely they’ve made a decision by now.’

Tahlia dragged in a deep breath. She couldn’t do this a moment longer. She couldn’t lie again, not even to spare her mother’s feelings, or to save herself a lecture on how she should have got it. ‘I didn’t get it.’

A long pause. ‘You’re kidding, right?’

‘No, Mum. Truly. They got someone else.’ And what a someone else he was.

‘Oh, honey…’ Her mother tsked.

She shrugged. ‘I did the best I could. I put in the hours. I did the extra mile but the General Manager just felt some new blood was better for the company at the moment.’ And hopefully her moment would still come.

‘Of course you did.’

She sat on the only edge of the bed not covered in clothes. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll keep working for it.’

‘Tahlia, honey. I know I’ve pushed you to make something of yourself but you can’t just focus on work; you need a life too.’

She froze. ‘What?’ This couldn’t be her mother.

‘You can’t leave it too late,’ her mother warned.

‘You’re not getting any younger.’

‘Mum,’ Tahlia gasped. She didn’t want to hear this. She’d done everything to live up to her mother’s aspirations for her; she couldn’t change the rules on her now. ‘What’s going on?’

Her mother sighed heavily. ‘I know I haven’t exactly been a great example to you with men. What with your father—’ Her voice got tighter. ‘Then with ignoring the whole species. But I figured I’d already had love, my time, my lessons—’

‘So, now you want me to find a man?’ Her voice broke into a high-pitched squeal.

‘Honey, I want you to be happy.’

She shook herself. ‘I’ll be happy when you’re proud of me.’

‘Oh, baby. Of course I’m proud of you. I’ve been proud of you since the moment I saw you.’ Her mother’s voice thickened.

Tahlia nodded tightly, her chest warm.

‘You know that, right? But look…I didn’t call about your promotion… I went out at the weekend… with a friend of mine…’

‘What is it, Mum?’ Her mother didn’t usually beat about the bush.

‘And I’d like you to come around next week for dinner,’ her mother asked tentatively.

‘Why? What’s going on?’ she blurted. She hadn’t had a meal with her mother since…for ever. She was always too busy.

Her mother sighed. ‘I want you to meet someone.’

Tahlia swallowed hard. ‘Your friend? You’ve met someone?’ Her blood ran to her toes. How could her mother do it? How could she let herself take another risk? When the last one had cost her so very much.

‘Yes, he’s been asking me for ages and I finally just went out with him and it was…so nice. Will you come and meet him, honey? It would mean a lot to me.’

‘Of course I will,’ she said in a rush and she rang off, placing a hand on her chest.

What in heaven’s name could induce her mother to want a man in her life again? How could she trust one? It was just not possible.

Was it?

Case was losing it. He had to be. He had meant to take the romancing of Tahlia Moran slow and steady, not ask her to dinner.

It had been a spur of the moment thing, and he had to admit that it felt great. For the first time in a year he wasn’t beating himself up about Celia. His mind was totally absorbed elsewhere.

It was crazy how one woman could haunt him while another one pushed so many buttons he felt as if he was going to short-circuit if he didn’t drag her to him and taste her lips.

His blood stirred at the thought…

He sobered. No. He’d pushed those thoughts down to work with her today and it had worked. He’d survived her perfume, her soft looks, sweet voice and that long fringe that begged to be brushed back so he could see her emerald-green eyes.

Hell. It was bad enough at work. What had possessed him to further the torture? He couldn’t trust himself around her, let alone out at night.

He’d wanted a challenge…

He rapped on Tahlia’s door. The building was well located on a good side of town, with great street appeal. It wasn’t too old, but old enough to have established gardens and that lived-in homeliness about it. All in all, a good investment. She’d do well with it, despite it being on the first floor and liable to be lacking the requisite view of the city for optimal capital gains.

Case reached for his tie. Not there. He was going casual…and the fact that he truly liked this woman was terrifying. The other women he’d dated over the last six months were all predictable, uncomplicated and easy to be with because they were no threat to him.

He couldn’t say the same about Tahlia.

He’d survive tonight, take it slow. It wasn’t a hot, brief, passionate affair he was after but something more serious, something he wanted to think about, something to take time over…something that was going to last. That couldn’t happen until he could tell her all she wanted to know, and more.

He wanted to tell her how he had started his first business at twelve, how he had invested money in the stock market at eighteen, how hard he had worked in college to buy into his first business.

He straightened the collar on his mauve shirt, tucking it in tightly against his black trousers and adjusting the fit of his black jacket. For now, he’d have to play this cool.

The door opened.

Tahlia stood like a vision in the doorway. Her hair was in another spiky knot at the back of her head, but her make-up was darker, richer, highlighting the colour of her eyes, the silky creaminess of her skin and the deep red lips that beckoned him.

A black dress clung to every luscious curve of her body, plunging low over her breasts, delighting his mind and hands with their gentle softness. Thin straps held the slip of fabric on her, straps that looked so easy to slide off her smooth shoulders…

His body ached.

His heart thundered.

His blood fired to her call.

‘Case,’ she said, her voice sweet and soft. ‘You look great… It’s great… I’m so glad you came…’ She paused. ‘I’m happy to see you.’

He couldn’t help but smile. She looked so together… The staff at WWW Designs had only praise for the woman and her competence. Did he make her nervous? ‘You thought I wouldn’t come?’ he asked carefully, trying to slow his heart and regain control. ‘How could I stand you up?’

‘The thought crossed my mind…like the flowers. That tonight was an impulse that you weren’t going to follow through on.’ She gave a soft shrug. ‘I don’t want you to be here if you don’t want to be here.’

He straightened tall. Dammit. He’d never failed to follow through on anything in his life; he damned in hell didn’t want to give her the wrong impression. ‘I assure you there’s no other place I’d rather be but with you tonight.’

She smiled, her cheeks flushing softly. ‘Shall we go?’

‘You’re not going to invite me in…to meet your fish?’ Case cast a glance behind her, up a polished timber hallway to where he could just see a cream sofa. He could tell a lot from a person’s home and he wanted to know everything about this bewitching enigma.

‘Would you like to come in?’ she offered carefully, glancing up at him with her sea-green eyes and a coy smile on full red lips that he couldn’t afford to taste again, just yet.

His body ached, impatient for more of her. He swung his attention to the landing. ‘No. That’s okay. Reservations and all. Maybe later.’ He cringed. That sounded as if he wanted to—do all the things to her that had been running through his mind all day.

‘Maybe,’ she said softly, her mouth twitching as she pulled the door closed.

Was she playing with him? Teasing him? She sure as hell was hitting the mark. He wanted to pull her into his arms, smother those red lips with his mouth and strip off the layers that she wore.

‘Case,’ she whispered.

He pulled his gaze from her sweet mouth. ‘Yes?’

‘Dinner?’

‘Yes.’ He urged his feet to move, despite every inch of him wanting to stay, somewhere quiet, somewhere where he could explore Tahlia Moran, Director of Sales, with the utmost care and attention.

He followed her to the lift, watching her hips, her shape, her body move in that incredible dress, an incredible amount of smooth leg flashing with every step.

A split ran up the right side of the dress to her thigh, affording him far more than he could cope with seeing of her very nicely shaped, very smooth-looking leg.

Blood rushed southward, hot and fiery. His hands itched to swing the woman into his arms and show her just what sort of danger she was toying with.

He clenched his fists by his sides, breathing deep and slow, pulling his gaze from her mesmerising sway and tantalising show of flesh, watching the floor in front of him.

So much for staying in control…

Tahlia waited in Case’s silver Saab for him to come around to her. She needed the space to catch her breath. She wasn’t sure who she was kidding, who was playing who— The man was driving her wild.

The way he looked at her set her ablaze, his deep voice echoing through every nerve, his touch…almost too much to bear.

How could he be so calm?

Yes, the man had reacted to her dress. Thank God. It had taken her long enough to pick it out. Tonight had to be just right to gather the info she required to highlight Raquel’s mistake.

Her heart had leapt up her throat at Case’s suggestion that she invite him in. She had been sorely tempted, her mind throwing up some crazy idea of getting him out of her system.

She accepted that exploring what Case Tantalising Darrington had to offer wouldn’t just be educational, recreational and inspirational; it would prove that he was an office playboy and deserved the consequences of stealing her promotion with his good looks and connections.

Tahlia touched her lips, closing her eyes and imagining what sort of havoc the rest of Case would have on her body when his kiss had wrecked havoc on her senses.

It was probably a good thing he hadn’t accepted her invitation… A public place was far safer.

Case opened the door, holding out his hand for her to alight, his strong clean-shaven jaw close enough to touch, run her fingers down, trail her lips over.

Tahlia took a sharp breath, more than keen to exit from the enclosed space that was filled with the scent of new leather, hot male and his sexy cologne.

She’d think more clearly in fresh air.

His fingers folded around her hand, sealing her palm against his in a connection that felt so good—too good.

Her hand burned where it met his, making her nerves buzz, the cascade of electricity flowing upwards and then sinking deep into her belly. ‘Thank you.’

Case drew her close to him, closing her door, looking down into her face with an intensity that sang to her body.

‘We’re here,’ he said suddenly, stepping back.

‘Yes.’ Tahlia swung to face Bohemia, one of Melbourne’s top restaurants. It boasted the best chefs, the best service and the heftiest prices. She wouldn’t have expected anything less of the guy. ‘Showing off, are we?’

‘What do you mean?’ he asked, his voice tight.

‘I’m sorry. I don’t mean to suggest that snob stuff by you bringing me here,’ she rushed on. ‘Just that your tastes befit a Marketing Executive, that’s all.’ Even if he didn’t know the job and would take far too much time to learn the ropes to help the company now, when it needed help most.

‘Oh. Yes. The wage does offer its advantages,’ he said casually, catching her hand and drawing her to the entrance.

‘I see.’ She tried to stir up her resentment again, but failed. She couldn’t feel straight with her hand in his— her body was all sensations, all reactions, all tingling for more of Case’s attention.

He pushed open the door, letting her hand slip from his other hand as he held it open for her to pass, his gaze going to the slit in her dress. The light in his eyes and the flicker of a muscle in his jaw sent pulses of excitement racing through her.

Tahlia rubbed her palm against her thigh to expel the charge still tingling there. What she could do about the tingling in the rest of her body, she had no idea.

Case weaved through the line of people in the foyer, beckoning her to follow. ‘Reservation for Darrington,’ Case said smoothly to the maître d’.

The balding man in a tux smoothed his thin moustache and nodded. ‘Your usual table, Mr Darrington?’ he asked, sweeping up two menus and swinging around.

‘Yes.’ Case glanced at her sheepishly. ‘That’ll be fine. Thank you, Louis.’ Case placed his hand in the small of her back, guiding her after Louis.

‘So you bring all your women here, do you?’ she asked, biting her cheek, fighting an unusual ache around her ribs. ‘Not that I mind,’ she blurted. ‘Or care. I’m sure a man like you must get around and wouldn’t be short of offers and it’s not like this isn’t a nice place to bring dates to show them not only how much you’re making but your taste in wine and food, and your style—’

‘That’s not my intention,’ Case offered.

Louis stopped at a small round table which was nestled in the corner of the room. A deep red leather bench-seat curled around the table, against the coffee-coloured wall and a print of a modern artwork with bold strokes and even bolder colours.

A candle flickered under a textured glass shade, the crystal wineglasses gleaming in the light, the wine bottle all too obviously chilling in the ice bucket beside the table, at the ready.

It was one thing to suppose the man was a career Romeo, another thing entirely to see it, feel it, know it. Tahlia glanced back across the busy room towards the door.

Was she just another distraction from doing his job properly?

‘You don’t like?’ he asked, moving closer to her. ‘We can go somewhere else if you’re not comfortable, if you don’t want to stay…’

She lifted her chin, stifling her concerns. This was business, nothing personal. ‘Why mess with something that obviously works for you?’

She slipped on to the bench, sliding a little on to the seat in front of the setting on the table, twining her hands together on her lap. ‘Nothing wrong with being organised, regulated, into an efficient routine and all that.’ Sounded a lot like what she’d do if she was a guy and was dating regularly.

Tahlia glanced up at Case, who was settling himself at the other side of the small table, his knees brushing against hers. ‘Doesn’t mean this is contrived,’ she blurted, blood rushing to her face and southward.

She stared at her place setting and straightened the cutlery. ‘That I’m just another woman to pass a meal with and try on for—’

‘Hey.’ Case reached across the table and held her hand. ‘I’m here with you because I want to find out more about you, because I’m interested in who you are, why you’re who you are,’ he said slowly, his voice deep and his sapphire-blue gaze on hers. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t make more of an effort with the dinner arrangements but it was short notice and I have a rapport here.’

‘That’s okay—’ she waved her other hand ‘—you don’t have to explain.’

‘I want to.’ He gave the hand captured in his a gentle squeeze. ‘I don’t want you to think for a moment that this isn’t special.’

Tahlia frowned. He couldn’t mean that. It was just a spiel. He was an expert, after all. A tall, handsome, amazing Casanova. ‘Really?’ she asked as innocently as she could.

‘Yes. I’ve brought dates here, but no one as inquisitive, observant and amazingly frank as you.’

She couldn’t help but smile. ‘Sorry. I’m not usually like this.’

‘Don’t be sorry,’ Case said, leaning closer to her. ‘I like you just the way you are.’

Tahlia’s chest warmed, filling her with a soft heat that radiated outward, making her whole body light and tingly.

She glanced at where his hand covered hers in his warmth, his strength, and she couldn’t help but like the feeling, like him.

No, not a good idea. She knew where liking a man got you—into loving a man, trusting a man and depending on him and she wasn’t going to experience that sort of vulnerability and loss, ever.

Sure, she respected the way he dealt with the staff but she’d confirmed his total lack of application to the Marketing job and all it entailed.

He had secured her promotion through dubious connections.

‘Case…that’s an odd name,’ she blurted, extracting her hand as slowly and as casually as she could before she did something she’d regret.

‘My father’s a lawyer,’ Case said, drawing his hand back and straightening his setting. ‘I think it was my mother’s way of tackling his workaholic nature. She’s a psychologist. Decided all she had to do to get him to switch on to giving me attention was to say my name. Case wants you. Spend some time on Case.’

‘Did it work?’

‘Yeah, pretty much.’ He shrugged, picking up the bottle of wine from the ice bucket. ‘Unless there was a case more important.’

‘Case priorities?’ she said softly, fighting a smile. She was glad her mother wasn’t the only strange one in the world. ‘I’m sorry… I do know the feeling.’

‘Your dad’s into work in a big way?’ Case asked, filling her glass.

‘Yes. He was.’

‘Was? He’s retired?’

She glanced around the busy restaurant—the tables all full, the soft murmur of couples doing little to ease the tension that pounded in her chest. ‘Deceased.’

‘I’m sorry. How did—’

‘So am I.’ Tahlia gripped her glass. ‘Is your dad retired?’

‘No. Still working, much to my mother’s dismay. She’s got a list a mile long of all the places she wants to go to, all the things she wants to see, and still he keeps on working.’

‘That’s sad. Does she have hobbies?’ she rushed on, eager to get as far from the issue of her father as quickly as possible.

‘Yes. Me.’

Tahlia couldn’t help but smile, relief washing through her at his dropping the subject of her father. ‘Let me guess… You’re her only child and she’s trying to get you married off so you can give her grandchildren, probably contacts you…almost daily…to ensure her plight is foremost in your mind at all times.’

Case laughed. ‘Spot on. How did you know?’

‘I’m an only child too.’ And she’d been hoping for years that her mother would start behaving like everyone else’s and care about that stuff. Now she was… Tahlia wasn’t so sure she liked it.

‘And your mother is after grandkids?’

Tahlia took a sip of the deep bold claret. ‘Always on my back.’ He didn’t have to know it was all about work, at least until tonight.

‘I guess it’s part of the job description. You’ll be just the same when you have kids.’

‘No way. I’m going to be nothing like my mother,’ Tahlia bit out. Visions leapt to her of her mother curled into a shattered ball on the bed she’d shared with her father, the days of tears, the weeks of silence, the haunted look in her eyes, still.

‘That’s what they all say,’ Case said lightly, but he couldn’t help but notice the stricken look on her face. ‘What? Have I said something…anything to—?’

‘Nothing,’ she said lightly, picking up the menu. ‘Let’s order. I’m starving. Chefs in places like these take for ever in getting food to the table.’

Case nodded, picking up his menu, casting his eyes over the list of cuisine his restaurant offered. She may have guessed he brought all his women here, but not why. And she wouldn’t be able to fault the service. Everyone knew who he was…and no one disappointed the boss.

He gripped the menu, the words blurring. He was bursting to tell her.

Case took a gulp of the red wine. For the first time since Celia he wanted to tell a woman all about himself, all his assets, all his achievements, including making this struggling enterprise one of the top five restaurants in Melbourne.

He wanted to impress Tahlia, see her awe, hear her praise, see a warmth in those sea-green eyes that was just for him. ‘You do want kids, though?’

Tahlia glanced up, her eyes wide. ‘Ye-es, at a later stage I would like to have a couple of children,’ she said carefully. ‘But I wouldn’t bring them into a relationship that wasn’t absolutely totally stable and loving.’

‘Me neither.’ He lifted his arm and a waiter arrived at the table at the ready. ‘I’d like the quail entrée, Piper’s Peppered Steak with the Chef’s Best Salad and the Raspberry and Apple Pie with cream.’

The waiter turned to her.

‘Quail,’ she said, nodding to Case, her eyes bright. ‘The chicken breast with garden salad and a chocolate cheesecake.’

‘Is your mother local?’ he asked, watching her take a sip of the red wine, her lips almost as dark, looking as rich and sweet as cherries, just begging to be tasted.

‘Ye-es,’ she said slowly, her gaze on him. ‘My mother took a job here just after I first moved to Melbourne to work with WWW Designs. I don’t blame her for coming too. I wouldn’t want to be all alone and she is all alone and I understand that I’m all she has and all—’

Case heard the flood of sweet words from her mouth, saw the shine in her eyes as she dropped her gaze to the setting in front of her, and wanted her. Desperately, totally wanted her…never to be alone.

He swallowed hard. ‘God, you’re beautiful.’

Tahlia glanced up at him, a soft flush on her cheeks. ‘You don’t have to resort to flattery to get me to talk,’ she said casually. ‘Shoe size? Seven and a half. How I take my coffee? Black with no sugar. Where I go on holiday? Anywhere that has a seminar that can help my career. So what do you want to know?’

Case shook his head. ‘Can’t a guy make an honest comment about his date’s extraordinary beauty without it being taken as a means to an end?’

She shook her head. ‘No.’

A waiter moved between them brandishing their entrées, the sweet scent of the freshly roasted delicacy wafting around them.

‘You seem dedicated to work.’ Case stripped the small quail of its meat, the prized morsels melt-in-the-mouth soft. ‘Your file is impressive. You’ve done a lot in a few short years.’ He glanced at her, trying to make her out.

She placed her hands in front of her. ‘So you finally read my file.’

Finally, for the twentieth time. She was twenty-six years old and had worked diligently, pursuing her career, yet still seemed so young and innocent in so many ways. ‘You mustn’t have had time for much of a personal life.’

Tahlia put down her fork, staring at him. ‘No, not much of one, but I’ve had my fair share of boyfriends.…if that’s what you’re asking.’

Case shook his head. ‘You are amazingly frank, Miss Moran.’

‘You are incredibly nosey, Mr Darrington. Anyone would think you have an ulterior motive.’

‘I do.’

‘Oh?’

‘I’m seriously interested in all my employees, but I don’t usually take them out for dinner.’

‘And why am I so different?’ she asked softly, watching him with narrowed eyes.

‘Because you fascinate me.’

She stared at her plate. ‘I—’

He’d scared her away. He could see the hesitation in her eyes, hear it in her voice, feel it in every aching muscle in his body.

‘Not that I don’t usually bend my principles for a pretty woman,’ he blurted. ‘Or go after something I want…’ Dammit, he was digging himself deeper.

She glanced up at him, a soft gleam in her eyes and a knowing smile just touching her lips. ‘I know.’

Case leant back in his seat, watching her. Whatever she thought she knew, it made her happier and more relaxed. Who was he to argue?

Whatever she was thinking had put a smile on her face that glowed with a vibrancy that tantalised him.

It couldn’t be bad.