Читать книгу Mills & Boon Christmas Delights Collection - Джанис Мейнард, Rebecca Winters - Страница 16

Chapter Seven

Accounting was the least favourite part of my job and I was currently wading through invoices, fortified by a huge cup of tea and far too many Bourbon biscuits when my phone rang.

‘Stone Organisation.’ I answered the phone on speaker, concentrating on the screen in front of me, rather than the one on the phone.

‘You should have woken me.’ The deep, melodic tones filled the quietness of the tiny office.

I immediately sat up straighter and switched the phone off speaker. Opposite me, Bernice’s mouth dropped open and her eyes grew wide. I waved my hand frantically at her to signal that it wasn’t anything like what she was clearly imagining. By the fact that she was now grinning inanely, I guessed my message wasn’t getting through.

‘Erm, hi!’ I said, temporarily thrown off guard by the greeting, delivered in Michael’s admittedly sexy voice. (I’d had to eventually concede to that point, no matter how annoying he could be). Bernice’s reaction wasn’t helping.

Bernice grinned even wider. Ugh. I really wasn’t helping my own case here.

‘Hi.’

‘How are you?’

‘Good, thanks. If a little embarrassed.’

‘Oh, don’t be silly. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.’

Bernice now looked just about ready to implode with curiosity so I spun my chair away from her.

‘I think it’s fair to say that I’ve hardly made a good impression on you and then I leave you so I can go and take a nap?’

‘You’d been awake for hours. And you didn’t leave to take a nap, you left to do yet more work. Unless that whole phone call was a set-up?

‘No,’ he laughed, ‘it wasn’t. I promise.’

‘There you are then.’

‘The dining room looks amazing. Thank you. Your idea of having those bookshelves in there is brilliant. I love it.’

‘You do?’ I said, unable to stop a huge smile forming on my face.

‘I really do,’ he replied, his voice softer this time.

‘Oh, I’m so pleased.’

‘And thank you for the blanket…and stuff. That was very sweet of you.’

‘You almost sound surprised,’ I said, unable to stop myself, and wondering why I cared as to whether Michael O’Farrell thought I was a nice person or not.

‘No! No, not at all. It’s just that…well, it’s no secret that you and I don’t always see eye to eye. And before you say anything, don’t worry, I’m perfectly aware that a lot of that is down to me. I just…it was very thoughtful of you. Thank you.’

‘You’re welcome. I was glad to see the office still looked nice and tidy.’

He let out that tantalising laugh again. ‘Yes. I don’t think I could risk your wrath at letting it go back to how it was quite so soon.’

‘Golly. You really do think I’m a dragon!’

‘No, I don’t. But tell me honestly, if you’d have come in there and it was a state, would you have been calm and collected or would you have just smothered me with that blanket instead?’

He had a point.

‘Your silence says so much.’

I smiled, despite myself. ‘Are you still happy to proceed with your next appointment?’

‘Absolutely. And I’ll even stay awake this time.’

‘That would probably add to our productivity.’

He laughed and I couldn’t help but smile at the sound. ‘I’ll see you soon.’

I hung up and made a point of not looking at Bernice, pretending to be immediately absorbed in my invoicing again.

‘Oh, no no no!’ she said, scooting her feet along the floor in order to propel her chair around the desk and park it next to me.

‘No, what?’ I asked, doing my best to feign innocence. It didn’t work.

‘You know exactly what. “You should have woken me?” Er, hello! You can’t just put that out there and then not say anything about it!’

‘I didn’t put it out there and there is nothing to say about it.’

‘So why’s he embarrassed? Couldn’t he…you know…’

I frowned, not understanding. Bernice huffed at me, then held her forefinger out straight before letting it slowly droop down. I watched her mime, confused. Then it dawned.

‘No! I mean, I don’t know! I mean…Oh God. He’d been working straight through the night and got a call to do something else so had to disappear off to his office shortly after I got there, and never came back. I didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye, so I poked my head in and he was asleep with his head on the desk. I put a blanket over him and switched off the light. That’s all!’

Bernice raised one expertly shaped and tinted eyebrow. ‘That’s all?’

‘That’s all.’

She sat back in her chair. ‘You like him.’

‘I do not like him. I mean…’

The other eyebrow came up.

‘I don’t entirely dislike him as much as I did initially. Most of the time. But I don’t like him like you’re suggesting I like him. Definitely not.’

‘Definitely not?’

‘Most definitely not. Besides, I’m already seeing Calum, who I do like in the way you’re suggesting.’

Bernice made to start scooting her chair back, but I caught her expression as she did so.

‘What was that look about?’

She turned back to me. ‘Honestly?’

‘Of course.’

‘I think “seeing Calum” is a bit of an overstatement. You hardly ever do see him!’

‘He’s – ’

‘Busy. I know.’

‘Why does everyone have it in for him?’

‘We don’t. But the fact that several people have made the same observation should tell you something.’

I shuffled some papers and made a point of looking busy and efficient. Bernice got the hint.

‘It’s just because we care about you Kate.’

I nodded, which was just about all I could do.

***

Janey was sat on her yoga mat next to me, eating a yoghurt whilst I looked at her upside down from my current full bridge position. The yoga teacher had been giving her various suitable exercises to do during her pregnancy but it seemed that tonight Janey was disinclined to do many of them.

‘I’m going to be the size of a house,’ she whispered, opening the lid of another yoghurt which squirted me right in the eye as the seal broke.

‘Oh sorry!’ Janey dabbed at my ever reddening face with a tissue.

The teacher released us from the position and I shuffled on my mat to get ready for the cool down exercises. Janey wiggled herself around and stretched her legs out in front of her. It seemed only the men had got the height in her family. She moved her toes back and forth in a half-hearted attempt at doing something resembling what we were there for.

‘Jesus,’ she whispered. ‘Look at that woman’s arse. How is that even possible? It makes Kylie’s backside look…well, like mine!’

She had a point. The woman’s backside was bloody perfect and the fact that I was stuck right behind her was doing absolutely nothing for my ego.

‘You’re not going to be the size of a house. You’re pregnant, for goodness’ sake. There’s another human being inside you!’

Janey was still focusing on the woman in front of me. ‘Do you think she spends all day doing squats or just won the arse lottery?’

Laughter burst from me in the middle of a deep breath in and we got a look from the instructor that told us we were heading for the naughty step.

‘Stop it,’ I whispered. ‘You’re getting me into trouble.’

‘Ah, a bit of trouble can be good for you.’

I glanced over and Janey winked.

‘I don’t have time for trouble.’

‘Is that so?’

‘Absolutely so. Now shush and lie down for a few minutes. The rest will do you good.’

Janey pulled a face at me but did as she was told. I closed my eyes and let my thoughts drift. A hand touching mine pulled me back. I rolled my head to see Janey. She squeezed my fingers and smiled, her eyes remaining closed.

‘You’ve a kind soul Katie girl.’

I returned the finger squeeze and then resumed concentrating on my breathing, pushing out all the thoughts and memories that were threatening to invade.

***

As I stood on my client’s driveway waiting, yet again, I was seriously reconsidering my declaration to Bernice the other day that I didn’t entirely dislike Michael O’Farrell as much as I had done initially. I’d texted and got no answer and when I called a quarter of an hour later, his phone had gone straight to voicemail. I’d already waited over half an hour and had absolutely no inclination to waste any more time. I couldn’t believe that he’d done it again!

Picking up my bag, I began marching back towards the pavement when the sound of a motorbike getting closer made me pause. But only for a moment. I didn’t have time to be messed about. He’d have to reschedule this time. The bike swung onto the parking area and Michael was off it quicker than he had been before, pulling his helmet from his head as he walked towards me. I watched for a moment and frowned.

‘Katie I’m so sorry! I know you’re probably mad as stink with me, but I swear to God, this time – ’

I tilted my head, my frown deepening. ‘Are you limping?’

‘What? Oh, yes, maybe a bit.’

I peered around his bulk at the bike behind him. Half the fairing was cracked and the paintwork was all scarred down one side. I looked up at him, my annoyance replaced with concern, a silent question on my face.

‘Some idiot opened his car door without looking.’

My eyes widened.

‘Stupid bastard.’ He looked down at me. ‘I tried to call you, but I think I must have landed on my phone at one point, and it kind of ended badly for the phone.’

‘At one point?’

‘Yeah. There was some acrobatics involved. Quite impressive, if I do say so myself. At least a nine point seven.’

He grinned but as he began walking up the steps, I could see the pain behind it.

‘You need to go to hospital.’

‘No, I don’t.’

‘Michael something might be broken!’

‘They gave me a good check over at the scene. It’s fine.’

‘But there might be something internal! Really, you should go. Please!’

I heard the crack in my voice at the same time as Michael did. He stopped and looked down at me, the intense gaze full of question.

‘What’s going on Katie?’

I took a breath. ‘Nothing. I’m just saying. Some injuries aren’t always obvious. It’s best to be safe.’

‘I’m going to have some bruises, that’s for sure but that’s all it is. I promise.’

I nodded, and broke the gaze.

‘Thank you for your concern though. I do appreciate it.’

‘Janey would be devastated if something happened to you.’

Not looking at me, Michael hesitated with the key at the lock for a moment before plunging it in and turning. ‘Of course.’

‘You know, you probably ought to rest. It must be a shock, something like that, apart from all your bumps and bruises. I can sort another time for this session, even if it’s the weekend, so that we don’t get behind.’

‘No plans for the weekend then?’

‘No, not really,’ I said, keeping my voice light. No need to tell Michael that all my recent suggestions for plans with Calum had come to nothing.

‘The man’s a fool.’

‘So everyone keeps saying.’

‘Maybe you should start listening to everyone then?’

I let out a sigh. ‘Could we get back to you?’

‘Sure.’ He smiled.

I rolled my eyes. ‘I should have known that would be a favourite topic.’

He really did have a nice laugh, I had to admit that, no matter how infuriating the rest of him could be at times.

‘And what would you like to know about me?’

‘I’d like to know when best to rearrange this appointment for because you’re not doing anything this afternoon apart from putting that leg up and resting.’

‘Is that so?’

‘Yes, it is.’

‘You’re pretty confident of that considering you’re half my size.’

‘I am not half your size and besides, size isn’t everything.’ As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew it was the wrong thing to say.

‘How refreshing that you think so.’

‘That’s not what I meant and you know it.’

‘What exactly is it that you didn’t mean?’

I glared at him which merely caused him to laugh again, briefly. The squint of pain gave him away.

‘Michael you might have cracked a rib. You really ought to go to hospital and get checked out.’

He’d unzipped his leathers now and was wriggling out of the top half, struggling more than he had the last time I’d seen him do it. Automatically, I reached up and pulled the shoulder of the suit past his own.

‘Thanks. They’ve earned their keep today.’ He pulled the sleeve around and inspected it for scuff marks, giving a sigh when he found plenty.

‘They can be replaced. You can’t.’

‘Ah Katie. Are you saying I’m irreplaceable?’

I levelled a look at him. ‘I’m saying there is only one of you. Thank goodness.’

He smiled. ‘Fair enough. Look, I’m going to go and change and then I’ll be back and we can set to doing whatever it is that you had planned for today.’

I shook my head. ‘Did you not listen to me?’

‘I did. I just chose to take another option.’

‘There is no other option. You resting is the only option.’

‘So you’re not staying.’

‘No. I can come back in a couple of days and we can catch up then.’

‘Right. But it was the living room you were planning on tackling today?’

‘It was. But another couple of days won’t hurt.’

‘OK. I’ll just go and change and then I can make a start without you.’

‘What?’

‘What?’ he replied, his face the picture of altar boy innocence.

‘You’re not starting anything without me.’

‘Why not? Afraid I’ll muck it up.’

‘I just told you why not!’

‘And I told you I’m fine.’

‘And clearly you’re not. You’re black and blue, you’re limping heavily and it’s obvious your ribs hurt.’

‘Only when you make me laugh.’

I tipped my head back and closed my eyes. ‘I knew it would be my fault.’

He laughed again. ‘Ow.’

I gave a sigh of exasperation. ‘How on earth do your family put up with you?’

‘Practice.’

‘Go and get changed. I’ll make you a cup of tea.’

‘You don’t need to – ’

‘Go!’ I said, pointing straight armed at the stairs.

‘I’m going, I’m going.’ And he began climbing the stairs, unaware that the fact he was doing so slowly, one by one, unlike his normal jog of two at a time, told me everything I needed to know.

***

‘Kate?’ Michael called.

‘In here,’ I called back from the living room.

He appeared at the door wearing tracksuit bottoms that had seen better days, a T-shirt that didn’t look too bad from what I could see and the zip-up hoody he’d thrown over the top and left unzipped also had some hope for it. We’d had a brief discussion about sorting his clothes at some point, but as these lived in the master bedroom and he’d already declared that as not needing attention, I was still unsure as whether I was ever going to get my hands on his wardrobe. Michael glanced down at his clothing.

‘I’m getting the impression my outfit doesn’t meet with your approval.’ His expression was hard to read.

‘You look fine. Why would I mind what you wear? And they look…comfortable, which is the important thing.’

He gave me a look.

‘What?’

‘There’s a “but” there.’

‘There isn’t a “but”.’ How did he do that? I had to admit it was getting more than a little disconcerting.

‘Oh, there is definitely a “but”.’

‘Are you going to get your weight off that leg and sit down or not?’

‘When you tell me the truth.’

‘Fine,’ I shrugged. ‘It’s your discomfort. Doesn’t bother me.’

Michael tilted his head in acknowledgement. ‘What are we doing?’

‘Basically pulling out everything that’s in this room and putting it into categories. I think half your jackets are down here so, for example, they can be taken and hung up in your wardrobe. Assuming you want to keep them.’

‘Perhaps I’d better ask you if I should keep them as you seem to have an opinion on my clothing already.’

I rolled my eyes and said nothing. He chuckled and then sucked in his breath as his ribs protested. I glanced round but he was carrying on with the task I’d detailed. Bending down, he scooped an armful of jackets up and straightened. He said nothing but the pain was so clear on his face it made me wince.

‘Right. That’s it. Put those down.’

‘What? Why? I thought this was the plan.’

‘It was the plan before you started auditioning for Cirque Du Soleil this afternoon.’

‘I told you, I’m fine.’

‘And I didn’t tell you, but you should already know, that I’m not an idiot.’

‘I never thought for one moment that you were.’

‘Then stop trying to pretend you’re not in pain. If you’re not going to go to hospital, the least you should do is sit down and rest. Look, sit there.’

I steered him towards a space I’d already made on the sofa whilst he’d been upstairs changing.

‘Sit.’

Mikey looked down at me and I held his gaze firmly.

‘I said, sit. Please.’

A flicker of a smile played on his lips and he obeyed.

‘Tea.’ I handed him the mug I’d made.

‘You’re kind of bossy sometimes. You know that, don’t you?’

‘It’s not bossiness. It’s called being sensible and organised.’

‘Are you always sensible and organised.’

‘Pretty much.’

‘Let me guess. You were a wild child growing up but you’ve got all that out of your system now.’

Boy, he couldn’t be any farther from the truth if he’d tried.

‘Not at all. Now. If I pull stuff out, then you can tell me whether it’s still wanted and we can start finding homes for it.’

Something caught my eye and I crossed the room to get it. Upending the pile of goodness knows what that had almost covered it, I found a beautiful footstool upholstered in pale blue and white Toile de Jouy. Bending to lift it, I was halted in my tracks.

‘Don’t you dare.’

‘Excuse me?’ I said turning to find Michael approaching me. ‘And I told you to sit down.’

‘I’m not going to sit there and watch you heave furniture about. I know you consider me some misogynistic Neanderthal – ’

‘I never said that.’

‘You never say a lot of things.’

I stuck my tongue out and he laughed, wincing again as he did so.

‘It’s a footstool. I’m not proposing I move a sofa on my own. Although, for your information, I’m quite capable of doing so and have done in the past, more than once.’

‘Then your clients should be ashamed of themselves for letting you do so.’

‘It wasn’t a client and that’s a very old-fashioned view.’

‘One I make no apologies for. So who was it? Not the boyfriend.’

‘No. And I’m surprised you’re not more modern than that. I can’t imagine Janey lets you get away with your dinosaur values.’

‘Janey is a very intelligent woman. She has no qualms about getting any and all heavy lifting done by someone else if it’s at all possible. You could learn a few things from her.’

‘I’ve already learned a few things from her,’ I said, raising an eyebrow.

Michael looked at me and tilted his head back a little more, bravado kicking in. ‘Oh? And what things would those be?’

The truth was I hadn’t learned anything about Michael from Janey that he hadn’t confirmed himself but the tease seemed too good an opportunity to miss.

‘Nothing you would be interested in. Just girl talk, you know,’ I said, airily.

He narrowed his eyes at me.

‘Now. Can you please go back and sit down so I can get on with things?’

‘If by getting on with things you mean moving furniture, then no.’

I threw my hands up. ‘You are entirely impossible.’

‘I am. At last, we actually agree on something.’

‘Fine,’ I conceded, ‘we’ll do it together then.’

He smirked.

‘Oh, grow up.’ I said, which only proceeded to make him laugh and wince again.

‘Right. Ready? Go.’

We moved the footstool, with me directing, to the sofa where he’d been sitting.

‘Down.’

Michael glanced at me, but obeyed.

‘I thought this was going to be for you to sit on.’

‘It’s for your foot. I think it’s best elevated.’

‘Kate. You’re fussing way too much. It was just a bump.’

‘So you didn’t hit an open car door, get catapulted across a busy London street and narrowly avoid being squashed into the ground by passing traffic?’

The thought, now voiced, made my blood cold and I felt the colour drain from my face. I sat down quickly on the footstool, my head feeling suddenly light. I knew it was just because the thought of Janey losing someone she loved would be so awful. Obviously I wouldn’t want anything to happen to Michael either, but I hardly knew him well enough for me to be as upset as I felt at this moment. I guessed it had to be some sort of ‘referred’ upset.

Large, warm hands on my shoulders brought me back into the moment.

‘I’m fine Kate. Honestly.’

I took a breath. ‘Yes, all right. But you should still rest. It’s common sense – something that was clearly knocked out of you during your exploits. Now please sit, before I have to ring your sister.’

Mikey sat.

‘Foot up,’ I said, pointing at the footstool I’d now vacated.

He looked at me.

I raised an eyebrow.

‘I’m fine.’

‘You won’t be if you don’t do as you’re told. You’ll be nursing another broken rib. Now just put your damn foot up and stop being such a pain in the arse.’

Michael burst out laughing and immediately regretted it. Unable to stop he countered the action by holding his chest tightly until he calmed.

‘You really are something,’ he wheezed.

‘I dread to think what you believe that “something” to be so I’m going to suggest we move right along now. OK. Let’s start with this pile.’