Читать книгу The Complete Boardroom Collection - Джанис Мейнард, Yvonne Lindsay - Страница 31

NINE

Scott stood with his legs braced in front of the stone balustrade and looked out across the Thames to the south bank of the river. The early evening traffic was still fierce behind his back but he blocked it out and focused on the lights twinkling in the old stone buildings to the east that he knew led away towards the financial district and St Paul’s Cathedral.

He was so engrossed at working through his mental map of the city he knew so well that it took a full second before he recognized the female voice behind him.

‘Hello, handsome. I’m conducting a survey on people’s favourite London walks and I’m keen to know what yours is. Do tell.’

Scott turned around just as Toni stepped forward. His reward for hanging around close to the busy road for the last ten minutes was the touch of her tantalising cold lips on his cheek. So, before she had a chance to move away, he grabbed her and kissed her on the side of the mouth. But pretended that he had been aiming for her cheek.

The kiss only lasted a second but he instantly felt the heat of her smile on his face.

‘Cheeky,’ she scolded, but then her eyes softened and that smile made him feel that it would have been worth running here through the snow.

He would love to touch her again and hold her in his arms. Instead, he held out his hand towards her and gave a low whistle.

‘Hey, look at you, birthday girl! That colour is amazing!’

Toni held out the skirt of her long tailored Russian-style coat which was in a shade of bright cherry-red which he usually associated with Christmas decorations. And yet, with the black lace-up boots and black knitted hat pulled down over her ears, she somehow managed to look elegant and chic instead of too bright.

‘You like? These boots are ancient but they’re so warm and comfy I couldn’t resist.’

‘I like. Cute hat too.’

‘Amy made it for me! We Baldonis are so talented.’

‘It’s a miracle that you stay so grounded and modest.’ Scott laughed and when her gloved hand reached out for his, it seemed perfectly natural for him to mesh his fingers with hers. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d held hands with a woman in the street. Alexa used to hate public displays of affection of any type. Maybe he should have taken a hint from that?

Either way, he liked this just fine. For the next few hours he was going to put aside the problems back in the business and do his best to enjoy himself.

‘Now, about that walk,’ he said in a casual tone. ‘I have so many favourites it’s hard to choose.’

‘Um...I agree. I’ve lived in this city all my life and I still find parts which are completely new to me! It’s astonishing.’

‘Then here’s a suggestion. Let’s see where our feet take us. No particular direction or destination. Just free to go where we want. Then back to my very favourite place for dinner. And yes, hot food is on the menu.’

Toni gave his hand a squeeze. ‘Somehow I suspect a map will be involved but that’s okay. Lead the way, oh, great explorer.’

* * *

If someone had asked Toni to describe where they had walked and how long it had taken and what they had seen, she would not have been able to. Westminster Abbey was involved at one point and possibly Trafalgar Square because she did recall roaring with laughter about feeding bananas to the lions in London Zoo.

What mattered were the shared experiences of growing up in the same city. Their parents and their lives were so very different and yet the more they talked movies and music and the fun things they enjoyed the more connected she felt.

It was hard hearing Scott talk about his parents’ divorce and how he and Freya had to struggle to keep in contact with their father when he’d remarried so quickly to a woman with a grown-up son.

With each step she felt that he was opening up to her, sharing his life and his love of the natural world. And all the time his hand kept a tight hold on her, taking her with him on the journey.

Scott was talking about his team of sled dogs and how he loved to watch them tug at the traces and take off on the trail across frozen forests and lakes. She looked up into his face and it was so alive and intense she could feel the heat and the passion for what he did burning in every word.

Maybe that was when a vague sense of unease started to creep into her thoughts.

What was she doing here? Sled dogs? Frozen lakes?

She didn’t know whether to feel privileged that he felt able to talk to her about the precious things that mattered to him or overwhelmed by how quickly her fun birthday dinner stroll had turned into something much deeper.

He wanted her to know about his life, which was wonderful. But, if anything, it only made her feel inadequate and ill prepared for the new world she was facing in the coming months. She had never travelled or done any of these exciting things. The biggest challenge she faced every week was dragging Amy out of bed and now even that was gone. Lifting a camera might exercise a few arm muscles but that was it.

Their lives were so very different it wasn’t funny. He had been to university and studied with the best in his field and she had barely survived college. She’d had Amy to take care of. But it didn’t make it any easier.

It was foolish to compare her life with Scott’s. They were such different people.

Problem was—she liked him more than was healthy.

A sudden flash of light snapped Toni out of her dream and she smiled at Scott as they strolled up to a road crossing. Suddenly a group of tourists ran across towards them and as she stepped left, Scott moved right and her gloved fingers slid from his. And she immediately missed that simple connection with the man.

Inhaling sharply and cursing her ridiculous crush, Toni quickly plunged her hand into her coat pocket so that Scott would not reclaim it, casually glancing from side to side.

Big mistake. Because in one step he had closed the gap between them and pressed his hand into the small of her back and then around her waist, holding her to him as they crossed the busy London road, which was a whirl of traffic and cyclists who apparently took red lights to mean go faster.

Her foolish heart relished that contact with the muscular body that was so close to the surface of his relatively thin all-weather short jacket and how his hand felt on her back.

Crazy girl! It was madness to get her hopes up that they could ever be more than the casual friends that they had become.

The reality of their situation hit her like the cold wind blowing in from the river.

A fling. That was what he was offering her. A short-term, time-limited relationship.

Of course she was tempted. She had done nothing but think about his offer for most of the afternoon.

Stupid, really. She would be back at work in a week, and she knew that the diary would be filling in with lots of overseas trips. Scott was only here for six months and then he would be gone and she would probably never see him again.

But whenever she was within touching distance of Scott there was this tantalising tingle of something in the air that seemed to toss logical thought out of the window and replace it with the idea that maybe he was the boyfriend that Amy had imagined that New Year’s morning.

Decision time.

She could enjoy her hot dinner and thank Scott for a lovely evening with a polite kiss on the cheek and then tell him that her time at Elstrom had run its course. She had given him a week. So thank you very much but she needed to work on his painting and the house now. Be in touch when the plumbing was all sorted out and he could move in. Goodnight.

She glanced up into Scott’s face as he cheerily chatted on about the time he’d tried to make a map of London at junior school out of tape and glue and poster paint.

He was a great man and it would be only too easy to fall and fall fast. She was already halfway there!

Or there was the other option. Take a huge risk and follow her feelings and play the fun friends with benefits card and live with the consequences. That was what she had promised Amy that she would do. Just another single girl having a good time with a great man while she had the chance.

Toni shivered deep inside her coat. This could be her only chance.

After what had happened with Peter she had struggled with her colleagues. Not one of them looked at her as a professional who could be their equal and over these past twelve months she seemed to have been offered projects where she was always going to be the assistant.

A strange idea crossed her mind and she pressed one hand to her forehead. Had she deliberately been accepting work where she knew that she would be in the background? That was all part of her training, wasn’t it? To be the apprentice learning her trade from the experts.

Just as she had done with...her father.

Toni exhaled slowly as that thought rattled around inside her head and made her feel sick. She had slipped into the old pattern and not even realized it.

Worse. She had actually looked for those jobs, afraid to put herself forward as already trained and ready to work alone. Just as she had done with the paintings.

Scott chose that moment to laugh out loud and grin down at her.

She was a coward! Scott had given up the work he loved to come back to London to try to save his family business and his relationship with his father. He wouldn’t let the Elstrom name go down without a fight.

A man like that was worth taking a risk on, no matter what happened.

Decision made.

Toni tucked her arm tightly into his elbow so that their hips touched as they walked but she didn’t mind one little bit.

‘Of course you do realize that your terrible secret is now out in the open, Scott Elstrom.’

Scott looked around as though shocked by the very suggestion and swallowed hard. ‘Which one? I have so many.’

‘No doubt. I was, of course, referring to the route march we have been following for the last few hours.’ Toni counted out the vices on her fingers. ‘Mr Scott Elstrom, Company Director.’ She waved her fingers around. ‘Not averse to a little travel on foot. Does not use a GPS, or at least I’ve never seen him use electronic mapping devices but, from what I saw this evening, he knows every highway, street and lane in this city like the back of his hand. Yes, Scott, I realise that you have walked me back to the same street as the Elstrom building. So that only leaves one question: how many maps of London have you drawn up over the years?’

He laughed out loud now. A real belly laugh, displaying his perfect teeth. ‘Eight worth printing. Nine if you include the one I painted on my bedroom wall when I was seven years old.’

Toni gave an over the top gasp and jogged around in front of him, forcing Scott to look down at her when he replied.

‘Wait just one minute. You can paint? When were you planning to reveal this secret skill? Or was it going to be a surprise?’

‘Wax crayons and coloured pencils are my media of choice. So vibrant, you know.’

‘Seriously?’

He looked at her for a split second, still laughing. ‘Not a bit. I like technical drawing. Black lines using a straight-edge ruler and circles made from saucers and plates. Now that I am computerised, the survey company allow me to colour in the big bits but only when it’s not important. They can always correct it later.’

Now it was Toni’s turn to laugh, before she thumped him gently on the arm.

‘You might have warned me this afternoon that we would be coming back here tonight! I spent ages choosing something smart to wear for my posh birthday dinner. I should have guessed that you would choose a restaurant close to home. Research—so important.’

‘Absolutely. Which is why I’m taking you somewhere very, very exclusive. Think of it as your birthday present.’

‘Exclusive! I like the sound of that. Even if I wasn’t expecting a present. Is it very far?’

He smiled, and surprised her by sliding around behind her so that his arms were wrapped around her waist, holding her tight against him. She felt the pressure of his head against the side of her face as he dropped his chin on to her shoulder, lifted his left arm and pointed.

She pretended not to notice as his fingertips gently moved against her skin to flick the imaginary ends of her hair back over the collar of her wool coat, which was being warmed by Scott’s hot body.

‘For one night only, Elstrom Mapping has become Elstrom Fine Dining.’

‘We’re eating here! Wait a minute,’ she said and tried to turn around to face him but the wall of muscle wouldn’t move an inch. ‘I asked for hot food and a tablecloth. Cutlery would be nice too.’

He brushed his stubbly cheek next to her throat so that when he spoke the words were whispered, hot and moist, in her ear. ‘The way I want to kiss you right now might get us arrested. Especially when I have something hot and spicy waiting inside. Would you like to find out more? Was that a nod? Excellent. Let’s go, birthday girl.’

* * *

Ten minutes later, Toni was starting to reconsider whether this was such a good idea after all.

‘You didn’t mention that walking upstairs wearing a blindfold would be involved,’ she giggled. ‘I hope you don’t think that my birthday party was my usual kind of social event. Please, tell me where I’m going. If fluffy handcuffs come out I may run.’

Or perhaps not. But she didn’t want Scott to know that!

His reply was a truly filthy low chuckle and he took even tighter hold of her waist and pulled her closer to him.

‘That would spoil the surprise.’

He kissed her quickly on the top of the head, which made her giggle even louder. ‘Get ready,’ he whispered and their steps slowed. ‘We’ve arrived.’

She felt him stretch forward and suddenly a very cold breeze whirled around her legs. Even the warmth of Scott’s body pressed along her side couldn’t block out that icy blast.

Toni took a tight hold of her bag but gripped Scott’s hand tighter.

‘Is this going to be an igloo-style dining experience? Because I have to tell you that I left my thermals back at the house.’

‘Glad to hear it. Stay close. You’ll be fine, trust me.’

One final squeeze of her hand and she took a step forward and cuddled even closer to Scott. Trust him! If he was planning to make her get up close and personal he was certainly doing a good job. It was freezing!

‘Promise not to peek for ten more seconds,’ Scott murmured and she could feel the heat of his breath against her neck and then the gentle tug of the ribbon covering her eyes being untied at the back and lifted away.

She carefully half opened one eye and then instantly blinked and stared in amazement, her eyes scarcely able to take in what she was looking at.

They were standing on a rooftop terrace with panoramic views across the London skyline. All the lights of the tall buildings and the winding curve of the River Thames were laid out in front of her on this clear, cold frosty night.

Every light twinkled and gleamed as though it had been polished diamond-bright just for her. And above her every star in the heavens was clear and sharp against the dark night sky, with only a faint glow from the city below.

It was as though she had been transported to her own personal roof garden overlooking London.

Scott took a step closer to an elaborate wrought iron railing and they stood side by side for a second, their breaths hot and fast and making faint clouds of mist in the cold air.

‘Oh, Scott,’ was all she managed to say, one hand pressed against her throat and the other still clutching on to his arm.

‘Happy birthday, Antonia.’ He smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulders and hugged her. ‘Happy birthday.’

* * *

Scott grinned down at Toni, who was standing next to him with a totally shocked look on her face, and was rewarded with a stunning smile that seemed to reach into his heart and unlock the heavy metal gates that he had constructed since Alexa.

There wasn’t a hint of artifice or pretence in this girl’s smile and everything he had been through to make this evening possible suddenly seemed a small price to pay.

‘Hey, birthday girl. Let’s get you out of the cold.’

Holding tightly on to Toni’s waist, he nudged her back towards the door and heard her gasp of delight.

‘What? I cannot believe it.’ She laughed up into his face and then looked back to the enclosed conservatory area of the roof garden, where he had set up his father’s simple bistro table for dinner for two.

Electric lamps flickered on each wall, there were candles on the table and a blast of warm air welcomed them the second they stepped inside.

‘My dad isn’t too keen on the cold so he built this extension from his third floor flat out on to our roof garden when we were kids. We can be out of the wind here but still get the view.’

‘Oh, wait until I tell Amy about this place.’ Toni chuckled as Scott guided her into the half glass conservatory. ‘It is actually warm and cosy. In fact I’m thinking of moving in. I love it. Want to make a trade?’

‘Not quite. I have two heaters on full power just for you. And. Hot. Food.’

Scott guided Toni to her chair and watched her eyes pop with delight at the hot tray he had plugged in before he’d set out.

It only took a moment to pour her a glass of red wine and then one for himself.

‘How about a toast? To lamb tagine and rice, made by the brilliant Moroccan restaurant down the street. A decent French red from the cellar. And good company. Cheers.’

‘Good company,’ Toni breathed as they touched wine glasses and then she took a sip and closed her eyes in pleasure as she savoured the wine. ‘That’s wonderful. In fact—’ she gazed around the conservatory, taking in the tiny sofa for one and the bookcases and plants ‘—this is all wonderful. When you do exclusive, you do it in style, Mr Elstrom. I approve.’

‘Then my work is done,’ he said, smiling. ‘I’m pleased you like it. The roof garden used to be one of my favourite places, even before this conservatory was built. There were fewer skyscraper buildings then and the stars seemed brighter somehow.’

He knew that his voice must have trailed away because Toni had stopped gazing out to the balcony and her entire focus was on his face. Her soft brown eyes flickered with amber and gold to match the colours in her hair and the connection between them pulled them tighter and tighter until her sweet gentle voice broke the silence.

‘I would rather look at you,’ Toni whispered as she got to her feet, slipped off her coat and crossed the few steps between them.

Her soft lips pressed against his and he tasted sweet red wine and all of the heat and warmth that he’d thought would never be offered to him again.

‘I’ve been thinking about your offer,’ she breathed, her gaze scanning his face as her fingertips traced gentle circles at the back of his head. ‘And do you know what? I’ve changed my mind. In fact, I like the idea of a fling. Very...’ she kissed his forehead ‘...very...’ then his temple ‘...much.’ And nipped the corner of his top lip with her teeth. Then her mouth lifted into the sweetest, cheekiest grin that he had ever seen. ‘If the offer is still open?’

Her fingers cupped the back of his head as she angled her face and stepped closer so that her kiss could deepen and deepen, overwhelming and passionate.

Clutching hold of her soft sweater, Scott rode the wave of sensation until the tip of her tongue found his. And the rules went out of the window.

In an instant her lush body was crushed against his and his hands were exploring every inch of that frame as his mouth took over, nibbling her upper lip, then moving down on to her throat and then lower until his cheek found a home next to her breast.

Breathing became a second priority for a few minutes but he didn’t mind in the slightest. He was perfectly content to hold Toni in his arms and use his mouth to give her pleasure, knowing that she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

It was time to find out just where this journey would take them.

* * *

‘Scott... The lights have gone out.’ Toni’s words were murmured in between gentle nibbles on his ears and in the hollow of his neck.

‘Probably a power cut,’ he whispered and wrapped his arms tighter around her body, drawing it closer to him and trying to find a comfier position on the narrow wicker sofa. The moon was higher and lighting the room but the candles had burnt out an hour ago.

She nodded and then lifted her head. ‘I can smell something burning. Is it our dinner?’

He chuckled for a full second before the smile dropped from his lips and with a deep groan of regret he took hold of Toni’s hands.

‘Nope. Not the dinner. That’s the smell of electric cable burning. Sorry, Toni. I need to find out where the problem is.’

‘Not without me,’ Toni said and they pulled on their clothes and Scott dashed out of the conservatory and into his father’s apartment, the moonlight at their backs guiding their steps.

Scott was right. The burning smell grew stronger the closer they got to the main staircase and when they opened the door to the apartment there was smoke in the hallway.

‘I left a torch in the store room,’ Toni called out as the lights started to flicker. ‘Just inside the door to the right.’

‘On it,’ Scott called back and took the stairs two at a time and Toni saw the torchlight beam out only seconds before all the lights went out and she was left in the smoke and darkness.

‘Scott! Are you okay?’ she called out and blinked as the torchlight blinded her.

‘It’s in the fuse box,’ a dark shape called out through the smoke which was so thick that she could hardly make out his face. ‘No time to grab your coat. We’re leaving and we’re leaving right now. Before this whole building goes up in flames.’