There was something in it. Something about it. Some lingering way that he focused on have her when he got the words out. I felt the ground opening underneath me, not sure where the hell to look as Mr Lindon’s stare shifted to the guy at my side.
“No,” he said, and his tone was clipped and cold. “You can’t have her next week.”
“Damn,” Stephen said, with a laugh in his voice. “I guess I’ll have to have her outside of work, then.”
His arm was still hooked tight around my shoulders, and when he stepped on through the saleroom my legs went with his on instinct, even if my eyes stayed on the man I adored. I turned my head, and his was turning too, both of us locked in vision as I kept on moving.
My belly fluttered and pained both at once, and I watched as his hands clasped in fists at his sides, his whole body rigid.
But then I was gone, outside in the main office and still held in Stephen’s grasp as he guided us through to the main reception exit.
“Alright then, soon to be birthday girl,” he said in the car park before letting me go. “You have a great weekend, and make sure you check out your calendar for next week.”
I nodded, daring to smile a little, even though I had no intention whatsoever of checking out my calendar for any guy who wasn’t Mr Lindon. More fool me.
“Thanks for showing me the ropes,” I said, and meant it.
He didn’t wait to watch me leave, just flashed me one final glance before heading off on foot.
I pulled out my phone to fire off a message to Holly, telling her again what a hot potential suitor Stephen could be for her, and couldn’t help but laugh to myself as a load of winks and obscenities came back in response to my description.
The laughter was still going strong as I set off on foot myself, well and truly ready for a birthday weekend of a load more laughter with my awesome friend.
The sound of footsteps behind me was enough to get my attention, and I was gasping in shock for the second time in a row as a hand clasped tight on my arm.
I spun in a flash, staring up at the figure behind me who kept that grip tight. He was fresh from the office, the sternness of his expression still harsh enough to burn.
“Stephen Jones is no fucking good for you,” my insanely perfect boss told me, in barely more than a growl. “Stay clear of him.”
I tugged my arm away, trying to work out why the hell he was suddenly so bothered about speaking to me, but he seemed to come to his senses and stepped back, his brows loosening as he regained some kind of composure.
“What’s wrong with Stephen?” I asked, my belly aflutter all over again.
“Everything as far as you’re concerned,” he said.
I shrugged, just a little. “Is that why you chased me out here? To tell me Stephen Jones is no good for me?”
His jaw was gritted, his eyes still fierce. “No,” he said, but didn’t elaborate.
“Why then?” I pushed. “Why did you chase me outside?”
I didn’t know what he was going to say, especially when he closed the distance back up between us so tight I could feel the heat of him. He must have been able to feel my shudder right back at him, the quickness of my breath as I felt him there.
“What do you want for your birthday, little girl?” he asked, his voice a rasp in my ear. It had that edge again. That filthy edge that drove me crazy.
My answer was instant. Soft and shivery and every bit the little girl he told me I was.
“You,” I whispered.
“What do you want from me exactly, Faith?”
I could barely breathe. “I want you to be my first,” I told him. “Please, Mr Lindon, sir. I want you to be my first.”
I could have cursed as we were interrupted for the eight millionth time. It always happened, every single time I was getting somewhere, someone always had to come and wreck it like an asshole.
This time the asshole was Rachel, again, although once again she didn’t mean to be. She came on up with a smile and slipped her hand through my arm. Mr Lindon was already away from me, stepping back and creating a distance before she’d even noticed our closeness.
“I’m walking your way, birthday girl,” Rachel said. “Let’s hook up for the journey.”
What choice did I have but to join her?
It didn’t make any difference. Mr Lindon’s choice was to watch me leave.Chapter TwelveMilesOf all the things I was in this life, indecisive wasn’t one of them. I didn’t manage my business, or my ambitions, or succeed in so many of this world’s opportunities without sureness of will or intention.