Her smile was slow, growing with her confidence. ‘You and me both.’
And there she went again, encouraging him when she knew she shouldn’t, but she couldn’t stop.
‘I can’t believe a woman like you could be all that rusty.’
‘A woman like me never really got started.’
The air seemed to crackle in the silence that descended, a stream of unspoken thoughts passing between them.
‘Jack, I—’ She broke off as her drink arrived. She glanced up at her head barman with a smile. ‘Thank you, Peter.’
‘You’re welcome.’ He walked discreetly away, for which she was grateful.
She picked up the glass, took a much-needed sip and regathered her wits to tell him what needed to be said. That she didn’t do flirting, or any kind of dating for that matter. Certainly not with the clientele, or anyone come to that. But as her eyes returned to his, now almost black in the low light, she found her voice failed her.
‘Jack, you...what?’ He gestured at her with one hand, drawing her eye to those long, lithe fingers that looked so capable, so strong, and the heat spread from her core to her cheeks and she swallowed, hard.
‘I’m not sure this is wise.’
‘No,’ he said softly. ‘You’re probably right.’
Disappointment sneaked its way in, and she found her second sip of wine far harder to take than her first.
‘And yet you still came over?’
Her cheeks flushed deeper. ‘It would have been rude not to.’
‘Is that the only reason? You didn’t want to appear rude?’
She felt her eyes widen, her heart pulse in her chest. No, it wasn’t, was it?
The fantasy she’d been harbouring in her office collided with reality, her lie catching in her tone as she said, ‘I wanted to see how Lily and Ms Archer were faring after their little adventure.’
‘They’re fine, thank you for asking.’ His lips quirked, the spark in his eyes telling her he’d seen her lie for what it was. ‘However, me, not so much.’
Her brow pulled together. ‘Really, in what way?’
‘It seems my daughter’s high opinion of me has taken something of a knock.’
She could sense where this was heading, knew she should put a stop to it, but the thrill of it, of what he might admit, had her pushi
ng for more. ‘And why’s that?’
‘She’s taken quite a shine to you and she’s not impressed that I failed to secure her a thank-you dinner.’
She chuckled softly. ‘Why does it sound like both you and your daughter are used to getting what you want?’
‘Because we are.’ He shrugged, his easy grin setting her belly on fire. ‘What can I say? People are powerless in the face of our McGregor charm.’
‘The McGregor charm?’ She laughed again. It seemed Jack had the ability to lift her mood so completely with his boasted charm, no matter how strung-out she was.
‘What?’ He raised his brow at her, his eyes dancing. ‘Are you questioning its existence?’
‘Moi?’ She pressed her palm to her chest in mock sincerity. ‘I wouldn’t dare.’
Now he laughed, the sound resonating through her and making her feel so very alive.
‘You could help me get out of trouble very easily, you know.’