More specifically, memories of Nola—her body straddling his, her face softening as his own body grew harder than it had ever been...
He gritted his teeth. For some reason she had got under his skin in a way no woman ever had before. He’d even fallen asleep holding her in his arms. But for once intimacy had felt natural, right.
Staring down blankly at his computer screen, he felt his chest tighten. So what if it had felt right? He’d held her in his sleep. He hadn’t even been conscious. And of course he would like to have sex with Nola again. He was a normal heterosexual man, and she was a beautiful, sexy woman.
Abruptly his muscles tensed, his eyes narrowing infinitesimally as through the open door he caught a glimpse of gleaming dark hair.
Nola! His stomach tightened involuntarily and he felt a rush of anticipation.
All day he’d been expecting to bump into her, had half imagined that she might seek him out. But now he realised that wouldn’t be her way. She’d want it to play out naturally—like the tide coming in and going out again.
He breathed out sharply, his pulse zigzagging through his veins like a thread pulled through fabric, and before he even knew what he was doing he had crossed the room and yanked open the door.
But the corridor was empty.
Anger stuttered across his skin.
What the—? Why hadn’t she come in to talk to him? She must have seen him.
Breathing out slowly, he stalked swiftly through the corridor to his office.
Jenny, his secretary, glanced up from her computer, her eyes widening at the expression on his face.
‘Get Nola Mason on the phone. Tell her I want her in my office in the next five minutes.’
Slamming his office door, he strode across the room and stared furiously out of the window.
Was this some kind of a game?
Hopefully not—for her sake.
There was a knock at the door, and he felt a rush of satisfaction at having dragged Nola away from whatever it was she’d been doing.
‘Come in,’ he said curtly.
‘Mr Walker—’
He turned, his face hardening as he saw Jenny, hovering in the doorway.
She smiled nervously. ‘I’m sorry, Mr Walker. I was just going to tell you, but you went into your office before—’
He frowned impatiently. ‘Tell me what?’
‘Ms Mason can’t come right now.’
‘Can’t or won’t?’ he snapped.
Jenny blinked. ‘Oh, I’m sure she would if she were here, Mr Walker. But she’s not here. She left about an hour ago. For the airport.’
Ram stared at her in silence, his eyes narrowing.
The airport?
‘I—I thought you knew,’ she stammered.
‘I did.’ He gave her a quick, curt smile. ‘It must have slipped my mind. Thank you, Jenny.’
As the door closed his phone buzzed in his jacket and he reached for it, glancing distractedly down at the screen. And then his heart began to beat rhythmically in his chest.