‘It’ll only take a minute.’ Melissa pulled a little packet from her bag, opened it and poured the contents into Sophie’s palm. ‘Isn’t it precious?’
Sophie stared at the delicate gold links, the tiny heart clasp with Arabella’s name engraved on it. Beautiful. But not nearly as precious as the tiny new life it was named for.
‘It’s the sweetest thing,’ she agreed, forcing a smile and returning the bracelet to Melissa. ‘Crystal will love it and so will Arabella when she’s old enough.’
Jared was still talking as he walked back into his office and closed the door. Sophie grabbed the opportunity to escape further face-to-face contact and waved her folder. ‘If you’ll excuse me, I was just on my way down to Accounts…enjoy your visit to the hospital.’
She walked swiftly towards the elevators, then changed her mind and veered towards the stairs. She didn’t want to have to wait for the lift and risk sharing it with them, especially with last night’s memories still steaming up the walls.
In Accounts she took her time delivering the folder. Introducing herself to George, the balding fifty-something head honcho. Waiting while he fumbled through the mess on his desk for a report to take upstairs to Jared. Long enough to give Jared and Melissa time to leave the building. But in case they hadn’t, she decided returning the way she’d come was the safest option.
CHAPTER SIX
TEN minutes later Jared disconnected and exited his office to find Lissa balanced on the corner of Sophie’s desk, fiddling with the balloon ties. Sophie was nowhere to be seen.
He must have frowned because Lissa smiled as if she knew something she shouldn’t and said, ‘She went downstairs,’ then glanced at her watch. ‘We need to—’
‘Did she say anything to you?’ he demanded before he could rein in his impatience. Professional communication with his PA was key and Sophie was avoiding him.
Lissa raised her brows. ‘Like what? Come to think of it, she did look kind of flustered. Did you upset her?’
‘No. Wait in the car.’ He tossed her the keys and headed for the elevator.
‘She took the stairs,’ he heard Lissa call behind him. ‘Don’t be long, I’ve got a class…’
The smell of cool musty concrete invaded his nostrils as he yanked open the door to the stairwell. It swung shut with a hollow boom, cutting off Lissa’s voice.
He started down, taking the steps two at a time. He needed an assistant who could put personal issues aside during office hours and work with him. He didn’t have time for this game of denial she seemed to be playing.
He heard the door on the floor below open, close. Peering over the railing, he saw Sophie starting up. Slowly, as if she didn’t have an afternoon’s work awaiting her.
As if she was making sure he’d left before she made her reappearance.
A file she was holding slipped and she grabbed at it, giving him a peek of cleavage. Smooth, dusky, inviting cleavage. He ran a tongue over his teeth. She wore a conservative dress the colour of watermelon. Square neckline, straight skirt, wide emerald-green belt.
His body hardened as he remembered last night. The taste of her skin, her sexy little moan as he’d tucked her against him. The way her eyes had clashed with his when she’d felt his erection. She’d been all-the-way with him. Willing, wanting, desperate. Until Pam had rung.
She was still interested. If he’d found another temp he could have been seeing Sophie socially this evening. He’d not been thinking straight when he’d talked her into staying on as his PA. He’d just wanted to see her again and the sooner, the better.
Okay, she was a current employee, but not for long. A few days, then nothing was stopping them acting on that attraction for however long it lasted. She was off overseas indefinitely in a matter of weeks, which suited him fine—he was nowhere near ready for anything long term. And obviously she didn’t want serious either at this point.
Perfect. Well, almost.
So they were going to clear this up. Now. As he descended she glanced up and caught sight of him. He watched the dismay cross her gaze. Watched her stop and try to compose herself.
‘Sophie.’
‘Jared.’ She jiggled the folders she held tighter against her bosom. ‘Do you want to go over these figures from George before I file them?’
‘No. That’s what I pay you for.’ He stopped two steps above her, then sat down on the concrete so that they were eye to eye. ‘Last night you said you were a professional.’
Her eyes widened. ‘And I am.’
‘You’re avoiding me.’
‘No. I’m busy.’ Then her gaze turned worried. ‘Oh. Since you were on your way out I figured I’d—’