First Love, Last Love (7 page)

He didn’t rise to her taunt, and some of the angry tension left his body as he smiled. ‘I thought all good bosses had affairs with their secretaries. It’s traditional, you know.’

‘I’m not your secretary, and we are not having an affair!’ She glared at him, her usual fiery nature returning to save her from making a fool of herself. She had been totally shaken by that kiss.

‘True,’ he acknowledged. ‘But have you learnt to respect
my
authority yet?’ He reminded her of the remark that had challenged him to that devastating reaction.

She thought of defying him yet again, but didn’t dare incite another of those shattering kisses. ‘Yes,’ she said quietly.

‘And you’ll admit that there is an attraction between us, and go out with me willingly?’

‘Yes,’ she agreed huskily. There was no point in denying the attraction, he would only have to kiss her again to find that out, and being attracted to him she
wanted
to go out with him.

Alex shook his head in a dazed fashion. ‘You never say what I expect you to say,’ he mused. ‘Maybe that’s why I find you so intriguing. You won’t bore me, Lauren,’ he denied her earlier claim. ‘You’re much too unpredictable for that.’

‘I really will have to go now.’ She avoided getting into a discussion about how he felt about her, anxious to get away from the male magnetism of him.

He nodded. ‘Sure you don’t want me to explain to Miss Hammond?’

‘You’ll only make matters worse.’

‘About Saturday,’ he stopped her hasty flight, ‘am I allowed to pick you up at your home?’

‘No!’

‘Then where?’ he mocked.

‘I—I’ll meet you at the end of my road. You must understand,’ she said desperately at his look of anger, ‘it could make things very awkward if people knew we were going out together, especially for Jane. Think how she would feel if she knew you were dating her niece. Besides, it could be very embarrassing for you too.’

‘I don’t give a damn about me. My employees are paid to work, not to speculate about my private life.’

‘But they do. Please don’t—’

‘God, this is farcical!’ he exploded. ‘Look, I’ll tell your aunt if it will make it easier for you.’

‘Don’t you dare!’ she told him fiercely. ‘If you do that I—I’ll refuse to go anywhere with you,’ she threatened heatedly.

‘I thought you said you would go out with me willingly,’
he reminded her. ‘That you respected my—authority.’

‘Not to that extent,’ Lauri snapped adamantly.

‘All right,’ he sighed his defeat. ‘Saturday.’ He placed a brief kiss on her stubborn mouth. ‘And don’t keep me waiting, or I’m likely to come looking for you.’

Lauri hurried back to the office, claiming she had been shopping and had forgotten the time. As she had never been late before Carly accepted her explanation without question, much to Lauri’s relief. What on earth would Carly have said if she had known the real reason for her lateness!

‘C
OME
on, Steve,’ Lauri said complainingly. ‘It’s your turn to wash up. You may be the only male in the household, but that doesn’t mean you get out of all the work around here.’

He got up with a grimace, taking the tea-towel out of her hand. ‘I’m sure it’s Jane’s turn.’

‘It may be,’ she agreed. ‘But she’s getting ready for her date with Robin.’

‘Well, I’m going out too,’ he moaned.

‘Only to Geoff’s,’ she scorned.

Steve frowned. ‘You don’t think Jane is really serious about Robin, do you?’

Lauri shrugged. ‘I don’t know. You know she never discusses anything like that with us.’

‘I hope she isn’t,’ he grimaced. ‘I can’t stand the man. His sense of humour is non-existent.’

‘It only seems that way because yours is overdeveloped,’ said a sufferer of his pranks for years. ‘He can’t help it if he doesn’t appreciate our warped sense of humour. The poor man feels overwhelmed by us every time he comes here, I’m sure he does. Anyway, if he makes Jane happy, that’s all we should worry about.’ She put the crockery away as he dried it.

‘But does he make her happy? I haven’t seen much evidence of it.’

‘She wouldn’t see him if she didn’t like him.’ Lauri evaded giving him a direct answer, not at all sure herself of Jane’s feelings for Robin. She had been seeing him for some time now, and Robin seemed serious about her, but Jane was as non-committal as ever.

‘I suppose not. Although I really hope he isn’t “Mr
Right”. She could do a lot better for herself than him. Talking of someone better, Mr Blair got in touch with me this afternoon.’

Lauri’s face coloured fiery red and then paled, and she made a pretence of tidying a cupboard so that Steve shouldn’t see her reaction to just the mention of their employer’s name. ‘Did he?’ she asked casually.

‘Mm. Now there’s someone I wouldn’t mind Jane getting serious about. Do you think she likes him?’ he queried interestedly.

Lauri shrugged. How would Steve feel if he knew that it wasn’t Jane who was being dated by Alexander Blair, but herself? ‘She’s never mentioned him as anything other than her boss.’

‘But that doesn’t mean she isn’t interested in him. Now he’s what I call a man, worthy of my big sister. He’s a really great bloke.’

‘Why?’ she asked dryly.

Steve grinned. ‘Because he’s decided to forget about the damage to his car.’

Alex hadn’t wasted much time in letting Steve know that! Now she was really committed to seeing him. Maybe that was why he had done it, perhaps he had thought she might change her mind. ‘So your partiality is purely mercenary,’ she taunted.

‘Not completely, although that does come into it. The damage to his car must be costing a fortune.’

It was. She couldn’t tell Steve just how much, if she did she would have to reveal how she came to know, but the amount still staggered her. That Alex was willing to write that amount off just proved how very rich he was. If she had needed any confirmation!

Jane came down from her bedroom and Lauri shot her uncle a warning glance. Luckily he saw that look before making any revealing remarks.

‘Will you zip me up, please?’ Jane came to stand in
front of Lauri. ‘Thanks,’ she said as Lauri obliged. ‘Are you feeling better today?’ she asked her aunt.

‘Much,’ Jane nodded. ‘Mr Blair seems to have got over his mood, although first thing this morning I thought it was going to be another of those days.’ She smiled. ‘His mood changed after his girl-friend called him.’

Steve’s eyes widened. ‘You actually spoke to Connie Mears?’ he sounded astounded.

Jane shook her head. ‘It would appear she’s been replaced.’ She sat down to wait for Robin. ‘This girl has an incredibly sexy voice.’

‘Who is she, another actress?’ Steve wanted to know.

His sister shrugged. ‘I have no idea. She just introduced herself as Lauren.’

Steve gave Lauri a sharp look, but luckily she managed to meet that searching look with a completely bland expression.

‘She must have arranged to meet him for lunch,’ Jane continued, ‘because he came back from lunch in a really good mood.’

‘What did I tell you about lunchtime sessions?’ Steve joked, having obviously dismissed the idea of this Lauren being his little niece Lauri.

‘Steve!’ Jane frowned at him. ‘I won’t have you talking about Mr Blair like that! In future I shall revert to not telling you anything about him.’ She stood up as the doorbell rang. ‘That will be Robin. I’ll see you both later.’

‘No wonder he let me off paying for his car,’ Steve said once he and Lauri were alone again. ‘She must be really something, his girl-friend.’

‘Yes.’ She pretended interest in the newspaper.

‘For a minute I thought it was you when Jane mentioned someone called Lauren.’

She forced a light laugh and made herself look at him. ‘Now is that likely? Besides, I would hardly describe
my voice as sexy, would you?’

‘Maybe not to me, but then I have no idea how you would talk to a man you’re attracted to.’

‘Who says I’m attracted to Alex Blair?’ she asked sharply.

‘Alex?’
he questioned equally sharply.

Lauri blushed. ‘All right,
Alexander
Blair.’

‘But you called him Alex,’ Steve persisted with a frown.

‘Why not?’ She gave a casual shrug. ‘I’m sure his name gets shortened.’

‘Maybe. But I’ve never heard anyone do it—until now.
Were
you the Lauren who telephoned him?’ he asked suspiciously.

‘Don’t be ridiculous, Steve! You know that no one ever calls me Lauren. I’m always Lauri to my friends.’

‘Yes, but—’

She jumped up as the doorbell rang for the second time that evening. ‘That will be Daryl for me. And I thought you were going to Geoff’s,’ she prompted as she went to the door.

‘Is that a polite way of saying you want to be alone with him?’

She quirked an eyebrow. ‘What do you think?’ Thank goodness he seemed to have forgotten Alex—Alexander Blair for the moment. She would have to make sure she didn’t make that sort of slip again.

‘I hope you intend behaving yourself,’ Steve warned. ‘I wouldn’t want you to do anything stupid just because he’s leaving at the end of the week.’

‘Who is?’ Her thoughts had been miles away—with Alex Blair.

‘Daryl is,’ he said impatiently. ‘Your boy-friend, the person leaning heavily on the doorbell at this very moment.’

‘Oh—oh yes. And if by anything stupid you mean
what I think you mean, you can forget it. I’m not interested in Daryl that way.’ Only one man had the power to excite her to the point of forgetting everything else but him, to make her forget all the morals Jane had taken pains to instil in her.

‘How about Alex?’ Steve taunted.

She blushed uncomfortably. Many more questions like this and she would give herself away completely. Damn Alex Blair and his potent kisses!
‘Alexander,’
she corrected cheekily, opening the door to admit Daryl.

She forced herself to accept Daryl’s greeting kiss, aware that her response was a trifle strained. After Alex Blair’s kisses she couldn’t bring herself to give Daryl any more than the mildest of caresses.

‘Are you feeling all right?’ he asked her once Steve had taken his leave and they were alone.

She avoided looking at him. ‘I’m fine. Maybe a little tired.’

‘Oh, only you seem preoccupied.’

‘Sorry,’ she gave him a bright smile. ‘Steve and I have just been wondering if Jane is serious about her boy-friend. I suppose I’m still thinking about it,’ she lied.

‘I see. Do you think she is?’

Lauri laughed. ‘I have no idea. Steve was more worried about it than I was. I just want Jane to be happy.’

Daryl frowned. ‘Talking of Jane, I thought you said you were going shopping with her lunchtime?’

Another lie, but she had had to make some excuse for not joining him. ‘Yes,’ she answered warily.

‘Then why didn’t you? I saw her eating her lunch in the canteen. She was with a couple of the other secretaries, so I didn’t speak to her.’

‘Actually she—she had to work at the last minute,’ Lauri said hastily. ‘No doubt she was just snatching a quick meal before going back up to her office.’

‘She didn’t look in any hurry to me.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ she queried sharply, attack the best form of defence in this case. ‘What are you implying?’

‘Why, nothing,’ he looked surprised by her aggressive tone. ‘I just wondered why you didn’t let me know and then we could have gone to lunch together as usual.’

‘I went shopping anyway. I—I had some things to get.’

‘I could still have come with you,’ he complained.

‘Well, I didn’t think of it,’ she snapped impatiently. ‘Is it that important?’ She knew she was being bitchy, but she couldn’t seem to help it.

‘It doesn’t appear to be to you,’ he said almost sulkily. ‘But as I’m only going to be around another three days I thought, mistakenly, that you might want to spend as much time with me as possible. It seems I was wrong.’ He stood up. ‘Would you like me to leave?’

‘Don’t be silly, Daryl!’ She felt guilty about her treatment of him. Alexander Blair might have her totally confused with his male magnetism, but that was no reason to take it out on Daryl. ‘Sit down and we’ll listen to some records.’

‘Well … If you’re sure?’

‘I’m sure.’ It was about the only thing she was sure of!

She was just as bad the next day, her work output nowhere up to standard. How could she have agreed to go out with Alexander Blair on Saturday? It was an act of sheer madness on her part. He had openly admitted he was only seeing her so that he would tire of her. How flattering that was!

Why was it that men like him, men who threw their independence from women out as a challenge to any red-blooded female, had the power to captivate? But he wasn’t just a challenge to her, although his remark about familiarity leading to contempt still rankled, he really did attract her most strongly. She wasn’t even sure she liked him as a person, he was much too arrogant
and dictatorial for her independent nature, but he only had to kiss her to get her to agree to anything he suggested. As long as he didn’t suggest they sleep together she should be all right!

‘Telephone call for you, Lauri,’ Carly called over to her.

She looked up with a frown. She never received calls here. ‘Male or female?’ she asked before going into the office.

Carly grinned. ‘Oh, definitely male.’

‘Daryl?’

Her supervisor shrugged. ‘Could be. He didn’t say.’

‘Okay. Thanks.’ She picked up the receiver. ‘Yes?’

‘Lauren?’

‘Al—er—hello,’ she quavered, conscious of Carly standing a few feet away, able to hear her side of the conversation at least.

‘Is there someone in the room with you?’ Alexander Blair demanded to know at her restraint. ‘Carly Hammond, perhaps?’

Well, it was her office, for goodness’ sake! ‘Yes.’

‘Get rid of her,’ he growled.

She gave an angry gasp. ‘That isn’t possible.’

‘Of course it is,’ he snapped impatiently. ‘Just tell her to get out.’

‘I can’t do that,’ she refused firmly. ‘But thank you for calling. I—I’ll get back to you later in the week.’ When she would give him a piece of her mind!

‘Don’t put this phone down, Lauren,’ he warned. ‘If you do I’ll come down to the typing pool. Do you want that?’

‘No!’ she told him furiously. ‘You know I don’t.’

‘Then get rid of her. How the hell can I have a conversation with you with her listening to your end of it?’

‘Perhaps it would have been better if you hadn’t called here, I’m sure you have my home number.’

‘You know damn well I have, but you wouldn’t have liked my calling you there either. Carly Hammond may not have recognised my voice, but I can assure you your Aunt Jane would have no trouble doing so. Perhaps it’s as well Carly is there, you can ask her for the afternoon off.’

‘Don’t be stu—That’s impossible,’ she held on to her temper with effort.

‘I’ll make it possible. Put her on to me.’

‘No,’ she refused angrily. ‘I can’t get away. It’s too late in the day to make the arrangements.’

‘Put her on, Lauren,’ he ordered firmly.

‘No, I won’t.’ She gave Carly a resigned shrug and put her hand over the mouthpiece. ‘Sorry about this,’ she murmured. ‘Some people are so persistent.’

‘Do you need some time off?’ Carly asked sympathetically.

‘Well, I—’ She didn’t want to give in to this autocratic man, and yet she didn’t want him coming down here either.

‘Lauren?’ Alex queried tersely. ‘What’s going on? Have you asked her?’

‘No, and I don’t intend to.’ She put the receiver down. How dared he take that attitude with her! Her youthfully confident nature rebelled against such arrogance.

‘Something wrong?’ Carly was watching her curiously.

‘Some people think I have nothing better to do …’ she mumbled, scowling. ‘I—Would you mind if I went to lunch now?’ She knew she didn’t have much time to get out of here before Alex arrived. She had no doubt he would carry out his threat to come down to the typing pool.

‘Of course not,’ Carly agreed readily. ‘Are you sure you don’t need some time off?’

Not if it meant she looked as if she were giving Alex
what he wanted. ‘I just need my lunch,’ she smiled.

‘Persistent boy-friend?’

She shook her head. ‘A forgotten dental appointment. I conveniently forgot the last one too.’

‘You can still go. We aren’t too busy this afternoon.’

‘No, thanks. I have an aversion to dentists. Just the thought of it has made me feel ill. I’ll see you later.’ Lauri collected her jacket and handbag and made a hurried exit. If Alex came down here she intended being conspicuous in her absence.

‘And just where do you think you’re going?’ A hand shot out and stopped her progress—and she didn’t need two guesses who her assailant was.

She slowly turned to face Alexander Blair. ‘I’m going to lunch,’ she told him defiantly. Oh, she thought, he looked handsome today! The iron-grey suit fitted him perfectly, the white silk shirt taut across his muscular chest.

His eyes narrowed to blue slits. ‘To avoid me?’