Knight Takes Queen (13 page)

‘Then you know that some studies show no significant difference in birth weight, birth defects or mortality; others show higher risk. We just don’t know because we don’t have any controlled studies of the wider population even though the UK has actively promoted the drug as a contraceptive since 2008. Without undue problems, I might add.’ She smiled faintly. ‘I wish I could give you a more helpful answer. Obviously, this was an unplanned pregnancy. Is it a concern for you?’

Maybe it was her expression or tone of voice, but he recognized what the code word,
concern
, meant. ‘I’m not concerned except for the child’s safety. Unplanned or not, we’re both very pleased about the pregnancy.’

‘I’m happy to hear that.’ Dominic Knight pleased about having a child was astonishing. He wasn’t known for his family values. She thought he might have been intent on an
early appointment because time was an issue if he wanted a remedy for his fiancée’s pregnancy.

She’d first met Dominic Knight at a cocktail party. Her brother-in-law Ian’s parliamentary committee was involved in licensing Knight’s North Sea wind farm and Dominic was hosting the party in order to marshal votes for some concessions he wanted. He was working the room, a glamorous woman at his side. A blonde if she remembered. He’d charmed everyone, particularly the female MPs. The blonde, she suspected, played a similar role for the male guests. She’d never forget Dominic Knight’s eyes as she was introduced to him. The cool blue neutrality was marked, as though he was operating on autopilot at the thousandth business function of the year.

While he hadn’t remembered her, he was, of course, unforgettable even in a crowd.

Although he seemed unaware of his impact.

‘Is your fiancée worried?’

He looked startled, as if his mind had been elsewhere. ‘We haven’t discussed it. If she’s worried, she hasn’t said so.’ His mouth twitched faintly. I’d be surprised if she hasn’t already looked into this.’ He smiled. ‘We’re probably both avoiding the subject.’

‘Very sensible.’

‘My feelings exactly. Thank you for your time.’

‘My pleasure. We’ll see you in a month.’

Not if he could help it. His plane was at Heathrow, his pilots on call
. He smiled. ‘I’ll make the appointment now.’

Dominic’s London operation was in a typically Victorian grandiose mansion on the Thames that he’d bought strictly for the view. His office on the second floor faced the great sweeping curve of the river, the spectacular vista framed in floor-to-ceiling windows he’d had installed after he purchased the property.

There was a security guard at the door and a receptionist behind a counter in the entrance hall. And Dominic greeted them both with a nod and a smile as he escorted Kate to a caged elevator tucked into the curve of an impressive but strange art nouveau/Egyptian motif stairway sweeping up to the next level.

Kate smiled as he slid the wildly ornate and gilded black wrought iron door open for her. ‘This has to be original,’ she said, stepping inside.

‘Yup,’ he said, following her in. ‘We restored it. Expensively. We had to have parts retooled.’ He pulled the door
shut, punched a button and the cage began to rise. ‘It’s no longer a deathtrap.’

‘Good to know.’ She gave him a teasing upward glance. ‘Was there a body count?’

‘There might be now.’ He faked a lunge, she squealed, he grinned. ‘Don’t fuck with the boss, baby. You’ll always lose.’

‘Hey, be nice, I
like
to fuck the boss,’ she murmured and took a step towards him. ‘It’s one of my all-time favourite activities.’ She reached for the elevator control board. ‘Let me press this little button here and—’

‘Uh-uh.’ He brushed her hand aside.

‘Why not?’ She was genuinely startled. She never had seen the Dominic Knight who turned down sex.

‘Because this is neither the time nor the place,’ he said, calmly.

‘What if I want it to be?’ she challenged, moving past startled to insulted. ‘It won’t take long.’

He gave her a cool, mildly combative look. ‘You don’t want to do this, Katherine.’

His rebuff was like a slap in the face. Stepping back, she said as coolly, ‘Unless you’re a mind reader how do you know what I want to do?’

The elevator came to a stop on their floor.

‘Maybe I’ll just wait outside in the car,’ she said, her tone between pissy and super pissy.

His nostrils flared. ‘I don’t want you to wait in the car.’

She brought her chin up. ‘You started it.’

‘Jesus, are you fucking five?’

‘If I’m five, you’re fucking four. So don’t bloody snap at me. And for your information, when you want to fuck …’ her green eyes glittered with temper, ‘I generally don’t refuse.’

True. So very true
. Forcibly cranking down his temper, Dominic reminded himself that his former selfishness was no longer expedient, that this temperamental woman was the love of his life, the mother of his child and the virtual sun that warmed his world. ‘My apologies, Katherine,’ Dominic said with exquisite courtesy and minor restraint because it was all well and good to rationalize away one’s temper, but getting it to disappear completely was another matter. ‘If you’d give me a pass on having sex right now, I’d appreciate it.’ He blew out a breath. ‘I’d appreciate it a whole lot.’

‘Oh God, I’m so sorry,’ Kate breathed, contrite and full of regret when she saw how generous Dominic was in accommodating her. ‘I’m such a selfish bitch harassing you when you have this business call on your mind and it’s already been a long day and really … I apologize. My temper is deplorable.’

‘My temper’s not any better.’ He dipped his head, held her gaze and smiled. ‘Look, let’s just get through this call and then we can fuck with each other in a good way. OK?’

She bit back her wisecrack remark and said, ‘OK,’ like a well behaved, understanding, compassionate adult.

‘Perfect.’ Drawing back the elevator door, he waved her out. ‘Take a left.’

The walnut panelled corridor was hushed, with the gold-framed maritime paintings she now recognized as Dominic’s preference lining the walls. A thick carpet underfoot muffled the sound of their footsteps.

‘This conference call might take a while. Feel free to sleep through it if you want. I wish I could. Here, this is it.’ Opening one of two decoratively inlaid doors, he ushered Kate into a large sunny office lined with bookshelves and furnished with two seating areas, one near a fireplace. There was a large library table with chairs centred on a floral Isfahan carpet. Across the large anteroom, another set of equally elaborate doors led to an inner office, its gatekeeper seated at her desk, regarding them through owlish dark-rimmed glasses.

Kate flashed a quick startled look at Dominic but he was smiling at the stout, grey-haired woman in a purple suit, her pursed lips glossed in startling magenta. ‘Afternoon Helen.’ He pointed at a vase of yellow daisies on her desk. ‘Are the flowers from your garden?’

‘Of course.’

‘I should know, right?’

‘It’s been ten years,’ she said, drily, her gaze shifting to Kate. ‘Now show me your manners.’

‘I was getting there,’ Dominic said with a grin. ‘Helen, meet Katherine. Mrs Langdon, Miss Hart, my fiancée.’

Dominic’s assistant masked her surprise at the word fiancée. ‘Please, call me Helen,’ she said with a smile. While Max had mentioned Dominic’s new status, she hadn’t
believed him, mainly because during the last decade, a great number of women had passed her desk – some introduced, most not. Julia was the only one who had stayed for more than a few hours.

‘Everyone calls me Kate.’ Kate did an equally good job concealing her shock at seeing the grandmotherly figure behind the desk. ‘Most everyone,’ she added, giving Dominic a teasing smile. ‘Dominic stands on ceremony.’

‘I’m surprised.’ The woman’s gaze slid to her employer. ‘He generally prefers informality in every aspect of his life.’

‘And Helen keeps trying to teach me manners.’

Kate grinned. ‘Really, you think he’s teachable? I haven’t noticed that trait.’

‘Ha!’ Helen exploded, jabbing a finger at Dominic, her purple nail polish with sparkles flashing in the light. ‘Now I have an ally.’

‘You and everyone else looking to teach me something,’ Dominic said drolly. ‘Go for it. Maybe I’m ready to change.’

If getting married was any indication
, Helen thought,
major change was already on board
. ‘If that’s true, it’s about time,’ she said with a lift of her eyebrows. ‘I’ll say no more.’

‘I wish you wouldn’t.’ He held her gaze for a telling moment. ‘Seriously.’

‘Certainly, sir.’ But she took affront that he even considered she might disclose his private matters.

Oh shit, now she was pissed
. Helen never called him sir. But he didn’t care; he didn’t want any gossip reaching Katherine.

A small silence fell.

‘No offence, Helen,’ he said smoothly, his voice the kind reserved for diplomatic impasses that required extraordinary tact. ‘You understand.’

‘Yes, of course. None taken.’ Her pride aside, she was gratified Dominic cared about a woman enough to be concerned.

Kate briefly wondered what the hell was going on. Was Helen some relative? Was she blackmailing him? Why was Dominic suddenly deferential?

‘Max told me to remind you that Hobbs has joined the consortium and he’s always touchy,’ Helen said, businesslike again. ‘And I’m telling you to try not to swear too much,’ she added in a brisk, motherly tone.

Dominic made a face.

And for a second he looked like an unruly child, Kate thought.

But a second later, the protective armour he wore for the world was back in place. ‘Thanks for the advice,’ he said neutrally. ‘But moral fanatics are a pain.’

‘Hobbs comes with deep pockets. Max’s words.’

Dominic shrugged. ‘I still don’t know if it’s worth it. What’s he talking?’

‘A billion. That might be worth a little discretion.’

‘I’ll think about it,’ Dominic said in a tone of voice that meant he wouldn’t. ‘A billion’s not going to break the bank. Max is too conservative.’

‘You know he prefers spending other people’s money rather than yours.’

‘But I don’t. Not if too many strings are attached.’

‘That’s your decision, of course,’ she coolly said.

Dominic smiled. ‘Thank you, Helen. It’s good to know I still have a vote.’

Mrs Langdon’s little sniff reminded Kate of Nana.

‘Max also said he might be back before the conference is over,’ she said with composure. ‘It depends how long the meeting lasts at the naval ministry.’

‘That’s fine. I don’t need him. And I don’t need you, so go on home. I’ll see you in the morning. And I like your purple nails,’ Dominic said with a flicker of a smile. ‘They’re rockin’.’

Kate watched the eyes behind the owlish glasses light up with pleasure.

‘I thought it was a nice contrast to my yellow daisies.’

‘You’ve got the eye, Helen. It’s perfect. Now get the hell out of here. Mike likes it when you’re home in time for a drink before dinner.’

‘Don’t forget about Hobbs.’ Like any mother, she was undeterred by his resistance.

‘I’ll give him a break the first three times he annoys me. How about that?’

Helen shook her head. ‘How you manage to make a living is beyond me.’ But she was smiling as she took her handbag out of the desk drawer.

Dominic ushered Kate into his office, showed her the spectacular view of the Thames then waved her to a green leather Chesterfield sofa. ‘Make yourself comfortable. Helen ordered some food for you.’

‘Is she a relative?’ Kate asked, sitting down. ‘You don’t defer to many people.’

He smiled. ‘Only you, baby.’

‘And Helen apparently. So?’

‘She’s not a relative, but she’s worked here a long time. If you think I defer to her, I must.’ Another polite smile and he moved towards his desk. ‘Now if you eat the good stuff, there are truffles for dessert.’

‘You’re not going to answer me?’

‘I thought I did.’ He turned to face her fully. ‘I’m not good with feelings, baby. You know that. I like Helen. Maybe that’s all it is.’

‘OK, if that’s all I’m going to get.’ Swinging her legs up on the sofa, she leaned back against the armrest.

He softly sighed. ‘I really wish I could help you out, baby. But I just have an empty space where normal people store their files on feelings.’ He grinned. ‘I blame my parents for that defect like I blame them for my other ten million fuck-ups. Now eat something and you can have the truffles.’

Jettisoning the therapy session because she wasn’t competent in that area and as usual he was avoiding the conversation, she smiled back. ‘What if I want to eat the truffles first? You’re not the boss of me, you know.’

He laughed. ‘That’s always debatable, isn’t it, baby? But this time,’ he tapped the box on his desk, ‘you’ll have to get by me to eat these first.’

‘I might be able to do that,’ she said, softly, beginning to unbutton her suit jacket.

He swept the box off the desk top, slid it in a drawer and locked it. ‘And maybe you won’t.’

She stopped unbuttoning, stuck her bottom lip out. ‘Just so you know – you’re being cruel to the mother of your child.’

‘But good to our baby.’ Dropping into his desk chair, Dominic unbuttoned his suit jacket, loosened his tie and collar button. ‘And I’ll be really nice to you as soon as we get home. So be a good mommy, eat the Caprese salad at least. You like them. Then I’ll unlock my drawer.’

‘You’re an appalling tyrant,’ she muttered.

He smiled. ‘Do it and you’ll get a reward. Two of them – the truffles, then me in the kind of tyrannical mood you like.’

She gave him an almost smile, part wicked, mostly sweet. ‘You do know how to deal, Mr Knight.’

‘I do, Miss Hart. Although you’re super easy. Sex and chocolate.’ His blue-eyed gaze was amused. ‘You take that deal every time.’ He pointed at the tray on the table beside the sofa. ‘One Caprese salad, one box of truffles and as soon as I wind up this pain-in-the-ass conference call, home to bed where we both get a prize. You first and often, of course. OK?’

‘That’s one impossible-to-refuse proposition,’ she said with a smile, his words tripping through her mental garden of sexual delights. ‘Particularly the first and often part.’

His voice dropped in volume and he leaned forward slightly, his blue gaze intense, magnetic. ‘You like that clause? I could put it in all our deals.’

‘Jesus, Dominic …’ She shut her eyes, felt the deep resonance of his voice slide through her body, melt, hot and needy deep inside her, ignite all her libidinous urges.

He glanced at the clock, wondering if he had time, saw he didn’t, flicked on the TV instead, found a noisy game show and waited for Kate to open her eyes.

When she did, she said, a tad sullenly, ‘Don’t you ever just lose it?’

‘With you? Constantly. I just about passed on this conference call.’

‘But you didn’t.’

He held her gaze. ‘Do you want me to?’

‘Yes, of course I do – no don’t,’ she quickly said as he reached for his phone.

He looked up. Sat back in his chair. ‘Your call, baby. And I never do shit like this for anyone but you, so when it comes to losing it,’ he smiled, ‘you’re my one-person mutiny, turning my life ass-backwards.’ His smiled widened. ‘I mean in the nicest ass-backwards way.’

‘Oh jeez …’ She took a deep breath, shut down the childish bitch who wanted her own way this
second
, exhaled and spoke in her mature adult tone of voice. ‘An hour, right, and then we can go home?’

‘Less. I’ll make it less.’

‘Thank you.’ The childish bitch was really minding her manners. ‘And I should eat something good for the baby, shouldn’t I?’

‘I’d be very grateful.’

‘How grateful?’

He laughed. ‘Until you can’t stand it grateful.’

‘Am I too demanding?’ Her smile was playful, the twinkle in her eyes teasing. ‘Just asking ’cause I could try and be better.’

He grinned. ‘So far I’ve managed to keep up.’

‘You are so unbelievably, totally loveable,’ she purred. ‘And I know I’m the only woman who’s ever said that to you.’

‘Absolutely, baby. The very first.’
The first that mattered
.

‘OK, then. I promise to behave.’

‘Only for a limited time, baby. After that we’ll play as long as you want.’

So Kate dutifully ate the salad, Dominic carried over the small box of truffles, said, ‘You’re the best mommy,’ set it in her lap, kissed her on the forehead, returned to his desk and started powering up the bank of TV screens.