Ray of Love (Lifestyle by Design Book 3) (2 page)

He shoved his hands in his pockets and strode purposefully out of his office building. It was absolutely silly. Hell, it was crazy. But for the life of him, he just had to give it another try. Maybe this time she'd agree to go out with him so he could either get her out of his system for good or make her fall in love with him.

Okay, who was he kidding? There was only one choice that mattered and it was the second one. After more than a year of searching for a woman who would make him forget about Faye Summers, he hadn't succeeded yet. Now that she was available again, he simply couldn't resist grabbing this new opportunity.

He was still kicking himself for not being persistent enough sixteen months ago. But when she told him then that she just started dating another guy, he backed off straight away. It was clear she preferred the other man and he wasn't desperate for a date. After all, he had his fair share of female admirers.

But how was he to know that he had already fallen for her and was just too proud to admit it? When he realised the extent of his feelings, the relationship she was in was already serious. She seemed happy and he didn't want to ruin her bliss.

He still couldn't believe how he had fallen for someone he hadn't even slept with. Jesus, they hadn't even gone out on a real date! But from the very first time he met her he was totally bowled over, not just by her captivating beauty but also by her personality.

Faye was a confident, funny, outgoing, smart, loyal, caring and straight-to-the-point woman. But beyond that, there was something about her that called to that deep, hidden part of him that no one else had ever touched - except her. She had cast a spell over him and he couldn't seem to escape it.

There were no explanations for how he felt. He had already questioned and analysed his feelings until his brain hurt but he couldn't deny the fact that every time he saw her, even if it was simply bumping into her on the street, his heart raced and he wished with everything he had that he was with her - that she was his.

He'd given up trying to fight it. Instead, he'd resigned himself to the fact that he could be spending the rest of his life feeling incomplete and unfulfilled. That was until he learnt she was single again. And heavens above, he would be more persistent this time in getting her to give him a chance.

He walked to the vicinity of Faye's office, where she worked as a senior career consultant for one of Australia's largest career consulting firms, and stationed himself outside a coffee shop across the road from her building. He got there at exactly twelve noon. He didn't know what time Faye would be taking her lunch break but he would stand there until she came out. He just hoped he didn't have to wait around for too long.

And what if she had brought lunch with her and didn't have to leave her building?

He knew if he missed her today he'd just try again tomorrow.

He shook his head, unable to believe what he was willing to put himself through. But then again, patience, resilience and tenacity were some of his major traits that enabled him to build a highly successful business, even after a number of failed attempts that almost bankrupted him. He was determined to succeed when it came to Faye, too.

It would be mortifying, though, if Faye rejected him again. So for now, he would have to be sneaky and make everything look as if it was pure coincidence.

He checked the time and noticed fifteen minutes had passed. He was tempted to order coffee while he waited for her but a woman walking out of the building he was watching made his heart pound like mad. There was Faye, looking just as beautiful as always, strolling towards the nearby food court.

He sighed with relief and quickly followed her. All of a sudden, he found himself more nervous than he had been for a long, long time.

For fuck's sake, Ray. You're thirty-four, not fourteen. Relax!

CHAPTER TWO

Faye wandered around the food court, trying to decide what to eat. She really craved some fish and chips but after her big Chinese dinner last night, she knew a salad would be better for her hips.

She slowed in front of the fish and chips shop and looked longingly at the counter. She willed herself to continue walking towards the salad place when she heard someone call her name.

"Faye!"

She turned and saw Ray approach with a wide smile that made his already good-looking face even more handsome.

"Hey, Ray! What are you doing here?" She forced her gaze to leave his sexy lips to look into his eyes.

"I was already in the area and I thought I'd get some lunch. Fish and chips, I think."

"That's what I want!"

"Great! Shall we order?" Ray extended his arm, indicating for her to get in front of him so she could order first.

She shook her head. "I'm thinking I should have a salad instead," she explained in the tone of someone ready to give in to her craving. Her eyes went back to the greasy, piping hot chips displayed to tempt hungry people like her.

Ray chuckled. "Tell you what. Why don't you get a salad and I'll share some of my fish and chips with you?"

She glanced back at him and her eyes widened as she noticed something different - and yet familiar - about him. "You had your hair cut!" It was just the way she liked it.

The grin on Ray's face clearly showed how pleased he was that she noticed. "Yeah."

"Looks good."

"Thanks."

Faye wanted to gawk at Ray until the cows came home. But, of course, she mustn't. She tore her eyes from him, only for them to land back at the not-good-for-your-figure food that was definitely taunting her. "Could you, maybe, ask them to give you more chips?" she asked him.

"Sure."

"Thanks. I'll get my salad and find us a table."

As she walked away, she felt Ray staring at her back. Before she could stop herself, she turned her head and found him doing just that. It pleased her immensely.

"Ugh! Why do these chips have to be so irresistible?" Faye complained as she stole another one from Ray's plate and dipped it in ketchup before putting it in her mouth.

"When was the last time you had them?" Ray asked.

"I can't even remember. It was that long ago."

"Well, that's what you get from denying yourself."

"I know. That's why most diets fail, isn't it? As they say, moderation is the key. Problem is, I can't stop with a few."

"You've always looked great, Faye."

She looked down at her plate as her cheeks pinked from Ray's husky tone and appreciative gaze.

Damn it, stop blushing!

She wasn't the shy, blushing type. But for some reason, Ray's compliment triggered some unusual response in her.

That was so totally unexpected, as was her acute awareness of him. It seemed that every cell in her body was attuned to his masculine force. She noticed how soft his lips looked as he spoke and wondered what it would be like to kiss them. She watched how his male chest moved as he breathed and wished she could unbutton his shirt. She admired his long, strong fingers as he cut his food and was sure they'd feel oh-so-good stroking her skin …

She fidgeted in her seat, completely taken aback by the strength of her new reaction to him. Yes, she'd always thought Ray was attractive - very - but in the past, she was perfectly fine with ignoring that attraction. But now, his pull was much stronger and she was finding it harder to push it aside. Much, much harder.

When did that start happening?

"So," Ray said as he leaned closer to her, "do you think I'll get lucky enough to get picked up by you?"

I'd pick you up anytime, anywhere, if only my best friends didn't work for you,
was what she wanted to say but her tongue was stuck at the roof of her mouth
.

"Faye," Ray said quietly as he reached over the table and grasped her hand with his warm one, making her look up to his bright, blue eyes that were glinting dangerously. "I know you're someone who honestly speaks her mind. If you say you're really not interested in me -
still
not interested in me - then that's fine. You don't need to soften the blow. All you need to do is say it. But from what I'm currently sensing, there's a little bit of attraction there for me, too? Or is that just plain wishful thinking on my part?"

She took a deep breath and released it slowly before replying. "Yes, I'm attracted to you, Ray," she said softly. "But I don't think it's a good idea for us to act on it."

"Why not?"

"Because my three best friends in the whole world are your employees. You know how close we are and it could become messy, not just for the two of us but also for them."

"Why?"

"What if we ended up having a really terrible experience with each other and I have to download all my negativities and frustrations to my friends? They'd go to work and look at you in a different light, which would be very unfair to them as well as to you. You could still be the wonderful boss you've always been but because of me, they could start to hate you a little bit."

"Right, and I suppose they could also ask you to twist my arm and do favours for them like increasing their salary or giving them bigger bonuses if we ended up together," Ray commented.

"No! They're not like that," she said heatedly, defending her friends. "If you don't know them by now, then you don't know them at all. You know they'd never do anything like that. They'll maintain professionalism and they wouldn't think of using me to get something from you."

Ray grinned widely and nodded in agreement. "That's exactly my point, Faye. I trust Clarise, Jessa and Victor implicitly. If the two of us could handle it, I don't see a reason why they couldn't."

"The difference is that if we end up hating each other, you and I won't need to see each other's faces ever again. They don't have that choice. They work for you," she reasoned.

"If you did end up hating me, why would they hate me, too?" Ray countered. "I hardly think of them as juveniles with no minds of their own. In fact, they're very sensible, intelligent people. They'd understand that whatever might or might not eventuate between the two of us has nothing to do with their relationship with me. Whatever happens, I'm sure we would all cope and adjust."

Faye propped an elbow on the table and rested her chin on her palm as she mulled on Ray's words. The points he made were good. But she still had some reservations.

"Okay, I can see your point on that. But I still think it would be very uncomfortable for all of us if we dated," she said to him.

"So why tell them? Why not keep it to ourselves for the time being? We can go out on a date without them knowing about it, can't we?"

She looked at Ray with wide eyes. "But I tell them everything."

"Everything?
Every single detail of every single date you've been on?"

"Well, the important and exciting bits, at least," she answered as she smiled at the thought of how she could make her friends squirm when she tried to extract details of their dates from them. But when it came to her, there was no need for them to force anything out. She volunteered most of the information. If she didn't say anything, they wouldn't prod. They would simply think there was nothing for her to say.

Could she really keep a secret from her best friends? Especially one as fascinating as going out with their boss?

But Ray being their boss was precisely the reason why she was willing to keep it a secret. It would save her having to worry about what they thought and vice versa. And if it turned out to be a big fat mistake, it was better they didn't know she went out with Ray in the first place.

"I think it would be okay —" she began.

"Of course, it would be okay," Ray interrupted eagerly.

She chuckled as she continued, "I think it would be okay as long as I can talk to them about going out with you without them knowing it's really you."

"What do you mean?"

"I can give you a nickname. What about John? So when I share things with them about you, I'll call you John. Would that be okay? I don't want them to know we've agreed to go out on a date until … well, whenever the time's right."

"Yeah, that's okay." Ray leaned back in his chair with a smile of triumph and boyish glee.

"There's another thing, Ray," she added with a stern gaze, still feeling slightly apprehensive. "I'm not ready for anything serious right now. I would love to enjoy your company but that would be all for the foreseeable future."

Ray stared at her with a look that seemed to read her soul. After long seconds, he smiled. "Okay, I understand."

Faye let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. Having made a decision to go out with Ray, she suddenly felt buoyant. She curled up her lips invitingly. "So, Ray, do you like going to the movies?"

"As a matter of fact, I do," he answered with a blinding smile.

"There are a couple of movies I've been wanting to watch. I was wondering if you'd like to see one with me."

"I'd love to." His eyes were smoking hot and his grin sexy as hell. "When?"

"Hm, how about next week? Tuesday night?"

"Perfect. I must say, this haircut really is a chick-magnet. Thanks for the tip, Faye."

Their soft laughter filled the already electrified air around them.

*******

"It looks like we have to find somewhere else to eat," Jessa remarked as they scanned their usual Monday lunch haunt and found it full.

"Sorry, my fault," Faye said. "Finishing that report took me longer than I expected. I can't believe how this place is getting more and more popular."

"I know. Maybe it's time for us to find somewhere new, anyway. For a change."

"So what does everyone feel like? There's an Italian place right there and a Japanese place next to it. They're both on the expensive side but that's probably why they're not full," Victor commented.

"I vote for the Japanese. I have to watch what I eat or I won't look good in that wedding dress I want," Clarise responded.

"I agree. Japanese for me, too," Jessa said.

"Listen to you two. As if you're the only ones who have to look good on both your weddings. We bridesmaids and groomsmen have to watch our figures, too, you know," Faye said with a laugh.