His Girl Monday to Friday Read online

  However, it was one thing to make that choice, and quite another to have Charles know about it. He wasn’t stupid; it would take him one second to add two and two and get five. As soon as he discovered she was a virgin he’d want to know why and, worse, why she’d decided to lose her virginity to the one man she’d been criticising for years. Then she wouldn’t just have the rest of her life without him—she’d have the rest of her life with Charles knowing. Well, she just couldn’t do it. Her defences weren’t much, but they were all she had. She was just going to have to make it clear that this was a purely professional relationship.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHARLES got back the next evening. Barbara had been torn all day between thinking it would be safer to leave on the stroke of five and trying to stay late so she could see him. In the end she decided it would definitely be safer to leave at five, but killed time in her office anyway.

  At six-thirty the door of her office swung open, and Charles strode in.

  He’d only been gone a week, but just seeing him made her heart do. a little somersault. It was as if her memory toned him down after a while—as if some mental censor looked at all her images of him and said no one could possibly have eyes that green or a mouth that seductive, and edited all the images to look more like ordinary people.

  Then Charles would walk in, impossibly handsome, so charming that the furniture was probably having palpitations and so full of energy the air sizzled. Today all this charm and energy was directed at Barbara, since Charles was under the impression that he was about to seduce her.

  ‘How was Prague?’ said Barbara.

  ‘Challenging.’ He grinned. ‘Too bad I promoted my secretary. Still, I survived.’

  ‘Good,’ Barbara said feebly. There must be something else she could say. ‘I think the Barrett presentation went all right,’ she said.

  ‘All right?’ said Charles.

  ‘Of course it’s too soon to tell—’

  Charles laughed. ‘It’s not, actually. I hate to spoil the suspense, but when I got in I found this waiting.’

  He tossed a letter onto her desk.

  Barbara picked it up and glanced through it. It was a letter from Mr Barrett himself, no less, complimenting Mallory on its understanding of the needs of his business. It explained that a formal contract would follow in due course, and that he looked forward to doing business with them.

  ‘I don’t believe it,’ Barbara said blankly.

  ‘Why not? You did understand what they needed. Better than I did, seemed to me. I thought you’d do a brilliant job of persuading them, and you did.’ He smiled at her, his eyes warm. ‘Funny thing is, as far as I’m concerned the best thing about it is that you pulled it off. It’s a major step forward for us, obviously. But when I saw this the first thing I thought was that I’d picked another winner.’

  Barbara smiled shyly. ‘Yes, but it was just an accident that I’d happened to work there,’ she pointed out.

  Charles shrugged ‘Anyone could have had the knowledge; that’s not the same as knowing what to do with it.’ He flicked her cheek with a finger. ‘Anyway, this really gives us something to celebrate.’

  ‘Yes,’ Barbara said uneasily.

  A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. ‘Lucky I caught you here,’ he said blandly. ‘Considering that you don’t as yet have any other work on your plate now that Barrett’s dealt with. But at least it means you can leave with a clear conscience. Let’s go and have dinner.’

  Barbara knew this was a bad idea. It wasn’t dinner itself that was the problem, but one thing could lead to another—and she had a pretty good idea of what Charles expected it to lead to tonight. On the other hand, what was she supposed to say? She could hardly come out and say ‘Actually I’m a virgin’ to an invitation to dinner. So what possible reason could she give for refusing?

  Besides, she didn’t want to refuse. This job wouldn’t last for ever. How much longer would she even have the chance to have dinner with Charles? And not just any

  Charles, but a Charles who, instead of glaring at her or mocking her, was actually smiling the smile she’d seen hundreds of times—directed at other women. She’d just swung a deal that would make him millions of poundsno wonder he liked her. Well, why couldn’t she enjoy it just this once?

  ‘All right,’ she agreed.

  They went to a restaurant with a famous chef, but Barbara hardly tasted the food. Charles sat across the table from her, filling her glass, passing her breadsticks, always with that smiling look in his eyes. This time he’d taken her out to dinner not for business reasons but just to be with her. For the rest of her life she’d be able to remember that for three whole hours he’d sat across the table and smiled at her.

  At ten o’clock he said, ‘Well, what do you say? Want to come back to my place and listen to that jazz CD I was talking about?‘ His eyes gleamed, inviting her to share his amusement at this variation on a standard line.

  Barbara knew she should say no. But when would she ever have a chance like this again? She could go back with him and at least he’d kiss her again. Of course, he’d probably be pretty annoyed when she told him she wasn’t planning on going any further, but at least she’d have a few more kisses to add to her life’s grand total.

  ‘I’d love to,’ she said.

  Charles grinned. Then let’s go.’

  They went back to Charles’s penthouse. Last time Barbara had been so exhausted she hadn’t really taken it in; now she walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows and gazed out, open-mouthed, at the glittering city below.

  Behind her came the notes of a cool sax, shimmering percussion.

  ‘Something to drink?’ said Charles. ‘Brandy? Coffee?’

  ‘Brandy,’ said Barbara. She was going to need a little fortification to get through this little discussion, she thought gloomily.

  ‘Coming right up.’ He went to a drinks cupboard, then crossed the room to her side carrying two glasses and handed her one.

  He grinned. ‘To my right-hand man. Mallory’s secret weapon. The Barrett Bombshell.’

  Barbara took a long sip of brandy.

  Charles bent over and brushed her mouth with his. ‘Come and sit down,’ he said softly.

  Barbara followed him to the sofa. The brandy did seem to be helping. It seemed to have cleared her mind. She supposed she’d been vaguely thinking of just kissing Charles as much as she could get away with and then breaking the bad news. Now she realised that was a bad idea. He would probably be annoyed if he found out when he thought he was halfway to the bedroom, whereas if she told him right away, and established some ground rules, he would probably want to kiss her anyway and he wouldn’t blame her if he got frustrated. Good thing he’d suggested the drink.

  She took another swallow and sat down beside Charles.

  ‘Charles,’ she said.

  ‘Mmm?’ He’d put an arm around her shoulders; his eyes smiled into hers.

  ‘There’s something I think I should tell you.’

  ‘Mmm?’ His hand stroked her hair.

  Barbara took one last swallow of brandy, emptying the glass. ‘I don’t want you to get the wrong idea,’ she said. She forced her eyes to meet his. ‘I can’t sleep with you,’ she said baldly. There, at last it was said.

  His mouth quirked up in a smile. ‘What, still afraid I’ll never speak to you again?’ he said teasingly. ‘I swear I will. You’re my Barrett bombshell, Barbara. I can’t give my secret weapon the cold shoulder.’

  ‘I’d just rather not,’ said Barbara. ‘I thought it was fairer to let you know now.’

  The bad news didn’t seem to have made much of a dent in his self-confidence. ‘Was it something I said?’ he asked softly, his breath warming her cheek. ‘I take it back, whatever it was.’ He brushed her mouth with his again, lingering until she leaned back against his arm, her mouth softening under his.

  Presently he raised his head to look down at her. ‘God, you’re beautiful,’ he said. ‘But it’s no
t just that. There’s something wild and untamed about you—always has been. I’d go to your family for Christmas, and I could have the most beautiful woman in London on my arm—someone who makes millions out of her face. You’d come into the room, and she’d look like a pet cat next to a tiger.’ An eyebrow swooped up in sudden self-mockery. ‘Yes, and you’d have your claws in me in less time than it took to say hello.’

  He kissed her again, his mouth swift and hard and urgent. ‘Can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted bo do that,’ he said presently, the green eyes brilliant. “Or how many times I’ve wondered…’ The black slash of eyebrow shot up again, leaving her to finish the sentence.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Barbara said stolidly. His air of selfcongratulation made it easier to go on; he obviously took it for granted, in spite of what she’d said, that she was his for the asking. She raised her dark blue eyes to his and said, with limpid innocence, ‘I’ve never slept with anyone before.’

  ‘You what?’ Charles said blankly.

  ‘I’m waiting to meet the right person,’ said Barbara. ‘I want it to be something meaningful,’ she added. She could feel herself grinning inside at Charles’s look of stunned incredulity. ‘I’m waiting for the person I want to spend my life with,’ she said. ‘I want him to be the first.’

  ‘You’re a virgin,’ said Charles.

  ‘Yes,’ said Barbara. It seemed to be going pretty well, she thought. He seemed to be thinking quite a lot of things, most of them unrepeatable, but at least he didn’t seem to have guessed who she wanted to spend her life with.

  ‘But…’ said Charles. He was looking at her sceptically. ‘Why didn’t you bring this up the other night?’ he asked.

  ‘You said you couldn’t sleep with your secretary,’ Barbara explained. ‘The question didn’t arise.’

  ‘Why do I feel there’s more to this than meets the eye?’ said Charles. He raised an eyebrow. ‘You did come back here tonight, after all. Don’t tell me you thought we were just going to listen to milestones in jazz.’

  ‘I don’t mind kissing you,’ said Barbara. ‘I like kissing you. But I didn’t want you to get frustrated and then blame me.’ Her eyes met his with the angelic innocence which had maddened the rival representatives of two major software companies. It now seemed to be maddening the director of a third.

  For a moment his eyes glowed with sheer temper. Then suddenly he laughed. ‘I should have known it couldn’t be that easy,’ he said ruefully. ‘Why do I put up with you, anyway? I could have called any one of a dozen women for dinner and afters, and instead I get the perfect exsecretary who doesn’t mind kissing me as long as I don’t get frustrated.’

  ‘You were the one who kept saying you were going to seduce me,’ Barbara pointed out. ‘Just because you said it didn’t mean it was going to happen.’

  ‘No,’ he agreed. ‘But I could have sworn…’ The eyebrow flicked up again. ‘I know you think I’m arrogant, but to tell the truth I’d always taken it for granted I’d be wasting my time on you—until just recently.’ He smiled. ‘You don’t kiss like someone who wants to stop at kissing. And the way you were looking at me that weekend…’

  ‘You’re very attractive,’ Barbara said dismissively.

  ‘Aren’t I just?’ He grinned. ‘Well, at least you’re not saving your kisses for Mr Right.’

  He bent his head and lowered his mouth to hers. His mouth was soft and warm, coaxing hers open—not that it took much coaxing. Her lips parted instantly and her arms went around his neck, holding him closer. Had it really only been a week since she’d kissed him? It seemed more like a year. Oh, what would it be like when it really was years and years? She’d thought she’d remembered how marvellous he tasted but it was so much better than she remembered. This tune she must really remember, she thought, breathing in the heady, masculine scent of his skin and hair, locking her mouth to his just in case he tried to stop.

  So far he showed no signs of trying to stop. His tongue was deep in her mouth now, the probing tip sending shock waves of sensation through her. She buried the fingers of one hand in his hair, and slid her other hand down along the smooth, hard line of his jaw; there was something indescribably erotic about holding his head between her hands while his tongue thrust deeper and deeper into her mouth. Oh, why did it ever have to stop? she thought digzily.

  One of his hands slid down her side to her waist She had started wearing suits to the office now, and his hand slipped inside her waistband, pulling out her blouse. She held her breath. His hand was warm against her skin. She let out her breath on a little sigh, and his hand moved to her breast, his thumb slowly scraping over the gauzy fabric of her bra. He was kissing her less urgently now, his mouth softened so that all her attention was centred on the slow movement of his thumb on her breast. She was trembling uncontrollably. Arrows of pleasure seemed to run through her body, piercing her again and again as his thumb moved back and forth. After a very long time he raised his head. His hand was still on her breast.

  ‘Don’t stop,’ she breathed, her eyes pools of desire.

  He smiled faintly. ‘Barbara, darling,’ he said wryly, ‘did you ever stop to think who you’d blame when you got frustrated?’

  ‘No one,’ she said huskily.

  ‘As long as we’re clear on that one,’ he said with a shrug. He unbuttoned her blouse with unnerving onehanded expertise, then bent to kiss her breast. His mouth was hot on her sensitive skin, his tongue teasing her nipple She breathed out a long, shuddering sigh.

  He raised his head to meet her eyes.

  ‘Why did you stop?’ she said faintly. Her heart was racing; the blood was drumming in her ears.

  ‘Because it’s ridiculous,’ he said. He stroked her hair with one hand. ‘Barbara,’ he said softly, ‘you know you want me. You want me as much as I want you, which is saying something. If this idea of saving yourself has been your guiding principle for years maybe I shouldn’t ask you to set it aside at the drop of a hat, but when was the last time you actually thought about it?’

  ‘I can’t remember,’ Barbara said truthfully.

  ‘Well, you know yourself best, obviously.’ He smiled,

  ‘But you might consider giving my principle a run for its money.’

  ‘What’s that?’ Barbara asked hoarsely. If only he would kiss her again.

  ‘The thing that matters isn’t whether you sleep with anyone else before you find your one true love. It’s whether you sleep with anyone else after.’

  Barbara laughed. ‘I should have guessed,’ she said.

  ‘Of course you should,’ he said. ‘But isn’t there some truth in it? If you’d found Mr Right you wouldn’t be here now, or if you were here it would be just as much of a betrayal to kiss me as sleep with me. And it would make sense to be loyal to a person, and a relationship, that actually existed. But right now there’s nothing with that claim on your loyalty. All you can really know is what you feel right now.

  ‘Isn’t it better to be true to the feelings you actually have? If you ever meet someone and feel you want to spend the rest of your life with him, you can be true to that when it happens. In the meantime, why not be true to what you actually feel right now?’

  You really had to hand it to Charles, Barbara thought. A word for any occasion. He sounded so sincere. To listen to him you’d have thought the only thing he was interested in was what was best for her. Devious, conniving, Machiavellian—well, what did it matter? The important thing was that he’d given her an easy way out.

  ‘Hmm,’ said Barbara. ‘You know, I think you may be right.’

  ‘What?’ said Charles, startled.

  ‘I never thought of it that way before,’ she said. ‘As you say, it doesn’t really make sense to try to be loyal to someone who may not even exist.’

  ‘Exactly,’ said Charles. He looked as though he didn’t quite believe his ears.

  ‘The question is just whether I’d like to sleep with you right now.’

  ‘Yes,’ sa
id Charles. He looked distinctly wary.

  ‘And I think I would. Shall we go into the bedroom?’

  ‘Why do I get the feeling there’s more to this than meets the eye?’ he said.

  ‘I can’t imagine,’ said Barbara. ‘The fact is, you’re so devious you think everyone else is too.’ She raised angelic blue eyes to his face. ‘Do you promise to be gentle?’

  ‘I’d better not,’ Charles said dangerously. ‘Considering that at the moment I’d like to wring your neck. I’d love to know what game you’re playing.’

  Barbara smiled. She felt marvellous. Everything was going to be just fine! She’d get to sleep with the man she loved! Of course, he would probably never speak to her again, but then, sooner or later he was bound to find somebody else anyway. Sooner or later he’d stop speaking to her; at least this way she’d have slept with him first.

  ‘What game?’ she said innocently. ‘As you say, I want you as much as you want me.’ She paused. ‘Would you really never sleep with anyone else again if you found the right girl?’

  He hesitated, then shrugged. ‘Yes,’ he said simply, as if daring her to laugh at him. ‘She wouldn’t be the first, but she’d be the last.’

  ‘And you’re just hoping you don’t meet her any time soon,’ Barbara said quizzically.

  He laughed. ‘Oh, I wouldn’t say that But enough of me. It’s time to take a hand in your education.’

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  LATER Barbara could never decide what had been best about the night. She’d heard stories from friends about their first time; some had joked and some had complained and some had said at least it hadn’t hurt too much. At some level, after all the stories, she’d taken it for granted that it would be a disappointment. It would have to be because she’d imagined it so often and longed for it so much.