LITMIR.BIZ

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shared with Josh. The house he encouraged me to remortgage to bolster our growing business and the debts he could so easily ignore when he walked away with our most lucrative clients.

      ‘Where do you live?’ I’m helpless against the way his mouth moves as he answers, remembering the decadent way he kissed me this morning—full pelt, like he’d been dying to do it since I stepped into the Faulkner Group offices the day before.

      I half listen to him talk about Chelsea and how he and his brothers all live within a mile of each other, and close to Graham. I remember how close-knit they were growing up, although Kit and Drake seemed to squabble a lot, dragging Reid into the occasional argument on the rare occasions he was home when I visited.

      ‘You’ve drifted—everything okay?’ Reid’s voice draws me back to our date. ‘Nervous?’ he asks, and I want him to touch me, to shove my body into that heady euphoria of this morning.

      I latch onto the lifeline of his dark blue eyes and nod. ‘A little. This is my first date—’ I make air quotes to let him know I’m not shifting the goalposts ‘—since Josh and I broke up.’

      His hand lifts to push some hair back from my face but his fingers make no contact with my skin, to my endless frustration. ‘That didn’t end well for you, I’m sensing. Tell me about this dickhead of a fiancé who let you go.’

      I grip my clutch bag and stare out of the window while I organise my emotions on the subject. Funny that admitting I was duped romantically is easier to confess than how naive I was businesswise, perhaps because, with the exception of Reid’s father, no one in my life ever really believed I was capable of running my own business. Even Josh, when I first suggested we start our own company, baulked at the idea, only coming around when I offered the small nest egg I’d inherited from my grandmother as the necessary start-up capital.

      ‘I caught him cheating, so no, it didn’t end well. Does it ever?’

      Shock registers on his face and I take comfort from it for a few flattering seconds.

      ‘What an idiot.’ He takes my hand, the simple gesture incendiary to my body temperature and soothing the sting of admitting past humiliation I should have dealt with by now, but clearly have simply shelved while working to rebuild my business every waking hour.

      I clear my throat, seeking the same bravery I found in his boardroom this morning. ‘I know it’s going to sound naive, but after the initial shock of my discovering his betrayal we parted on good terms. Tried to stay friends for the sake of the business we’d started together after university, which was where we met.’

      Reid’s beautiful mouth twists. ‘That’s incredibly mature of you. I’m not sure I could have taken that attitude in your position.’

      His compliment warms me, the years between us shrinking away for the first time. I change the subject, too close to admitting more and disabusing him of his regard.

      ‘What happened with you and Sadie?’

      Shutters seem to cover his eyes, reminding me this apparent closeness is an illusion—we’re still virtual strangers. I know his father better than I know him.

      ‘Also didn’t work out, although not for the same reasons.’ He shrugs. ‘I dodged a bullet and it sounds like you might have as well. At least you hadn’t married the guy.’ His hand tightens around mine, his thumb swiping the back of my hand. ‘It must have been hard though, losing your fiancé and your business partner in one fell swoop and having to go it alone.’

      I half nod, half shrug. If only he knew...

      ‘I channelled all my energies into the business—put in long hours, rebranded, raised the profile of the company. It’s made me stronger and cured me from ever wanting a business partner again.’

      His smile is layered with respect, causing heat to unfurl inside me. ‘I can imagine, although being self-employed isn’t easy—that’s quite a burden of responsibility. At least I have Kit and Drake, and Graham taught me everything he knows. You’ve completely sidestepped from your family, branched out alone.’

      I don’t need the reminder of how irrelevant what I’m doing is to my large, self-absorbed family, who, as I’m the youngest, have always completely underestimated me. ‘Well, it’s all about scale, isn’t it? You employ hundreds of staff. I have an office manager and a list of subcontractors. And Graham helped me out, too.’

      ‘He did?’ His surprise turns to what looks like awe. And I smile for their father-son bond. Of course, Reid and Graham must be close, working together all these years.

      ‘Yes. I’ve always valued and respected his opinions—he’s given me some valuable advice over the years.’

      ‘Such as?’

      I stall, dozens of memories crowding my mind, most of them linked in some way to the man sitting beside me. ‘He always seemed to have time for me, even when he talked business with my dad—he once spent an hour explaining the way the stock market works to a fifteen-year-old me. When I earned a place at university he sat me down and told me to chase my passions, whatever they were, even if it was the path less travelled. He even came to my graduation ceremony—did you know that?’

      Reid’s eyes widen. He seems shell-shocked, as if I’ve told him something about his father’s warm and giving personality that he didn’t previously know.

      I continue. ‘When I qualified, I started work for a big company in the city—I hated it; I was creatively stifled and felt trapped. I’d chosen this career, against my own family’s advice, and for a moment there, I thought I’d have to admit they were correct and go back to Dad for a job with my tail between my legs. Then I talked to Graham about the idea of starting C&L Interiors. Of course, he knew little of the creative aspects, but he offered plenty of sage business-related advice, put me in touch with a great business-mentoring organisation and was so enthusiastic and encouraging I felt I couldn’t fail. But then, I’ve always found him generous like that.’ I swallow hard at the sickening reminder that, of course, I could fail and almost had.

      ‘Yes. Yes, he is.’ Reid looks at me as if with fresh eyes. ‘I was unaware you two were that close. I guess I’ve been a little out of the loop, socially.’

      I can’t hold back any longer—I have to ask, for my own peace of mind. ‘Is Graham’s confusion likely to be temporary?’ The backs of my eyes burn and I have to swallow repeatedly to keep myself in check.

      Reid glances out of the window at the passing traffic, perhaps looking for a distraction. ‘The doctors say it’s dementia.’ He turns back to face me, his sculpted jaw tense. ‘We’re awaiting a second opinion.’

      I cover my mouth in shock, my mind racing with the implications. ‘I’m so sorry, Reid. That must be very hard for you, Drake and Kit, and, of course, Graham.’ My eyes burn anew as I recall all Graham’s kindnesses and considerations over the years. ‘He’s a lovely man.’

      I want to pry some more, to ask about Graham’s prognosis and what it means for him and the family. But the car pulls to a halt, ending our conversation and giving me a few seconds to pull myself together.

      Reid exits and I follow, my hand still nestled in his. With my head reeling after what he’s just confessed, I’ve barely found my balance on the pavement, when he steps closer, backing me up until my backside hits the car door and our chests collide. My breath hitches as all thought except of the man towering in front of me ebbs away. His warm, hard body pressing against mine from chest to thigh reminds me how decadent touching him feels. How forbidden even the idea of him has been for so long. How, after fighting and striving to make it alone, this past year has drained every sexual impulse from me, and the idea of handing over control to this man—albeit just in the bedroom—leaves me giddy with relief and anticipation.

      I look up, achingly aware of his height, his broad chest, every spectacular masculine inch of him.

      His arms encircle me, our entwined hands settling in the small of

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