‘Did I say strapping? Slip of the tongue. I meant big-headed.’ She shifted her hips, so she was straddling me and pressed her mouth to my neck. I shivered and we stopped talking for a long time, the sun streaming in through the windows and the apartment silent but for the sound of our fast breathing and soft moans.
Chapter Sixteen
I took Kaylee out on Wednesday for lunch liked I’d promised. It was a triple celebration because not only had I finished my book, but Kaylee had also just been offered a two-book contract and I’d heard from Patti, even though she was on holiday. She loved the new version of the book, even though it needed tidying up. My career was not over. Hurrah.
We headed out into the sunshine, grabbed sandwiches and iced tea at the deli and walked on to Washington Square Park to sit by the fountain. It was a beautiful day, made even better when Stephen messaged me to see what I was doing for lunch. Kaylee insisted I ask him to come along too. He’d already met her of course, so it didn’t feel like I was stepping over any lines by introducing him to a friend. And he’d met my entire family after all.
‘Things are going well with him then?’ Kaylee asked, crunching down on her turkey salad sandwich.
I nodded but changed the subject to her plans for the two-book deal. I didn’t want to say anything else about Stephen. I didn’t want to jinx it. We’d spent the whole weekend together at his place and spoken every night this week. For a ‘no-promises’ dating arrangement it was beginning to feel awfully promising.
Within fifteen minutes, I spotted his dark head above the crowds trying to find us. I waved from our seat perched on the edge of the stone lip of the fountain. I didn’t want to move in case tourists rushed in to grab the prime spot.
‘He’s even cuter in the daylight.’ Kaylee leaned in to murmur in my ear as he approached. ‘No cocktail goggles when it comes to this one.’
I grinned at her. ‘He’s really something, right?’
‘Yeah. I knew you two had sexual chemistry.’
Her first impressions were obviously far better than mine then.
‘Hello.’ He arrived in front of us, wearing a dazzling white work shirt that enhanced the tan he was starting to get, sleeves rolled up and a pair of sunglasses on. He really was a picture. He held his hand out to Kaylee. ‘Lovely to meet you again, Kaylee.’
‘And you. Much better circumstances this time.’ She shook his hand and then bumped my shoulder. ‘We’re celebrating Noelle knocking it out the park with her series finale. You’re aware your girlfriend is brilliant?’
He hesitated a moment and I tensed at the use of the word ‘girlfriend’ but then he pushed his sunglasses up onto his head and his dark eyes landed on my face, warm and full of an affection that made my heart flip. ‘Oh, I’m aware.’ He swooped down and landed a fast, firm kiss on my lips. I tipped back from the force and he grabbed my elbows. ‘Saved you.’
‘You probably should have let me go. That would make us even.’
‘True.’ He released his hold and I slipped a little, squealing before he caught hold of me again, mere inches over the cool water. He tugged me back upright and I laughed and swatted at him. He gave me a devilish smile and another kiss. ‘I think I’ll wait for another day to get my revenge.’
‘What are you guys talking about?’ Kaylee looked between us, and we explained to her about how I’d pushed him in the water, as we finished our sandwiches, Stephen beside me, long legs stretched out. Kaylee headed off half an hour later, giving me a thumbs up behind Stephen’s back, and then he and I walked around the fountain, holding hands.
‘How’s work been? With your boss I mean?’ I asked when we stopped in front of the huge marble arch.
‘I haven’t seen her yet,’ he admitted. ‘She’s been out of the office. I’m still not sure what I’m going to do about it when she comes back, if I’m honest.’
My chest tightened with a double whammy of jealousy and worry for him. ‘Maybe you should speak to someone at work about it?’
‘You mean like HR? I don’t know if that’s opening a can of worms. She hasn’t actually done anything. It’s just flirting I guess.’
‘She was trying to undress you last Friday.’ My voice rose with my indignation and – I had to admit – a touch of possessiveness. If he’d told me what she was doing before we went to the leaving drinks, I know who would have ended up in the water and it wouldn’t have been Stephen.
‘She could argue she was trying to help me get out of my wet clothes. I don’t want to get her in trouble anyway. I just want her to cut it out so I can relax again.’
‘Maybe just tell her that then?’
‘You think so? Just go in and say: listen, Georgina, I’m sorry I’m breathtakingly handsome and strapping but this has to stop. It’s inappropriate and unprofessional.’
‘I love the way you started out sounding like you were joking but by the end your Britishness took over and you got all polite and articulate.’ I snorted. ‘I reckon you’re not far off. But maybe record it – and do it in a public place. Just not so people can hear necessarily.’
He nodded. ‘That sounds sensible. There should be a really boring present being delivered to your place soon to deal withyourharassment problem.’
‘Huh? What harassment problem?’
‘Your peeping Tom neighbour.’ He scowled.
‘Oh.’ I rolled my eyes. Mr Biggins had been at it so long, I hardly thought about it, but I supposed he was right. I shouldn’t put up with it any more than he should with his boss. ‘So, what are you sending me? A BB gun?’
