Page 12 of No Going Back

“I’m not sure it would be a good idea.”

“So you said—without much conviction, if I might add? Go on, admit it—you’re tempted.”

“Yes, but—”

“All you have to do is give me a definite no, and I won’t mention it again.”

It was a risky strategy, but he’d seen enough indecision in her expression to consider pushing her a little a chance worth taking. There were dozens of ways she could have declined the invitation, but she hadn’t flat out turned him down. Now he’d presented her with the perfect out—if she chose to take it.

“Thank you for the invitation, Guy. I… I think I would like to have dinner with you.”

The gamble paid off, in spite of the element of disbelief in her expression. She looked as if she couldn’t quite work out how much trouble her mouth had just got her into. Still, she’d accepted, and that was all that mattered. Not one to waste time congratulating himself, Guy struck while the iron was hot. “Excellent. What time shall I pick you up?”

“Er, when were you thinking of—”

“Ah, forgive me. This evening, unless you’re busy, in which case, when are you free? What’s up? Cat got your tongue?” The smile he gave her had been known to coax the shyest of willing subs into dropping their inhibitions as well as their clothing.

“You’re not one to let the grass grow under your feet, are you?”

“Not when I see something I want.”

“Something?”

“Dinner with you, of course. What did you think I meant?”

She’d relaxed enough to flirt with him a little, as much as he was flirting with her. God, it felt good, like exercising a muscle he hadn’t used in a while. Maybe it was a little whimsical, but he almost imagined Liz nodding in approval, satisfied that she could leave him to manage his own life. Maybe there was something to that afterlife business, after all.

He sent Maddie a look that dared her to answer.

“I think you’re a man who’s used to getting exactly what he wants.”

He shrugged. “We all like to get what we want. Don’t we?”

“Sometimes, Sir Guy, getting what we want is dangerous. Sometimes it’s better for us to get what we need.”

He leaned forward, pinning her with a gaze she wouldn’t be able to escape. “So tell me, sweet one—what is it you need?”

>>><<<

The memory of her expression when he’d asked that question still held him captivated some hours later, on his way back to the hotel to pick her up for dinner. As a passenger in the Rolls-Royce Phantom he’d recently acquired for his collection, at least he didn’t have to divide his concentration between that and driving.

For what he hoped would be the first of many dates, he’d chosen to go formal black tie, rather than the Hollywood version Ros had dared to suggest. The twinkle in her smile had given away the deliberate teasing behind the inflammatory remark. He was both glad and relieved to see the smile back on her face after her uncertainty of a few days ago. And he still wasn’t sure how he’d managed to keep the identity of his date from her.

As he’d tied the bow tie and fastened the immaculate black waistcoat, he’d done a final mental run-through of the arrangements for the evening. That they’d got this far without Maddie calling to cancel was promising. In the hours since she’d accepted his invitation to dinner, he’d been a little disconcerted to discover how much a successful outcome for the evening meant to him.

The flowers sitting beside him on the rear passenger seat were a minor triumph. Tracking down a florist who could supply a bouquet that emulated the colours of the flowers in Maddie’s office at such short notice had been an interesting mission.

The car pulled up outside Remington Grange half an hour ahead of their reservation at the Michelin-starred restaurant about five miles away. He’d been surprised to learn Maddie lived in the hotel’s staff wing, but in one way, he couldn’t blame her. His London pied-à-terre was close enough to his old office to be considered “living over the shop”. The convenience had been useful whenever a security crisis had arisen.

Not his circus, not his monkeys, not anymore. A different set of challenges awaited him in his new role, and he was more than ready to get his teeth into them.

He was accompanied to the staff wing this time, to a quiet hallway with four doors. The last on the left was Maddie’s. As his escort left, he knocked and waited.

The phrase “vision of loveliness” didn’t come close to doing her justice. She’d asked him where they were going for dinner, so she could dress appropriately. He hadn’t revealed the name of the restaurant, but her halter-neck evening gown was perfect, both the style and colour. Deep plum-red suited her down to the ground. When they reached the restaurant, heads would turn and jaws drop.

“Good evening, Si—Guy. Would you like to come in?”

“Good evening, Maddie. If I may say so, you look amazing.”