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Aaron’s brows shot up in feigned surprise. “Oh, Alice, hi! Didn’t notice you standing there.”Thunk.What a put-down. Yet somehow his eyes gave a different message as they met hers and held on tight.
Not knowing what else to do or say, Alice gulped down some lukewarm tea. The rest of the conversation was a meaningless drone; she was too busy not looking at Aaron’s face. Her attention pinned onto the crumples in his jeans, the way he’d obviously tucked his T-shirt very haphazardly into his waistband. His dishevelledstate was disturbing. Like he’d just tumbled out of bed. An image of Aaron’s naked chest, his mouth so close she could almost taste him… and…
No, no, no!Bed and Aaron mustnotoccupy the same thought bubble.
Alice’s cup clattered into the saucer, spilling tea onto her biscotti.
She was just wondering whether needing to replace one of Andrea’s biscuits was a viable excuse to extricate herself when a deep voice said, “If it isn’t our new recruit and the lovely Alice.” Alice’s shoulders went rigid. Archie Bendt, one arm draped around the beautiful Miranda, had joined their group and was flashing big white teeth at them.
It was like someone had waved fairy dust all over Aaron.
He snapped to attention, shoulders back, spine straight. A quick hand through his hair and it all fell into place. His smile sparkled. How could he go from vaguely grotty to frankly gorgeous in less time than it took to blink?
Aaron magic, she decided. Fatally flawed but irresistible, nonetheless.
“Archie, Miranda, great to see you here. What did you think of my brother’s advice?” Aaron said, as smooth as butter melting on hot toast.
“If you’re half as talented a legal attorney as your brother is a financier, we’ve invested in gold,” Archie said.
“I will do my best to imbue the organisation with the Midas touch.”
From anyone else, that statement would come over as swollen-headed, but delivered with just the right dose of self-deprecating smile, Aaron, as always, stonkered it. Everyone laughed. Alice stifled a twinge of resentment. She’d told Aaron the story of Midas. He wouldn’t have a clue about Greek mythology if it wasn’t for her.
Well if Aaron could pull this off, so could she, damn it. “Thank you so much for the other night,” she spiked in brightly. “It was lovely to meet everyone. And the canapes weredivine.”
Miranda preened and Archie gave her an indulgent smile. “Such a pleasure, Alice. We really are one big family, so we welcome you aboard. That’s what’s always delivered Trojan’s edge in the market. Family values at our core.”
Next to her, she was sure Aaron blanched.
Carts looked from her to Aaron with a perplexed frown.
After Aaron making impeccable introductions between the Bendts and the Wells family, and a few more pleasantries, Alice excused herself. The soggy biscotti had swollen to take up most of the saucer of tea slops and it wasn’t a good look.
She slid the cup onto a table and wondered whether she should go and say hello to Oliver. She listened to his podcasts but hadn’t seen him in a couple of years, and despite Aaron bagging him, she’d always really liked him.
Polly zoomed up and whispered loudly in her ear. “How’s it going?”
“Awful.”
“Don’t be negative. Who’s the goddess and the Travis Fimmel clone?”
“The Bendts. They were the ones who hosted drinks the other night.”
“Oh-ahhh.” Polly’s eyes were like chips of emerald. “Well, get back in there, girlfriend, and strut your stuff. He’s going to have to go along with it now he’s in front of his boss.”
“What should I do?”
“Link your arm in his, rub your cheek on his bicep.”
“God, no, not with Carts standing there. He’s already suspicious.”
“It won’t hurt to drop Carts into the mix; it’ll shake things up even more.” Polly stared over her head and mused, “Maybe I’ll go say hi to Oliver. He gets more divine every time I see him.”
Alice followed Polly’s eyes to where Oliver was posing for a photo with an acned teenage boy, being taken by the proud dad. “Don’t you dare. He’s got a girlfriend.”
“How do you know?”
“Because he’s been with the same woman for years. He’s the opposite of Aaron. Loyal,” Alice hissed back.
