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A smile nags at my lips with the growing sense of victory and I force them to straighten as I continue on, wanting to get my point across even as my body wants so much to provoke the tension in his.
‘You see I have no problem with any of that. But when you want to make a change to my diary, it’s me who does it. Is that understood?’
He doesn’t move, doesn’t blink. His eyes burn into mine, long and hard, and my pulse races away with itself. Does he know how hypnotic his eyes are? How the blue glitters in the overhead lights? Is he using their intensity now to put me on edge?
Of course he bloody is!
I try to breathe and the air seems to scrape through my lungs, every nerve-ending heightened as I try to stay in control. I wet my lips, lower my hands to the desk edge and grip it for support.
‘Is that clear, Valentine?’
He blinks, his lips curving ever so slightly at the corners. ‘Yes, consider yourself understood.’
I suppress the telling sigh of relief. ‘Good.’
But neither of us move. Our eyes are locked in some silent battle. This close I can see the dark line that surrounds his irises, making his eyes appear bluer, more penetrating. I can see the hint of sheen where his lips meet; even in their grim line they’re teasingly full. I can smell his cologne, fresh, tantalising, urging me to lean forward and breathe him in deep. His cleanshaven cheeks that make my palms itch to feel their softness before running my fingers through his hair and ruining its perfect form.
God, how I want to see him lose it, go wild, make him as imperfect as me.
To have the man who willingly walked up those stairs at my invitation that very first night at DareDevils to witness me with Electra. The man who I imagine to be so far removed from the one sitting in my office right now...though they are one and the same.
An idea starts to form. An idea that not only serves as payback, but gets him away from business, from the professional, the platonic. Gets him so very far away from here.
‘Pippa!’ I’m already heading for the door. I know she’s heard me because she’s now shuffling papers on the other side of the glass and trying to look busy when not two seconds ago her eyes were definitely on us. I yank open the door. ‘Pippa, can you join us for a minute, please?’
‘Of course.’ She stands, her smile wary and with good reason. She can read me like an open book and is sure to have noticed the tension building this side of the glass.
‘Is everything okay?’ She enters the room, glancing between us.
‘Yes, everything’s fine,’ I assure her. ‘Have you rescheduled the track day I had planned for this Saturday?’
‘No, I was going to ask you about an alternative date.’
I look back to Valentine, to his calm and composed exterior I’m so desperate to crack. ‘Can you reschedule it for next weekend?’
‘Of course.’
‘And tell them I’m bringing a friend.’
‘You are?’ Her brow lifts to me in surprise and I feel a weird pang deep inside, tying up my tongue. I shouldn’t be so surprised that she’s surprised. It’s not like I often bring a plus one to anything. My sister is often too busy with the kids and Nathan dominated my social diary just as much as my professional one.
I plaster on a smile, give a definite nod. ‘Yes.’
‘Very well.’ I’m relieved she makes no further comment, relieved even more when she reminds me of my purpose by adding, ‘Please can you send me their licence details? They like to have it all sorted up front.’
‘Oh, yes.’ My smile is easy now as I look back to Valentine and catch his eyes narrowing ever so slightly.Oh, yes, Boretti, you’re getting the gist of where this is heading...‘I’ll get those to you as soon as possible.’
‘Great.’
‘Fabulous.’
‘Any other special requests?’
‘No. Just make sure they have the fastest and the best available. I’ll make it worth their while.’
‘Sure.’
She heads back to her desk and I swing the door closed.
