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Her hands went to her hips. ‘Are you criticising my efforts?’
‘Of course not, but you don’t always reply to my messages,’ he said, carefully.
She was about to retaliate, when she realised he had a valid point. It seemed an unfair accusation when she was single-handedly trying to ensure the marriage actually went ahead, but he didn’t know that. He was oblivious to the whole Megan debacle, and it needed to stay that way. Especially as Zac was still in the dark, too. For now, she had to carry on planning the wedding as though nothing was wrong.
‘My office is on the ground floor. My name’s on the door. Wait in there and I’ll be down in a moment.’
‘Are you sure? I don’t want to inconvenience you.’
‘I can spare a few minutes.’
‘Thanks. I won’t take up much of your time.’
Something she was grateful for. There was only so much Matt Hardy she could take.
Waiting until he’d fully disappeared down the stairwell, she limped inside her flat and slumped against the closed door. It hadn’t been the greatest start to the morning. And now a man who irked her had seen her semi-naked and dishevelled, and had invaded her privacy.
Why was it each time she encountered Matt Hardy she ended up unravelling in some way? Was the universe punishing her for some crime she’d committed in a previous life? Whatever it was, her nerves couldn’t take it.
Fifteen minutes later, having located her glasses in the bathroom, she was fully dressed in a navy trouser suit, with her hair tied up in a bun and her polished work demeanour firmly back in place. She was ready to face Matt Hardy.
Well, kind of. Something about the idea of finding him downstairs in her office unsettled her, like a sense of trepidation was making her hands clammy and her cheeks warm. She didn’t like having a physical response to him, it gave cause for alarm. She preferred men who failed to evoke any kind of emotion, and left her feeling unaffected and disinterested. Those types of men were easier to ignore.
But maybe she should be grateful for the warning. She was on her guard, which meant she wouldn’t be caught unawares. She was ready to defend herself, like a lone wolf in the wild alerted to a lion on the prowl.
Well, she wasn’t about to be anyone’s lunch.
Armed and at the ready, Beth marched into her office, head high, shoulders pulled back. This was her hunting ground, not his. She had no reason to be intimidated. He was the one who should be wary.
‘Good morning, Mr Hardy.’ She left the door open, feeling safer that way.
He was standing by her desk, blocking out most of the natural light coming in from the sash window behind. ‘We’re still doing the whole Mr Hardy routine?’ He had an eyebrow raised.
She straightened her jacket. ‘Force of habit. What can I do for you?’
He handed over her phone. ‘I hope it’s not broken.’
‘Oh… thank you.’ She’d almost forgotten about her phone.
She took the device, flinching at the frisson of heat his touch evoked when his fingers brushed hers. The display lit up with a missed call from her sister. Megan was probably confused as to why their call had ended so abruptly when her phone had gone hurtling down the stairwell. She’d message her sister later.
‘Sorry again for invading your personal space just now. It was an honest mistake.’
She glanced up and offered him a weak smile. ‘No harm done.’ Except that he’d seen her undressed, and that put her at a slight disadvantage. Although what disadvantage, she wasn’t sure.
‘How’s your foot?’
‘Fine.’ She gestured for him to sit down. ‘You wanted to discuss the wedding?’
He sat down, unnervingly close, despite the desk between them. ‘Megan mentioned—’
Whatever he was about to say trailed off when her father appeared in the doorway. ‘I need you to cover the office for a while,’ he said, giving a cursory knock on the open door before waltzing in uninvited. ‘Oh, sorry. I didn’t realise you had a client with you.’
Beth stood up. ‘This is Matt Hardy, Dad. Zac’s uncle.’
‘The chap who’s been roped into organising the wedding?’ He came over.
Matt stood up and extended his hand. ‘Pleased to me you, Mr Lawrence.’
