Lynsey Stevens - A Physical Affair

‘Were you wanting some more information?’ Keira asked quickly, and he grimaced.

‘Yes. In a manner of speaking, I was.’ His dark gaze held hers. ‘Have dinner with me, hmm?’

‘DINNER?’ Keira repeated, completely taken aback. Whatever she had expected him to ask her, it certainly wasn’t that.

‘Dinner. Tonight.’ His deep voice played over her, rousing her senses and lowering her defences.

Its huskiness stirred her fertile imagination and she could almost smell the faint scent of roses, see a secluded table for two, an unobtrusive waiter pouring wine. And catch the dark, glimmering sparkle of Eden’s eyes in the flickering candlelight.

Why not? persuaded one part of her, the part that housed her traitorous longings. Why not grasp the chance and run with it? Experience all that he offered for as long as it lasted? At least then she’d have the memories to savour when it was over.

When it was over, reiterated her level-headed conscious mind.

A brief affair. Romantic. Exciting. And physically satisfying. She was so very sure it would be that.

So why not? Her incited nerve-endings increased threefold the intoxicating temptation to accept his invitation. Yes, it would be a mutually satisfying affair. But an affair for all that. With her boss.

‘Well, Keira?’ he prompted, and Keira drew her wildly conflicting thoughts into some semblance of order, her grey eyes meeting his.

‘I’m sorry. I can’t.’

‘Can’t or won’t?’

Keira shrugged. ‘Both.’

‘Because of the gossip?’

‘No. Yes.’ She fidgeted with her papers, betraying her agitation.

‘No one need know,’ he said easily, and Keira gave a soft, sceptical laugh.

‘Someone would find out, believe me. They always do.’

‘And you’re going to allow what other people think to govern your life, what you do and don’t do?’ he asked with an ominous quietness.

‘That makes me sound spineless, and I’m not.’ Keira lifted her chin boldly.

It was his turn to give an incredulous laugh. ‘Spineless would not be a term that would come to my mind to describe you, Keira. But perhaps you are a little too anxious about what other people think.’

‘I’m afraid I can’t help that. I do care about how others see me. And I dislike immensely the idea that the general consensus might be that I schemed to get this job.’

Eden made a negating movement with his hand. ‘We’ve been through this before. And I can assure you that anyone who knows me would realise I don’t make a habit of allowing my-’ he paused ‘-personal life to influence a decision that might reflect badly on my business. I’m no philanthropist, nor am I a philanderer. You wouldn’t have this position if I didn’t think you were more than qualified to do it. So shall we acknowledge that point as being on the record?’

‘Maybe I don’t want to join the queue…’

A frown of irritation settled on Eden’s brow.

‘Or perhaps I just don’t want to go with you,’ Keira continued quickly, her gaze holding his momentarily before her eyes fell.

‘Don’t you?’ he asked, the softly spoken words reaching into her soul, twisting, negating her small spurt of bravado.

His eyebrows rose mockingly at her hesitation and she felt her anger flare. ‘All right. If things were different, well, I’d consider accepting. But as it is I’m not going to,’ she finished with conviction.

‘What are you really afraid of, Keira?’ he asked imperiously. ‘Public opinion? Or yourself?’

Her grey eyes rose to meet his again. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘I’m talking about the way we strike sparks off each other. The way the air between us almost ignites with the electrical charge we generate.’ He gave a quick derisive smile. ‘For some reason it seems to alarm you. I repeat, what are you afraid of?’

‘If you mean am I afraid of you, then all I can say is you’re flattering yourself.’

‘Look, Keira,’ he continued, letting her jibe go over his head, ‘I don’t know what sort of relationships you’ve had in the past but-’

‘My past relationships have nothing whatsoever to do with you,’ Keira declared indignantly.

‘Don’t they? Then that sets a precedent. Now you don’t get to throw mine and the critical way you mistakenly see them into the conversation either. So we forget about queues.’

His composed, supercilious smile fanned her anger. ‘I think you’re suffering from the too-rich syndrome,’ she threw at him furiously. ‘Too much, too many, too often. Unfortunately, what it all boils down to is that the decision is mine to make. Negative or positive. And I choose not to. If your ego can’t accept that decision then that’s tough and I’m sorry.’

He unfolded his arms, straightening from where he’d been casually leaning against the conference table, and Keira had the unnerving feeling he was uncoiling like a lithe snake about to strike. Her nerves gave an apprehensive tremble but she made herself hold her ground.

‘However, don’t despair,’ she continued tersely, the corners of her mouth lifting in a tense, humourless smile. ‘As the saying goes, there are plenty more fish in the sea.’

He gave a faint shake of his head and began to walk past her. But when he paused beside her, his hard body mere millimetres from hers, her breath caught agitatedly in her throat.

Firm fingers took hold of her chin and before she could draw back he had pressed a quick hard kiss on her parted lips.

‘I hate fishing,’ he said evenly as he left her.

And how she wished she could give the next few hours a very wide berth, Keira thought a couple of weeks later as she dressed for the flashy cocktail party that had been organised to launch Natural Life.

A reception-room in one of the city’s most prestigious hotels had been hired for the evening and the entire staff had been looking forward to the occasion for weeks. Not so Keira.

By all accounts everybody would be there. Including Eden Cassidy.

She hadn’t seen her boss since the afternoon in the conference-room when he’d asked her to have dinner with him, although an invitation to a dinner party at his apartment last week had been extended to her. Daniel had informed her twenty or so people from the publishing industry were attending, and she told herself her main reason for declining was to quell any lingering gossip about her relationship with Eden.

Reaching behind her, Keira zipped up her dress, glancing in the mirror critically as she adjusted the thin straps. The wine-red sheath flattered her figure, she knew, and the rich, deep colour accentuated the pale skin of her shoulders. She slipped on the all-but-transparent matching short-sleeved jacket that went with the outfit, and sighed.

Although she knew she felt comfortable about her appearance, she wished for the hundredth time she didn’t have to go. This sort of thing, the public relations exercise to help sell their magazine, wasn’t her scene at all. She was far happier in her office doing what she knew she did well.

Keira clasped on her earrings, small diamond pendants that drew attention to the curve of her neck, and she turned her head slightly to check that her loose chignon was still in place. A few softening wisps curled down from her temples and she patted them absently.

She had applied only the minimum of make-up, a little eye-shadow to her lids and mascara to her fair lashes, and her lipstick complemented the colour of her dress. Just her shoes and she was ready.

She glanced at her dress watch and flicked off the bedroom light. Roxie would be collecting her any moment. As she walked down the hallway the cat wound himself with intricate precision between her feet.

‘I just want you to know, Roger,’ she said, bending down to tickle him under his chin, ‘that the only reason I’m going tonight is to keep you in gourmet cat food.’

The cat made a mrrrr! of disbelief, flicked his tail and then stalked back towards his food bowl, obviously deciding to take advantage of its offering while it was available. Keira was still smiling when Roxie tooted her car horn outside.

An accident on the arterial road delayed Keira and Roxie, so the party was in full swing by the time the two women arrived at the prestigious hotel.

As a waiter passed, Roxie grabbed two glasses of wine from his tray, handing one to Keira.

‘Cheers. Here’s to an evening of perfect and widespread publicity,’ she said as she raised her glass, and Keira made a face.

‘And may the evening pass swiftly,’ she muttered with feeling.

‘Just relax and enjoy,’ Roxie admonished, and then turned slightly. ‘Oh ho. Here comes Dingbat Di. Sorry to desert you, Keira, but I feel a sudden urge to mingle elsewhere. See you, and good luck.’ With that Roxie vanished into the crowd.

‘Hello, Keira.’ Dianna Forester’s eyes skimmed Keira’s dark red dress but her expression gave nothing away. ‘An impressive turn-out.’

‘Yes.’ Keira sipped her wine. ‘The public relations people have done a great job.’

‘So it would seem. Anybody who’s anybody is here.’ Dianna paused. ‘Including Eden Cassidy himself.’

At the mention of his name Keira felt warm colour flood her face and she cringed inwardly in dismay as the other girl’s dark eyes narrowed. ‘I think Daniel did say that his uncle might come along,’ she put in quickly, suspecting she was betraying herself with every passing second.

‘Eden Cassidy in himself is always newsworthy and the place is alive with any reporter who’s anybody,’ Dianna remarked. ‘It certainly won’t hurt to have his clout behind the magazine launch.’

‘No. I suppose it won’t.’ Keira swallowed another mouthful of her wine, her dry mouth not tasting the liquid.

‘It was Eden’s idea to recommence publication of Natural Life, wasn’t it?’ Dianna asked and Keira nodded.

‘I think it was.’

‘Strange that a man in his position should become involved in what can only be described as a very small pebble in his media conglomerate.’

‘I wouldn’t say so, Dianna. Eden Cassidy gives me the impression that he’s very well informed about every last section of his business. I’d imagine a man in his position would have to be.’

‘Perhaps.’ Dianna pursed her lips. ‘Yet in all the years I’ve worked on Chloe I only ever saw him at general meetings. And even then he rarely singled out any one particular publication.’

Keira shrugged, searching the crowd valiantly for an excuse to escape a conversation that was getting far too uncomfortable for her.

‘Something must have piqued his interest,’ Dianna continued. ‘Or someone,’ she added with apparently deliberate balefulness.

Keira’s eyes snapped to meet the other woman’s and she drew herself up to her full height. ‘What exactly do you mean, Dianna?’ she asked just as quietly.

‘Why, nothing. We all think it’s wonderful that the big chief is taking such a personal interest in Natural Life.’

‘I’d hardly call it a personal interest,’ Keira began and Dianna laughed softly.

‘Don’t be so defensive, Keira. Just take advantage of it while you can. Opportunity only knocks once in a long while and you’d be a fool not to grab it when it’s available.’

‘Look, Dianna. If you or anyone else think there was anything unprofessional about my appointment as editor of Natural Life, then let me assure you you couldn’t be more wrong.’

Dianna’s eyes moved slightly, her focus shifting, and her thin lips moved upwards in a welcoming smile. ‘Eden. Nice to see you. Another successful launch, it would seem,’ she effervesced easily.

Keira’s entire body stiffened as she sensed Eden Cassidy’s presence behind her. Her whole nervous system jumped to attention and her fingers tightened on her wine glass until she feared it would snap under the strain.

Then to her horror his hand clasped her arm, his fingers encircling her bare flesh, burning where they touched her. Tingles of fire raced up her arm, engulfed her, and it took her all her power to prevent herself from flinching away from him. He manoeuvred himself through the throng of people around them and only when he stood facing them both did he release Keira from his searing hold.

‘Keira.’ His deep vibrant voice tantalised her already aroused nerve-endings as he acknowledged her with a faint inclination of his dark head.

‘Good evening, Mr Cassidy,’ she managed to get out, and Dianna’s gaze shifted with swift speculation from one to the other.

Eden’s sensuous lips twitched wryly and his slightly narrowed eyes conveyed that he recognised the formality of her greeting. ‘Can I get you both another glass of wine?’ he asked, but before either Keira or Dianna could reply Daniel broke out of the crowd and slapped his uncle good-naturedly on the back.