Henry’s eyes fly around the stable and back to hers.
“I need you to kiss me.” She smiles lovingly up at him.
This crazy girl with her romantic notions will be the death of him, literally. Henry leans in and kisses her, his gentle hands cupping her face.
Elizabeth pulls back and her eyes dance with delight. “Meet me this afternoon at the stream by the bottom paddock.”
Henry frowns. “It’s too dangerous. I will be strung up if I am caught with you alone.”
She leans in and kisses him again “Say you will. Rules are meant to be broken.”
He swallows the lump in his throat as he contemplates his decision, knowing this is risky.
“I will meet you at three?” she whispers hopefully.
Henry smiles at the ground, kicking the dirt with his shoe as he nods.
Elizabeth smiles broadly. “I shall dream of you all day, Henry.”
Henry smiles bashfully. “Goodbye, Elizabeth. Now go inside before you get me into trouble.”
Emerson
“Can I see you tonight?” Mark asks hopefully.
Please give up. I’m not interested.
We are in the kitchen at work and I am making a coffee. He is standing behind me, pretending to wait for the kettle. Every time Mark sees me go somewhere in the office, he’s right behind me in five seconds flat. Not even the lunchroom or photocopier are safe zones. “Mark...” How do I put this? “I want to be friends and get to know each other a bit more.” My eyes hold his. Please, please get the hint. I don’t want to have to come out and say I don’t like you. I do have to work with him, after all, but then I don’t want to lead him on, either.
“You want to get to know me and be friends?” he repeats.
I smile. “Yes.”
He grins and stands really close to me. “So you are after a friend with benefits kind of thing?”
What?
“Ahem,” a female voice interrupts. We both turn around sheepishly. Great. It’s Stephanie from reception... again. This chick is busting my every move.
“S-steph,” Mark stammers. “How are you?”
She looks at him blankly and raises a brow. “Did you just say what I think you said?”
His eyes widen and flicker back to me. Christ, they are still on together.
“Steph, let’s go into my office.” He tries to get her away from me before she says anything else.
I smirk and drop my head. Busted, asshole.
I walk back to my desk. “Your phone has been going off,” Travis tells me as he types.
“Oh, sorry. I forgot to turn it on silent.” I pick it up and swipe the screen to see six missed calls from Alastar.
My heart does somersaults. Shit, what does he want? I haven’t heard from him since our fight on the weekend and it’s Wednesday now. Should I call him back?
I think for a moment. No. He has been as ass. If he wants to contact me, he can keep on trying. I get back to work, feeling a little happier, when my desk phone rings.
“Hello, Emerson speaking.” I smile.
“Why aren’t you answering my calls?” The thick Irish accent barks.
I smile as I lose my ability to think, remaining silent.
“I’m outside the front of your work building now. Come and see me for a moment, please?”
I frown. Huh? “I can’t leave work.”
“Get down here now or I will come up to your desk.”
He wouldn’t.
“Listen.” My eyes dart around all my work colleagues who are too busy working to notice me. “I know you are a spoilt Irish twat, but some of us have to work. What do you want to say?” I whisper.
“I’d rather say it in person.”
“Tough shit.” I hang up. Fucking hell, who in the hell does this guy think he is?
Damn, I would have liked to hear what he said, though. I smirk when I imagine his face when I hung up. Conceited prick. I get back to work, but five minutes later the lift double doors open with a ding and I glance up. It’s rare anyone comes in at this time of the day. Wait. Don’t tell me.
Alastar
He’s standing in the lift with his hands in his sports coat jacket, his just fucked hair resting wavy on the top of his head, and his big beautiful lips pursed.
Damn it… he looks orgasmic. And furious.
Dread fills me as he storms though the office like a raging bull that’s heading straight to my desk.
“I would like to see you, please.”
Travis and Deirdre look up from their work. Shit, shit, shit.
“And I said I am working. Go. Away.” I turn back to my computer and pretend to type.
Holy fucking shit, what next?
“I am not moving until you come downstairs with me for five minutes.”
Fury starts to pump. Is he kidding? He’s a spoilt fucking brat.
“I’m not allowed to leave my desk,” I grind out through gritted teeth.
Alastar turns to Deirdre. “I need to talk to Emerson about a customer relations emergency.”
I narrow my eyes as I start to hear my pulse pick in my ears. Is this a joke?