A Matter of Trust: London Calling Book One (2 page)

She gasped. There would be no Sinclair luck today.

It was him.

***

For one insane moment, she considered turning tail and going back. But the alarms continued to shriek overhead and there was only one way down. Plus, the man was bleeding, obviously hurt. She touched his arm. Tentatively, she asked, “Are you okay?”

“Great,” he gurgled. “Just
great
. You?”

Devon valiantly ignored his sarcasm. Anxious to see a bruise already blackening the area under one eye, she blurted, “Me? I’m fine! You’re the one bleeding!” Practically wailing in distress, she added, “I think I broke your beautiful nose!”
 

Bennett blinked. She saw his eyes narrow, focusing on hers. He brought his hand down, and his blood was smeared across his fingers. Oddly, he grinned.

“No, actually, the woman on the third floor may have broken my nose when
she
shoved the door in my face. You just got it bleeding again when you hit me. But thank you for calling me beautiful.”
 

Devon gaped. “You mean I was the second person to hit you with a door?”

“In the face. Yes, you were. But I must say I’m enjoying this go around much more.” He leered suggestively, a smile crinkling the corners of his eyes. “Perhaps you’d kiss it to make it better?”

She couldn’t help it; she burst into peals of laughter. Bennett took a step back but seemed to catch himself. Regardless, she couldn’t stop. Several long moments later, she glanced up from where she’d half bent, clutching her sides. He stared back, clearly confused.

“
What
? What is so funny?”

Breathing deep to control the last rumbles of laughter, she replied, “You’ve had not one but two doors slammed into your face and you’re
still
flirting. You should see yourself.” Reaching up with unconscious familiarity, she brushed her fingers over his cheek before giving him a broad smile, inviting him into her joke.
 

Bennett captured her hand in his. “Have dinner with me.”

Taken aback, Devon started to withdraw.
 

Talking fast, he added, “Well, first, let’s get out of here. Then you can have dinner with me.” As she continued to hesitate, he said, “After all, you smashed my beautiful nose. Then you laughed about it. Actually, you wouldn’t
stop
laughing about it. So, my ego pleads with you to have dinner with me.”
 

She wavered. Navy eyes locked onto hers and the world retreated, just as it had before.

“Please,” he added.

She surprised them both by saying, “Yes. Okay.” She stopped, knowing she was in danger of babbling. She had no idea what was wrong with her, but this man flustered her beyond belief. Suddenly, she remembered, “But I don’t even know your name.”

Bennett smiled. “Let’s work our way downstairs, shall we?” He gestured a hand for her to precede him and Devon realized the blasted alarms were still sounding off in a shrill cadence.
 

“We can cover all our personal details along the way, just promise you’ll let
me
get the doors from now on,” he teased.

She giggled, completely charmed. They sped down the stairs while he tossed rapid-fire questions to her, all trivial and light.

“Zodiac sign?”

“Scorpio,” she answered.

“Mm, dangerous,” he said. “Favorite color?”

Vivid, extraordinary navy invaded her mind. “Green, but I’m not Irish. I’m part Scottish.”
 

“Hmm, but which part?” At her laughter, he continued. “Dogs or cats?”

“Both!”
 

He made a rude buzzing sound, like she’d missed a question in a game show. “Wrong answer! You have to choose.”

She thought of the little figurine she’d managed to smuggle away from her father’s rabid decluttering efforts. Real pets had been out of the question. “Fine,” she said, eyes bright. “Cats.”

“Favorite wine?”

 
“Sancerre. I’m part French.” She heard him stop, and looked back.
 

“That explains your features. You should thank your parents for striking genetic gold.” She paled slightly but before he could ask, they reached the exit to go outside.

Bennett moved ahead to open the door and Devon went out, stepping onto the sidewalk. She turned, about to finally ask his name when several people swarmed, nudging between them. Even at nearly six feet in heels, she struggled to see over their heads to find him.

The repeated call of, “Mr. Sterling, Mr. Sterling!” finally caught her attention. The fact that everyone seemed to be shouting towards him made her abruptly pull back.
Oh no, it couldn’t be.
 

The crowd parted to give Devon a glimpse. He was standing next to the petite blonde from earlier that day when he’d been getting espresso. Devon watched as the other woman dabbed at the blood on his face. Then she straightened his tie before reaching up to brush one unruly lock of hair back from his brow.
 

Devon felt a tightening in her chest. There was a certain intimacy in the woman’s actions that left her feeling foolish and exposed. She cleared her throat, glancing around for some kind of escape. A nearby firefighter caught her eye, all too eager to help. He came over, explaining the alarm was false so everyone was safe to return to the building.
 

She turned, unsure. With a strangely thick throat, she walked back into the building. Some would have considered it an impossible situation.

She straightened her spine, increasing her pace. No, not her. She thought of her goals and dreams, her plans. And they did not derail at the first obstacle, even if it was a man who’d taken her breath away — the first man ever to do so.
 

No. When she met Bennett Sterling later in the day for her personal interview, she would forget she’d ever shared those moments with him in the stairwell. Or looked into the intense navy of his eyes.
 

Devon Sinclair would not fail this test.

CHAPTER TWO

B
ENNETT
CURSED
AS
he watched his mystery woman walk back into the building. He knew she’d seen Natalie fussing over him; the crowd had parted before their eyes locked. Hers had lowered in hurt or dismissal, he was unsure. But he was certain, somehow, that she wouldn’t tolerate such scenes. His voice clipped, he answered the officers’ questions about the site.

He was losing time. Like a fool, he hadn’t gotten her name when he’d had the chance. Now, she’d gone back inside, but he had no idea where. And
who was she?

He froze, unease snaking up his spine. Raking a hand through his hair, he tried to recall if any of his employees were American, likely from the South considering her slight accent. He couldn’t place any, but Sterling International was a large company with hundreds of employees. It was possible he might not know her.

Maybe she was contracted; a temporary staff member hired from another financial firm. But it was best to know outright. He moved to go back into his building when he saw the fire chief approaching.
 

Bennett clenched his teeth, giving the man a hard smile. He had to take care of the chief’s questions, but impatience was making him quick-tempered. Reluctantly, he summoned his PA.

“Natalie. I need you to find the woman that came out of the building with me. Tell her to wait so I can talk to her.”

Her eyes slightly narrowed. “Certainly. Is there anything else I should ask?”

Treading carefully, he replied, “Yes. Her name. And find out where she works in the company.”

She walked off to do as he asked, her posture rigid. Bennett watched until she disappeared back inside the building, regret knotting his belly. She was reliable, a trusted confidante. He’d never seen her as anything more, relieved to find a woman he could work with in platonic harmony.
 

Except he’d been careless, too self satisfied to notice when her feelings began to change. Now, he’d sent her after a woman who’d captivated him in one afternoon. A woman who may well be an employee, someone he’d have no right to come near, especially after the disaster with Olivia. He pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing.
 

What a damned mess.

***

Natalie searched the lobby before walking to the elevators, frustrated. She had neither the time nor inclination to comb the entire building for Bennett’s missing woman. But he’d made the request and she always did what was asked of her. Visitors, consultants, and contracted staff could be anywhere. The woman had definitely seemed professional, similar to the hundreds of financial experts that populated Sterling International. So, where was the logical place to start?

Natalie remembered the scene she’d walked into earlier. Bennett and the woman had been consumed with each other, unaware anyone had even walked into the room. She’d looked on as he ran his eyes hungrily over the other woman’s face, as if memorizing every contour. Uncomfortable, she’d interrupted them to pull him away.

That had occurred in Human Resources. What if the other woman was here to interview for a position with the company? Natalie thought back, remembering how the woman had been seated, as if waiting. She couldn’t remember what she’d worn but had a vague impression of polished style. She’d been young, but certainly old enough to have her degree and work in any number of departments. She might already be an employee; just not one Natalie had met.

A slow smile tilted the corners of Natalie’s lips.
 

Bennett Sterling never dated employees. Not ever.

She should know.

Taking a deep breath, she felt some of the tension leave her shoulders. Unhurried, she stepped into the elevator and punched the floor for Human Resources. If she was right, things were about to get interesting.

***

Natalie looked around, seeing no one in the department. Was anyone ever here? Earlier, it had been empty, save for Bennett and the other woman. Now, it seemed to be void of any life again. She huffed out a sigh, turning to leave when she ran into Aidan, one of Bennett’s favored directors.
 

“Aidan,” she exclaimed. “I’m glad I’ve found you. I need to postpone a meeting you have scheduled with Bennett later this afternoon. He has an interview with a new candidate and wanted more time with her than I originally allotted, for some reason.” She glanced around, seemingly distracted. “I have no idea where everyone is, do you?” She flicked her cuff back with a manicured finger, checking the time on a slim, gold watch.

“They’d be with the new candidate, probably the one you’re talking about,” he answered.
 

She looked up, finally giving him her full attention. “Is there just the one? The one Bennett is interviewing later?”

“Yes, I’d guess that’s her. She’s quite the big deal, has everyone pretty worked up around here. I have to say I’m eager to meet her, it’s why I’m here.”

She paused, noting the excitement brightening his brown eyes. She raked her gaze down, seeing he’d dressed up more than usual, donning a sport coat over a white shirt and knotted tie. “Who is it? What makes her so special?”

“She’s probably the smartest economist Harvard’s produced in a decade, and that’s saying something. London School of Economics wants her, will probably get her, but if we can employ her in the meantime, it would be a feather in our cap. She’s going places, that’s for certain. We’d like her to take us along.” He paused, taking a breath and looking around Natalie to see down the hall. “I can’t wait to meet her.”

“You make her sound like some wunderkind. Does this paragon have a name?” Natalie forced a laugh before pressing her lips together. How could anyone be
that
perfect? But if it were the woman from earlier, Bennett would
have
to hire her. Good grief, Aidan made her sound like she was the economist of the century, practically woman of the year.
 

Natalie paused, her brow smoothing out. If Bennett hired her, there would be no more lingering looks, no pursuit. He was a man of rules. His first and foremost was never mixing his personal life with business. He never made exceptions, not as long as she’d known him. There had been rumors of a woman once, from long before, but he’d never spoken of her and she’d never asked.
 

She looked over at Aidan, realizing he hadn’t answered. He was still looking down the hall around her, but suddenly turned to meet her eyes.

“They’re back from lunch. It’s my turn to meet her, do I look okay?”

He motioned to his tie and she nodded her approval while inwardly marveling at his enthusiasm. This was a man known for his calm demeanor under pressure. Aidan Kennedy was unflappable. He was also happily involved with another woman. Yet here he was nervously primping and fussing over some stranger.

Men
.

She turned, ready to see this ideal of economic wizardry that had everyone leaving their posts and changing schedules, including Bennett. Her eyes met and locked onto another’s, ones of a nearly colorless gray.
 

Natalie Enfeld smiled, triumphant.