Rules of Harte (Harte Series #1) (10 page)

‘I don’t think it’s blank,’ Eva said. ‘Just plain, I suppose.’

‘Fitting,’ Mia mumbled under her breath. ‘But it’s not like Mr Doe will be interested in a plain mask.’

Eva
looked back at the mask. She doubted Mr Doe cared very much about it. Mia was probably just trying to freak her out. It was working. Unless…
Oh my God…
was Mia jealous? Eva quickly brushed the idea off as ridiculous. Mia had nothing to be jealous of. She was borderline perfect.

‘The theme is bare your soul, Eva. The mask is supposed to be a metaphor for your hidden desire
s, what your soul wants. Don’t you get that?’

             
Of course Eva got it. It wasn’t rocket science. It was a bit weird though, she thought. Why would anyone want to wear their soul on their face? And, especially in a room full of their colleagues. Forget weird, it bordered on creepy, Eva decided. She wanted more than ever to run away and hide. Beautiful mask or not, it wasn’t enough to hide her.

             
I bet yours has a picture of a hooker fucking a giant dildo
, Eva wanted to shout. Instead her sentence passed her lips somewhat more reserved. ‘I look forward to seeing yours, I’m sure it’s lovely.’

Mia flicked her hair over her shoulder, exaggerated a smile, almost blinding Eva with the shine from her irritatingly white teeth and walked away.

              ‘Bare your soul,’ Eva snorted, picking up the mask again. ‘Stupid theme.’

She would have to explain about the theme to Julian and he would probably think it was stupid, and think she was stupid, and…Oh Christ Julian. She forgot all about his email. It was hours ago. He would think she was ignoring him.

             
Fuck, shit, fuck
. She scrolled through the tonnes of new messages in her cluttered inbox. She couldn’t find his bloody email. Maybe she could text to explain instead. She grabbed her phone from her neon-pink, fairy wings holder perched on her desk. Five missed calls and three text messages blinked at her. All from the same number; Julian’s number.

Good morning, Gorgeous
.

The first message was just three simple words that lit Eva’s face up like a glow-in-the-dark knickers.

I tried calling u but no reply.

Is everything ok?

She didn’t feel so good reading the second message.

R u ok, Evangeline?

I want 2 invite u 2 dinner 2nite.

Round 8? Let me know. Julian.

Eva was starting to panic now, it really looked like she was ignoring him. She checked the time of the last text and compared it to his last call. He hadn’t phoned again after. He was obviously bored or angry. She needed to fix the situation, fast.

_____________________________

To
: [email protected]

From:
[email protected]

Subject
: Re: Good Morning

Date
: Wed 15
th
July 16.20

Hi Julian,

I would love to join you for dinner - thanks. Where should I meet you?

Eva.

PS I wasn’t ignoring you today, it’s just been crazy busy here. The boss sprung something on me that I wasn’t prepared for.

Evangeline Andrews

Administrator

Ignite Technologies

Block 6

Plaza Exchange

Dublin 2

_________________

From
: [email protected]

To:
[email protected]

Subject:
Re: Good Morning

Date:
Wed 15
th
July 16.22

Hi Evangeline,

Good to hear from you. Still playing games, I see. I’ll pick you up at seven.

Yours,

Julian

Eva wasn’t sure if she wanted to give him her address. He was still a stranger after all
, and what if he turned out to be a complete freak? Oh fuck it, she’d spend half her life hiding from freaks and it was boring. Maybe she should let herself live a little. Just this once.

__________________

To:
[email protected]

From:
[email protected]

Subject:
Re: Good Morning

Date:
Wed 15
th
July 16.23

Games? No. Really, I was busy.

By the way
, I’m in Greystones.

36 The L
awns.

It’s easy to find. It faces the beach.

Eva xx

Evangeline Andrews

Administrator

Ignite Technologies

Block 6

Plaza E
xchange

Dublin 2

Shit, shit. shit
…no backing out now, she thought. She really hoped she’d done the right thing.

________________

From:
[email protected]

To
: [email protected]

Subject:
Re: Good Morning

Date:
Wed 15
th
July 16.24

You’re the Queen of games, Evangeline.

Playing hard to get today. Hats off to you, you had me worried.

Julian.

PS BTW two kisses at the bottom of an email is code for I want to kiss you later. I would be more than happy to oblige.

_________________

To:
[email protected]

From:
[email protected]

S
ubject:
Re: Good Morning

Date
: Wed 15
th
July 16.25

Cheeky! What kissing code? I’ve never heard of that.

Eva xxx

Evangeline Andrews

Administrator

Ignite Technologies

Block 6

Plaza Exchange

Dublin 2

Eva’s fingers shook as she typed an extra kiss after her name. She hit send, and held her breath.

__________________

From
: [email protected]

To
:
[email protected]

Subject
: Re: Good Morning

Date:
Wed 15
th
July 16.26

Three kisses… We’re at second base already! I bet there is a lot you haven’t heard of. Don’t worry, I’m a good teacher. I’ll see you at seven. I look forward to dinner and kisses.

Yours,

Julian xxx

Eva spun her chair from side to side. She was nervous and excited, jumpy and sickly. She had no idea what just happened. Had she just flirted her way into Julian’s world? He was cocky and arrogant. But sexy and manly. Part of her wanted to grab him and slap him across the face, the other part of her wanted to push him back on her bed and fuck him until he exploded inside her. And now she was going to see him later. He was going to be right there. In person. Beside her. She would have no time to think of interesting replies to his subtle innuendos like she did with email or text. Oh shit, what had she just done? She wasn’t ready. She might never be ready.

             
‘You okay, Eva?’ Nathan asked, pushing his chair back until it was level with hers. Eva jerked her mouse instinctively to hide her emails.

‘Yeah I’m fine.’

‘You look a little pale. Are you ill?’

Eva looked at Nathan’s kind eyes. He was genuinely concerned. He rummaged in his desk drawer and pulled out a bottle of water. ‘Here, maybe this will help.’

              Eva gulped large mouthfuls. She had a headache. A burning pounding that hurt her brain. Between Julian’s proposition, the stupid bare-your-soul mask and Nathan’s being in-your-face nice, she was completely overwhelmed.

‘I…I…I’ve got to go. I’m sorry. I can’t do tonight now. I really am so sorry.’

Eva stood up and flung the mask into her bag, no longer caring about its delicate exterior. Tell Mia I’m not well, okay?’

Nathan nodded and shook his head at the same time. ‘You sure you’re ok
ay?’

‘I will be once I get out of here. Will you just tell her please?’

‘Yeah. Yes of course.‘

             
Eva grabbed her coat and rushed towards the door. She needed the sanctuary of her own home.

‘I hope you’re feeling better soon,’ Nathan added. Eva didn’t reply. She was already on the street in her mind.

Eva cursed Julian as she tried on yet another outfit. She didn’t like it. She pulled it roughly off and flung it on her bed where it rested with all the other clothes she hadn’t liked either. Eva took a break from freaking out over her wardrobe to text Nathan. She felt compelled to apologise for running off. She explained about her headache and asked to reschedule their coffee - again. He was, as always, very understanding. Telling her to get some rest and he would see her soon.

             
She tried to take his advice and climbed into bed with a hot chocolate. She was hoping to relax for an hour or two but every time she closed her eyes, all she could see was Julian’s face staring back at her. She wanted to hate him for causing her the worst headache of her life. She wanted to hate him for making her feel skittish and forcing her to lie to Nathan. She wanted to hate him for making her doubt everything about her dress sense, her common sense, any sense. She just wanted to hate him…but she didn’t. Finally she put back on the dress she had worn all day. If it had turned heads that morning, maybe adding the pair of ridiculously high heels she dragged out from underneath her bed, coupled with a hideously-uncomfortable-but-works-wonders push-up bra would turn Julian’s head.

             
Eva gave herself a quick once over in the mirror, completely taken aback by her own appearance. She actually thought she looked attractive. Her hair fell softly around her shoulders and her make-up was subtle and flawless. The nervous glow in her cheeks gave her an air of sensuality. She was, for once in her life, confident and calm. Of course when the doorbell rang that calmness quickly unravelled and sickly nerves took hold.

             
She hit the release button for the main doors downstairs and waited. The knock on her apartment door moments later was gentle but she still jumped. She paced the hall three times before finally reaching for the latch. The warm glow in her cheeks had increased to a hot, fiery red and a flutter danced in her stomach like thunder clouds colliding.

             
The door began to quiver gently as the person on the other side knocked louder. He was growing impatient, Eva knew. The knocks stopped and in their place, an enticing voice called her name. Eva’s cheeks burnt now. What was she doing? He was a perfect stranger. Perfect in every sense of the word.
Stop
, Eva warned herself. She shouldn’t be thinking like that. This was a business arrangement. She needed to be professional. Yes, that was the right attitude. Eva pulled her shoulders up, rolled them back and let them go; exhaling deeply as her body relaxed. Just do it, she told herself. Don’t think, just do it.

             
She pulled the door back to find a large bouquet of red roses waiting, their beautiful bright colour begging to be touched. Their long, thorny, green steams highlighted the suited torso waiting behind them. A dark, navy suit jacket was left open to reveal a crisp white shirt. The cotton tightly hugged a broad, slim chest. Eva’s heart raced and her breath became tiny, fragile pants. His dark, tightly cut hair matched his walnut eyes and his chiselled jaw was emphasised by a delicious grin. He was beautiful and sexy, and here.