Salvation (23 page)

“
That
’
s a new word for it. Michael came searching for you half hour ago, so I know you
’
ve been alone with the Adonis.
”
Mai noticed my fretful expression and said,
“
Don
’
t worry, I covered. Your secret
’
s still safe.
”

“
Thanks, Mai.
”
I touched her arm in appreciation and returned the milk carton to the refrigerator.
“
I had to answer some questions, that
’
s all.
”

Mai sneered her disbelief and glanced up at my hair.
“
Next time, try remembering what hairstyle you came to work with.
”
She spooned some sugar into her latte.
“
Pretty sure it wasn’t like that.
”

I sifted my fingers through my ponytail.
Crap.

“
If I
’
m gonna cover your ass while the God in the suit screws your brains out,
”
she said, handing me my mug,
“
I expect details when you get back.
”

“
We didn’t have sex!
”
I protested, lowering my voice as we exited the kitchen, passing some colleagues.
“
We only
—”

What exactly had we done? Okay, there was no actual intercourse, but Nate had still gone down on me in his office. Not giving Mai the chance to probe further, I shook my head and hurried to my desk.
“
I
’
ve got work to do.
”

NATE called just before 5 p.m. I was surprised it had taken him so long to follow up from our encounter.

“
Hello,
”
I answered my desk phone with a smile.

“
Baby.
”
His breathy tone stirred the butterflies in my belly.
“
I
’
m going out of my mind up here.
”

“Why?” I feigned ignorance as I sank lower into my chair and crossed my legs.

“You know
exactly
what you’re doing to me. It’s taking all of my willpower not to come get you and drag your bare ass back up here to finish what you’ve started.”

My mouth parted to accommodate a gasp, and my free hand trailed over my chest, coming to rest on the flat of my fluttering stomach.

“You’re lucky I don’t know where you sit,” he said gruffly, giving away his own desire.

I scanned the office outside, checking our conversation wasn’t being overheard, and lowered my voice anyway. “I’m sure you could locate me—if you
really
wanted to. It is your building, after all.”

“Do you
want
me to?”

I closed my eyes to block everything out so I could concentrate solely on Nate’s sensual voice and the wetness between my legs.

“Excuse me, Kara.” Something distracted him, voices muffling in the background. The interruption brought me out of my reverie and back to reality with an unwelcome reminder. I straightened and gathered myself together.

“Sorry about that. Where were we?” Nate asked.

I cleared my throat. “You were about to say why you were calling.”

“
You sure,
”
he teased,
“
because I
’
m pretty uncomfortable and won
’
t be able to stand for a while.
”

“
Nate! God, I hope the phones in this place aren’t tapped.
”

He laughed.
“
Only telling the truth, sweetheart.
”

He was, albeit entirely inappropriately given our location, and I had to respect him for that. Nate wasn’t afraid to express his feelings, and was more than willing to let me know what I did to him. It was a refreshing change compared to things of late.
“
Are you still free tomorrow night?
”

I rubbed my brow, missing something.
“
I thought you had a function?
”

“
I do. Wanna walk that red carpet with me?
”
he asked, his tone playful and flirtatious.

My heartbeat ramped up.
“
I
—
We
’
ve barely defined what we
’
re doing ourselves. I
’
m not ready to face the media for them to tear us apart.
”
I
’
d seen gorgeous women cruelly ripped to pieces, judgement passed on everything
—
what they wore, what physical shape they were in
—
all because they didn’t fit into a particular stereotype.

One man had made my life hell in much the same way. I wasn’t ready for strangers to do it again.

“
I knew that would be your response, which is why I scored two more invites.
”
He understood, but disappointment laced his voice.
“
Bring a friend and we
’
ll meet inside, it
’
ll be more private.
”

Nate had no idea of the internal battle I faced in deciding whether to introduce him to my friends. Mai would kill to go to this type of event, and I knew if I turned him down, I
’
d be the one dead. When I saw her strolling happily back to her workstation without a care, I caved.
“
I
’
d love to, thank you.
”

“
I told you I
’
d find a way to spend time with you. Our meeting earlier was a welcome prelude to our next date. It was a pleasant surprise to see you.
”

“
You arranged that on purpose,
”
I accused, recalling how I
’
d told him I was working on that project.

“
I did,
”
he admitted without shame.
“
What I hadn’t planned on was being tempted by every businessman
’
s fantasy brought to life. I couldn’t resist you.
”

I knew he was smiling, and asked,
“
What do you mean?
”
with a smile of my own.

“
In that outfit? Those stockings, and your hair piled sexily on top of your head? You rocked the naughty secretary look.
”
There was a short pause, then he murmured,
“
Those glasses tipped me over the edge.
”

“
Naughty secretary?
”
I laughed out loud.
“
In your dreams.
”

“Baby, every thought I have of you is like a dream. I’ve asked myself many times if you’re real or simply a figment of my imagination.”

“A mind-blowing orgasm on your desk felt very real.”

“Yeah,” he laughed, “think you pulled half my hair out.”

Embarrassment flushed my skin. I tried to reply but my throat clammed up, leaving me unable to form any words.

“
I had to see you,
”
Nate continued, more serious.
“
I
’
m determined to show you just how much I want this relationship, and I
’
ll keep making amends until you understand what it means to me
—
what
you
mean to me. I won
’
t let you down again, Kara.
”

“
That isn’t necessary. Just
…”
I didn’t know what to say. I wanted a relationship, but one with Nate frightened me. I
’
d fall too deep, deeper than he ever would, and it would break me when he realised that.

“
I have to go, my car
’
s waiting downstairs. I
’
ll see you tomorrow.
”

“
Enjoy your evening,
”
I said softly and ended the call.

WHILST MAI HAD Jessie J and the remaining Ros
é
to keep her company as she made a mess of my spare bedroom, I had an empty glass and my frazzled nerves. Wearing a nude thong, glittery black painted nails and nothing else, I stared at the emerald green shantung dress draped across my bed. It was sexy, purchased on a whim, and
never
dared to be worn before.

Until tonight, when my ever helpful friend decided it was the only outfit to knock Nate off his feet. I stepped into the dress so I didn’t disturb the loose flowing waves of my hair and zipped it up. The cool silk hugged my curves and stopped a few inches short of my knee. I was adjusting my cleavage in the strapless bodice when Mai walked into my room.

“
Phew!
”
She added a whistle for effect.

“
Will I do?
”
I asked, doing a little twirl.

“
More than. Not sure I wanna go now with you looking all
glamazonian
.
”
Mai
’
s eyes dropped the length of my bare legs.
“
Jesus, those legs. What
’
s it like living up there in the clouds?
”
Her arms waved manically in the air as she strutted to my dressing table in black suede heels. She was stunning, in a cream bandage dress that showed off her slim figure, olive colouring and hair, which she wore loose.

“
Should I change?
”
I faced the full length faceted antique mirror and cocked my head to the side, assessing my appearance.
“
It
’
s too much, isn’t it?
”

“
Women pay good money for curves like yours. Go flaunt them!
”
Mai
’
s smoking didn’t suppress her appetite one bit, yet she didn’t carry an ounce of fat regardless. I paid the price of overindulgence if I didn’t workout regularly.

“
I
’
m not used to wearing such bold, revealing outfits.
”
I dropped onto my bed and put on my sandals.

“
The dumbass didn’t know a good thing when he had it,
”
Mai insisted, referring to Stuart.
“
He wasn’t man enough to have a gorgeous woman like you on his arm. Whereas, Blake
…”
She paused, taking a moment to daydream whilst putting on earrings.
“
He
’
s
all
man. Now get your butt over here and do this up
”—
she held a statement necklace in the air
—“
so you can go blow his mind.
”

I helped Mai out and finished getting ready whilst she spritzed one of my perfumes on then smiled, satisfied with her appearance in the mirror.

“
Ross will be here in a minute,
”
I said when I saw the time was nearing 8 p.m.

“
I
’
m so excited to finally meet Mr Blake
—
I mean Nate.
”
Mai came to a halt in the lounge, slipping her cross body bag over her head.
“
Wait, what should I call him? Is he my boss tonight or my best friends lover?
”

The intercom announced Ross
’
arrival.
“
Call him Nate.
”
I held the door open, waiting for her to knock back her wine.

“
How cool is it, having your own driver?
”
Mai pointed out, breezing past with a smile.
“
Cabs suck.
”

BARELY ten minutes later, the Mercedes stopped outside Andaz in West Hollywood. Searchlights beamed into the sky, and camera flashes popped incessantly at people posing their way up a plush red carpet. Mai squealed and bounced excitedly on the backseat.

“Kara, we
have
to do the red carpet.”

Her enthusiasm didn’t rub off on me. I shook my head, taking another peek out the window at the hordes of people. “There’s no way I’m walking up there.”

I thanked Ross when I stepped out the car and joined Mai on the pavement. She was deep in conversation with the valet who
’
d opened her door. That girl could talk to anyone.

She linked arms and tried steering me towards the carpet.
“
I
’
m not stopping, Mai,
”
I repeated.
“
No-one will want a picture anyway, it
’
s not like we
’
re famous.
”

After being stopped and asked for ID by a woman in a little black dress, complete with headset and tablet, we were allowed through. The second we stepped onto the carpet we were faced with a blinding glare of flashbulbs.

Squinting against the brightness, I freed my arm from Mai
’
s grip and rushed inside. From the shelter of the hotel, I watched Mai work it like a pro, until finally she joined me, giddy with the thrill of it all.

“
Oh, Kara,
”
she gushed,
“
I
’
m in love with your man. That was awesome.
”