A Physical Affair

CHAPTER EIGHT

‘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.

‘What a crush,’ he said and then turned to the other woman. ‘Glad I found you, Dianna. Denver Clarkson’s been looking for you. Something about some prospective advertisers for Chloe, I think.’

Dianna excused herself with obvious reluctance and left them.

‘Hi, Keira!’ Daniel ran his eyes over Keira’s outfit and whistled softly. ‘Wow! You look great.’

‘For an old broad?’ Keira finished, and he laughed.

‘Yeah. Exactly. Well, I guess the magazine’s going to be a winner if tonight’s anything to go by.’ Daniel beamed at his uncle, apparently undaunted by Eden’s obvious disapproval of the easy banter between Keira and his nephew. ‘So it would seem this might be the best time to ask for a raise in pay.’ He winked at Keira before turning back to Eden. ‘What do you say?’

‘I’d say not a particularly good taste comment when you take into consideration the industrial action that’s pending,’ his uncle remarked drily.

‘Oops! Bad timing on my part. Sorry, Eden. I forgot about the distributors being restless. I’d better change the subject. Something funny just happened,’ he chattered on. ‘Someone asked me to introduce them to Aunt Aggie but I didn’t want to spoil their image of her. You know, grey hair, glasses on the end of her nose, short and grandmotherly.’

‘And she isn’t?’ Eden remarked, and Daniel chuckled.

‘Shall I tell him, Keira?’

Keira shrugged and Daniel made a flourishing movement with his hand toward her.

‘Eden Cassidy, meet Aunt Aggie Rains.’

Eden raised his dark brows. ‘You write that column?’

Keira nodded.

‘Yet another of your many talents?’

‘Sure is,’ Daniel put in delightedly.

‘I use my aunt’s diaries and recipe books.’ Keira explained, just a little flushed with embarrassment. ‘She was very particular about recording everything.’

‘Keira doesn’t exactly fit the picture, does she?’ Daniel laughed again and continued as Keira’s colour deepened. ‘Blushing becomes you,’ he said with flamboyant aplomb.

‘Enough, Daniel,’ Eden warned.

‘Sorry, Keira,’ Daniel apologised. ‘Time for another subject change.’ He turned back to his uncle. ‘So, what’s this I hear about Megan being in New York?’

‘She left yesterday,’ Eden told him dispassionately, his eyes still moving over Keira’s face, and she shifted uneasily, hoping Daniel would be too involved in his own concerns to notice his uncle’s so obvious attention.

‘I expected Megan to be here with bells on,’ Daniel was probing. ‘What’s she doing in New York?’

‘She wanted to see a Broadway show,’ his uncle replied tartly.

‘Very droll, Eden. When’s she due back?’

‘Although I can’t understand your sudden interest in Megan, and apart from its not being any of your business, Daniel, she’ll be tied up for a few weeks.’

‘A few weeks,’ Daniel repeated in amazement as he raised his eyebrows at his uncle. ‘You mean we’re launching this magazine without Megan’s good right hand? Well, the indispensable becomes dispensable.’

‘Now there’s an idea,’ said Eden meaningfully. ‘It may not be such a good idea to put such interesting thoughts into my mind.’

Daniel raised his hands in mock horror. ‘Then by all means consider it not said. Think I’ll quit while I’m ahead. See you two later,’ he added as he left them.

Keira’s mouth went suddenly dry and she made herself move, lifted her wine glass to her lips, and then felt herself colour as she realised the glass was empty.

Eden reached out and took the glass from her nerveless fingers as a waiter materialised beside them. And Keira was too stunned to refuse the refill.

‘Denver tells me everything’s gone to plan with the magazine,’ he remarked casually and Keira nodded, feeling more than one pair of eyes watching them with interest.

‘Yes. There have been no real problems,’ she said uneasily, and then pulled herself together. ‘Well, I guess I should leave you to mingle,’ she added brightly and made to move away.

‘You didn’t come to the party I gave last week,’ he said conversationally and Keira stopped, her muscles tensing.

‘No. Thank you for asking me but I’d made other plans,’ she replied without intonation. She’d sent her inability to accept via Daniel, and this time Keira had refused to allow the young man to talk her into changing her mind and going.

‘So Daniel informed me.’ He paused. ‘He said you had a date.’

Keira met his narrowed gaze, remembering her excuse. She’d told Daniel she intended to curl up with a good book. Scarcely a date. And Daniel knew that. So what was Daniel playing at?

‘Who was he?’ The even timbre of Eden’s voice repudiated the stormy darkness of his eyes and Keira’s throat contracted.

For long moments she was unable to formulate a reply. ‘Daniel had no right to tell you anything.’ She drew a quick, steadying breath. ‘And apart from that I hardly think it’s any of your business how I spend my weekends.’

Eden Cassidy might be her boss but he didn’t own her free time. He’d issued invitations and she’d refused. If he couldn’t take no for an answer that was his problem. She had no intention of allowing him to intimidate her in any way. And telling herself that was fine, she acknowledged, but now she had to put her resolve into practice.

Eden’s eyes were impaling hers and she found she was powerless to break their hold over her.

‘He doesn’t seem to be dancing attendance tonight,’ he said at last, in that same portentous tone.

‘Who?’ Keira got out through tense lips.

‘Your date,’ he repeated laconically.

The temperature in the room had become stifling and Keira yearned to race for the doorway, draw some cooling air into her tortured lungs. She swallowed and took hold of what little of her composure remained intact.

‘Perhaps he isn’t insecure enough in himself to feel the need to bind me to his side,’ she said scathingly. And she had the exhilarating sensation of knowing her barb had found its target as he lifted his head, his strong jaw clenching.

‘Do I take that as a critique of my character? Or apparent lack of it,’ he added caustically, and Keira shrugged.

‘Take it any way you feel you need to take it,’ she expounded with a coolly insolent smile.

‘Oh, believe me, Keira, I wouldn’t need to bind you to my side,’ he said proprietorially. ‘You simply wouldn’t want to leave.’

‘What an illuminating statement,’ Keira threw back at him. ‘And even more so because I think you really believe that.’

He gave a quietly humourless laugh. ‘And you believe it too, Keira.’

His vibrant voice, soft as velvet now, made her body tingle right down to her toes, and she clutched at her anger to conceal the betrayal of her seditious senses.

‘I can’t believe your arrogance, your-’

‘We could put it to the test,’ he cut in. ‘Care to try to prove me wrong, Keira?’

‘No,’ she replied with as much dignity as she could muster. ‘Unfortunately, I can’t help your mistaken assumptions. And quite frankly, I don’t really care what you think. Now, I’ve been neglecting the other guests-’

‘And especially your escort.’

Keira raised her chin. ‘The other guests,’ she repeated composedly, her grey gaze boldly holding his.

‘Who is he?’ he reiterated with almost tangible constraint, and they stood facing each other like incited adversaries about to do battle.

‘Is the relationship serious?’ he asked at last, when Keira was sure the gathering tension between them was about to explode into a million pieces.

She opened her mouth to tell him it was, to provide herself with some cover to hide behind, to cloak her very real and frightening attraction to this man. But somehow the words wouldn’t come. And he read the truth in her eyes before she could disguise it.

He smiled then, a magnanimously satisfied expression of triumph, and Keira had to fight the urge to lash out physically at him.

‘You are the most egotistical, insufferable, objectionable man it has ever been my misfortune to meet,’ she got out through clenched teeth, and went to swing away from him.

But his strong hand reached out, fingers clasping her arm to stay her, and Keira raised her furious gaze to his.

‘Please don’t do that,’ she whispered tersely, barely controlling her temper, but also aware just how close she and Eden were to making a scene.

‘Do what?’

‘That,’ Keira repeated, and tried to ease her arm from his touch, but his fingers tightened. ‘You’re embarrassing me.’

‘By talking to you?’ he said infuriatingly. ‘Surely as your boss I’d be expected to have things to discuss with you.’

‘Talking to me? Your topics of conversation leave a lot to be desired. Now, I suggest you let me go.’ Her eyes went expressively to the place where his fingers held her arm. And she made herself ignore the fact that her so-reponsive nerve-endings where he touched her bare skin had set up a wild tattoo which was spreading like a fireball. ‘Let me go, Eden,’ she repeated. ‘Everyone will begin to wonder about-well…’ Keira paused, colour washing her face again.

‘Ah!’ he exclaimed, his tone infuriatingly placating. ‘Everyone will begin to wonder. And if someone sees me touching your arm they’ll expect me to give you a television station of your own.’

With prolonged deliberation he slowly released her, only to trail one strong finger down the length of her arm to her wrist, settling momentarily on the soft flesh where her pulse raced, before eventually breaking the contact. ‘Heaven only knows what might happen if that someone saw me put my arm around you,’ he added drily and Keira’s eyes flashed angrily.

‘Someone? Good grief! There are hundreds of people here and you can’t really imagine you aren’t the focus of most of their attention.’

‘If I went around thinking that I’d be accused of being an egomaniac.’

Keira raised her chin eloquently and he gave a softly sensual laugh. ‘Such flattery, my dear Keira. Must I add that to your list of my failings?’

‘Perhaps your biggest failing is that you’ve spent so much time in your ivory tower you’ve forgotten, if you ever knew, about the intrigues of the lower rank and file. You’re perfectly safe in your penthouse, Mr Cassidy, but I have to live and work down here.’

‘The casting couch again?’ he said with that same dangerous quietness, all humour washed from his expression.

Keira’s gaze met his in trepidation but she stood her ground. ‘You know exactly what I mean.’

‘I still think you’re over-reacting.’

‘And I’ve already had to defend myself once tonight. I don’t need any more drama to fuel the flame.’

His dark head rose as he frowned. ‘Be specific, Keira. Who and what?’

‘I don’t choose to tell you.’

‘If you’re talking about Denver Clarkson, then let me just say he has a very sick wife so I’m sure he’s got more to worry about than my sex-life. Or lack of it,’ he added incitingly, and Keira felt her mouth tighten in exasperation.

‘I think I can safely say this particular person was simply speaking for the majority and and leave it at that,’ Keira said bitterly, and he shoved his hands in his pockets.

‘Then perhaps I should make a public announcement and settle this once and for all. Keira Strong got this job because she was the best person to fill it. No sexual favours have been exchanged.’

Keira flushed and glanced quickly around to see if anyone had heard his outrageous words. ‘Do you have to be so offensive? We’re attracting more than enough attention as it is.’

His blue eyes glittered dangerously. ‘We could attract a hell of a lot more,’ he said and stepped closer, his eyes burning into hers, his suit-clad chest just millimetres from her suddenly taut and throbbing breasts.

‘Eden, please…’

‘Please?’ he repeated shortly. ‘Please.’ His deep tone fell intoxicatingly. ‘That’s what I’d like to do. Please you. And I promise you, I would.’

Keira’s heartbeats drummed at his sensual tone, his arousing words, and she shook her head desperately. ‘Eden, don’t. I can’t take this any more.’

‘You can’t take it? Don’t you know you’re driving me crazy? Come with me after the launch. We’ll have some supper.’

Her heartbeats caught painfully in her throat and she felt decidedly light-headed. ‘You know I can’t do that,’ she got out through her dry lips.

‘Do I? I don’t, you know. And neither do you. Forget everyone else. Think about yourself. Do it for yourself. You know you want to.’ His low, erotic intonation played over her and she felt her quivering, insidious senses clamour for her surrender. And she knew she was rapidly forgetting the reasons why she was denying herself the electrifying pleasure of submission. Why not let him take her anywhere he chose, satisfy the spreading fire within her?

Desperately she shook her head and the wisps of fair hair escaping from her chignon teased her neck, again reminding her of the touch of his lips.

‘Come with me,’ he repeated urgently, the words flowing over her like warm oil, tantalising, enticing her.