‘Thanks. What time tonight?’ She knew his show started at seven, which wouldn’t give her much time to get home from work and do the usual pre-date routine.
It’s not a date, her voice of reason screamed. And she happily ignored it.
‘Is six too early?’
Heck, yes! She wouldn’t have time to blow-dry her hair, pick out an outfit designed to impress and do a quick tidy up just in case he popped in afterwards.
‘No problem. I live in Beacon Cove, Port Melbourne. Apartment 8/24 on the Esplanade.’
‘Great. I’ll see you at six.’ He suddenly sounded brisk and businesslike and she wondered if she’d just imagined the whole conversation and its undertones.
‘Keely?’
‘Mmm?’
‘I’m looking forward to it.’
He disconnected before she had a chance to respond, which was rather fortunate as it would’ve been hard to answer him while grinning like a loon.
Keely barely raised her head as Lucy entered her office. She didn’t have a moment to waste and, apart from having to head home and get ready, she needed to have something down on paper for Lachlan’s file. Otherwise he’d know she was a total phoney. About the only ideas she’d hashed to date were about the two of them getting up close and personal, and she didn’t think that would be appropriate to have on his web page, displayed for the world to see.
Lucy perched on the end of her desk, took off her rose-coloured glasses and wiped them with the end of her funky lime-green top.
‘What’s got you in a tizz?’
Keely placed the Brant file in her tote bag and zipped it shut. ‘I have to leave. Now.’
‘Hot date, huh?’
She shook her head. ‘No.’ And, despite her best intentions to stay cool about the evening ahead and not read anything into it, she blushed.
Predictably, her astute assistant pounced. ‘You have got a date! And I bet I know who it’s with. Would the initials LB mean anything to you?’
‘It’s part of my research for his website,’ Keely responded, trying not to encourage Lucy. That was all she needed—for Lucy to rev her up even more than she already was.
‘Oh, right.’ Lucy’s eyes narrowed and she pursed her lips, as if pondering a particularly difficult puzzle. ‘So that’s what they’re calling it these days. Research.’
‘Luce, I haven’t got time for this.’ Keely picked up her bag and headed for the door. ‘Besides, shouldn’t you be working on the Flirt account?’ She clicked her fingers as if remembering something. ‘Speaking of Accounts, have you been down there today? I heard Aidan popped in to oversee some discrepancies.’
Keely scored a direct hit as Lucy flushed a deep crimson. ‘I may have seen him briefly.’
‘Why don’t you ask him out? He’s perfect for you.’
Lucy slid off the desk and smoothed her skirt down. ‘I really must get back to work.’ She stopped at the door and wiggled her fingers. ‘Have fun tonight.’
‘It’s work.’
‘Whatever. I’ll expect an e-mail with the details of your research first thing in the morning. Bye.’
‘It is just work,’ Keely muttered under her breath as she followed Lucy out the door, wishing she could believe it.
The doorbell rang as Keely slicked gloss over her lips and took a final look in the mirror.
Not bad—black bootleg pants, burgundy fitted top, hair blow-dried to perfection and just a hint of make-up to make the most of what the good Lord had given her.
Not great, but not bad. Hopefully, Lachlan would be impressed.
As she opened the front door and his eyes lit up she had her answer.
‘Hi,’ was all she could manage.
If she thought he’d looked impressive at the office that morning, in suit and tie, it was nothing compared with his casual look. The combination of jeans, white T-shirt and black leather jacket had never looked so sexy on a man—and this was no ordinary man.
‘You look great. Ready to go?’
She nodded, finally managing to tear her gaze away from the way the white cotton moulded to what looked like rock-hard pecs beneath.
‘Just let me grab my bag,’ she said, hoping that the bag was all she managed to grab in the next sixty seconds.
As if she hadn’t had a hard enough time convincing herself that tonight was only about business, he had to turn up here looking like that.
‘Nice apartment.’ He stood at the door looking in and she suddenly realised that the minute she’d caught sight of him all rational thought—along with her manners—had flown out the window.
‘Come in,’ she said, getting more flustered by the minute as she picked up her bag and his file slid to the floor.
Great—she must’ve forgotten to zip it up earlier, when she’d slid a brush and lippy for touch-ups alongside the all-important folder.
‘Here, let me help.’ He bent down and reached for the scattered papers at the same time she did, their heads colliding in a sickening crunch.
‘Ouch!’ She sank back on to the floor and rubbed her forehead, silently cursing. It looked as if her clumsy curse around cute guys had reared its ugly head again.
Thankfully, he laughed and reached out a hand to help her off the floor. ‘Do I make you uncomfortable or are you always this graceful?’
‘It’s you,’ she said, and joined in with a rueful chuckle.
‘Mmm…first you up-end half your desk when I sit next to you, now you drop your bag when I get within two feet and give me a concussion in the process. It must be me.’
He pulled her up as she placed her hand in his and true to form, she stumbled against him. Totally unintentional, of course.
As she braced herself against his chest—yep, those pecs felt every bit as good as they looked—and he gazed down on her with a tender glint in his eyes, she suddenly didn’t mind being such a klutz.
And when he rested his hands on her hips and smiled in that special way he had, as if she was the only woman in the world, she could’ve quite happily caused havoc by stumbling, upending bags and messing up desks every day of the week.
‘If I’m the problem, what’s the remedy?’
‘You’re the doc, why don’t you tell me?’ Her voice came out all soft and breathy while her pulse raced double-time as his hands tightened their grip, sending bolts of electricity shooting through her body.
So much for playing it cool. They hadn’t even made it out of her apartment and the evening had taken on an intimate feel.
‘Take two kisses and call me in the morning.’
O-kay. Think quick. Respond with something light-hearted and witty.
However, all she could do was stand there and stare at him while his gaze stayed riveted to her lips, as if he’d like to follow up on the first part of his advice. As he leaned forward her heart jolted at the clear intent in his eyes and she was sure the air crackled with tension around them.
Work…assignment…client…
The words filtered through her dazed mind and acted like an instant dampener and she reluctantly looked away.
‘If that’s one of your cures, I’m not surprised you’re so popular,’ she murmured, managing a