Page 28 of Blind Date with the Boss

‘Is something wrong?’ he asked.

‘No, nothing’s wrong,’ Sally squeaked. ‘Nothing at all.’

He pointed to his feet. ‘I remembered the shoes.’

Dragging her gaze reluctantly downwards, she saw that he was indeed wearing his leather lace ups. ‘Well done.’

For most of the short journey through the dark city streets, she tried to put into practice what she’d learned at yoga classes about keeping calm and balanced.It’s all in the breathing. Keep your breaths even and steady. In, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Out, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

Fortunately, Logan was happy to concentrate on the traffic and he didn’t try to distract her with scintillating conversation. There was no way could Sally calm down and scintillate at the same time.

They reached the underground car park beneath Blackcorp’s offices and parked in the space assigned to BMC’s Managing Director. The lighting was minimal and theirfootsteps echoed eerily in the empty subterranean chamber as they made their way to the lift.

Sally’s heartbeats raced and she felt wings of panic, but soon they were inside the main building and the security guy bustled up to them importantly as Logan was unlocking Blackcorp’s door.

‘Everything all right, Mr. Black?’ His eyes bulged with curiosity when he saw Sally.

‘Of course, Reg. Perfectly fine.’ If Logan was embarrassed to be caught after hours, sneaking back into the office with the front desk girl, he hid the fact behind a ferocious frown. ‘Miss Finch and I are working on a special project.’

‘Oh, right then, sir. I’ll leave you to it.’

Sally was relieved to know that the guard was close by as she and Logan went through both sets of doors, then along the hall to the meeting room. They became very efficient as they pushed tables and chairs to the sides to make a space in the centre. Then Logan tapped at his phone and the bright notes of a Strauss waltz filled the room.

‘Will this music be okay?’ he asked.

Sally wrinkled her nose. ‘It might be a bit old fashioned for a modern ball, but it’s the real thing!’

‘Everything’s ready then.’ He stood to attention and took a deep breath. ‘Now, what do I have to do?’

Looking at him as he stood there, his expression so tense and serious, Sally’s nervousness evaporated. Logan Black wasn’t the rat who’d been so vile at the country dance. Right now, he was barely recognisable as her arrogant and distant boss.

He wasa vulnerable man, who would be mortified if his inadequacies were exposed, and yet, conscientious to a fault, he was determined to do the right thing by his sister.

He genuinely needed her help.

Smiling her warmest smile, Sally walked towards him, reached for his hands and took them lightly in hers. The tentative contact was enough to launch her into orbit, but she schooled herself to ignore the sizzle and to concentrate on helping him to waltz.

She was determined to do her absolute best.

This was a bad idea. A very bad idea.

The instant Sally’s warm hands clasped his, Logan knew he was in trouble.

To start with, Sally was wearing a sleeveless yellow dress made from some kind of T shirt material. With a low-backed top that hugged her lithe body like a leotard and a full skirt that rippled about her legs whenever she moved, the outfit was no doubt very suitable for dancing. But it totally threatened the boss-employee dynamics he’d been determined to maintain.

And now she was standing close and touching him. Her bright hair framed her intent face, her eyes signalled intelligence and sensitivity, and all he wanted to do was haul her closer and kiss her and –

‘The waltz is all about poise, grace and elegance,’ she told him. ‘If you listen carefully to the music, you can hear how light and smooth and airy it is.’

Obediently, Logan censored his thoughts and concentrated on Strauss’sBlue Danube. ‘The beat’s important, isn’t it?’

?‘Absolutely. Counting the music is most important. That’s what will get you through this waltz. Can you count to three, Mr. Black?’

?He favoured her with a lopsided smile.

‘Oh, yes, of course,’ Sally said in mock apology. ‘You’ve already told me you’re very good at mathematics, so this should be a cinch.’

He couldn’t help admiring her confidence and her easy use of humour to help him to relax. She really was a surprise package – and, right now, very much in control.

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