Page 31 of About Last Night
Tristan’s revelations about his aversion to marriage and recent split from a long-term partner had sealed her decision not to get further involved with him.
Clearly, he wanted different things in life to her and no way was she going to be his rebound woman – she’d been through the humiliation of that before and wasn’t prepared to do it again. They always seemed to go back to their exes as soon as she settled into the hope things might work between them.
And he was her boss, which made up the triumvirate of a no-go.
She had a duty to protect herself from any relationship that was destined to bring her more pain and loneliness. She’d had enough of that to last her a lifetime.
It didn’t stop her from wanting him though, which was a bit of a problem when she had to see him every day.
She’d quickly got into the routine of her new show, and even though it left her both mentally and physically drained, she’d never been happier with that part of her life.
The whole atmosphere at Flash had changed since Tristan had stepped into the breach. Everyone seemed less guarded and more relaxed than when Jez was in charge – which wasn’t surprising as the man had had a unique gift for getting people’s backs up.
She was desperate that no one at the station should find out what had happened between her and Tristan though and terrified she would give herself away when she was near him.
It had been bad enough when the whispers had gone around about her succumbing to Jez’s ‘charms’. Any time someone had so much as mentioned her and Jez’s name in the same sentence she’d wanted to bury her head in the ground in shame. It had caused a really uncomfortable atmosphere for a while and no one had wanted to take her into their confidence in case word got back to Jez about their grievances.
No way would she be able to hold her head high if everyone knew she’d had sex with Tristan too.
Sleeping with one of her bosses could be seen as careless. Sleeping with two was just plain stupid.
She was taking her customary time out after the show on Friday morning when Tristan came into one of the offices where she liked to hide out. Her heartbeat picked up as she tried not to notice how ridiculously sexy he looked today with his shirt open at the neck and his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, displaying his strong, tanned forearms. His transformation into casual-cool messed with her head. It was so much easier to compartmentalise him when he was all buttoned up in his restricting suit somehow.
‘Hey,’ he said, giving her a nod, ‘I wondered where you got to after you finished your shows.’
She scrambled to sit up on the sofa and straightened her T-shirt, which had ridden up, exposing her midriff. ‘I like to have a bit of quiet time after I come off air – to reflect, you know? Before I start planning for the next show.’
He’d dropped his gaze down her body when she’d pulled on her clothing and when he looked her in the eye again his pupils were large and dark.
Awareness tickled down her spine.
Giving her a slow, knowing smile he walked over to the sofa and sat down next to her, so close she could smell the heady masculine scent of him. Exotic spice with the dark undertone of alpha male.
Leaning an elbow against the back of the sofa, he propped his head in his hand and studied her, his eyes roaming her face. ‘I wasn’t criticising you, just making an observation.’
Her heart was thumping so hard in her chest she suspected her body must be visibly pulsing with it. Was he deliberately sitting this close to get a reaction out of her? She had a strong suspicion he was. Clearly, he wasn’t taking their pact as seriously as she was.
She was going to have to pay him back for that.
Crossing her arms, she gave him anI know your gamesmile. ‘Was there something you needed from me?’
Straightening his posture, he arranged his face into a more business-like expression. ‘Yes. I’ve put out a couple of adverts for a new station manager and I’m starting to get some replies. I’d appreciate it if you’d sit in on the interviews with me. I could do with someone with experience of the industry – and this station in particular – to pick up any loose ends I miss.’
Lula’s insides did a strange swoopy thing. On the one hand shewas ridiculously pleased he thought so highly of her opinion, but on the other, she couldn’t shake the gloomy awareness that someone else taking the job meant she’d never see him again.
‘Sure, I’d be happy to sit in with you.’
The atmosphere felt weirdly heavy and strained, as though all the things they weren’t saying to each other were dulling the air between them.
Or maybe she was just exhausted from a week of presenting such an intensive show.
There was a long pause in which he stared intently into her eyes, before nodding. ‘Thanks, Lula.’
That was the first time he’d called her Lula instead of Tallulah since she’d taken her job back and it made her feel inexplicably wretched.
‘My pleasure.’
She watched him get up and walk away, dejection swirling darkly through her brain.
