Page 8 of Mr Monday
‘That’s a joke. You appear far from addle-brained.’
‘I do, don’t I?’ He smiled again, and I felt a little out of my depth.
Before I could inquire further about where he had learned about my phobia, the door opened and a nurse came in. I wasn’t the least bit surprised to see how lovely she was. Mr King had an element of Hugh Hefner about him.
‘Regardless. There are some things best kept to yourself. So, I bid you goodnight.’ He nodded at Mr Gorgeous.
‘Sir.’ He acknowledged Mr King and stepped to my side.
I felt the heat of his body, like being kissed by the sun. His delicious scent tickled my nose and I inhaled, almost sighing with appreciation. My earlier arousal for him came roaring back and my knees wobbled. I stood like a statue and clasped my hands in front of me. We watched Mr King as he was wheeled away.
‘The helicopter is waiting.’
I lifted my head and drew in a quick breath at the sudden exhaustion that dragged at me. Emotionally, I was wrung out, yet thrilled to be one step closer to the goal I’d been working toward for so long. I could also thank Mr Gorgeous for keeping me on a knife edge of sexual arousal without any likelihood of easing the ache. So much had happened this evening. I glanced down at the card in my hand. It was a more glamorous version of a hotel key card and I wondered if it opened anything. I supposed I would find out tomorrow. I had accepted my assignment, much like James Bond, only I didn’t have a license to kill. I ran my thumb over the surface of the card. It sparkled from the lighting overhead. I looked closer, and gasped.
‘Is there something wrong?’ asked Mr Gorgeous.
I shook my head. ‘No, but when the light hit the card I swear it looked like there was a tiny diamond in the center.’
‘Perhaps there is. You never know where Mr King is concerned. Anything is possible.’
I raised my eyebrows and tucked the card inside my Kate Spade, which was still slung over my shoulder.
When Mr Gorgeous took hold of my elbow, I started and looked up at him. He was tall, and handsome as hell. So mysterious and perfect. I didn’t think I’d ever been so close to such a fine specimen of a man.
‘Time to go,’ he said, and I was lost in his eyes. My mouth went dry and I moistened my lips. His gaze dropped to my mouth and lingered. Heat rushed through me and settled, as it had before, between my thighs. I bit my tongue to keep a moan from slipping out. This man, he had a way about him, and I liked it. I found the inherent confidence with which he moved unbelievably sexy, and he oozed power, it seemed to vibrate on the air, and oh Lord, the looks he gave me. I shivered with delight. Whatever spell he had cast, I’d caught it.
‘You were my tester,’ I said, talking to help cover up my reaction to him.
‘What makes you say that?’ His voice was hypnotic, sultry and terribly sexy.
I did like hearing him talk.
‘How else would Mr King know about my, umm, fear of flying and heights?’
He glanced down at me, and I nearly died when I saw the subtle look of compassion in his eyes. ‘It’s nothing to be ashamed of, you know. We all have something we’re afraid of.’
I couldn’t have been more surprised by this moment of empathy. He showed me a glimpse of a man I hadn’t yet seen tonight. I searched his face for more of the real him, but it shuttered before I had the chance.Pity.
‘What are you afraid of?’ I asked him, not really expecting an answer.
He smiled, and it was breathtaking. ‘I’m not the one being tested.’ As I thought: non-answer.
‘So, why the secrecy, then?’
‘Mr King explained that to you. Come, enough talk. Let’s get you back home.’
I allowed him to lead me from the study, back into the stunning, grand foyer. This time, I noticed everything, and it distracted me from drilling him with more questions. The wide, arching stairs with their exquisitely crafted wrought-iron banisters and the vast windows either side of them, which probably offered fantastic views in the daytime. The house was so opulent, and all the furnishings were so breathtaking, it could easily have been a museum, much like the castles I’d visited in Britain which were now set up for tourists. Only this place didn’t need to open itself up to tours to manage its costly upkeep. There was no shortage of money here.
‘What a place to grow up in. I just can’t imagine.’ I hated that I felt jealous of Mr King’s kids and grandkids, who probably had all the money in the world to do whatever they wanted with, and no worries. I’d made a decent living at my previous job, but now I had no income coming in I had to be careful with money. Charging to-die-for handbags to my credit card was a habit I had to try hard to break.
I thought I felt Mr Gorgeous’s fingers tighten on my elbow and glanced at him. He was looking ahead, and there was no angry scowl or any expression at all on his face, but a muscle twitched in his cheek.
He led me to the door and, without a last look at the house behind us, we left the mansion. I let him guide me down a path with hidden lighting in the flowerbeds and alongside that illuminated the way and gave the shadowed flowers a vibrant colour. It was a magical night: stars overhead, surf in the distance and the smell of the air – such a sultry summer night. I would remember this for ever. It was too beautiful and momentous a night to forget. When we arrived at the helipad I was determined to climb into the helicopter on my own this time. Even if my skirt did show him some ass, an ass that belonged to me, an ass that only I was in charge of. No one else. Mr King said I’d passed the courage test, so yeah, he would soon find out just how courageous I could be!
I sat in the same seat as on the inbound flight, fastened the seat belt and turned my face from Mr Gorgeous, almost daring him to hand me the blindfold, but he didn’t. I gripped my knees when the helicopter took off, tilted and then zoomed through the night sky. I didn’t make a sound and closed my eyes. I’d rather not see out of the window – my courage was wavering a little – but no way would I show him that.
I felt him next to me, much like I had on the earlier flight. Then it occurred to me how important he was in this whole process. He’d be watching my every move, testing me. He was a visual distraction, but the fact that he was the main tester was an even greater one. I fueled that thought, despite being so drawn to him. He could be dangerous. He was clearly a bad boy, and he did it very well. There was definitely a sexual connection between us. And it was electric.
