Page 11 of Her World In His Hands

“Oh, stop it!” She said furiously. “What the fuck are you playing at?”

He clicked his tongue. “You invited me to lunch.”

“I invited a business partner, Nick Godden, not you… ” A horrible realisation hit her. “Oh, no, no, no,” she moaned. “Do not tell me that you are posing as Nick Godden?”

“How very perceptive of you… now down to business. I understand you want me to be the recognised face of Club Valhalla, am I correct?”

“No, I don’t want you to be the face of anything for me! What the hell are you doing here, Njord?”

A knock at the door prevented him from answering as Shona entered the room bearing a tray of appetisers which she set on the coffee table. “Can I get you something to drink, Mr. Godden,” she asked.

“When in Rome… I’ll have a Scotch, thank you,” he replied with an easy smile.

Sassa shook her head negatively when asked. She needed to keep a clear head to deal with her very unwelcome guest.

After the housekeeper had served Njord his scotch, Shona left the room and Sassa closed the door firmly behind her. The last thing she needed was an eavesdropper “Explain yourself,” she demanded, crossing to face him.

He shrugged. “I told you that I’d been searching for you for many years, well I needed an identity and Nick sounds a bit like Njord, and Godden for God, simple.”

“How did you get involved with SHE?”

“What is this, the Spanish inquisition? They were awful did you come across them at all? Barbaric lot…”

“Shut-up, shut-up, shut-up!” she screeched clutching her head.

He frowned. “I sense you’re not a happy woman, Sassa. Perhaps you need a God in your life?”

“Do you have no conception of how much I hate you?” she snarled.

“Sassa, Sassa, we both know that’s simply not true. You’re my woman you always were, and you always will be. I get that you’re angry with me, really I do, and you have every right to be, but eventually you’ll calm down and forgive me, then we can begin the life we were always meant to have together.”

A rapid knock at the door forestalled any reply to this pretty speech. Once again Shona appeared in the doorway. “Is everything all right in here?” she asked glaring at Njord suspiciously.

“Oh yes, a mere business disagreement, nothing more,” he replied with an insouciant smile.

“Lunch is served,” the housekeeper replied frostily. She stayed where she was, stubbornly waiting for them to leave the room.

Sassa, amused by Mrs. Murray’s reaction, thanked her. She very much appreciated Shona’s loyalty.

Luncheon was a civil affair where Sassa was careful not to discuss either business or her personal life. She kept the conversation strictly on her charitable works which she was passionate about, and thankfully Njord followed her lead, responding with engaging and intelligent remarks. His physical presence was distracting. His rich male aroma assailed her awakening memories she’d long since buried. After all, Njord was a God, and no mere mortal could match him especially between the sheets...

Meanwhile,Njord watched Sassa covertly, her responses to his gentle flirting seemed to be positive. Noting her flushed neck and lowered lashes, he quickly determined she was just as affected by his presence as she had been many aeons ago.

Dessert and a cheese board followed the chicken risotto. Shona returned to inform them she’d left coffee out for them in the drawing room.

Once settled in the comfortable chairs, Njord asked her the whereabouts of the sea beast they had both become so fond of.

“Sadly, he died in my arms a few years back. I sensed he was glad to go, he’d been alone for so long, the poor dear creature,” she replied.

“I heard about Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster, I assume it was our friend which people spotted and so named?”

“Yes, it was unfortunate but as the population grew it was inevitable that someone would see him. I’m glad he died before anyone found him and stuck him in some kind of a zoo.”

Njord shuddered. “I agree, a much better outcome for him.”

They contemplated the animal’s demise in silence and sipped their coffee. Njord was first to break the peace. “Regarding the Club,” he began. Holding up his palm he forestalled Sassa’s attempt to interrupt him.

Glowering at him over the rim of her cup, she subsided back into her seat, bristling with indignation.

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