Page 17 of One Night in My Rival's Bed

He rapid-blinked and smiled lopsidedly. ‘You look very beautiful in that dress.’

‘Oh, this old thing?’ See? I am hopeless at accepting compliments. Not that many come my way, but still.

Grayson’s smile informed me I hadn’t fooled him one iota. For a moment I thought I might have left the price tag on, but no, I recalled I had snipped it off with some scissors.

‘Love the earrings.’

I lifted my hand to toy with one. ‘A client made them for me. They’re my favourite pair. I only wear them on special occasions.’ I suddenly realised what I’d just said and clamped my lips shut, furious for letting slip how much I was looking forward to this evening with him. I could feel my cheeks heating enough to put the sun out of a job. ‘I—I mean, not that this evening is anything special, it’s just I haven’t been out in a while. I’m usually so busy with Niamh and work and stuff...’ I grimaced at the way I was running off at the mouth like a gauche teenager.

Grayson lifted his hand from by his side and gently flicked my left earring with his finger, the soft tinkling sound in the silence as loud as a gong. ‘Are you nervous about having dinner with me?’

‘No.’ I could feel my blush deepening as if someone had turned up the thermostat in my body. My breathing was a little erratic, my pulse racing. ‘Why would I be nervous?’

His hand went back to his side. ‘You’re entering enemy territory.’

‘I—I am?’

His crooked smile tilted a little further. ‘That’s how you see me, isn’t it? As the enemy?’

‘Well, we’re not exactly friends. We’re business rivals.’

‘The two aren’t mutually exclusive.’

Somehow, I couldn’t envisage him being a close friend to me. I had no doubt he would make a good one, but I needed to keep my distance.

‘I have enough friends.’ Not quite true. I lost a few friends when I broke up with my ex. People always take sides in messy breakups. And with my caring responsibilities with my mother and sister over the years, friends had often simply drifted away because I was so rarely available to hang out with them. I wouldn’t describe myself as lonely, though. I am too self-sufficient for that. I have taught myself not to need people.

‘You’re never going to forgive me for winning that award, are you?’

I hated that he knew how much I had coveted that wretched award. It made me seem petty and childish, a sore loser.

‘It wasn’t that big a deal.’

‘If it’s any comfort, I think you should’ve won it.’

I looked up at him in surprise. ‘Really?’

His expression was set in more serious lines. ‘The McClean project was a difficult one and you handled it with a high level of creativity and skill.’

‘But they gave the award to you.’

He shrugged one broad shoulder. ‘You win some, you lose some. Awards don’t mean much to me these days. They look good on the CV, but I don’t need them to boost my ego. I know I’m good at what I do.’

I let out a tiny sigh. ‘I envy your confidence...’

‘You have no reason to doubt your ability.’

I gave a twist of a smile. ‘That’s two in the space of minutes.’

‘Two what?’

‘Compliments.’

His eyes held mine for a long interval. I found it impossible to look away. My heart was banging like a tribal drum, so too my pulse. I could feel its echo between my legs, an intimate beat that stirred my primal drives into restlessness.

‘I could make it three, but you’d probably slap my face.’ His voice was deep and husky, and it made my pulse race even more.

‘Are you flirting with me?’

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