Page 43 of Only for Christmas

‘I’m sure you can rearrange your plans.’ His hand rested close to hers on the desk. ‘Tomorrow night it is.’

She pulled away. ‘I’m sorry, but no.’

‘Why not?’

She straightened and hoped her voice wouldn’t betray her. This was a power play and she needed to stay strong. ‘I’m not interested in pursuing a relationship with you, Stephen.’ There she’d said it. Clear. Concise. Forceful. Job done.

‘I don’t see why not.’ He seemed unperturbed. ‘I’m a successful man. I have a lot to offer. I’m single and I’ve admitted I like you. Why wouldn’t you be interested?’

Was he for real?

‘I think we’d work well together.’ He fixed her with a supposed seductive look. ‘You need to stop being so stubborn. Live a little. Explore this great opportunity being presented to you.’ His grin was wide and confident, and in that moment, she realised how deluded Stephen Stokes actually was. He was like the baddie in a superhero movie, seduced by his own power and success, impervious to rejection or insult.

‘As I’ve said before, I don’t like mixing work with my private life,’ she said, glancing at the door and praying someone would interrupt. Anyone. Even Knob the Builder would be a welcome distraction at this moment in time.

Stephen’s smile faded. ‘We both know that’s a lie. You left my drinks evening last Friday with Doctor Moore, and I saw you kissing him in the car park on Monday. If it’s okay for you to cavort with him, there’s no reason why you can’t extend the same courtesy to me.’

Sarah was so shocked she almost swore. And she never swore.

‘I disagree,’ she said, choosing her words carefully. ‘Even though my relationship with Doctor Moore is none of anyone else’s concern, it’s my decision who I become friendly with. I don’t have to justify that, or explain myself.’

Stephen’s smile was back. ‘Dinner tomorrow evening, then?’ He stood and headed for the door. ‘I’ll pick you up at seven.’

‘I am not going to dinner with you,’ she blurted loudly, inviting curious glances from Georgia and Jafrina, visible through the glass.

Stephen frowned. ‘Why not?’

‘Because I don’t want to,’ she said, opting for the brutal truth. Subtlety wasn’t getting her anywhere.

He sighed. ‘You just need to get to know me, Sarah.’

‘I don’t want to get to know you.’ She was barely holding on to her composure.

He folded his arms across his chest, his feet shoulder-width apart. It was an assertive pose. Masculine. Imposing. Meant to intimidate. ‘You’ve yet to explain why. What’s stopping you from accepting a dinner invitation?’

He really wasn’t backing down, was he? Being honest and admitting she didn’t want to go out with him wasn’t penetrating his thick skin. Which left her with only one option. The ‘fake dating’ card.

‘Because, as you’ve already alluded to, I’m in a relationship with Doctor Moore.’ Her words sounded strained, even to her own ears. ‘Lucas… Lucas Moore.’ She hoped her lie wasn’t too obvious and the heat in her cheeks wasn’t undermining her efforts to appear convincing. ‘We’ve started dating. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to accept a dinner invitation with another man.’

‘You can’t have been dating that long,’ he said, frowning. ‘Hardly enough time to get attached. I fail to see why you can’t see me as well. Isn’t that the way things are done these days? Multiple dates with multiple men, sampling the pool before making any commitments?’

What an arrogant man. She straightened her shoulders. ‘I’ve no idea, but as far as I’m concerned, dating one man is enough… and that man is Lucas Moore.’

Stephen’s expression darkened. ‘You have feelings for him?’

‘That’s really none of your business… but yes… yes, I do.’ Years of working on her self-esteem and independence flew out of the window. She’d vowed never to rely on any man ever again. And here she was, acting like a lovestruck teenager, declaring her feelings for a man… albeit fictional. ‘And I really am very busy, so please respect my decision and leave me to get on with my work.’ She strode over to door and yanked it open before he could stop her.

Stephen clenched his jaw. ‘You know he’s only here for another couple of weeks?’

‘Please leave.’

‘You’ll change your mind,’ he whispered. ‘And when you do, I’ll make that dinner reservation.’

It took all her effort not to slam the door on his retreating back. Maybe she would have if her hands weren’t shaking so much, but all her strength had drained out of her. Arrogant, awful man. The worst kind of bully. Full of self-importance and an inflated ego the size of Mars.

Feeling dizzy, she slumped onto a chair and rested her head in her hands. She wasn’t sure whether she wanted to scream, cry or throw furniture. All three, probably. This was why she avoided men. They never listened. It was all about what they wanted, and how they felt, never about what was right for her. She was sick of it.

‘You all right, boss?’ The sound of Georgia’s voice made her look up.

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