Falling for the Lawyer - By Anna Clifton Page 0,21
know what’s going on in my own office but I think I have a solution.”
“What is it?”
“Not here,” he replied, shaking his head. “I’m out now for a few hours but I want to talk to you when I get back. Will you wait?” He was pinning her down with his eyes and she couldn’t refuse him anything when he looked at her like that.
“I’ll wait … but this afternoon …”
“I’ve been in the office for the last hour so there’s more work on your desk,” he replied immediately, reading her thoughts. “If by any chance it’s been removed again I want you to call me—but I don’t think that will be necessary.”
And right then Alex knew she wouldn’t have to explain the trouble with Vera that morning. Somehow, JP understood what had happened between his two PAs. He knew she was blameless in the whole affair, despite any account Vera may have given him to the contrary.
JP continued through the foyer then and out of the building into the bright afternoon light as a strange possessive longing for something she needed or wanted surged up in Alex’s chest.
Simon. That was what she needed.
He’d been away too long and she was missing him. That was why her head was scrambled. If she could just see him again she knew her confused feelings for JP would disappear. But seeing Simon was impossible and so she reached for the next best thing.
Alex hit the fast dial button on her mobile phone. After a few rings a familiar voice greeted her from the other end.
“Hi Hun,” Simon’s up-beat voice reached her from thousands of miles away.
“I just wanted to ring, to hear your voice and make sure everything’s okay.”
“Everything’s fine, Al. Why do you ask?”
“No reason. We just haven’t spoken for a few days, that’s all.”
“I know. I know. I was going to call you last night but got caught up in a meeting.”
“That’s okay. I know you’re really busy.”
“How’s everything with you? Has the Grim Reaper arrived?”
“Yes,” Alex said, but hoped the conversation wouldn’t centre on the very man she was desperately trying to put out of her mind.
“How’s he going? As bad as everyone expected?”
“No, not exactly,” Alex replied, flailing around for neutral responses as she ran a trembling hand through her hair.
“Well, if I have my way you won’t have to suffer him for too much longer.”
Alex tensed, knowing Simon was leading up to an announcement of some kind. “What do you mean?”
“Just business. Nothing you need to trouble your pretty little head about.”
Alex hated herself for the irritation that prickled her skin. She was sure Simon didn’t mean to be patronising when he dismissed her like that. Normally it didn’t bother her too much that he wouldn’t discuss business with her—and he never did—but it rankled her today.
“You know how I hate surprises, Simon,” Alex replied with a strong hint in her voice that she wanted to be told what was going on.
“You’ll know soon enough,” he resisted, oblivious to her meaning.
Alex gave up. He’d stopped listening to her on that subject and she knew it would be useless to press. “Are you looking after yourself?” she asked, preferring to change the subject.
“Pretty much, probably a bit too much fast food. But when you’re in and out of meetings you can’t always sit down to a proper meal. Let’s just say I’m looking forward to some of your great home-style cooking—almost as good as my mum’s you know. Oh, that reminds me, guess who was in Auckland and rang me.”
“Who?”
“Your cousin, Monique. She’s been travelling around the North Island.”
“Really, I didn’t know she was over there,” Alex replied, glancing at her watch to see that the afternoon was heading for two o’clock.
“Nor did I. Anyway, it was great to see her. She was staying in an apartment and cooked a meal for me.”
“That was nice of her.”
“Wasn’t it,” he agreed chirpily.
“Simon, I’m sorry this is a short call. I just wanted to say ‘hi’ but I’d better go now, I’m late back from lunch.’
“Okay, no problem. I’ll be talking to you sooner than you think anyway.”
Alex paused on the other end of the line. “Will you? How come?” she queried again at his thinly veiled reference to a change of plans but it was too late. Either the call had dropped out or he’d rung off thinking their conversation was at an end.
Despite the mystery boxes he’d thrown at her Alex was glad she’d called. It was reassuring to