In the Market for Love - By Nina Blake Page 0,3

car park while Samantha delivered some documents to their company lawyers in the same building. They’d struggled to make it on time only to be asked to wait at reception. Yet this person was speaking to them as if they were naughty schoolgirls caught talking in class.

This was the second time today she’d been treated abruptly by a man.

“Sorry, did we keep you waiting?” Rachel rose from the sofa to face the man addressing them. She searched for some sign of emotion in the dark, deep set eyes.

He must be an excellent actor because he wasn’t giving away anything. As if they hadn’t met before. The man from the car park. He must have entered the offices through a rear corridor.

Her lips curled to a sedate smile. He may have swept up a storm inside her but she wasn’t going to let it show. Two could play at this game.

“I don’t think we’ve been introduced,” she said. “I’m Rachel Williams and this is Samantha Webb. We’ve been waiting for you.”

He returned her smile. “My apologies. I got held up in the car park. It took me a while to find a parking spot.”

Her pulse quickened at his reference. It was impossible to ruffle this man, yet if he was after a challenge she could certainly provide him with one.

“Jake Austin.” He shook hands with the two of them. “I’m the managing director here at Agency 66.”

His authoritative tone left Rachel in no doubt as to who was in charge. He may have reneged his parking spot but that was clearly the full extent of his benevolence.

Jake then ushered Samantha ahead of them out of the foyer.

Rachel sensed him sidling closer to her as he closed the reception door behind them. The fine hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.

“My friends call me Mr Porsche,” he said quietly in her ear.

“So you have friends?” she said.

She didn’t know what to think. Didn’t know what to make of him. He was certainly the kind of man to incite a reaction in any woman. His voice was so deep and overtly masculine it sent a charge through her, one she hadn’t felt for a long time.

Yet she was aware he was teasing her, playing with her, taking pleasure in her lively responses. And with every interaction she felt something surging inside her like a little spark beginning to glow. Ready to ignite.

She had to get her head together. She’d come to the agency for a reason. Time to concentrate on business.

Jake ushered them into the agency’s boardroom where a wall of floor to ceiling windows with dramatic views of Sydney harbour dominated the room. The life of the harbour with its rippling waters formed a living, moving picture in their midst.

It was a few moments before Rachel’s eyes swept across the rest of the room and she took in its urban chic. The furniture was simple but elegant, consisting of an enormous maple table surrounded by stylish chairs in polished chrome and soft black leather.

Designed to be imposing and impressive rather than friendly and comfortable, the room made a statement about the kind of business done by Agency 66. Their work and clientele were clearly at the upper end of the market. Unfortunately, the small pharmaceutical research agency for which Rachel worked was not.

A good looking man breezed into the room. He had short wavy chestnut coloured hair, clear skin and friendly hazel eyes.

“Marcus Richards.” He shook hands vigorously with the two women. “Account manager. Lovely to meet you both. I see you’ve been enjoying the view. Magnificent, isn’t it? Glad I haven’t missed anything.”

Now that was a vivacious entrance. Rachel looked around, deciding which chair to take. She felt a strange sensation come over her as she suddenly felt as if someone were watching her from behind.

She became conscious of her appearance, wondering if her pencil skirt too closely followed the curve of her bottom. She’d though it respectable but wasn’t so sure now.

Glancing behind as she slid into a chair, Rachel’s face flushed pink. Jake was staring at her, his lips curling into an appreciative smile. It wasn’t a lurid look, rather he took the opportunity to enjoy what was before him, much as he had earlier on the car park.

His blatant appreciation of her figure lit a feverish spark inside her and that small flame was glowing. It felt thrilling and she wanted to savour it but she couldn’t let herself feel this way.

She had a campaign