Mediterranean Boss, Convenient Mistress

‘Well…yes…obviously…’ Charlie was mortified now; she wished she hadn’t said that. ‘I was just talking about the romantic side of a partnership.’

‘But that is my whole point. For a relationship to be successful you’re supposed to work at that side of things as well.’

‘But if you are both in love to begin with, surely romance follows naturally like night follows day.’

‘Nice theory.’ Marco smiled at that. ‘But unfortunately not true. Very often love is just an illusory feeling…a misleading mirage…and even if it is not you can’t rely totally on just that feeling to sustain a relationship over the long term. You need to look deeper than that.’

Charlie looked over at him wryly. ‘Maybe you just don’t believe in love.’ She couldn’t resist the comment.

‘When making a long-term commitment I think it is an emotion that should be approached with caution.’ Marco’s voice was dry. ‘All too often people confuse making love with being in love…two different things entirely. It’s fine to have wild nights of passion and not think too deeply about things. But before you make any promises you should think with your head, not your heart.’

‘Sometimes you sound more cynical than sensible.’

‘I’m just a realist, Charlie.’ He shrugged. ‘I believe if you are looking for a successful long-term relationship it’s best to be practical, not starry-eyed. And, as bizarre as it sounds, my findings are that if you can disregard love from the equation you can see a relationship more clearly. But maybe the theory wouldn’t be successful for someone like you.’

‘What do you mean, someone like me?’ Charlie pulled the car to a halt in front of his house and turned to look at him.

‘Well…’ he shrugged in that particular way of his ‘…you’re obviously an incurable romantic.’

‘I wish you would stop saying that.’ Charlie glared at him.

‘Sorry, Ms Hopkirk.’ His tone was teasing. ‘But that is my considered opinion and the prognosis isn’t good, I’m afraid. There’s no hope for you.’

Unfortunately Charlie failed to see the humour behind his words. ‘Well, that is where you are wrong…actually.’ She emphasised the word with derision. ‘I was cured from my…as you would term…delusional state a long time ago. I got divorced and became a single parent. That has a way of grounding the senses, believe me.’

‘Hey, I was just making a light-hearted remark!’ Marco held up his hands and looked at her with that glint in his eye that she was starting to recognise so well.

‘No you weren’t, you were being condescending. Well, yes, I do like roses, soft, honeyed words and moonlight…but I’m not so stupid that I would fall in love and get married just because they are applied to a situation. And let me tell you, I’m looking for something much more realistic next time around, believe me.’

‘Are you?’

The sudden interest in his tone pulled her up and made her realise that she had just lost her temper, but why she had got so steamed up she didn’t know. Maybe because she was still smarting from Sarah’s earlier remarks, or maybe it was because she didn’t like the idea that Marco seemed to think that she was some kind of dreamer who had completely unrealistic expectations of life and wasn’t to be taken seriously. Just because she believed in true love and romance didn’t mean she was bewildered. Well, perhaps this was her chance to prove—even if she did have to lie a little bit! ‘Of course I want something realistic. I’ve made one mistake in my life by choosing the wrong partner and I don’t want to make another,’ she answered him hesitantly. ‘Sorry to disappoint you but my days of being starry-eyed are long gone. Deep down I am also a realist.’

‘So are you saying that if the terms were right you wouldn’t be averse to the idea of a serious relationship based on common sense rather than love?’ Marco continued wryly.

‘Terms?’ Charlie frowned.

‘Marriage, or cohabitation, should be treated like a business partnership; you need to know exactly what you want out of it before you enter into it.’ Marco noticed the high colour on her cheekbones and smiled. ‘You see…you do find the idea too clinical…distasteful even. I rest my case.’

‘No! If the terms were right I might consider such an idea.’ She raised her head defiantly. She wasn’t going to back down.

Marco gave her a sardonic smile. ‘Well I don’t believe you…I think your heart would be far too soft and emotional to ever be happy with that kind of an arrangement.’

‘And what are you basing that opinion on?’ Charlie asked dismissively. ‘The fact that I listen to romantic music?’

‘No…I’m basing it on what you have told me about yourself…about your parents’ marriage…about your date last night.’

‘You don’t know anything about me.’ Charlie shrugged. ‘But believe what you want! Now…I think we should forget this nonsense and get back to work.’ She tried to switch the subject and reached for the door handle, but Marco touched her arm, stopping her from getting out of the car.

‘So what are you looking for in your next relationship?’

The blunt question took her completely by surprise. She looked back at him and as she met the seriousness of his dark eyes she realised that perhaps this conversation had gone a little too far. ‘Well…. I…. hadn’t really thought about it that deeply. I mean…I was only speaking hypothetically.’

He was looking at her very intently as if he could see into her very soul…see the romantic streak lurking beneath the surface. And to her dismay she felt herself blushing wildly. This wasn’t fair—he had no right to ask such personal questions!

Marco laughed. ‘A word of warning, Charlie; never try and play poker, you wouldn’t be much good.’

It was that derisive, cynical laugh that pushed her over the edge. ‘Well, OK, then, if you really want to know, next time around I’d want…companionship.’ She pulled the word wildly out of mid-air.

‘Companionship?’ He didn’t know whether to believe her or not. She could see the dark light in his eyes was tinged with just a hint of uncertainty.

‘Well yes…’ She held his dark gaze determinedly. ‘What’s the matter—isn’t that practical enough for you?’

‘We’re not talking about me…we are talking about you and what you would want,’ Marco corrected her softly. ‘And would companionship really be enough for you?’

She wished those dark eyes of his weren’t so intense…Companionship would be good but she knew deep down it would never be enough for her. She would want a deep and passionate love…nothing less would suffice. She wished she’d never stated this lie now. Charlie glanced away from him. ‘Obviously the guy would have to care deeply about Jack and be good with him.’ She added the provision hastily. That at least was the truth.

‘Obviously.’ Marco nodded.

‘As you said in your book, it’s important not to allow emotions to cloud reality.’ She threw the line in for good measure.

‘You have been paying attention.’ He smiled.

She frowned; was he being facetious? ‘No, I’ve been through a divorce and, as I said before, it has a way of grounding the senses. Why do you think I’ve chosen internet dating? Let’s face it; it is the ultimate practical way to meet someone. You read through a list of a person’s attributes and decide from that if you have something in common. There are no hearts and flowers about choosing a partner using that method, I assure you.’ She left out the fact that it had been her friend Karen who had talked her into it.

‘I guess so.’ Marco frowned for a moment. ‘Maybe you are a little more practical than I gave you credit for.’

‘A lot more practical,’ she corrected him quickly. Even though she veered towards the romantic, that didn’t mean she wasn’t sensible.

Marco held up his hands. ‘Obviously I was very wrong in my assessment of you.’

‘Yes, you were.’ She smiled, pleased with the new note of respect in his tone. And now she knew why she had felt so compelled to lie. The label of incurable romantic was not a good one to have around Marco.

His eyes swept over her thoughtfully. He’d always had Charlie down as someone who could never view a relationship in just practical terms, but now that she had convinced him otherwise perhaps she was just what he needed…‘So, now that we have established the fact that we are both on a similar wavelength…so to speak…how about shelving your internet-dating idea for a while and coming out to dinner with me?’

The question was asked so nonchalantly that for a moment Charlie wondered if she had misheard. ‘I beg your pardon?’

‘I was asking you out for dinner…you know, the meal that comes after lunch and before bed.’

The teasing, provocative words caused Charlie’s heart to slam hard against her chest. She didn’t know how to take this sudden turn of conversation at all. ‘As in…a date?’

‘Yes…as in a date,’ Marco said softly and suddenly his tone was very serious.

As their eyes met Charlie felt a flare of pure sexual attraction so raw it took her breath away. She couldn’t deny that she was wildly attracted to him. Then common sense kicked in as she reminded herself that Marco was not only her boss but also a man who only dated women who looked as if they’d come straight off a catwalk.

She tilted up her chin. ‘And why would you do that?’

Marco noted the expression of surprise and consternation in her eyes.

‘Why not?’ he countered quietly.

‘Well, for one thing, you’re my boss and it’s not good to mix business with pleasure.’ She decided to concentrate on practicalities, with her words stiff and formal.

‘I didn’t realise you were so conventional.’ His mouth slanted in a half-smile.

‘I was being sensible.’

‘Well, as you know, I’m all for being sensible.’ He regarded her with a wry, teasing gleam in his eye. ‘But you’ve intrigued me now and I want to find out more about this deeply practical side of your nature and what you are searching for in your next relationship.’

‘I’m not really searching for anything!’ Charlie said hurriedly.

‘That’s not what you just said.’

‘I was just speaking hypothetically…. just…you know…proving that my poker skills are better than yours.’

‘But you told me that you were specifically looking for a realistic type of relationship.’ Marco murmured the words silkily, knowing how she would react. ‘I kind of got the impression that you might have been sussing me out…testing the water…finding out if I was up for the idea.’

‘I certainly was not!’ Charlie was furious. ‘How could you think such a thing?’

‘Very easily when you are laying out your requirements in such an open and honest way.’

‘Oh, for heaven’s sake…’ Charlie trailed off as she suddenly noticed the glint of devilment in his dark eyes. ‘Are you winding me up?’ she asked suspiciously.

‘Just a little…’ He smiled and his eyes moved over her countenance thoughtfully.

Something about the way he was looking at her made her feel extremely self-conscious. ‘Well, I think the joke has gone far enough.’ She glanced away from him, feeling foolish now. ‘We should get back to work—’

‘Hey, not so fast.’ He put a hand on her arm as she made to turn away from him again. ‘You still haven’t given me your answer. Will you have dinner with me?’

She turned back and regarded him with a frown. ‘I told you the joke has gone far enough, Marco.’

‘I wasn’t joking about dinner,’ he said quietly.

He watched the scepticism flicking through her eyes. ‘Of course I was serious,’ he added gently. ‘I told you…you’ve intrigued me.’

She noticed how his gaze moved over her with leisurely appraisal. There was something in its warmth that touched her defences for a second. ‘And why is that?’ she asked huskily before she could stop herself.

‘Well, for one thing, it’s very rare that I meet a woman who views relationships in my level-headed terms.’

The matter-of-fact answer snapped her quickly back to reality. ‘Let me guess. You want to get inside my brain to research a woman’s take on practicality.’ She tried to sound flippant, but deep down she was aware of an irrational curl of hurt. She knew he wasn’t asking her out for her beauty, but did he have to be so blunt about it?

‘I wouldn’t have worded it quite like that,’ he contradicted her softly. For a moment his eyes drifted down over the soft curves of her body.

In fact, whom was he kidding? he thought drily. He wouldn’t put it like that at all. Perhaps the reason he had been so concerned about her internet dating last night was more complex than he’d first thought. He was a man who had a healthy sexual appetite and during the last couple of days he had been surprised to find that there was something about the way she looked at him sometimes…the way she moved…that turned him on. But, as she so rightly had pointed out a few moments ago, business and pleasure did not mix.

He had mockingly accused her of being conventional for having such sentiments, but in truth weren’t they part of the reason he had felt so at ease around Charlie these last few months? After the uncomfortable atmosphere his last PA had generated it had been great to be around someone who thought like him and wanted to keep the working environment strictly complication-free. In fact he had been so at ease with Charlie that he had enjoyed trying to draw her out from behind those reserved barriers of hers, and now somehow he had managed to become interested in her sexually. Being interested in her in that way was not the prudent and practical thing to do. But…now he was starting to revise that opinion.

The clinical part of his mind had clicked on when she had talked about finding something more realistic for her next relationship. Maybe there was an opportunity for business and pleasure to mix very well indeed here…Maybe it would be OK to pursue Charlie…maybe…in practical terms she was just what he needed right now.

‘Perhaps we should try each other out for size.’ His eyes drifted back towards her face.

The sudden change of tack took her by surprise. There was something almost hypnotic about the smoothly sensual Italian tones. ‘Now you are just being…’ Charlie struggled to find the right word. She could hardly think straight when he looked at her like that ‘…outrageous.’

‘Am I?’ He smiled. ‘You were talking earlier this morning about chemistry…There is more than a frisson of that between us…don’t you think?’

‘No!’ She cut across him abruptly. He was moving into dangerous territory now that she didn’t want to analyse.

Her eyes were drawn to his lips…they were curved in a derisive smile…but they were also sexily inviting. Was it her imagination or was he very close? She could smell the tang of his aftershave, fresh and very inviting.

She noticed that his eyes were on her lips. Unconsciously she moistened them with the tip of her tongue. A strong feeling of desire suddenly laced the air between them. It was so heavy that Charlie could feel it thundering through her, making her heart race, twisting a latent need into life with shocking force.

In that instant she wanted him to kiss her—no, more than that, she wanted him to take her into his arms and make passionate love to her…

The knowledge rang alarm bells inside her but she couldn’t stem the feelings, they were flowing through her with the most amazing force. She couldn’t remember the last time a man had turned her on so completely like this without even touching her!

‘How about I pick you up tonight about seven?’

The smooth words were more of an order than a suggestion. He really was insufferably sure of himself, Charlie thought hazily, and really she should tell him right now that she had other plans.

But for some reason the words just wouldn’t come out. She swallowed hard as he reached out a hand and touched the side of her face; although his fingers were a whisper-soft caress against her skin, she felt them with such a pleasurable, forceful intensity that involuntarily she closed her eyes.

Charlie wanted that caress to go on and on, it was as if she were falling into a very deep, spiralling trap with nowhere to go except towards the light of desire and need. She had never felt like this before, it was as if she wasn’t in control of her own senses…it was scary and yet it was wonderful at the same time.

Then Marco pulled back, leaving her shaking and breathless.

‘So I’ll see you tonight, yes?’

His voice was so arrogantly cool and calm that it brought her back to her senses as sharply as if he had slapped her. Shocked by the intensity of her disappointment because he hadn’t kissed her, she struggled to pull herself together.

‘We’ve got to work together, Marco,’ she murmured reprovingly.

‘Yes.’ He nodded and then grinned. ‘Have I ever told you that I like that prim and proper attitude of yours? It’s very refreshing.’

‘It’s not supposed to be refreshing, it’s supposed to be sensible.’

He smiled. ‘You’re talking my language again.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘And yes, I agree there are things we need to discuss…sensibly. Unfortunately there is no time now. It will have to wait until tonight.’

She shook her head…mesmerised by his determined attitude. ‘I couldn’t get someone to look after Jack tonight. It’s too short notice—’

‘OK, lunch tomorrow.’ He cut across her nonchalantly. ‘I’ll pick you up at about twelve-thirty.’

‘Marco…’ But she didn’t have time to say anything else because he had turned and opened the car door to step out into the bright afternoon sunlight.

This really was preposterous, Charlie thought as she grabbed for the door handle and stepped out after him. ‘I am not going on a date with you, Marco!’

‘Why not?’

Why not indeed? As Charlie looked across at his tall handsome physique she was asking herself the same question and weakness started to invade. With determination she raised her chin and forced herself to be level-headed. She couldn’t go out with him because he was her boss, she reminded herself sharply. Business and pleasure didn’t go together. And added to that he was only interested in her now because she had lied to him about the type of person she was. He had admitted earlier that it would help endorse his theories and his book to have a girlfriend around for a while who thought the same way he did. Well, that position definitely wouldn’t suit her! ‘Because…it wouldn’t work out,’ she told him firmly.

‘I told you earlier, Charlie, in order to find out if something will be successful you have to give it a chance.’ He shrugged. ‘However, you can relax, there are a few work-related issues I’d like to discuss with you anyway. So tomorrow would be a good chance to do that.’

‘What kind of work issues?’

‘We’ll discuss that tomorrow.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘I’ve got to get over to St Agnes Hospital now to deal with two referrals.’

He sounded very calm and assured and it was light-years away from how she was feeling. She was utterly confused. Had tomorrow’s lunch date just been relegated to a business meeting?

‘So let me get this right; you told your boss that you weren’t averse to having an intimate relationship with him based on compatibility alone and he suddenly asked you out?’ Karen was sitting at the kitchen table analysing the story.

‘I didn’t mention the word intimate,’ Charlie corrected her quickly. ‘And I wasn’t talking about having a relationship with him, I was just talking hypothetically! He took my words out of context.’

‘Hmm.’ Karen looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

‘I was just trying to convince him that I’m not a hopeless romantic.’ Charlie tried to make light of the subject.

She had phoned her friend Karen as soon as she got home from work because she had felt she needed to talk about what had happened. Karen had then come straight around to her house to go over it all again, and Charlie wished now she hadn’t mentioned it; it was all too uncomfortable.

‘Because Sarah Heart accused you of being in love with him?’

‘Well, that was part of it, the other part was that Marco can be quite condescending when it comes to people who are…emotional rather than practical.’ She put a pot of tea down on the kitchen table between them and sat down again. ‘Anyway, let’s just forget about it, shall we? It’s all rubbish. I’ve no intention of going out with Marco on a date.’

‘Why not?’ Karen leaned back in her chair. ‘Going by what I’ve seen of him on TV, he is quite a dish.’

‘Yes, he’s very good-looking.’ Charlie shrugged. ‘But he’s my boss and…well, for a start, we think differently; he doesn’t believe that love is the most important thing in a relationship and I do.’

‘So you lied…so what?’ Karen shrugged. ‘It’s a mere formality anyway.’

‘Not to Marco it’s not. I told you he’s very serious about viewing a relationship in a purely practical way.’

‘Well, if I were in your shoes I’d just continue to pretend that I was Ms Practicality. He doesn’t need to know that your favourite film is Sleepless in Seattle…does he?’

Charlie laughed.

‘And he’s only your boss for another month—then your contract is finished,’ Karen reminded her succinctly. She raked a hand through her short brown hair. ‘You could risk a short involvement with him to see how things go.’

‘And let him think that I was propositioning him when I said I’d consider a relationship based on practicalities…because that is what he thinks, you know. The guy is pretty big-headed.’ Charlie shook her head. ‘Anyway, I’ve already turned him down so it’s too late for all that. If we go out tomorrow it will be to discuss work. He’s quite happy with that. His interest in me is businesslike anyway. ‘

‘You’re just frightened of getting hurt again, aren’t you?’ Karen observed suddenly. ‘You can’t keep hiding yourself away like this, Charlie. You’ve been doing that since your divorce. You’ve got to get out there again.’

‘I know.’ Charlie reached out and poured the tea. ‘But I don’t think Marco is the right person for me. Now, let’s change the subject. I don’t want to think about him a moment longer. How are things at the agency?’

To Charlie’s relief Karen let it drop. ‘Actually they are a bit chaotic.’

Charlie was on the books of Karen’s employment agency and knew only too well that things were manic in there. From time to time in between contracts she went in to help her friend run the place and it was an arrangement that suited them both. Karen got extra help from someone she could trust implicitly, which meant she could take some time off to be with her children, and Charlie got a job to fill some of the gaps between her temping contracts.

‘It’s peaks and troughs, it will calm down next week probably,’ Charlie said soothingly.

‘Maybe.’ Karen put her cup down. ‘But I’m seriously considering selling the place, Charlie. You know I told you I’d had a take-over bid from a rival agency?’

Charlie nodded. Her friend had been stressed for a while trying to balance her home life with work and had talked about selling last month, but hadn’t been offered enough money.

‘Well, they’ve upped the offer.’

‘That’s really good, Karen!’

‘Yes, except for one thing: I think they will close my office here. They are a big company and basically they are just interested in squeezing out the competition and covering contracts with their own people.’

‘I see.’ Charlie felt a pang of apprehension as she realised this probably wasn’t going to bode well for her future work. Then, seeing the worried expression on her friend’s face, she quickly pulled herself together. ‘Karen you must do what is right for you,’ she said sincerely.

‘I just hate the thought that this isn’t going to work well for my staff,’ Karen said with a shrug. ‘And then there is you. You’ve always been so brilliant at bailing me out in the office—’

‘Karen, nothing stays the same in life, and I’m probably lucky to have got away with temping for as long as I have.’ Charlie smiled and topped up her tea. ‘Whatever you decide, I’ll be behind you,’ she said firmly. ‘Don’t worry about me. I’m a survivor.’