Everything inside me screamed no at the prospect of admitting I needed assistance, especially after having made such a big deal out of not needing any help. I scratched at the underside of my chin and closed my eyes.
A knock sounded at the door, causing me to jump and nearly unseating myself. I planted my feet and tried to tamp down theexcitement I felt whenever she entered the room. I needed to stop obsessing over my attraction to her. She wouldn’t welcome it by her own admission. “Come in.”
She entered with a stack of paper in her hand. The navy dress enhanced her small waist, and a healthy color brightened her face. “I have finished the invitation letters that you asked me to draft. If you would read over them and sign them, I will post them forthwith.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Worth.” I took the letters and skimmed the carbon copied page, which was free of typos. Pleased by her efficiency, I lifted my pen and began to sign all seven of them. Standing, I handed them to her before I walked into the reception area, trying my best not to inhale the citrus perfume she favored. “I would like to see MH Roth’s manuscript. Can you pull the file for me?”
“Of course.” She laid the signed letters on her desk and went to the filing cabinet. She had a definite swing to her hips, and if I were courting her, I would slip behind her and wrap my arms around her waist.
I wiped my damp hands down my trouser legs, trying to make my mind behave itself. This was getting to be ridiculous. The office seemed stuffy and I pulled at my tight collar. After Ash and I had relations, he stayed the night. I had woken relaxed for the first time since Elizabeth married the colonel.
For a while, I had forgotten about Mrs. Worth and lost myself in physical pleasure. The tension returned with a vengeance. Instead of promoting her, perhaps I should give her her papers and let her be on her way. Except she had five sisters to support, and the fact that I couldn’t control my own lustful thoughts wasn’t her problem but mine.
She pulled the bound papers out of the cabinet, smiling at me. My pulse hummed harder, and I averted my gaze to thepapers she held. Unfortunately, she held them to her chest, which drew my attention to her plump bosom.
“Here it is. I have to admit I am most anxious for this publication. I’ve read all of her works, and she is an excellent writer,” she said.
Business. Focus on business. “I think so too. I stole her away from a large publishing house. Her husband also writes but is not nearly as famous as she is. You’ll get to meet Mary when she arrives. She currently lives in France with her husband, but she is coming to London to discuss her book. Writing is her passion.”
“Indeed, her words and images jump off the page.” Mrs. Worth beamed, holding the manuscript to her chest like it was the greatest gift anyone had given her. I was about to give her an even bigger reward. She went to hand me the manuscript, and I shook my head.
“I have a task for you. Sit, and I’ll explain.” At her frown, I continued, “I need a break from my office. Why don’t you sit down and let me explain what I need from you.”
I cursed my choice of words. Everything around Mrs. Worth seemed to be steeped in innuendo. Life was so much simpler when Ash and I simply had relations whenever we needed physical satisfaction. Things had changed. I had changed.
She resumed her seat and placed the manuscript on top of the desk. Curious eyes met mine. The haunted look she carried when I first interviewed her had disappeared.
“You will never hear me repeat this. But you were right.” I couldn’t keep the sheepish smile from spreading across my lips. From what I had gathered from Ash’s comments, she had a lot of responsibilities with taking care of her sisters and working for me. I could only guess her husband hadn’t left her with any assets and she was forced to make it on her own.
“I am right about many things, Mr. Moran. Can you be more specific?”
“You really are a cheeky bird, aren’t you?” Mrs. Worth had a way of making me smile when I didn’t want to. In many ways, she was much like Ash. I rested my hip on her desk.
“Indeed, my family calls me Birdie.” With a slight blush, she straightened in her seat. “It is a silly name, really.”
“But fitting. You seem to have boundless energy, always flitting about.” It was rather endearing, and the more I got to know her, the more I recognized it as pent-up energy. Mrs. Worth was not used to being idle.
“You have only known me for a week. How can you make that decision already?” She angled her neck, her lovely brow lifted. With creamy skin and a smattering of freckles across her nose, she was unquestionably comely.
“Call it intuition. However, I did not come here to discuss your constant need to prove me wrong.” I crossed my arms over my chest and tried not to be charmed by her. She was supposed to be working for me, not be my love interest. Yet I couldn’t help but flirt with her. “Do you know what a copy edit is?”
She nodded with eagerness. “A copy edit focuses on spelling, punctuation, and my favorite, grammar.”
“Very good. I want you to copy edit this manuscript.” I tapped my fingers against the pages on her desk.
Her mouth dropped open, eyes widening before joy brightened her entire face. “You want me to copy edit MH Roth? The MH Roth?”
Her pleasure was a sight to behold. I tried to keep myself on track and stay professional, but it was hard not to respond to her overt delight. “That is precisely what I want you to do. She writes rather cleanly, so the task won’t be daunting for your first attempt at copy editing. There are specific symbols used when editing. I will provide you with an editing key and a red pencil.”
“I shall fetch one forthwith.” Her voice took on a husky tone, her green gaze bright.
“I would suggest you mail those letters first.” Mrs. Worth’s happiness cut into my very core, and I found it hard not to reach out and stroke her cheek.
“Yes, Mr. Moran,” she said on a laugh, her exuberance contagious.
Pleased by her enthusiasm, I returned to my office, the muscles in my back pinching from sitting too long. Instead of resuming my seat, I moved to the window and looked outside. The streets were bustling, a dusting of snow on the ground. Two bobbies moved into my line of sight.
Up until last year, I had often seen Ash patrolling the street. Now that he had been promoted, he worked odd hours. Or he was avoiding me. I had been drunk and rather insistent that he stay the night that night. We had an agreement, yet I had yielded to my weakness for him.
