“London’s a big place.”
“It is. Very.” I still had a house there, one which I’d been considering renting out as part of my property portfolio. I’d be staying there after the game for a night, then tidying up some lose ends, such as meeting with the estate agent. The night before the game, and possibly the night before that, we’d be in a hotel. Another anonymous hotel. “Have you eaten?”
She nodded. “I had a late lunch with a colleague. I have something else to attend to tomorrow and then I’ll travel back.”
“Train?”
She shook her head. “No, thankfully. It’s a pain to get back. I have someone driving me.”
I laughed. “A chauffeur. You must be someone.”
“Not really. I’m just me. Mindy.”
I saw that smile again, the one I’d woken up to in Houston. It was playful and dirty, and made me remember how she rode me first thing in the morning, with her tits bouncing and her hair mussed from the little sleep we’d had. She’d been glorious.
“Mindy. It’s an unusual name. Especially for an English girl. How did your parents come to name you that?” I just about managed to not laugh.
She stirred her negroni. “It’s short for Melinda.”
“Really?” I raised a brow. “Melinda.” I didn’t think for one minute that she was called that. “What a coincidence that I’m called Mork. I never expected to find a Mindy.”
“Another unusual name. How did you come by that?” Her expression was perfectly serious. Those long eyelashes still framed her slim face, her blue eyes gleaming.
I tried to look disgruntled. “My dad had terrible handwriting. When he registered the birth he was meant to call me Mark, but with his writing it looked like Mork – so Mork has been my name ever since.”
She nodded sympathetically. “How very tragic. Mork and Mindy. It’s like something from out of this world.”
“Very coincidental.”
A tap on my shoulder made me turn round. Cal stood there, not even glancing at Mindy.
“Excuse me.” I hoped she’d wait for me to return.
Her smile was meant only for me, and I noticed how she used her hair to shield her face away from Cal. She didn’t want to be noticed.
I followed Cal to the foyer where January and Gareth were waiting for me. I apologised for having left them, making nice like I was supposed to and explaining I’d seen an old friend.
There were pleasantries exchanged, the usual things, and handshakes that cemented the agreements that had been made. The rest I could leave to Rhys and his team, the collection would give me an extra cheque to invest, the outcome of the collaboration would cement the image I’d crafted.
“It’s so nice to work with someone who has such a steady profile. I think it makes you far more relatable to our target market.” January placed a hand on my arm, only briefly, but enough to know at some point this evening I’d get a message from her.
I gave a nod. “It’s very exciting. If you don’t mind, I need to return to my friend I bumped into. It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other.”
January nodded, gazing at me in a way that made me feel terrible. I didn’t date or get involved with anyone that was even partially involved in my business. I didn’t do complications.
“Have a great evening. And give my best to your girlfriend.”
“Thank you.”
I walked away, ignoring Cal’s pointed gaze as he wondered when the fuck I’d got a girlfriend.
CHAPTER4
Otter
There wassomething seriously hot about the way the man moved. He had all this power – power I had been up close and very personal with – and carried himself like he knew exactly how potent that power was.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious about what he actually did, because like me, he’d completely vague-booked it. I could believe he was in business of some sort with the way he was dressed then, because it was the complete opposite of what he was wearing now.
