Neither did I. But I didn’t want him to know that. Who knew how he might use it against me.
‘End? It’s barely started!’
‘Exactly, and it’s been a long time coming. I know we need to focus on the reason we’re here and all that, but once the pitch is done, I’m taking you out. Properly.’ His face searched mine. ‘Would that be allowed?’
‘Fine by me, but you’ll have to ask Heidi’s permission.’
Leo faced me and stared earnestly into my eyes. ‘I’m serious, Kat, I like you. I’vealwaysliked you. I’m trying to stay professional in front of the others, but I’m not sure I’m carrying it off. I haven’t had this much fun in ages.’
‘I like you too,’ I said, stroking his cheek. ‘At the moment. I just don’t know how far that feeling will extend if you guys win the pitch and I end up in the unemployment line.’
Leo’s eyes widened. ‘You won’t lose your job, will you?’
‘Of course I will. Excaliburismy job.’ Surely he understood that.
‘I assumed they’d move you on to another account.’
‘Heidi hasn’t mentioned it, but I can see for myself that there aren’t any gaps. Excalibur is worth so much money to us, the agency would have to shed half its staff. I’ll be the first to get the old heave-ho if we lose.’ I shook my head. ‘Sorry, I shouldn’t be oversharing like this.’
‘No, it’s good for me to understand the situation, and I did ask you what you were thinking. Of course, you’re going to be worried about your job and your team. I don’t want to diminish that at all.’
‘Not your problem though, is it? We both want to win and as it stands either of us could. So, we can enjoy this purgatory and each other before the pitch and let’s review the ongoing situation once the results are in.’
‘I’ll take whatever terms you’re offering,’ Leo said, his brow furrowed and his expression dead serious.
‘Really?’
Leo’s eyes softened as he leant down to kiss me. ‘Yes. Really.’
I pulled him close and we kissed again, his touch giving me goosebumps. Our bodies trembled as one, as we sent each other into a spin and it took me a second to catch my breath when we eventually pulled apart, my heart hammering in my chest. I was going to have to compromise on my ‘work is work’ rule – or ignore it entirely.
‘I don’t want my job to get in the way of this,’ Leo said, quietly. ‘Not again.’
He kissed both my hands and looked into my eyes.
‘Heidi and I are staying at the Hilton tonight,’ I whispered, letting the thought hang in the air. ‘I could sneak you in later if you like?’
‘Could you indeed…?’ he said, stepping back with a devilish smile. ‘Iwouldlike. I would likevery much.’
‘Then it’s a date,’ I said, feeling a thrill at taking charge of the situation. ‘A secret second date.’
‘Second date, already, eh?’ Leo wiggled his eyebrows, then whispered, ‘Will there be secret chicken?’
Twenty-three
I didn’t want to like Leo as much as I did. Or at all, really. Out of all the millions of men in the world,why did it have to be him? It was hugely inconvenient. The phone rang out next to my bed and scared me half to death, lost in thought as I was, loudly reverberating around the room.
‘Hello?’
‘Good evening, this is Anjali on the concierge desk. We have a Mr Kendrick in reception for you.’
Arghhh!He was here. Which of course I was expecting and what I wanted, but still…arghhh!I adjusted my slinky dress to show more cleavage and cleared my throat. ‘Send him up, thank you.’
Why did this feel so illicit? Like I was having an affair? We weren’t doing anything wrong, but I was nervous and excited and terrified all at once. I downed a whisky miniature from the minibar, then poured myself a wine and sat on the edge of the bed. Then moved outside to stand on the balcony. He’d be in the lift by now, maybe even walkingdown the corridor.Oh God. My heart was pounding. What was Ithinkinginviting a strange man up to my room? I toyed with switching my heels for slippers. But then Leo would have shoes on, so I should too – I didn’t want it to feel like some weird pyjama party. Was it too hot in here? I turned the air conditioning on and puffed up the pillows. Should I pour him a wine as well or wait and see what he wanted…? A sharp knock at the door made me jump.Arghhh!I checked my teeth in the magnifying mirror and spritzed on some Coco Mademoiselle. It was now or never as I eyed him through the spyhole, took a deep breath and opened the door.
‘Room service,’ Leo said, with a shy smile, holding up a bottle of red. He leant in and kissed me on the cheek, then pulled an orange rose out from behind his back. She’d got him again.
‘Two roses in two days!’ I said, smiling madly. ‘Obrigado, senhor.’ It had been forever since a man had bought me flowers and now it was raining roses… one at a time. ‘Come in.’
