Page 77 of Unapologetic Love Story

‘Now, obviously that’s something we would love you to speak about at the event,’ a disembodied voice said from the computer, in a tone that told Tom they liked to interrupt people a lot. ‘If you can talk about how you overcame autism and found a career, yada-yada, I think that would be splendid. Apparently, there are people like you in every office, so I think it will make HR very happy.’

Tom scowled, disliking the person’s pompous tone and their presumptuous words. Raina just smiled serenely through the small computer camera. ‘I wouldn’t put it that way, but I’m happy to talk about neurodiversity in the workplace. I haven’t overcome anything.’

Tom watched her admiringly. She looked beautiful. Maybe he could lie to himself and say the night they’d spent together was the reason for that, but he knew it was just the natural aura she always seemed to give out. The one that had first attracted him to her. She made him feel ridiculous. He was watching her and wondering how the people on the virtual call weren’t falling in love with her.

As he clearly was.

He watched her smile pleasantly while they spoke to her like she was a child, and he realized that more than a day of this would have driven him absolutely out of his mind. The patronizing tones, while probably not deliberate, were subtle yet slicing. Enough to make him irritable and snappy. Yet Raina just smiled. A smile of pure indulgence and experience, clearly rehearsed and hauled out at short notice.

He didn’t know how she did it.

He waited like a dog with separation anxiety until the call was wrapped up. She looked over at him appraisingly.

‘You’re still here.’

Not a judgement, not a complaint. Just a statement with a hint of surprise.

Tom had to refrain from soliloquizing about how he was never going to leave. ‘Do people really talk to you like that?’

She looked confused for a moment and then realization hit, and she shrugged. ‘Death by a thousand cuts, but you get used to plastering them up. Women get spoken down to a lot. Neurodivergent women get spoken down to almost constantly.’

She doesn’t get it, he thought. She doesn’t know I’m gone for her.

He’d never desired anyone more. She’d given him a glimpse of that inner life. She hadn’t bothered to soothe his ego by putting on a show or embellishing her enjoyment of their sex. She’d worked him. Rewarded him for every touch that satisfied completely. Settled for nothing less.

He’d loved every second of it.

Every second of her.

‘I’m still here,’ he finally said. ‘If that’s okay with you.’

It was gentle. He meant it. If she needed him to leave, he was gone. He didn’t want to jeopardize anything.

Raina stood with feline fluidity. She stretched. She looked him up and down. Slowly. ‘You hungry?’

He moved to her in an instant. ‘Starving.’

After slow, deliberate sex on the bedroom carpet, Tom made them both omelettes.

Raina could tell that he liked watching her eat, and that this realization surprised him.

‘I’m usually good for pillow talk,’ he said, as they ate on the sofa, neither wishing to separate from the room that had changed so many things. ‘But you wore me out.’

‘A likely story.’

‘No, it’s true. I’m a little in awe.’

‘Starting my twenty-ninth year off strong.’

‘Need any advice from a haggard thirty-something?’

Raina laughed. ‘I’m looking forward to my thirties.’

Her mobile phone suddenly lit up and started vibrating persistently, causing both of them to glance over at the coffee table. She ate the last bite of her brunch and then leaned over to grab the noisy little machine. She answered the unknown number on speakerphone.

‘Raina Lewis.’

‘Hi!’ A splittingly cheerful voice shot through the earpiece. ‘Raina, it’s a pleasure to speak with you. I’m Heidi Matheson. I’ll be your point of contact for the Mondays.’