Chapter 16
Sixteen
“ A untie Lo! Auntie Lo, wake up, Mummy says you're late for work!” The next morning, I forced my eyes open and instantly wished I hadn't. Ryan dive bombed me as I tried to sit up, his little body colliding with mine, sending me back into the mattress. “You're late, Auntie Lo!”
“What time is it?” I groaned as he bounced on my bed.
“Erm…the big hand is on the six and the little hand is on the eight.”
“Shit!” I flung myself out of bed.
“Mummy!” Ryan yelled as he jumped off my bed and pounded down my stairs. “Auntie Lo said a rude word!”
Fifteen panicked minutes later I was in my van and blasting music loud enough to keep Alfie Tell at bay.
I’d gone to sleep feeling swarmed by him and I’d woken the same way.
I wanted to lie in bed and play over his every expression, word, and touch, but I had a meeting with Mark Tafferty, so Alfie Tell would have to wait.
I stopped at the office long enough to pick up the files I needed before driving to Mark's.
He answered the door in jeans, a flannel shirt, and thin rimmed glasses.
He gave me a warm smile and we exchanged pleasantries as I followed him inside to a living room that consisted mainly of unpacked boxes, piles of books, and two leather armchairs.
“Have you just moved in?”
He shrugged and took a seat in one of the armchairs, gesturing for me to take the other. “Been here about a year.”
An upturned box served as a coffee table and on it was a plate of store bought blueberry muffins. My mouth watered at the sight of them. “They’re your favourite I think,” Mark said with a knowing smile, his skin wrinkling around his eyes, showing his age slightly.
“You’re an angel, thank you.” I grabbed the nearest one and tore a chunk off, popping it into my mouth.
I had to stifle a groan as the delicate flavours hit my tongue.
Mark let out one of his rare laughs and I covered my mouth as I ate.
“Sorry, I had to skip breakfast this morning.” He waved me off and we got started.
Mark had a way of listening as if he wasn’t really listening at all.
His eyes glazed over, looking almost bored, but behind the vacant expression I could see he was busy creating a 3D copy of the designs in his mind.
I drew my talk to a close and without a word he reached into my lap, retrieving Riley’s plans.
He feasted his eyes on them as if he could step into the page and walk those pencilled gardens.
I tucked into another muffin, eating in silence as he looked through the file. “He’s very good.” That was high praise from Mark. I swallowed a chunk of blueberry muffin and cleared my throat.
“Yes, I’m looking forward to working with him.” He raised a quizzical brow as I told him about the plot Alfie had offered me. I was so excited my words tripped over themselves, each of them eager to gain his approval.
“Lola,” he removed his glasses with a sigh, cleaning them with the corner of his shirt before putting them back on, “with all due respect, you’re unqualified and have almost no experience in design.
I don’t doubt you have talent, but I don’t understand why Riley Fitzpatrick would give you a plot just because you knew what bespoke soil was. ”
My breath hitched. Okay, that had hurt, but he wasn’t exactly wrong and he was still wearing a small smile, trying to take the sting out of his words.
“Actually, it was Mr Tell’s idea.” I’d tactfully avoided mentioning him up until now. “I suppose I impressed him and he wanted to give me an opportunity. Under Riley’s watchful eye, of course.” As I spoke, Mark’s warm smile faded, his eyes growing cold.
“I see.” He eyed me a moment longer, his cool gaze telling me he was anything but pleased for me. “Well, congratulations. I suppose you have a design spec for me to look over.” He put out an expectant hand and I twisted my own in my lap, having nothing to give him.
“I don't exactly have one yet but shouldn’t I just deal with Riley directly?” I liked Mark, respected him immensely, but beyond allowing me to design the Boutique Garden when he’d first arrived, he hadn’t had any interest in my ‘talent.’ I wondered why he was bothering now.
“Whatever you create will be a direct reflection on me, so I will need to review your work before you present it, unless you don’t think my opinion counts?”
“No! Of course it does, I just…I didn’t think you would be interested.
” My words trailed off and a cool silence hung between us.
I felt lost, wondering what had just happened.
Where had I gone wrong? I’d thought he’d be proud that I’d managed to secure such an opportunity.
It hurt that he seemed to be angry instead. Jealous, even.
“On the contrary, I’m very interested in what you do.”
I wished that were true, but his habit of giving me nothing but grunt work proved otherwise. He’d barely shown an interest in my designs for Ryan’s school garden. I took the file as he handed it back to me, relieved that the topic seemed to be over.
“I have to get back to the hospital. I don’t like leaving my mother alone for too long.
” He crossed the room to a pile of boxes and plucked an envelope from a discarded pile of mail.
“Before you go, I believe Rosie mentioned the Serenity Gardens Opening to you?” He handed me the envelope and I peeked inside, seeing the tickets for the opening.
“Yes, it’s next week, right? I’m sorry you won’t be able to go. It doesn’t feel right going without you.” He looked pleased by that and I gave him a friendly smile, glad that the earlier tension seemed to be easing.
“Yes, I’m disappointed too. It’s always exciting to see your work revealed for the first time and enjoyed by others.” That’s what I wanted, that’s what I was desperate for. “There's a plus one you know. Who will you take?”
“I’m not sure, a friend maybe.” Pretty dresses and free champagne would be Keira’s idea of heaven.
“Ah, a friend .”
“Yes, my friend Keira.”
“Not a date?”
I shivered, thinking of Alfie. I didn’t think I could survive Alfie Tell in a tuxedo.
“No, definitely not.” I smiled wider, a nervous habit. “Well, I should go. I hope your mother feels better soon, it'll be nice to have you back at work.”
“I'm glad to hear it, I was starting to think you weren't missing me at all.” It was a strange thing to say but I tried not to let my concern show and instead offered him a polite smile as he showed me out.
I shook the nervous feeling away as I climbed into my van. I had enough tension floating around my body at the moment. I didn't need to be concocting weirdness about my co-workers to go with it.
When I got back to work, Rosie sent my day from bad to worse by announcing that she'd decided to send Bradley along to the opening as my plus one. Bradley, the new guy. The ruggedly handsome new guy. Great.
So, all I had to do was spend the evening with Bradley and hope that a certain arrogant billionaire didn't find out. Easy.
As soon as I got home, I nose dived into a bottle of Chardonnay. There was a note on the fridge from Natalie reminding me that it was Ryan’s parents’ evening so they wouldn’t be home until later.
After the weirdness with Mark this morning, my day had been busy, passing by me in a blessed blur and leaving me no time to think about Alfie Tell. Now that I was home in the quiet, there was no escaping the barrage of memories that hit me.
Last night had possibly been the craziest night of my life.
He’d dominated me so easily—sucked my secrets out of me then put his hands on my body, showing me that the art of seduction was his mother tongue.
It unnerved me how malleable I’d been in his touch, how vulnerable.
An uncertain fear sat in my gut as I took another sip of Chardonnay. I needed my best friend.
Quickly, I zipped off a text to Keira.
I have an empty house and a bottle of Chardonnay – you in?
I hit send and her reply was instant.
On my way ; ) By the way, I need a favour. I need help decorating my parents’ house. The real estate agent thinks it’ll help get it sold. Help me out? I’ll pay you in wine and pizza…
I replied, telling her I’d be there anytime. I wasn’t a fan of Keira’s parents. I’d grown up watching them take more interest in themselves than Keira. Now, they’d moved to Greece and left her to deal with selling the family home.
My phone buzzed again with another text. I looked down and a shiver ran through me at the sight of Alfie’s name on my screen.
Are you home alone?
A.
I didn’t bother to ask him how he knew I was home. Fucking tracking system.
Yeah, but Keira will be here soon. Natalie and Ryan have a school thing. Why?
A second later, my front door opened. I let out a squeal, dropping my wine glass in surprise.
It smashed on the floor, wine spilling across the tile.
I heard Alfie’s unmistakeable footsteps as he stalked up the hall, and a moment later there he was, in the doorway to my grandma’s kitchen, in Ray Bans and his trademark three piece suit.
My mouth went dry and my pulse picked up. I was equal parts aroused and angry. I was quickly learning that those two emotions went hand in hand when it came to Alfie Tell.
“You know, it’s polite to wait for an invitation before entering someone’s house. It’s not okay for you to just bust in here whenever you feel like it.”
Alfie gave me a wry smile, putting his Ray Bans away and revealing those steel greys, glinting in the evening light that poured through the window behind me. He tossed his glasses onto the counter and looked around the home into which he’d trespassed.
“I don’t know how people don’t kill each other living in houses this small.”
My attraction soured in my gut. This was the part of Alfie Tell that I hated—the rank superiority complex. This was the part I needed to remember when he sent my libido into overdrive.