Chapter 40
JAX
Iextract myself from Sadie Tripp.
I’m not sure what game she’s playing, but her unsubtle flirting is not welcome or trusted. The woman is a snake.
“Looks like you have a fan,” Caleb says, when it’s only the two of us left in the room.
I grimace, making him chuckle.
“Kat says thank you, she’ll speak to you soon,” he says. “She got pulled off into yet another Christmas crisis.”
I saw Kat leave. I hoped we could talk.
“Doesn’t she always?”
“What can I say, my big sister’s a workaholic, with delegation issues. She has no off switch, just like Dad.” Caleb looks at the door and sighs. “I hoped the break away would help slow her down, but she seems to have come back like a woman possessed. Did she rest at all while you were away?”
Memories of Kat, head thrown back, mouth open as she came hard around my cock, flood my brain. I shift uncomfortably.
“We worked on the project. I know she was in constant contact with the office. She did have some downtime.”
“That’s good to know. Did you and she…”
My heart thunders in my chest.
“Get to sort out whatever stick has been stuck up her arse where you’re concerned?”
I exhale slowly.
“We talked, called a truce,” I say vaguely.
If that’s what you can call it.
“A lot of the ideas in the proposal are Kat’s. She knows her stuff.”
Explaining Kat and my past is not something I’m going into, not when it has remained between us for sixteen years. Caleb and Elijah have always fished, but I’ve simply shrugged, deciding it was up to Kat what she told her brothers.
Caleb sighs as if disappointed.
He looks up. “What time are you heading off to meet your dad?”
I glance down at my watch.
“Three hours, before we catch the Eurostar.”
“Fancy grabbing some food before you go?”
“I was actually hoping to catch Kat before I leave.”
He smiles and pats my arm, making me frown.
“No problem,” he says, his tone a little too chirpy. His expression lets me know he’s pleased with my answer.
He hasn’t bothered to question me about Michelle. The fact that I was home by ten thirty probably told him all he needed to know.
I make my way up to Kat’s office.
Michael is on guard duty outside.
“Is Kat available?”
He looks up and freezes. “Ms Frazer is on a call,” he says.
I smile. “That’s okay. I can wait.”
He scowls as I take a seat and pick up one of the magazines that have been placed neatly on the table. They all have articles on Frazer Hotels. I open the top one and begin reading their article dedicated to Kat.
Kat’s door opens.
“Michael—” she stops instantly the moment she sees me.
“Jax, what are you doing here?”
“I was hoping to catch a few minutes of your time before I leave.”
“Michael?”
His ears turn pink, and he visibly swallows.
“You were on the phone,” he says quietly, his eyes not meeting Kat’s.
She stares at him, a furrow appearing between her brows.
“I was on the phone with Gabriel, my brother, about a Christmas present. Next time, interrupt.”
She turns tail and walks back into her office, holding the door.
“Can you get Mr Lockwood and me some coffee, please? Americano for Mr Lockwood and I’ll have my usual.”
Michael jumps up, clearly not enjoying being reprimanded but also not wanting to piss off his boss.
“Aren’t you worried he’ll spit in your coffee?” I say after Kat closes the door, my eyes go to the coffee machine that takes up pride of place on her sideboard.
“I doubt he’ll be the first, or the last,” she sighs. “He knew the conversation with Gabe was not urgent, so he should have interrupted, especially knowing I’ve just come from a meeting with you. I’ll not have him acting as a filter to who is and isn’t important.”
“Isn’t that what a PA does?”
“You’re important, Gabe isn’t. If he can’t see that, then no.”
“Important, am I?” I say, grinning.
Kat rolls her eyes and motions for me to take a seat.
“Sorry I missed you at the end of the meeting. I thought it went well. Sadie seemed very impressed.”
I bite my tongue to stop myself smiling. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she sounded jealous, but that’s probably wishful thinking.
Kat continues. “I’ve already received a number of emails from board members wanting to push on, and for the plans to be drawn up and submitted to the local authority,” she says, taking a seat behind her desk.
Watching her in action steals my breath.
This is professional Kat. Her suit is fitted and immaculate, her glossy dark brown hair is tied up, not a wrinkle or stray wisp.
The sprinkling of freckles on her nose is covered under a thin layer of perfectly applied makeup.
She still holds the glow from our time in the sun, but that’s the only similarity to the woman who walked barefoot on the sand and laughed as she walked through the market.
She’s back to being perfect Kat. It makes me want to take her in my arms and ruffle her feathers, just a little, or maybe a lot.
She runs on, giving me more and more information. Details on construction, potential amenities.
“Kat, stop,” I say eventually.
She pauses and looks up.
I’m surprised she listened.
“Kat I—”
Before I can say anything more, there’s a knock at the door, and Michael enters carrying our drinks.
He places them down on the desk, his face a mask.
“Thank you,” Kat says. “Can you chase up on those calls you made earlier? Make sure everything is in hand.”
His shoulders relax.
“Of course. I’ll get on it right away.”
He turns and leaves silently.
Kat’s hand goes to her chain, but falls into her lap as if she realises what she’s about to do.
“How was America? Did you get everything sorted out?”
I lean back in the chair.
Okay, so we can build up to that conversation.
“Yes. It turned out to be nothing major, but it was good to catch up with the team.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
“Kat, look, about…”
Her phone goes off, and she closes her eyes briefly before letting out a deep sigh.
“Sorry, I need to take this.”
I sigh and stand up.
“Don’t worry. I’ll see you in the New Year. I’m heading off to France tonight, to stay with Mum, Peter, and Dad.”
She raises an eyebrow, but doesn’t say anything, instead picking up the phone.
“One moment, Marco.”
She places him on hold.
“It was good seeing you,” she says, her expression softening as she adds. “I hope you have a peaceful Christmas.”
I grimace. “Me too.”
I make my way to the door, leaving behind the coffee. “Have fun at your mum’s.”
“I’m working in the morning, so only going down for lunch,” she says.
I open my mouth to speak, but she holds up her hand.
“We can talk when you get back.”
I nod, and Kat frowns, motioning to the phone in her hand.
“I’m really sorry, but I do need to take this.”
I nod and turn to leave.
“Marco. How the hell did this happen?”
That’s all I hear as I close the door behind me.