A Matter of Trust: London Calling Book One by Kat Faitour Page B

You smell good. That’s all.” She looked down to inspect her manicure, her face flaming.
    After several long moments, he finally spoke. “It’s okay, Devon. I’m flattered. I have it on good authority that I have a beautiful nose, too.”  
    Relieved, she looked over to return his smile but faltered, seeing that his didn’t reach his eyes.
    Changing the subject, he said, “Tell me how things are going. You’ve been with us for a while now, mainly working with Aidan. How goes it?” He was cool, like when he spoke to staff in a boardroom meeting.  
    The small confines of the car no longer felt intimate but restraining. Devon looked out the window, not seeing the bright sunshine any more. Nerves made her voice a little higher. “Things are going very well. Aidan has been a dream.” She spoke rapidly, trying to dispel an odd ache in her chest. “He’s supportive, but gives me the autonomy I like. I couldn’t ask for a better managing director.” She stumbled to a halt.
    “Birmingham.” He sounded tense.
    “Excuse me?”  
    “We’re headed to Birmingham. We have a site there and I want to show you what they do.”
    He launched into an explanation of the scope of Sterling International, its sites, and brief outlines of each division. “Besides,” he tagged on, “you could be based in one of the satellite offices rather than London, eventually.”
    “Oh, but—”
    “Yes?”
    “I assumed I would stay in London. That’s where the financial economics team is based, yes?”
    “Well, don’t. You could be at any one of our offices, depending on the needs of the business. Is that a problem?”  
    Her brow creased before smoothing back out. “No. There’s no problem.”  
    There would be a big problem if he wanted to toss her out into the countryside away from everyone else on the economics team. She was a world class professional, for God’s sake.  
    But for now, she’d let it rest. He was trying to get a rise out of her. Something had triggered his mood and the resulting atmosphere in the small car was oppressive. Of course, it never hurt to remind him that she wouldn’t be bullied. He didn’t have all the leverage.  
    And she wasn’t John Sinclair’s daughter for nothing. She knew how to play games, how to play people.
    “In fact, I can’t remember any other companies offering me a country or smaller town setting. Sterling International certainly keeps things unique.”
    She smirked out the window, watching the countryside as it flew by. She’d seen the muscle bunch in his jaw, knowing she’d scored a direct hit.  
    Suddenly, everything was brighter again.
    ***
    The sky streaked inky indigos with mottled purples by the time Bennett pulled his Aston Martin curbside to Devon’s flat. Arrogantly double-parked, he cut the engine and turned in his seat to look her straight on. “Can I offer you dinner?” Seeing her hesitation, he added, “I kept you later than intended and I know you haven’t eaten.”
    The words were out before he fully decided to say them. All day, she’d alternately frustrated and entranced him. In the car earlier, he’d nearly weakened. She’d been so charmingly direct, stumbling over herself when she’d basically told him how attractive he was. She’d eaten him up with those foggy gray eyes, nearly making him pull the car over to return the favor. He shifted, uncomfortable.  
    She interrupted his fantasies of her lush mouth and memories of their kiss with rejection. “I’d best not. But thank you.”
    He stared, willing his body under control. Was he wrong? Was she more interested in Aidan? She’d leapt to sing his praises earlier. He inwardly cursed himself. She was driving him insane and this was exactly what he meant to avoid. This madness.
    What was it about this woman that made him forget every rule he’d ever made? Every lesson he’d ever learned? An image of Olivia intruded on his thoughts. Desire was abruptly and immediately vanquished.
    He