that.
Monica took her chance and was at the door inside a heartbeat.
Owen strode after her. “We still have to work together.”
He tried hard to make that sound like a simple statement of fact, rather than a threat.
He didn’t want to get heavy-handed, but it came out sounding much more demanding than he meant it too.
43
Slowly, she lifted her gaze to meet his. “I know.”
There was desire in her eyes, and perhaps a plea for understanding.
Taking a risk he reached out to cup her cheek. Her lips parted, her eyelids lowering, and she moved her face within the cup of his palm. She did like to be touched.
“I’m sorry if I came across as insensitive.” He stroked her cheek with his thumb, building on the tentative consent she exhibited now.
“You’ve been patient with me, thank you,” she responded. She was studying him, weighing him up. Alec wandered over and joined them. She glanced from one to the other of them and sighed. “Give me some time, it’s hard for me. I promise you it’s not what you think.”
Owen lifted an eyebrow. “What do I think it is?”
“Most people think that I’ve been abused or harmed in some way. It’s not that, I assure you. It’s something that makes me feel vulnerable, something I’ve kept secret for a long time.”
Owen’s curiosity was raging, but he didn’t want her to feel vulnerable. What he wanted was the exquisite willingness they’d witnessed last night, the joy she took in her submission and the pleasure she gained from the experience. It was hard to reel in the urge to pressure her, but he knew he had to try, or she would walk out that door and never return.
Removing his hand, he nodded. He didn’t know quite how patient he could be, but he would give her some space if that was what she wanted, because he could tell she would come back for more if he did so.
Alec shifted, resting one elbow on the door beside her. “We’re good listeners.”
She smiled. “I know.” She glanced from one to the other of them ”I had a great time last night, thank you.”
“Can we do it again?” Owen couldn’t hold back. When Alec threw him another warning glance, he shrugged. “I’m a pushy guy when I want something, so shoot me.”
“I like that about you,” she commented.
Owen felt sure it was significant. Did men only get close to her if they were pushy?
She straightened up. “You assured me that we would be able to remain professional, that you would both be discreet. Does that still stand?”
“On all fronts,” he replied.
44
She reached for the organiser that she kept clipped to the waistband of her skirt. “I have to supervise my staff this morning. I suggest we meet in-house at the Shelley’s Corner House Pub for lunch, and we can resume our official business then. Does one o’clock suit you both?”
Alec smiled. “Anything else can be cancelled, right Owen?”
“Too bloody true.”
“Good.” She made a note on her organiser and replaced it at her belt. “In that case I’ll see you then. Have a good morning.”
After she’d shut the door behind her, Owen shook his head. “The consummate professional. It’s like a mask she slides into place.”
“That’s it exactly.”
Owen looked at his partner and he could tell that Alec was as intrigued by her as he was.
“Do you think that she knew that we’re lovers, when she first met us?” Alec asked.
Owen nodded. “She knew.”
“I mentioned that we were both bi when I brought her up here last night, but some of the women we’ve been with just don’t think about what that means, they think it’s all about them.”
“Monica understands the implications.” Owen was sure of it. Something in her eyes assured him of that. That was part of what appealed to him about her. “Any idea what her secret is?”
Alec gave him a disbelieving stare. “What do you think I am, psychic?”
* * * *
Sheila Trent, the head accountant for the hotel, seemed
Monica took her chance and was at the door inside a heartbeat.
Owen strode after her. “We still have to work together.”
He tried hard to make that sound like a simple statement of fact, rather than a threat.
He didn’t want to get heavy-handed, but it came out sounding much more demanding than he meant it too.
43
Slowly, she lifted her gaze to meet his. “I know.”
There was desire in her eyes, and perhaps a plea for understanding.
Taking a risk he reached out to cup her cheek. Her lips parted, her eyelids lowering, and she moved her face within the cup of his palm. She did like to be touched.
“I’m sorry if I came across as insensitive.” He stroked her cheek with his thumb, building on the tentative consent she exhibited now.
“You’ve been patient with me, thank you,” she responded. She was studying him, weighing him up. Alec wandered over and joined them. She glanced from one to the other of them and sighed. “Give me some time, it’s hard for me. I promise you it’s not what you think.”
Owen lifted an eyebrow. “What do I think it is?”
“Most people think that I’ve been abused or harmed in some way. It’s not that, I assure you. It’s something that makes me feel vulnerable, something I’ve kept secret for a long time.”
Owen’s curiosity was raging, but he didn’t want her to feel vulnerable. What he wanted was the exquisite willingness they’d witnessed last night, the joy she took in her submission and the pleasure she gained from the experience. It was hard to reel in the urge to pressure her, but he knew he had to try, or she would walk out that door and never return.
Removing his hand, he nodded. He didn’t know quite how patient he could be, but he would give her some space if that was what she wanted, because he could tell she would come back for more if he did so.
Alec shifted, resting one elbow on the door beside her. “We’re good listeners.”
She smiled. “I know.” She glanced from one to the other of them ”I had a great time last night, thank you.”
“Can we do it again?” Owen couldn’t hold back. When Alec threw him another warning glance, he shrugged. “I’m a pushy guy when I want something, so shoot me.”
“I like that about you,” she commented.
Owen felt sure it was significant. Did men only get close to her if they were pushy?
She straightened up. “You assured me that we would be able to remain professional, that you would both be discreet. Does that still stand?”
“On all fronts,” he replied.
44
She reached for the organiser that she kept clipped to the waistband of her skirt. “I have to supervise my staff this morning. I suggest we meet in-house at the Shelley’s Corner House Pub for lunch, and we can resume our official business then. Does one o’clock suit you both?”
Alec smiled. “Anything else can be cancelled, right Owen?”
“Too bloody true.”
“Good.” She made a note on her organiser and replaced it at her belt. “In that case I’ll see you then. Have a good morning.”
After she’d shut the door behind her, Owen shook his head. “The consummate professional. It’s like a mask she slides into place.”
“That’s it exactly.”
Owen looked at his partner and he could tell that Alec was as intrigued by her as he was.
“Do you think that she knew that we’re lovers, when she first met us?” Alec asked.
Owen nodded. “She knew.”
“I mentioned that we were both bi when I brought her up here last night, but some of the women we’ve been with just don’t think about what that means, they think it’s all about them.”
“Monica understands the implications.” Owen was sure of it. Something in her eyes assured him of that. That was part of what appealed to him about her. “Any idea what her secret is?”
Alec gave him a disbelieving stare. “What do you think I am, psychic?”
* * * *
Sheila Trent, the head accountant for the hotel, seemed
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