be sober enoug h to save the damsel . ’
His grin widene d when Verity said with mock gravity, ‘Yes, with late arrival comes great responsibility.’ They laughed together until Royce felt his arm abruptly grabbed from behind. He turned to see Rosie beaming at him.
From across the room she’d watched him catch Verity in his arms , thinking to herself that he had the makings of a fine lady’s champion. She wondered how he remained unattached. T all and well-built, he looked stylish in a fitted short-sleeved shirt , and black jeans that hugged his lean hips and legs. Although his leather boots were low-heeled, he was still taller than everyone else in the room. The colours of his clothes accentuated the darkne ss of his hair and eyes and the shadow of a moustache developing nicely above his lips.
A happily married woman herself, Rosie could stil l appreciate the company of good-looking men. ‘Glad you could make it , Royce ,’ s he croon ed, raising an eyebrow and smirking up at him cheekily, ‘I wasn’t sure you would . ’
Royce’s firm mouth tipped into a half smile. ‘Good to see you, Rosie.’
‘ We don’t have many of these little gatherings, so it’s great to see everyone ’s made the effort . ’ She grasped his arm more firmly, noting the dense muscles beneath her fingers. This was no paper-pushing , office-bound weakling, of that she was certain. Rosi e threw Verity a smile as she led Royce away. ‘ Come on, I want you to meet my husband. He’s just returned from his latest overseas trip . And then we’re all heading over to the party proper. So nice of Verity to h ave us here for pre-do drinks , a nd hasn’t she done a fabulous job with the place. ... ’ As they moved off , Royce look ed back at Verity, but she was again mingling . S he did glance his way once though, and he gave her a smiling nod , which she returned af ter the brief est of hesitation s .
Royc e only had time for a quick chat to Rosie’s other half , while casting his admiring eyes over Verity’s home , before Rosie took his arm again, calling to everyone, ‘Come on , it’s time to head to the palazzo , party central!’ She looped her other arm through her husband’s and began leading the crowd out of Verity’s villa , and along the path to the central square .
Verity looked around for Claire and saw her standing in the kitchen . She held a n open wine bottle in each hand, and had a mouthful of pastry and a ‘ chinful ’ of golden crumbs. She was staring a little blurrily after the crowd.
‘C’mon , bubble girl,’ Verity said fondly , taking her arm, ‘t here’s a nice, big bottle of soda water with your name on it , at the party.’
In the square, Royce found himself looking over at Verity fro m time to time . He couldn’t h e l p admiring her grace and poise as she socialis ed , all the while keeping a close eye on her inebriated friend . Stopping Claire from re- filling her own glass and everyone else’s l ooked to be an ongoing battle , b ut Verity managed it with aplomb, and a sense of humour.
Royce’s mouth tightened. Was this caring person the same cold-hearted adversary who’d stolen his promotion? She, who had slithered in to blithely snatch from his grasp the job that was rightfully his? and who would no d oubt lead the company— his company—into ruin.
But the enchanting woman who’d greeted him like a friend, laughed with him, who felt soft but lithe in his arms and warm against his chest ... w here did she fit in ?
Chapter Seven
‘Royce James is here for his appointment .’ Kerry ushered him into the office and closed the door .
Verity watched Royce approach her desk. The well-cut navy suit he wore emphasised his height, and the darkness of his collar- length hair. She took a deep breath. The time had come for their first one-to-one meeting at work, and she wondered what it would bring.
‘Morning, Royce.’
‘Verity,’ he nodded . Although he didn’t smile, his eyes were
His grin widene d when Verity said with mock gravity, ‘Yes, with late arrival comes great responsibility.’ They laughed together until Royce felt his arm abruptly grabbed from behind. He turned to see Rosie beaming at him.
From across the room she’d watched him catch Verity in his arms , thinking to herself that he had the makings of a fine lady’s champion. She wondered how he remained unattached. T all and well-built, he looked stylish in a fitted short-sleeved shirt , and black jeans that hugged his lean hips and legs. Although his leather boots were low-heeled, he was still taller than everyone else in the room. The colours of his clothes accentuated the darkne ss of his hair and eyes and the shadow of a moustache developing nicely above his lips.
A happily married woman herself, Rosie could stil l appreciate the company of good-looking men. ‘Glad you could make it , Royce ,’ s he croon ed, raising an eyebrow and smirking up at him cheekily, ‘I wasn’t sure you would . ’
Royce’s firm mouth tipped into a half smile. ‘Good to see you, Rosie.’
‘ We don’t have many of these little gatherings, so it’s great to see everyone ’s made the effort . ’ She grasped his arm more firmly, noting the dense muscles beneath her fingers. This was no paper-pushing , office-bound weakling, of that she was certain. Rosi e threw Verity a smile as she led Royce away. ‘ Come on, I want you to meet my husband. He’s just returned from his latest overseas trip . And then we’re all heading over to the party proper. So nice of Verity to h ave us here for pre-do drinks , a nd hasn’t she done a fabulous job with the place. ... ’ As they moved off , Royce look ed back at Verity, but she was again mingling . S he did glance his way once though, and he gave her a smiling nod , which she returned af ter the brief est of hesitation s .
Royc e only had time for a quick chat to Rosie’s other half , while casting his admiring eyes over Verity’s home , before Rosie took his arm again, calling to everyone, ‘Come on , it’s time to head to the palazzo , party central!’ She looped her other arm through her husband’s and began leading the crowd out of Verity’s villa , and along the path to the central square .
Verity looked around for Claire and saw her standing in the kitchen . She held a n open wine bottle in each hand, and had a mouthful of pastry and a ‘ chinful ’ of golden crumbs. She was staring a little blurrily after the crowd.
‘C’mon , bubble girl,’ Verity said fondly , taking her arm, ‘t here’s a nice, big bottle of soda water with your name on it , at the party.’
In the square, Royce found himself looking over at Verity fro m time to time . He couldn’t h e l p admiring her grace and poise as she socialis ed , all the while keeping a close eye on her inebriated friend . Stopping Claire from re- filling her own glass and everyone else’s l ooked to be an ongoing battle , b ut Verity managed it with aplomb, and a sense of humour.
Royce’s mouth tightened. Was this caring person the same cold-hearted adversary who’d stolen his promotion? She, who had slithered in to blithely snatch from his grasp the job that was rightfully his? and who would no d oubt lead the company— his company—into ruin.
But the enchanting woman who’d greeted him like a friend, laughed with him, who felt soft but lithe in his arms and warm against his chest ... w here did she fit in ?
Chapter Seven
‘Royce James is here for his appointment .’ Kerry ushered him into the office and closed the door .
Verity watched Royce approach her desk. The well-cut navy suit he wore emphasised his height, and the darkness of his collar- length hair. She took a deep breath. The time had come for their first one-to-one meeting at work, and she wondered what it would bring.
‘Morning, Royce.’
‘Verity,’ he nodded . Although he didn’t smile, his eyes were
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