Melbourne Heat by Elizabeth Lapthorne

Gardens as they’d grown dark.
    Already full of misgivings, Spencer had still honored his meeting arrangement with Malcolm, planning to offer another accountant to take his case, or sever ties completely. But as the shadows had grown and the night become dark, the isolation of the park and something instinctive within him had gone from wary to cautious to downright afraid.
    Spencer had been trying to talk himself out of leaving when he’d heard the ominous clomp, clomp, clomp of heavy boots coming down the footpath. Feeling frightened, he’d hidden in the bushes, cringing back as his imagination and worry about Malcolm had snowballed with tangible fear in the gathering darkness. Charles had been a blessing right then in many ways, despite the fact that it had been his heavy army boots that had triggered the flight instinct in him.
    There were no regrets about standing Malcolm up, but obviously now he’d have to explain his actions to the guy. Spencer didn’t relish the conversation, but he was certainly man enough to own up to the consequences of what he’d done.
    Spencer strode down the hallway, hoping he looked a lot more confident than he felt. He smiled as he came into view and saw Malcolm. Tall and thickly built, the man had close-cropped dark hair and an air of impatience. Even though he wore a Lycra bicycle outfit and denim jacket, the air about him was as if he were in a six hundred dollar suit.
    “There you are,” Malcolm said.
    Spencer reached out a hand to shake in the hopes of cutting anything further off. Nell was listening eagerly and Spencer knew this would be a touchy conversation. He really didn’t want anyone overhearing it.
    “Malcolm, good to see you,” he lied. “Please come into the meeting room and we can discuss your new account.”
    “We were supposed to discuss it last night,” Malcolm replied angrily. “But you stood me up. I thought you were more professional than that.”
    Inwardly, Spencer sighed as he led Malcolm to the room and closed the door behind him. No matter what happened, there’d be gossip. He resigned himself to a number of explanations later on.
    “I’m sorry I didn’t keep our meeting,” Spencer said. “I did go to the Gardens, but I met up with a friend there. It was a lot darker and more isolated than I’d realized and I let myself be talked into going out for a quick bite to eat. I had planned on calling you later this morning to apologize, but your being here has beaten me to that.”
    “You could have called last night,” Malcolm said, still clearly annoyed, though calming down now.
    “Your business card is in the file I’ve opened for your new account,” Spencer explained. “And that was safely on my desk. I didn’t have your number with me last night, which again was an oversight on my part, but it was an honest mistake. I’d set out to meet you, otherwise I would have canceled earlier.”
    “I suppose we can have that discussion now,” Malcolm said.
    Spencer felt relieved and brought to mind the rehearsed speech he wanted to give Malcolm. The man took him by surprise, though, by reaching out a hand and grabbing his arm. Spencer frowned. Malcolm drew him closer to his body and once again Spencer realized things were falling out of his control.
    Hoping to head things off before they really got nasty, Spencer spoke quickly and tried to shake Malcolm’s grip off.
    “Actually, last night I wanted to tell you that my workload has increased recently. I’m not at all sure I have the time needed to dedicate myself to your accounts. I can make a recommendation for a few other accountants here at the firm that can—”
    “I don’t want anyone else,” Malcolm insisted. “I want— What?”
    Spencer tried to lean back, to have some semblance of personal space, but Malcolm was crowding him terribly. The hand clamped around his arm was immovable. Shaking a little inside, Spencer hoped like hell he wouldn’t have to call out for help, but Malcolm