A Physical Affair

CHAPTER NINE

‘NO!’ THE word broke softly from her. ‘I…I can’t,’ she said again with a little more composure.

‘For God’s sake, Keira,’ he ground out, running his hand impassionedly through his hair. His gaze held hers, and for immeasurable seconds pierced her with his controlled fury. ‘I think I need some air,’ he said at last, and strode away from her without a backward glance or the slightest concern about how his abrupt departure would appear to those nearby.

‘What was that all about?’ Roxie asked as she joined Keira, her eyes on Eden’s retreating figure.

Keira took a careful sip of her wine before replying. ‘I guess he has other people to see. He’s a very busy man.’

‘And not a happy one, it would seem.’ Roxie turned back to Keira. ‘So the question is, did he leave or was he asked to go?’

‘I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about, Roxie.’

‘Ah, she knows nothing. Look, Keira, one piece of advice. Don’t go missing the flowers for the trees.’

Keira raised her eyebrows and Roxie shrugged«

‘Or something like that Eden Cassidy’s not a man to be manipulated. Plain as Aunt Aggie’s down-to-earth advice.’

‘I’m not trying to manipulate anyone, Rox. And you know I don’t mix business with pleasure.’

‘I’d be surprised if you remembered what that sort of pleasure was,’ remarked the other girl outrageously.

‘Roxie! Enough.’

‘OK. OK. But I, and the rest of the female population of Australia for that matter, can’t see what you’ve got against the man.’

‘Against him? Well, for a start, he’s a playboy. Only masochists get involved with known playboys. I’m not a masochist. And I don’t want to become one of his harem.’

‘Harem? Aren’t you being a little over the top? I mean, he just doesn’t seem that type to me. I know I rave about him being good-looking. He’s surely that. But quite seriously, Keira, he couldn’t run a corporation this big so successfully if he persisted in love-’em-and-leave-’em dalliances. He has to put in the time, if you get what I mean.’

‘There’s such a thing as delegation, Roxie. And anyway, you’re forgetting Megan Donnelly.’

‘He’d be a fool to tamper with her. And he’s not a fool,’ Roxie dismissed. ‘Good secretaries, and from what I hear she’s the best, aren’t that thick on the ground. Apart from that, I’ve heard she’s almost a couple with a friend of Eden’s in the States.’

‘Well, don’t try to tell me you haven’t seen the bevy of beauties who flock around him.’ Keira saw her argument slipping out from under her. ‘They’re here in force tonight. And there’s nary a week goes past that the newspapers and glossies don’t feature a shot of him with a different model on his arm.’

‘You even made it one week,’ Roxie reminded her drily, and Keira glanced at her sharply. ‘So, did that picture tell a story?’ Roxie asked as Keira set her wineglass down on a nearby table.

‘You know I just happened to be standing near him when-’

‘I rest my case.’ Roxie cut in quickly. ‘How many other times have the beauties just happened to have been standing near him when?’ Roxie mimicked Keira’s words.

‘He’s my boss, Roxie.’

‘So what?’

‘You know so what. I’d hazard a guess that there are more people here tonight who think I got this job by foul means rather than fair. In fact Dianna all but spelled it out.’

‘Then she got it wrong. Anyway, everyone knows her nose is out of joint because she’s lost the best slave she’s ever had, namely you, Keira Strong. Besides, those of us who work with you haven’t got a problem about why you’re the editor. We know you deserved it.’

‘Oh, come on, Roxie. Surely you’ve heard the rumours-’

‘Rumours be damned! That’s your smokescreen. What’s the real reason you’re at such pains to pretend indifference to the man? And don’t tell me you find him unattractive or we’ll have you certified.’

‘Perhaps I haven’t got time for that sort of distraction,’ Keira began, wondering what Roxie would say if she knew she was only repeating Eden’s own suspicions.

Roxie gave a snicker. ‘Nonsense.’

‘I’ve worked hard to get where I am and I don’t want to jeopardise it by having a meaningless affair with the one person who can terminate my employment on the spot.’

‘It’s Dennis, isn’t it?’

‘Dennis?’ Keira raised her eyebrows in surprise at Roxie’s change of tack.

‘I know you had a rough time with him. Your ex-haushand was a selfish little wimp who wanted a mother, not a wife. But you can’t let that spoil your chances for a totally different relationship.’

Keira sighed. ‘I don’t deny that for a while my marriage to Dennis did colour my feelings about getting involved again. However, I’ve come to terms with all that. I’m older now and hopefully wiser.’

‘So you must know there’s no comparison between Eden Cassidy and Dennis,’ Roxie continued determinedly. ‘Dennis was spineless but there isn’t a weak bone in Eden’s body. Have you ever read anything unsavoury about the man?’

Keira shook her head tiredly.

‘That’s because he has integrity.’

‘Roxie,’ Keira appealed, feeling the beginnings of a headache. If only she could slip away. But of course she couldn’t. Not now that Eden had left. It would look far too suspicious.

‘All right. I’m sorry, Keira. I’ve probably said more than enough already. But I care about you and I don’t want to see you throw away your chance of happiness because you’re afraid to meet life head on.’

‘At the risk of provoking you into further wise counsel, Roxie, I’d just like to say I’d prefer simply to jog quietly along beside life for a while. Now, let’s get a cup of coffee before all this stress and the two glasses of wine I’ve had go to my head.’

Roxie had just left Keira to fetch the coffee when Meg, one of Keira’s receptionists, approached with an attractive young woman who looked more than a little ill at ease.

‘Have you seen Daniel?’ Meg asked and Keira shook her head.

‘Not for a while. But he shouldn’t be far away.’ She looked around but couldn’t see Eden’s nephew in the throng of people.

‘I’ll see if I can find him for you,’ Meg offered as she turned to the young girl. ‘If you’d like to stay with Keira, I won’t be long.’

Keira glanced back at the other girl questioningly.

‘I’m Cat. Cat Craigie,’ she said softly, her fingers playing nervously with the thin strap of her bag.

Keira took in Daniel’s young friend and realised she was indeed looking at a younger version of herself. Cat was almost as tall as Keira but she wore her fair hair, the same shade as Keira’s, in natural waves to her shoulders.

‘So you’re Cat! I’m Keira Strong, the editor of the magazine where Daniel works.’ Keira smiled. ‘It’s nice to meet you at last. Daniel’s told me so much about you.’

‘Oh.’ Cat looked at the floor and flushed a little. ‘I can’t imagine what he’d say.’

‘All good, I’m afraid,’ Keira laughed. ‘He admires you very much.’

‘Does he? I guess I’m pretty keen on Daniel too,’ she added softly before she looked up, catching Keira’s eye. ‘He talks a lot about you, too.’

‘All good as well, I hope.’

‘Yes. He likes you.

‘And I like him. So that makes both of us. Daniel’s pretty special.’

‘I suppose,’ Cat agreed hesitantly. ‘But it’s all so complicated.’

‘And made worse by the fact that Daniel doesn’t fit the preconceived mould.’

‘Yes. It would be so much easier if he was the stereotypical poor little rich kid.’

Keira smiled.

‘I mean, I could handle it better if he had a silver spoon stuck in his mouth. Our lifestyles are so different it scares me. Our families, well…’ She shrugged.

‘Daniel’s uncle and grandfather care about him and the same goes for your parents and you. There’s no difference when you get down to what counts.’

‘I guess so. But we don’t want any hassles that might arise because Daniel’s uncle and my father are usually on opposite sides of the negotiating table.’

‘I’d have said they respect each other and they usually settle any disputes reasonably amicably,’ Keira suggested gently.

Cat nodded and pulled a wry face.

‘Life is fraught, isn’t it?’ Keira laughed softly and Cat smiled, if somewhat reluctantly.

‘I guess Daniel’s worth it. Just don’t tell him I said that. And maybe we both enjoy the intrigue.’ She grimaced. ‘Well, some of the time.’

Just then Keira caught sight of Daniel weaving his way through the guests and she saw the beam of surprised pleasure that lit his face when he saw Cat. For a moment she thought he was going to race over and embrace the young girl but he pulled himself together and made his way nonchalantly towards them through the crowd.

‘Hi, Cat. I’m glad you decided to come along.’

‘Yes. I… It was kind of you to ask me. I’ve never been to anything like this.’ Cat’s fingers were worrying the strap of her bag again.

‘I thought you said you wouldn’t be able to make it. But I’m glad you did,’ Daniel added quickly. ‘Now you’re here, would you like to meet my uncle?’

Cat drew back a little then gave Keira a quick glance before shaking her head. ‘Well, no, Daniel. Not…’

‘You have to meet him some time, so why not now? He’s not so bad, Cat. Really,’ Daniel told her and turned to Keira for confirmation. ‘Is he, Keira?’

To her consternation Keira felt herself flush and for the life of her she couldn’t formulate an answer. What could she say anyway? That she found Eden Cassidy almost irresistibly attractive? That the moment their eyes met all her resolute good intentions flew out of the window? And that she suspected her capitulation to his devastating magnetism could become all but inevitable? He’s not so bad. What a dreadful understatement.

‘In fact, I’ve got this great idea,’ Daniel was continuing, unaware of her inner turmoil. ‘Keira can introduce you to Eden.’

‘Why me?’ she got out in dismay.

‘Because you can wrap him around your little finger.’

‘That’s rubbish, Daniel. I scarcely know the man,’ Keira protested, her embarrassment sharpening her tone, and Cat shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other.

Unabashed, Daniel grinned devilishly but whatever outrageous quip he was about to deliver was diverted when Cat touched his arm.

‘Daniel, I’d just as soon not meet your uncle right now. Not yet, anyway,’ the younger girl said firmly. ‘I only came tonight because-’ she paused ‘-I mean, I need to talk to you privately.’ She glanced apologetically at Keira. ‘If you don’t mind, Keira.’

‘Of course not.’ Keira moved away, more than a little relieved to leave Daniel and his embarrassing innuendos behind. She wended her way in search of Roxie and the coffee but she had only had a chance to give Roxie a wave when Daniel and Cat were beside her again.

‘Keira, do you know where Eden went exactly?’ Daniel asked concernedly, and she shook her head.

‘No. He… I think he left.’

‘Damn! Keira, we have to find him. And fast. Cat says…’ Daniel stopped and turned back to the young girl. ‘I’ll have to tell Keira, Cat. She should know too. OK?’

After a moment Cat nodded unhappily and Daniel sighed.

‘Cat overheard her father talking to one of the union reps.’ Daniel had dropped his voice conspiratorially to little more than a whisper so that Keira had to strain to catch his words. ‘They’re going out on strike. The distributors. Damn good timing, too. Just when Natural Life is about to hit the stands. Eden will be livid.’

‘I didn’t want to tell Daniel,’ Cat said miserably. ‘But, well, I didn’t know what to do. Oh, I just wish I hadn’t overheard that conversation. But they were giving Dad a hard time and…’ She shook her head and Daniel took her hand and gave it a squeeze.

‘It’s OK, Cat,’ he said consolingly and she brushed a tear from her eyes.

‘I just thought that maybe Daniel’s uncle and my father between them could, you know, talk some sense into them. I only hope I’ve done the right thing,’ she finished miserably.

‘Of course you have. And I know Eden’ll handle it diplomatically.’ He looked at Keira and frowned. ‘Eden didn’t say where he was going?’

As Keira shook her head, someone in a nearby group touched him on the shoulder.

‘If you’re still looking for the big chief he’s in the next room. I just left him.’

‘Great!’ Daniel exclaimed and began pushing through the crowd, pulling Cat after him.

And Keira made herself follow, albeit a little more slowly. By the time she’d reluctantly joined them Daniel had given his uncle the gist of Cat’s revelations.

Eden’s eyes acknowledged Keira’s presence with one all-consuming glance and her knees went decidedly weak at the fire that still burned in their blue depths. Her defences sank to a new low and she experienced an urge to lean against his hard body, rest her weary head on his shoulder and take in some of his strength. So much for her determination to remain aloof from him.

Daniel was now explaining to Eden who Cat was, and his uncle regarded them both levelly.

‘You don’t resemble your father in the slightest,’ he said to Cat with a faint smile, and the young girl visibly relaxed. Then he turned back to his nephew. ‘We’ll have a few things to discuss, Daniel, when all this is settled, hmm?’

Daniel nodded. ‘But what are we going to do about the strike? I mean, the magazine is supposed to hit the stands on Monday.’

‘I’ll go and see Cat’s father and between us we’ll sort it out It’s probably another false alarm. A few of them tend to over-react. But if they have genuine grievances I’ll listen and do my best to put them right.’ He ran his hand tiredly along his jaw line and then seemed to straighten before his gaze returned to Keira.

‘I’ll be in touch after I find out just how serious the situation is.’

Keira nodded and his eyes held hers for a fraction of a second before he turned and made his way through the crowd. A few minutes later he left with Denver Clarkson and he hadn’t returned before the party eventually broke up, the guests unaware of the behind-the-scenes drama.

When Roxie finally dropped Keira home she sighed with relief. Her fluctuating emotions had physically drained her. One moment she knew the excitement, the exhilaration of imagining herself surrendering to something she suspected was predestined, drowning in the promise of Eden Cassidy’s so compelling charisma. The next moment she would be valiantly standing her ground, set stubbornly on not allowing herself to deviate from her decision not to succumb to his so tempting overtures.

The night had been never-ending, far more so than she could have imagined it was going to be, and then topped off by the threatened strike. All she wanted was to crawl into the sanctuary of her bed and know the oblivion of sleep. She felt as though she’d been awake for weeks and that her body had been on unalleviated alert for just as long. As long as she’d known Eden Cassidy.

After all the work that had gone into the first issue, and was going into the second issue of Natural Life, she knew she should be concerned about the strike delaying the magazine’s release, but she felt completely numb. It was as though her awareness of Eden Cassidy and her confusion over her feelings precluded any other emotional perception.

As the tail-lights of Roxie’s car disappeared down the road she swung open the gate in her high wooden fence and Roger wound himself around her legs in greeting. She closed the gate and picked him up.

‘If you’re wondering what sort of evening I had, then it couldn’t have been worse. I’m simply exhausted and can’t wait to get to bed.’

And although she expected she’d lie tossing and turning, mulling over the turmoil within her, she was asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow. It seemed only moments later that she was woken by the birds greeting the morning sun and she reluctantly climbed out of bed and pulled on her short-sleeved robe. With a yawn she set the coffee-pot bubbling and went out to collect her morning newspaper.

Keira opened the gate just as Daniel’s red sports car pulled into the kerb.

‘Morning,’ he greeted her tiredly. ‘I’ve been staying at Cat’s and her father just arrived home. I thought you’d like to know the strike is off.’

‘Oh. That’s good news. Thanks, Daniel. Do you want some coffee?’

Daniel shook his head. ‘No. I’m bushed. I’m off home to catch up on some sleep. See you.’

Keira waved as he drove off, and picked up her newspaper, only to step back in alarm when the bonnet of a dark blue Jaguar nosed into the driveway, wide tyres crunching on the gravel, passing her to draw to a stop in front of her carport.

Her hand still resting on the gate, Keira stared openmouthed as Eden Cassidy’s tall body climbed from behind the wheel and turned to face her.

He closed the car door behind him with a restrained click and leaned back against the shiny duco. ‘Did you manage to get any sleep last night?’ he asked without inflection, his eyes running over the curve of her body beneath her towelling robe.

Keira’s hand dropped from the gate to clutch together the opened V of her gown. She wore her short nightshirt beneath her robe and even though it was really quite circumspect as night attire went she felt almost naked beneath his hooded gaze.

‘A little,’ she replied at last, taking a couple of steps toward him before stopping in confusion.

Something warned her to keep a measured distance between herself and that tall masculine body.

Yet of their own accord her eyes wandered lingeringly over him, took in his slightly dishevelled appearance. He’d shed his suit jacket and his tie, and his immaculate white shirt was open at the collar.

Her gaze met his and she swallowed, her heartbeats accelerating wildly. He’d seen her open scrutiny and she flushed disconcertedly, but he refrained from making his usual provocative comment. Instead he raised his hand to massage the back of his neck, as though to ease the tension there.

‘Any chance of a cup of coffee?’ he asked tiredly, and Keira almost laughed at the prosaicness of the question. Yet she paused just slightly before nodding.

Reluctantly she led the way into the house, her pulse jumping about as his footsteps followed her. Up on to the veranda. Along the seemingly mile-long hallway. Into the kitchen.

Roger stirred on the sofa and gave Eden a measuring stare, but whatever he saw must have reassured him because he tucked his nose back between his paws and resumed his snooze.

‘I’ve just put on some coffee,’ she said a little breathily as she walked behind the breakfast bar. ‘Would you like something to eat?’

He shook his head. ‘No, thanks. Coffee will be fine.’ A strand of dark hair had fallen forward on his brow and he irritatedly brushed it back. ‘I thought you’d like to know we’ve averted the threatened strike. I have a few negotiations to work out later this afternoon but we seem to have sorted it all out once and for all.’

‘Yes, I know.’ Keira’s brain was spinning tantalisingly around a number of far more erotic reasons for his presence. ‘Daniel told me.’

‘Daniel!’ he repeated in surprise. ‘Daniel?’ His tone had sharpened, edged with suppressed anger, and alarmed at his tone Keira swung back to face him. Their eyes locked. He’d pushed himself away from the support of the breakfast bar and Keira’s complete nervous system tensed, poised for flight.

‘Yes.’ Keira’s throat dried on the word. ‘Daniel called in just-’ she started to explain but Eden broke in on her and her hand went uneasily to the base of her throat.

‘Daniel was here?’

‘Yes, he-’

‘He was here in the middle of the night?’ he barked at her, and Keira drew herself together as his meaning became abundantly clear.

‘Yes. No!’

‘Either he was or he wasn’t,’ Eden said sarcastically and Keira’s anger rose at his mocking tone.

Recklessly she took the two steps towards him that put her up against the breakfast bar that separated them.

‘If you’d let me finish a sentence I’d explain-’ she began again, holding up her hand when he opened his mouth to interrupt her again. ‘Will you be quiet for just a moment. For heaven’s sake, there’s no need to rehash all that leave-my-nephew-alone rubbish. Believe me, Daniel’s honour was perfectly safe from me. He spent the night with Cat’s family and called in to tell me about the averted strike a few minutes before you arrived.’

Eden’s hooded gaze held hers.

‘In fact you just missed him.’ Keira angrily brushed her hair back from her face. ‘Now-’ she strode around the breakfast bar and turned to look pointedly at Eden and then at the door ‘-I’ve had a late night and I’m too tired for all this.’

He regarded her enigmatically and then gave a soft, bitter laugh. ‘Tired,’ he repeated throatily, and Keira’s gaze snapped back to him in sudden apprehension. ‘That makes two of us. I pretty well came straight here as soon as I could get away from the meeting,’ he added in that same low, inciting tone. ‘But, quite frankly, right now I couldn’t give a damn if the whole country went on strike.’

He took two measured steps towards her and she tensed, but willed herself to hold her ground.

‘And I’m not sure the outcome of the meeting was even the reason why I came. More of an excuse.’ His deep blue eyes burned into hers, fanned that ever-glowing ember of purely physical desire, and Keira gave a negating shake of her head.

‘I… We… You should go, Eden,’ she said through dry lips that trembled in fear, fear of the depth of longing that rose in her to beg him to stay.

He ran one hand along the line of his jaw and his mouth twisted self-derisively. ‘I should do a lot of things.’

His gaze never wavered as he moved forward again, and Keira retreated until her back came up against the wall. She swallowed, but her throat was paralysed and she had to tear her eyes from his in a valiant effort to shield the wanting she knew raged so blatantly in their smoky depths.

One strong hand came up to touch her cheek gently, moved to settle for long, sensuous seconds on the curve of her lips before continuing down to rest lightly on the base of her throat where her pulse raced wildly. And he rested his other elbow on the wall beside her head as his mouth hovered tortuously above her.

The cold timber wall seemed to chill her through the thickness of her nightshirt and robe as he lowered his body until it was a tantalising hair’s breadth from hers.

And her own body was betraying her, every nerve tingling, each muscle tensing, straining to close that minute but measureless chasm between them. That she wanted to yield, to mould herself to him, was a battle she was having to fight with all the willpower she possessed.

She knew she had to repel him and do it quickly because she was rapidly losing the skirmish with each passing second.

‘Let me go!’ she got out through her tensed jaw, but of course he gave no sign he’d heard her words, let alone obeyed her demand.

She made to push her hands against the hard wall of his chest but his strong hands clasped hers, held her arms above her head, leaving her body vulnerable to the still hovering hardness of his.

Keira desperately changed her tactics, turning on him the anger she felt at herself for her own weakness, lifting her chin to confront him. ‘This must give you great satisfaction, knowing you have to overcome a woman with blatant superior strength,’ she said scathingly, and he gave a softly incredulous laugh.

‘About as much satisfaction as knowing that the way I feel about you, what you do to me, takes away my strength to resist you.’

‘Resist me?’ Keira repeated disconcertedly.

‘Resist you. And that’s just it, Keira. I can’t.’

Her mouth was suddenly parched again and she tried desperately to dampen her dry lips with her tongue tip.

His eyes, blue-black coals now in the slightly muted light, focused on the furtive movement, and he groaned deep in his throat. It was a potently primitive sound that struck an untouched chord concealed in hidden recesses way within her and it fanned a reciprocal fire.

Their eyes met, held, as they sank deeply into each other’s souls. And he allowed his hard body to make the yearned-for contact with hers at last.

That charged tension that held them changed too, intensified, until Keira could almost feel the electricity in the air about them. The timbre of his hold on her shifted, their bodies seeming to melt into one as he slowly released her hands, his fingertips burning a trail of fire down her bare arms.

‘You want me as much as I want you, don’t you?’ His deep voice vibrated through every inch of her body. ‘Say it, Keira.’

She began to shake her head and then stopped, knowing without a doubt that the transparent expression in her eyes was betraying her. ‘Yes,’ she heard herself say honestly.