A Physical Affair

Keira had the unnerving feeling he was uncoiling like a lithe snake about to strike. Her nerves gave an apprehensive tremble but she made herself hold her ground.

‘However, don’t despair,’ she continued tersely, the corners of her mouth lifting in a tense, humourless smile. ‘As the saying goes, there are plenty more fish in the sea.’

He gave a faint shake of his head and began to walk past her. But when he paused beside her, his hard body mere millimetres from hers, her breath caught agitatedly in her throat.

Firm fingers took hold of her chin and before she could draw back he had pressed a quick hard kiss on her parted lips.

‘I hate fishing,’ he said evenly as he left her.

And how she wished she could give the next few hours a very wide berth, Keira thought a couple of weeks later as she dressed for the flashy cocktail party that had been organised to launch Natural Life.

A reception-room in one of the city’s most prestigious hotels had been hired for the evening and the entire staff had been looking forward to the occasion for weeks. Not so Keira.

By all accounts everybody would be there. Including Eden Cassidy.

She hadn’t seen her boss since the afternoon in the conference-room when he’d asked her to have dinner with him, although an invitation to a dinner party at his apartment last week had been extended to her. Daniel had informed her twenty or so people from the publishing industry were attending, and she told herself her main reason for declining was to quell any lingering gossip about her relationship with Eden.

Reaching behind her, Keira zipped up her dress, glancing in the mirror critically as she adjusted the thin straps. The wine-red sheath flattered her figure, she knew, and the rich, deep colour accentuated the pale skin of her shoulders. She slipped on the all-but-transparent matching short-sleeved jacket that went with the outfit, and sighed.

Although she knew she felt comfortable about her appearance, she wished for the hundredth time she didn’t have to go. This sort of thing, the public relations exercise to help sell their magazine, wasn’t her scene at all. She was far happier in her office doing what she knew she did well.

Keira clasped on her earrings, small diamond pendants that drew attention to the curve of her neck, and she turned her head slightly to check that her loose chignon was still in place. A few softening wisps curled down from her temples and she patted them absently.

She had applied only the minimum of make-up, a little eye-shadow to her lids and mascara to her fair lashes, and her lipstick complemented the colour of her dress. Just her shoes and she was ready.

She glanced at her dress watch and flicked off the bedroom light. Roxie would be collecting her any moment. As she walked down the hallway the cat wound himself with intricate precision between her feet.

‘I just want you to know, Roger,’ she said, bending down to tickle him under his chin, ‘that the only reason I’m going tonight is to keep you in gourmet cat food.’

The cat made a mrrrr! of disbelief, flicked his tail and then stalked back towards his food bowl, obviously deciding to take advantage of its offering while it was available. Keira was still smiling when Roxie tooted her car horn outside.

An accident on the arterial road delayed Keira and Roxie, so the party was in full swing by the time the two women arrived at the prestigious hotel.

As a waiter passed, Roxie grabbed two glasses of wine from his tray, handing one to Keira.

‘Cheers. Here’s to an evening of perfect and widespread publicity,’ she said as she raised her glass, and Keira made a face.

‘And may the evening pass swiftly,’ she muttered with feeling.

‘Just relax and enjoy,’ Roxie admonished, and then turned slightly. ‘Oh ho. Here comes Dingbat Di. Sorry to desert you, Keira, but I feel a sudden urge to mingle elsewhere. See you, and good luck.’ With that Roxie vanished into the crowd.

‘Hello, Keira.’ Dianna Forester’s eyes skimmed Keira’s dark red dress but her expression gave nothing away. ‘An impressive turn-out.’

‘Yes.’ Keira sipped her wine. ‘The public relations people have done a great job.’

‘So it would seem. Anybody who’s anybody is here.’ Dianna paused. ‘Including Eden Cassidy himself.’

At the mention of his name Keira felt warm colour flood her face and she cringed inwardly in dismay as the other girl’s dark eyes narrowed. ‘I think Daniel did say that his uncle might come along,’ she put in quickly, suspecting she was betraying herself with every passing second.

‘Eden Cassidy in himself is always newsworthy and the place is alive with any reporter who’s anybody,’ Dianna remarked. ‘It certainly won’t hurt to have his clout behind the magazine launch.’

‘No. I suppose it won’t.’ Keira swallowed another mouthful of her wine, her dry mouth not tasting the liquid.

‘It was Eden’s idea to recommence publication of Natural Life, wasn’t it?’ Dianna asked and Keira nodded.

‘I think it was.’

‘Strange that a man in his position should become involved in what can only be described as a very small pebble in his media conglomerate.’

‘I wouldn’t say so, Dianna. Eden Cassidy gives me the impression that he’s very well informed about every last section of his business. I’d imagine a man in his position would have to be.’

‘Perhaps.’ Dianna pursed her lips. ‘Yet in all the years I’ve worked on Chloe I only ever saw him at general meetings. And even then he rarely singled out any one particular publication.’

Keira shrugged, searching the crowd valiantly for an excuse to escape a conversation that was getting far too uncomfortable for her.

‘Something must have piqued his interest,’ Dianna continued. ‘Or someone,’ she added with apparently deliberate balefulness.

Keira’s eyes snapped to meet the other woman’s and she drew herself up to her full height. ‘What exactly do you mean, Dianna?’ she asked just as quietly.

‘Why, nothing. We all think it’s wonderful that the big chief is taking such a personal interest in Natural Life.’

‘I’d hardly call it a personal interest,’ Keira began and Dianna laughed softly.

‘Don’t be so defensive, Keira. Just take advantage of it while you can. Opportunity only knocks once in a long while and you’d be a fool not to grab it when it’s available.’

‘Look, Dianna. If you or anyone else think there was anything unprofessional about my appointment as editor of Natural Life, then let me assure you you couldn’t be more wrong.’

Dianna’s eyes moved slightly, her focus shifting, and her thin lips moved upwards in a welcoming smile. ‘Eden. Nice to see you. Another successful launch, it would seem,’ she effervesced easily.

Keira’s entire body stiffened as she sensed Eden Cassidy’s presence behind her. Her whole nervous system jumped to attention and her fingers tightened on her wine glass until she feared it would snap under the strain.

Then to her horror his hand clasped her arm, his fingers encircling her bare flesh, burning where they touched her. Tingles of fire raced up her arm, engulfed her, and it took her all her power to prevent herself from flinching away from him. He manoeuvred himself through the throng of people around them and only when he stood facing them both did he release Keira from his searing hold.

‘Keira.’ His deep vibrant voice tantalised her already aroused nerve-endings as he acknowledged her with a faint inclination of his dark head.

‘Good evening, Mr Cassidy,’ she managed to get out, and Dianna’s gaze shifted with swift speculation from one to the other.

Eden’s sensuous lips twitched wryly and his slightly narrowed eyes conveyed that he recognised the formality of her greeting. ‘Can I get you both another glass of wine?’ he asked, but before either Keira or Dianna could reply Daniel broke out of the crowd and slapped his uncle good-naturedly on the back.

‘What a crush,’ he said and then turned to the other woman. ‘Glad I found you, Dianna. Denver Clarkson’s been looking for you. Something about some prospective advertisers for Chloe, I think.’

Dianna excused herself with obvious reluctance and left them.