She barely refrained from darting her tongue out to moisten her newly glossed lips courtesy of the quick pit-stop in the Ladies. Which would be a disaster since Jared’s gaze seemed to be focused on them with what looked like impatience. Probably waiting for her to explain why she’d been taking so long with the files.
‘I do love sunsets, don’t you?’ she said into the loaded silence and hefted the documents higher against her chest as a kind of barrier.
‘Yes. Especially when it’s shared with a nice bottle of wine and good company.’ He didn’t so much as glance towards the window.
‘Shall we get started, then?’ No, she wailed silently as soon as she voiced the words. That came out wrong. Particularly since he was still looking at her lips and she was still drooling over that dusky jaw.
He walked towards her and didn’t stop until he was one skinny latte away from her personal space. She didn’t move. Just breathed in the scent of his shirt—a day’s work mingled with man.
His gaze rose from her lips to meet hers and she realised the one thing she hadn’t noticed in her dream was his eyes. That unusual blend of olive and navy. The creases that fanned out from the corners and the long, long eyelashes. How his irises took on the colour of the sunset…or was that gleam she saw there now something else? Speculation? Attraction?
An intimate knowledge of the contents of her diary?
She shivered, caught between desire and dread, but then he reached out, relieved her of the files, thank goodness, because the shiver had spread to her limbs.
If he noticed, he hid it well, suggesting, ‘How about that coffee first before it gets cold?’
Rubbing her fingers over the goose-bumps on her upper arms, she murmured, ‘Good idea.’ The tone in his voice brought everything back to a business level and Sophie forced thoughts of her diary away. ‘I hope you like latte—I asked Mimi and she said she thought you did.’
He nodded. ‘Anything with caffeine will be welcome around now.’
She followed him into his office, pulled up a chair in front of the paperwork, curled her fingers around her mug for something to grip. To avoid any personal questions or to fill the silence in this strange electrified atmosphere that had sprung up in the past few moments, she asked, ‘So…does Melissa have your keen business acumen?’
Jared sat too, drawing his mug close with both hands. ‘If she does, she’s keeping it to herself. At the moment she’s studying design. For her it’s all about colour and taking her inspiration from the environment. She’s very talented, if I do say so myself.’ He smiled. ‘A big brother’s prerogative.’
Was it? she thought darkly. Hers hadn’t thought so. ‘Your parents must be very proud of all their children.’
‘Our parents are dead.’ The dispassionate way he said it sent a chill down her spine.
‘Oh…I…’ She trailed off, sensing that beneath the utter lack of emotion on his face there was sorrow and anger he no doubt didn’t want to share with his temporary employee. ‘I’m sorry,’ she muttered and immediately could have bitten off her tongue for that tired cliché.
He looked at her as if he’d heard that platitude one time too many, then brought the mug to his lips and swallowed. ‘It was a long time ago.’
She should leave it there but she couldn’t. She wanted to know more about this man who’d obviously been more than just a brother to his sisters. And now she knew why. He’d taken on a responsibility few other guys would have been willing to do. ‘Was…it an accident?’
He shook his head, a faraway look in his eyes. ‘Mum died two weeks after Lissa was born. Liss turns eighteen in three weeks.’ Then it was as if a winter wind swept over his gaze. ‘Dad was killed driving under the influence twelve years ago.’ His voice turned brisk and he rose. ‘And if we don’t eat this rice now the aroma’s going to be a distraction.’ His quick glance her way told her they had enough distraction to deal with already. ‘We can share while we get down to business.’
So he’d changed his mind about a sociable coffee break. Sophie knew it was because the conversation had hit an exposed nerve. She opened the nearest file.
They sipped on their lattes and dipped their forks into the fluffy rice mixture while she brought him up to speed. Rather, he drank and ate while she talked. Which was fine because it helped calm her.
He was a courteous listener, focused on the work spread before them and what she was saying. Putting her at ease. He even asked her opinion on a couple of major proposals he was considering.