Harper must have picked up on the unintentional innuendo because she sat back in a hurry. ‘Just trying to help a man in need.’ She was rubbing her palms together, slowly, as if feeling something. Was she sensing his muscles under her hand?
In need? He certainly was. His glass slammed onto the table. Wishful thinking, buddy. He glanced at her face. Or maybe not. Looking around the table, he cringed as he met the steady and amused looks from each and every damned one of their colleagues. ‘Who’s up for a game of darts?’ he asked and stood up abruptly.
The invitation is not extended to you, Harper.
Considering her lack of co-ordination when it came to anything sporty, he doubted she’d want to be throwing a sharp dart anywhere, so everyone was safe. Except him. He needed her to remain on that bench, drinking her wine and pretending he wasn’t here. Then these knuckleheads might get on with their afternoon without stirring things up for Harper or him.
‘I will.’ Jess picked up her beer and followed him inside to the board. ‘You any good at this?’
‘Yeah, a little.’ Champion of the local pub in Invercargill for three years running.
‘Then we’ve got ourselves a game.’ Jess laughed as she picked up the darts and handed him a set.
He’d go easy on her to start. He held a coin ready to toss. ‘Heads or tails?’
Forty minutes later, he shook his head at Jess and said, ‘My shout. You play a mean game.’ She’d beaten his hide, well and truly. He saw Harper heading out from the bathroom. ‘You want another wine?’
‘Please. Outside again?’ Harper asked. ‘It’s a little cooler out there. Though with the after-work crowd arriving it’s getting crowded.’
‘We could go find somewhere quieter,’ he suggested hopefully after giving the order to the barman.
‘Haven’t you been trying to divert everyone’s attention off us this past three-quarters of an hour?’ Harper’s smile twisted his gut.
‘You’re right. Okay, back into the fray.’
‘I’m enjoying this.’ She slipped her arm through his.
Instinctively he squeezed his arm to bring her hand hard against his ribs. Then gulped. ‘Don’t,’ he said quietly.
Jerking her hand free she muttered, ‘Sorry, don’t know what I was thinking.’
‘I think you do, but we are supposed to be acting like colleagues, nothing else.’ Harper had to be the sensible one. He was beyond it.
A group of suits pushed past them, knocking Harper sideways. Catching her around the waist to prevent her falling, he growled, ‘Watch where you’re going, guys,’ and got glared at for his trouble.
‘Says who?’ asked one smart-ass as he gave Cody the once-over and obviously found him wanting, probably because he wasn’t togged up in a white shirt and business suit.
Harper slipped her hand into his and tugged him sideways. ‘Leave them.’ She took a long drink from her glass and placed it back on the counter, took his drink from him and put that beside hers. Then she headed for the main entrance, pulling him along with her.
‘Where might we be going?’
‘Your place or mine?’ Harper grinned, though apprehension did cross her eyes briefly. ‘I’m over pretending we want to be here, playing nice.’
What? ‘Just like that?’ Had he heard right? ‘You’re sure?’
Twisting her head to one side, she eyed him coolly. ‘You have to ask?’
‘Just checking.’ He’d hate to get it wrong. ‘Your apartment. It’s closer.’ Barely, but the sudden tightening making itself felt in his boxers needed dealing with—fast.
The sun blinded him when they staggered outside. A taxi was dropping off more punters and he waved furiously to get the driver’s attention. Bundling Harper inside, he rattled off her address to the driver and sat back against her, draping his arm over her shoulders. What had just happened? One moment they were agreeing they had to be sensible around the others and then, wham, they were in a cab heading for Harper’s apartment. Can you drive this thing any faster, mate? I’m getting a little worked up back here.
Harper laid her head on his shoulder, lifted it almost immediately and turned so she could place her mouth on his. ‘It’s not too late to tell me this is a crazy idea and that we should stop.’
It had been too late hours ago. From the moment he’d leaned in to steal a kiss in Cubicle Four, it’d been all over. They’d always been going to follow through after that. Not that in a million years he’d thought they’d be heading for Harper’s apartment quite this soon.
When the taxi turned into her street, his heart rate shot through the stratosphere. Nearly there. Then the fun could really start.
Suddenly Harper sat up straight and cried out to the driver, ‘Turn around. We need to go somewhere else. Cody, what’s your address?’
Cody felt he’d been punched in the gut. ‘What? Why? We’re here.’ And I can’t wait much longer to tear your clothes off and hold your naked body against mine, and…
‘Suzanne and Steve are in my apartment. We can’t stop here.’
Too late. The taxi was slowing against the kerb right at the end of the path that led to Harper’s open front door where Suzanne was turning to look their way.
Cody began hauling the brakes on his desire. It seemed they weren’t about to get naked together. Not here, anyway.
Harper said, ‘I totally forgot they’d be here. They’re going to an awards dinner in the city and didn’t want to drive home after.’ Her look was imploring. ‘Give the driver your address. Now.’
Cody pulled back from her a little. ‘You can’t drive away without stopping in. Suzanne’s seen us pull up. She’s going to be upset if you don’t at least say hello.’
Harper pulled a face. ‘Talk about throwing cold water on the moment. Please take me to your place.’
The driver was watching them through the rear-view mirror, the grin on his face suggesting he was completely up to date with the situation.
‘Shortly.’ He reached across Harper to open her door. ‘Your sister is looking mighty puzzled at the moment.’
Harper’s face shut down. ‘Why didn’t you just tell the driver where to go? I don’t need to see my sister right now.’ She didn’t move at all.
‘Are you ashamed to be seen with me?’ Because, if she was, he was gone. Right now. To hell with how he felt about her or how much he wanted her.
‘What?’ Stunned didn’t begin to describe
her face. ‘No.’ Then louder. ‘No.’ Then a shout. ‘No. Not at all.’
Relief poured through him. ‘Then what’s this about?’
‘You know what they’re like. They’ll give me grief for days. The phone calls won’t stop. The texts will get cheekier.’
‘From what I’ve seen of your family, you all tease each other mercilessly over absolutely everything. You and I together for a night isn’t something out of the ordinary.’ Yes, it was, for a totally different reason. ‘What I mean is, it’s no different to them teasing you about that pathetic toss of the ball at the wickets last Sunday.’
Harper’s mouth lifted a little from the flat line she’d been holding it in. ‘I guess you’re right.’ Shoving the door wide, she slid out. ‘Be right back.’
‘What are you going to say?’ he called after her. Beyond her, he saw Steve join his wife.
‘I’ve come to get my toothbrush.’
Cody cursed. ‘Keep the meter running,’ he told the driver, grateful that his excitement had backed off enough not to be obvious to everyone. ‘Be right back.’
‘What are you doing?’ Harper asked as he caught up to her.
‘Getting the toothpaste.’ He wasn’t going sit in the car while she talked to her family. That would make him look gutless or rude, and he was neither. Nor was he ashamed of whatever he and Harper were going to get up to tonight.
Harper rewarded him with a grin before acknowledging her family. ‘Hey, guys, thought you’d be downing cocktails at that swanky hotel already.’
‘Obviously.’ Suzanne smirked. ‘Nothing gets underway for another hour, but if you’d like us to get out of your way then I’m sure we can find somewhere to fill in time. Hi, Cody. Good to see you again,’ she purred with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Jeez. Maybe he should’ve stayed in the taxi. ‘Same back to you both.’
Harper slipped between them and headed down the hall, calling over her shoulder, ‘Just grabbing a couple of things.’
Like what? Cody wondered, considering they’d headed this way to get undressed, not dressed up.
‘Not staying for a drink, then?’ Suzanne called after her.