Wedding-Night Baby by Kim Lawrence

over her, moving upwards from her neatly crossed ankles to her smooth, gleaming head. ‘Now...please.’ The latter was added as a definite afterthought. He strode from the room without a backward glance, taking her compliance as read.
    She got to her feet with as much dignity as possible. The animosity around the table had been difficult enough to cope with without her very special problems in dealing with Callum Stewart. Simon May also rose and effectively blocked her way.
    â€˜It didn’t take you long to slip between his sheets, did it, sweetheart?’ he sneered. ‘Still, I doubt if you’ll find it quite so easy to lead him by the nose as the old man.’
    â€˜You really are a bad loser, Simon.’ She injected a shade of amusement into her voice and pitched it loud enough to be heard throughout the room. ‘Just because you’re prepared
to sell your soul for promotion you assume everyone else is for sale too. Shame all that boot-licking went to waste.’
    Several faces watched Simon with no sign of sympathy. His aspirations were no secret and his style had won him few friends amongst his peers. Being passed over for the top job was bad enough, but Callum’s attitude had made it pretty clear to everyone present that he hadn’t even been in the running.
    â€˜Bitch,’ he muttered as she swept past.
    She went to the washroom to rinse her face with cold water before presenting herself. It took her a few minutes to do some lightning repairs to her make-up. Mary’s eyes were fixed on the door as she entered the outer office and Georgina knew the woman had been waiting for her arrival.
    â€˜He’s waiting for you,’ she said, indicating the ajar door.
    â€˜I’m quivering with anticipation,’ Georgina snapped, and immediately felt guilty at the tone she’d used with her friend. But before she could apologise another voice distracted her.
    â€˜That’s gratifying to hear.’ The door swung wider on its hinges to reveal Callum.
    â€˜Eavesdropping is a disgusting habit,’ she observed as she went into his office, and almost giggled as she heard Mary’s audible hiss of dismay. I’m already sacked; at least, I would be if I hadn’t resigned first, she mentally corrected herself. He can’t do much worse, she decided without too much confidence.
    â€˜Do have a seat.’
    â€˜I prefer to stand.’
    â€˜You handled yourself rather well back there.’
    This unexpected endorsement made her blink. That surprised you,’ she observed drily. Because I’m an incompetent who earns her salary by flattering old men and
worse, she thought bitterly. She ignored her initial gratification at his words and concentrated grimly on her anger.
    â€˜As does the fact you’ve been crying.’ He spoke as if he was angry that she’d displayed this feminine weakness. ‘What did Simon say after I’d gone?’ He moved with fascinating animal grace to the other side of the room. Just watching him made the muscles deep in her belly spasmodically tighten. Her throat felt constricted as he turned from her and looked out across the city.
    â€˜I haven’t been crying,’ she responded swiftly—too swiftly, she realised, biting her lip.
    He turned his head slightly, his expression reflecting his impatient disbelief. ‘Is there something personal between you two?’ he asked bluntly.
    She gave an instinctive grimace of fastidious distaste. ‘Certainly not,’ she retorted crisply. ‘Not that it’d be anything to do with you if there were,’ she added as an afterthought.
    â€˜Why the look of outrage?’ he asked, moving away from the window. He thrust his hands deep into the pockets of his trousers and watched her with a brooding expression that made her wonder just what thoughts were forming behind those brilliantly blue eyes. ‘After all, you do have a peculiarly strong