Perfect Stranger (6 page)

Finally, the conference was over, and I could escape to my room. It was damned hard work, concentrating on the presentations and keynote speakers, with Kate dominating my thoughts.

Most of the delegates and my staff were heading home, but I’d planned to stay an extra night. I’d lined up a couple of meetings in Bristol the following day. It was only a few hours from Exeter, easily done on my journey back to London.

What time was Kate likely to be finished for the day? I didn’t know what she did for a living or where she’d be. She hadn’t turned down my dinner invitation, so I guessed she must be staying another night at least. My stride faltered. I wasn’t sure which room she was in. We hadn’t exchanged phone numbers, but I could ask Reception to connect me to her room.

I glanced at my watch as I closed the bedroom door behind me. Nearly six. I’d try calling her now.

Or not. Reception informed me there was no Kate Archer staying in the hotel. I pushed. My company
did
host the current conference, and I didn’t want to break any privacy laws; I just wanted to know if she’d checked out or left a message for me.

Yes
to checking out, and
no
to the message.

Fuck. She was gone.

I hung up and stared out of the window at the bright evening. My emotions were a jumbled mess. Why did she leave without saying anything? Had some emergency cropped up? Something that necessitated a departure so rapid, she didn’t have time to leave a two-line note?
Thanks for the fuck. See you around.

Maybe I’d read her wrong.

It made no sense. We scorched the sheets last night with off-the-charts sex, and I’d swear she enjoyed it every bit as much as I did.

The evening ahead now felt bleak and empty. I sank onto the sofa and absently reached down to unfasten my shoes.

The business card was almost out of sight; I could have easily missed it, where it lay on the floor.

I stared at the small white card puzzled, and then smiled when I realized its significance.

Kate Archer, Operations Manager, ComCo
,

I knew it would annoy Rob, but when Kate sent me a text to say she’d split with Tony, I had to go see her. She’d been in my corner through my dramas—or at least, the ones I told her about. Some were too shameful to voice. The episode with Cade was one. I’d skimmed over that and pretended I didn’t know all the details, but I made sure I painted Rob in a good light. He was my husband. I’d publicly vowed to love and honor him, and that was important to me.

One day we’d be able to afford two cars, but for now I had to borrow Rob’s, after promising to cook dinner as soon as I got home from Kate’s.

I gave Kate a huge, tight hug. She looked pale and tired, but not as though she’d been crying. I wasn’t really surprised they split up. They never seemed close or affectionate, not like Isobel and Greg, or the way Rob was with me.

We settled down with mugs of tea, and she told me what happened. “He’s got a new girlfriend already, Jen. There has to be an overlap.” She hesitated. “I hate the idea he was cheating on me and I was too dumb to notice.”

Kate was the smartest person I knew. “Don’t call yourself dumb. If he was cheating, then he’s a prick who doesn’t deserve your attention, and it’s his loss.”

“He said some other stuff too. That I was going through the motions. Who says that? Do you think he was trying to justify his decision?”

It was my turn to hesitate. “How were things between you? I mean, were you happy?”

Her brown eyes focused on mine. “I was happy enough. He didn’t set the world on fire, but we got along fine.”

And there, I felt, was the problem. “Maybe you need someone who will do that. Someone who’s more than
fine
.”

“I know you’re blissfully happy with Rob, but not everyone is so lucky.”

“I
am
lucky with Rob, but I had to kiss a
lot
of frogs before I found my prince.” I watched her lips twitch, as though she fought back a smile. “Let’s start lining up some frogs for you. See if one of them turns into a six-foot hunk.”

Kate’s cheeks colored, and she ducked her head. “Yeah… about that…”

Huh? “My spidey senses are tingling over here. What haven’t you told me?”

“I met someone; that’s all. We had dinner and a teeny bit too much to drink.” She put down her mug and told me everything. How she met—and slept with—a guy, and then fled for home. The story poured out of her. To say I was surprised was a giant freakin’ understatement. I gaped at her, and she covered her pink cheeks.

“Wow. I didn’t expect
that
. Frog or prince?” I said.

“Prince. Definitely prince.” She nodded, to underline her words, her face ablaze.

“Are you seeing him again? Please say you are.”

“No. And he was lovely. I’m kicking myself now.”

“Aww, Kate. Why don’t you check him out online? See if you can find his contact details?”

She pulled a face. “I don’t remember his surname. I think I’m going to have to chalk this up to experience and move forward.” She held up a hand, to forestall my interruption. “No. I’m not going to go crazy stalker on him. It was what it was. So tell me, what’s going on in your world? Things good with Rob?”

“Of course. I love being married.” I was telling the truth about that, even if I ducked the question about Rob. After months of telling Isobel and Kate how fantastic he was, I had a position to maintain. My pride wouldn’t let me admit anything else.

“Your parents happier now?”

“Dad’s still being difficult.” I found a smile. “He’s cut me out of his will. It’s not as though he’d be leaving me a fortune otherwise, but he wanted to make a point.”

She gazed at me for a long moment. “That’s harsh. I like your dad, and I always thought he doted on you. This looks like more of an issue than just Rob working for the opposition.”

My dad owned and ran a big construction firm in South Manchester, and I knew Rob had hopes of working for him, but it hadn’t happened yet. Now Rob was a Site Project Manager for a much smaller firm, and he grumbled about it constantly. I was used to his niggling discontent and paid it little attention.

I waved one hand. “It’s a storm in a teacup. Give him a few months to come around, and I’m sure we’ll sort it out.”

“I bet your mum doesn’t like it either.”

“I’m sure she doesn’t. But what can I do?”

“Talk to them. Do you visit with Rob or on your own?”

“I—umm—don’t go round much.”

Kate’s eyebrows tugged together. “Not even Sunday Brunch?”

That was the problem with having friends who really knew you. Kate, Isobel, and I hung out together for several years, since we all started working for the same company, and they knew about my mum’s get-togethers. They’d come to her lazy Sunday Brunch with me many times.

Could I tell Kate the truth? That I hadn’t seen my parents since the wedding? That Dad told me he didn’t want to see me while I was with Rob, and Mum backed him up? They couldn’t explain why they disliked my husband so much, but it made things miserable for me.

They forced me to make a choice. And I had to live with it.

I gazed at the pile of reports awaiting my attention. It’d been hectic in the office, and I was still catching up on the trip to Exeter. At least now everyone had gone home, I’d be able to plough through the most unforgiving of the documents without being disturbed.

A noise at the door snagged my attention. It was Adam.

“Still hard at it, Kate? We may need to review your workload.”

I managed a crooked smile and gestured to the pile of account printouts on the desk. “Just got a few things to sort out. See you tomorrow, Adam.”

Instead of leaving, he came into the office and perched on the edge of my desk.

I was instantly wary. “Was there something you wanted?”

“Yes. I’d like to talk to you about some changes we’re making around here. It’s getting late, though. Why don’t we go to the pub and discuss it there?”

This wasn’t the norm. Adam liked doing his wheeling and dealing off-site, but not with me. I’d also have to come in extra early tomorrow, to clear the backlog. I suppressed a sigh. “Okay.” I packed up my laptop and locked away some of the paperwork mountain. “Where are we going? I’ll meet you there.”

He looked surprised. Had he expected to give me a lift? Or not expected me to agree so readily? “The Quay House.”

Adam was in his thirties, tall and blond, good looking in a superficial way, and well known to be a womanizer. I couldn’t help comparing Adam to Jordan, the same way I found myself doing with every man I knew. No one matched up to Jordan.

He was popular with both the Sales Department and my team. The guys thought he was cool, and the girls found him charming. Not me. He pinged something on my
danger
radar. I felt the need to watch my back.

Adam waited for me inside the pub and guided me to a quiet table on the balcony outside. In summer, the Quay House was popular. It overlooked the quays, and boats of all sizes could be seen on the water. He had a glass of white wine spritzer waiting for me. He knew what I drank? When did that happen?

Tonight, it wasn’t my first choice. “Actually, I’d prefer a diet cola. I’m driving.”

“No problem.” He disappeared inside, while I waited, curious to know what he wanted to talk about.

When he returned, he sat uncomfortably close, his thigh pressed against mine. I sidled away, but as I sat in the corner, I couldn’t move far. I compressed my knees together and gave him a chilly smile. “Well?” Adam didn’t move, and I cursed my choice of seat. I was stuck.

He was brisk and businesslike, as he outlined his plans to create a new Customer Services Department, and then he suggested I’d be ideal for Manager. His leg moved into my space again. I worked hard to resist the impulse to push it away. Making a fuss about my boss being overly friendly wouldn’t go down well. We had to work together, and if it meant I tolerated things like this, I’d grit my teeth and get on with it.

Then he moved even closer. “Of course,” he murmured, “we have to be sure we select the most
suitable
candidate.”

I sighed inwardly. I knew what was coming next. “And how will you decide?”

“Let’s just say”—his gaze glued to my chest—”they’d have to be capable of sustaining a close relationship with me.”

Single or not, he was the last person I wanted to get involved with. My thoughts raced, and I pretended to think about his offer. “I’m not interested in that role.”

“You do surprise me.” His smile was shark like, and I longed to wipe it off his face. Preferably with a blunt object. “You always struck me as being career minded, Kate. Guess I was wrong.”

My heart thudded, and my temperature rose. How
dare
he diminish the work I’d done? I had to tread carefully. “I set up the Call Center, and already the team is performing above expectations. We’ve increased sales across a number of key customers, as you well know.”

At last, he leaned back in his seat and opened a gap I might be able to squeeze through. I longed to tell him to shove his new department up his ass, but I was under no illusions. Not only would it make life very awkward at work, it would be difficult to move elsewhere. Adam knew a lot of people in the industry, and his thoughts carried weight

Like it or not, I had to remain polite.

I glanced at my watch, and then stood and picked up my bag. “Thanks for the drink, Adam.” I inched past him, making sure to avoid brushing against his legs.

I expected him to move, but he didn’t. His smile broadened, and my heart sank. What now?

“Come on, Kate. You must be lonely at home, now that Lover Boy has left.”

“Who told you that?” I said nothing at work about Tony leaving.

Adam smirked. “He’s shacked up with Gillian Banks. It’s the talk of the office.”

Was he telling the truth? How did I miss that? I felt sick. Gillian had been one of the Sales staff, and she left a few weeks ago. I organized the collection for her going-away present. There was a distinctly unpleasant taste in my mouth. I tried to hold onto my temper. “That’s none of your business.”

Adam leaned forward and closed one hand over mine. “So let’s talk a little more about my offer.”

Hell would freeze over first. I yanked my hand free, and in a burst of fury, swept my abandoned drink off the table and into his lap. Ice cubes chinked and clattered like dice on the tabletop, and cola splattered over his shirt and trousers. “Oops.”

“Bitch,” he snarled, his eyes flashing fire.

I fled while he grabbed the paper napkins.

As I sat in the car, I sank my head into my hands. This was not the most sensible thing to do. Adam wouldn’t like being made a laughing stock.

He’d make me pay for it.