Runaway Groom (9 page)

Margie gave April a thumbs-up. “I’ll do the same for you.” She gestured ahead. “Aha, here comes the first screen.”

April slowed her pace, allowing Margie to edge further ahead. The screen was filled with a graphic that changed to live feed from the cameras. Two of Margie’s friends jumped up and down, waving banners. Seeing them, Margie laughed out loud.

The boost she’d received was evident. Margie’s posture changed, as though her body had become lighter and she picked up the pace and ran faster, talking into the recorder hanging around her neck as she did so.

As April approached, the image on screen shifted with a message for her. A stranger, who must be Susan, waved at the camera, and held out a sign proclaiming “You can do it.”

The response on April wasn’t quite as profound. After all she didn’t have friends or family supporting her, but still the encouragement on Susan’s face triggered a burst of enthusiasm for the task ahead. Instead of thinking about the whole circuit, she should focus on reaching the next sign. She’d worry about the next one when she got there. Four signs and she’d be finished. The on-screen Susan gave her a thumbs-up, and in response April kept going, lengthening her stride to catch up with Margie.

April fiddled with the device around her neck and carefully recorded her feelings as she ran.

Where’s Matthew?
April glanced across the track to see him speeding past the final screen. By the time she reached the next one, he’d be finished. She pounded the asphalt automatically. The burn in her legs had ceased to be so painful as her body became accustomed to the steady rhythm, and she concentrated on breathing in and out through her mouth. This wasn’t so bad.

She drew level with Margie. “How are you doing?”

Margie’s face was flushed, but she was not in any difficulty. “Not too bad. We’re not last, anyway.”

Sure enough, there were about ten people behind them. Some were red-faced and puffing. Others were walking.

As they approached the next screen, there was a loud shout from across the track. Matthew had his arms in the air, and a moment later, Jason followed.

“The boss always wins,” Margie said. “Jason has been training hard all week. He was determined to pass him today.”

“So there’s a lot of rivalry in the office.”

“There is between Matthew and Jason, they’re both alpha to the max. Jason’s always trying to beat him in something. We have a table-tennis tournament in the summer. Matthew is the unbeaten champion too.”

The image of Margie’s friends onscreen had showed them waving ten pound notes in the air and squealing.  “Lots of people bet on Jason today, but we all bet on Matthew. We knew he hadn’t been training as hard because he’d been out at a lot of meetings and working till late, but I knew he’d nail it.”

Her gaze was full of questions. “He hadn’t been training in the evenings secretly, has he?”

“No. He hasn’t been out running since last week.” The moment the words left April’s mouth she wished she could catch them back. She only knew Matthew’s movements because they were sharing a house. Margie would get the wrong idea...

“Have you known Matthew long?”

“For years,” she confirmed. “We just caught up again a few weeks ago. I’ve been staying with him.”

“So do you normally live in London?” Margie smiled. “I hope I’m not being too nosy.”

April shook her head. Talking was keeping her focused, and the time was flying. They were nearly at the third screen. “There was a fire in the coffee shop under my apartment. Matthew offered me somewhere to stay.”

It was evident from the look of disappointment on Margie’s face that April’s words had shattered some dream she was having about her hard-working boss having a hot affair.

“He’s great. When Susan’s husband left her last year she fell to pieces,” she confided. “She sent out the wrong paperwork and almost scuppered a big contract. Luckily Matthew managed to put things right. She told me he refused point blank to accept her resignation and bought tickets for her and the kids to go to New Zealand to visit her family for a couple of weeks. He always comes through in a crisis.”

Yet when June had needed him, he ran. The disconnect was jarring.

This time April approached the screen first.

Susan waved, gave the thumbs-up, but this time the banner was in Matthew’s hands. He’d turned it over and scrawled, “Go, April, go!” on it. He was grinning like a fool.

“You’re doing great,” she read on his lips.

There was something strangely intimate about the message he mouthed just for her. The look in his eyes was one of pride. As if he knew just how unprepared she’d been for this challenge, and admired her for giving it her all. She talked into the recorder, her pace increasing to match the on-screen Albios-clad feet.

Matthew cheered as she crossed the finish line, and handed her a bottle of water. His arm came around her shoulders, and his mouth brushed hers in a quick kiss.

She wouldn’t have thought her heart could beat any faster, but it did.

*****

Where is she?
They had to leave in an hour, and April hadn’t come back from her shopping trip yet. Matthew dressed in a grey suit and stalked into the sitting room. The house was so quiet without her. Even though she spent a lot of time locked away in the room upstairs, he’d become accustomed to the constant hum of the sewing machine. He glanced at the coffee table. The stack of newspapers he kept under there was gone. no doubt tidied up in her recent cleaning. He checked in the cupboard, then went upstairs to see if she’d stacked them in his room, agitation rising.

He should have cut the advertisements out of them, but there had always been something more important to do. And at a pinch, he could order copies of the photographs of his advertising campaigns, but the thought she’d thrown them away without asking made him grind his teeth.

There was the sound of a key turning in the lock in the front door.

April stood on the doorstep, clutching a handful of bags.

“Where did you put my newspapers?”

Her smile disappeared. “What are you talking about?”

“The newspapers on the shelf under the coffee table, where are they?”

“I put them out for recycling.”

Matthew swore and stalking into the kitchen, lifting the top of the paper recycling bin. Recycling day was tomorrow. The papers were there. With a sigh of relief he pulled them out. “I need these. They have my ads in.”

She glared. “I didn’t know.”

“If you don’t know something, just ask.”

“Fine.” Her tone conveyed loudly that she didn’t think it was fine at all. She was definitely pissed off. “I’m going to get ready.”

“We have to leave soon.”

She shot a glare his direction. “Like we had to leave soon earlier?”

With a toss of her long brown hair, she left the room.

Loud music blared from her room as she got ready. Fine, she was in a mood. He got it. Matthew gritted his teeth. He was totally within his rights to tell her off.

Half an hour later, he was pacing the room. This evening was important. Important to his business. And work trumped a little hurt feelings every time. His hands were clenched into fists so he deliberately stretched out his fingers.

When she’d crossed the finish line he couldn’t resist kissing her. A certain amount of it had been down to the lustful looks Jason had been firing her direction. The office Lothario had every woman in the place chasing him around, but his eyes had shot straight to April like a heat-seeking missile the moment she’d climbed out the car. Never before had Matthew felt the need to brand a girlfriend as his...

Girlfriend? His?
Matthew stopped dead and stared at the curtains. Where the hell had that come from? He was helping April out, not dating her.

The whole idea was crazy.

“Are you ready to go?”

He turned to the doorway.

April’s dress was more deep-burgundy than red, and reached just above her knee. Long ruby earrings swung from her lobes, brushing her shoulders. High heels showed off acres of leg.

He swallowed. “You look great.”

“Thanks.” No smile. She slipped on the black velvet coat she was carrying and opened the front door.

He brushed past her and closed it. “Are you sulking?”

April crossed her arms. “I don’t appreciate your attitude.” The glare she fired at him would melt steel. “I worked very hard cleaning up your house. Sure, I made a mistake, but it was an easy one to make. If you talked to the housekeeper you were going to hire like that, she’d quit.”

“You’re overreacting.”

“No. I’m not. You treat your other employees with courtesy, why not me?”

“Just because I’m paying you doesn’t make you my employee.”

“Yes, it does.”

“No, dammit, it doesn’t.”

She was a lot more. She was someone who shared his home, someone he couldn’t resist the urge to kiss any longer. He stepped close, slipped an arm around her waist.

Her mouth opened on a shocked gasp.

“You’re a hell of a lot more than an employee.”

Her hands pressed against his chest. “Matthew...”

The moment he kissed her, everything changed. This was no casual brush of the lips like earlier out at the finish line. Her lips parted under his. Her hands snaked up to the back of his neck, fingers tangling in his hair as their mouths fused.

Through a haze of sensation Matthew was dimly aware they should be going, should be driving to the dinner. But making things right with April was a lot more important. Nothing was more vital than showing her how he felt, making sure she understood. When he finally pulled away they were both breathing hard.

“You are the most irritating man on the entire planet,” she whispered. “I don’t know what you’re doing kissing me.” She frowned, but her eyes blazed with arousal.

“I’m taking what I want. What we both want.” He touched her cheek. “Tell me you don’t want this too.”

She bit her bottom lip. “Wanting something doesn’t mean we can have it.” Her eyes clouded. “There are reasons we shouldn’t let this go any further. You and I are far from a match made in heaven.”

She was right. Sooner or later they’d have to talk about his past, the past so inexorably linked to hers.

“You and June…”

Once again June was messing with his life. “It was a lifetime ago.” The urge to confess the truth was strong. If April understood more about what had actually happened between them, the last barrier to a relationship would dissolve. But in the process, he’d destroy the blind faith she had in her sister’s goodness. It was a step he wasn’t prepared to take. “You and I are the only ones here. June is history. I’m not saying we’re destined to end up together, but this attraction is heading only one place, to my bed.” He brushed his thumb against her full bottom lip. “Tell me you want it too.”

Her eyes darkened. “You know I do.”

He leaned in close again. Breathed over her lips, “Let it happen.”

Chapter Eight

The evening was multi-layered. On the surface, they greeted Angela, Mel, and Belinda at the restaurant and discussed business. Beneath, undercurrents swirled. With every glance Matthew’s direction, April’s heartbeat accelerated. The banked heat in his gaze showed he was thinking the same things she was. When the evening’s work was done, there was nothing standing between them any longer.

Every casual touch was a prelude to what was to come.

Soulful jazz played in the background. The restaurant Matthew had chosen was perfect. Small tables covered in crisp white linen tablecloths and sparkling silverware were set within the recesses of an old wine cellar, and the clever lighting made each table its own little world. The serving staff was quick and efficient, and before long, everyone was served with their meal.

“I know you must be wondering if we’ve come to a decision yet, so I’m delighted to tell you we have.” Angela smiled. “Your company has won the contract, Matthew.”

Matthew’s wide grin lit up his face. “Well that calls for champagne.” He called the waiter over and ordered a bottle of Veuve Clicquot. “I’m delighted.”

Even though Matthew’s success was nothing whatsoever to do with her, April shared in his satisfaction. His employees had worked so hard, and she knew how much this contract meant to him.

The waiter arrived at the table and poured the effervescent liquid into shallow champagne glasses.

“I’d like to make a toast.” Matthew raised his glass. “To a successful campaign.”

They all drank.

“Seeing the system in action was the clincher,” Angela confessed. She raised her glass to April. “Especially seeing you, April.”

Mel nodded. “We’d run through the simulation, but when we saw the effect the messages had on you, it really rammed home the effectiveness of the advertising.”

Confusion fogged April’s mind. “I don’t understand.”

“You’re the average runner.” Angela’s smile was tinged with apology. “I hope you don’t mind me saying that. Matthew is obviously a very dedicated runner, but you are the perfect demographic for the women’s mini-marathon which will be the first outing for the system. The average runner in that race is one who jogs occasionally. Who feels confident enough about their abilities to attempt a mini-marathon, but might balk at a full one.”

“Sounds like me.” It was tempting to confess she thought she might not make it at all.

“When you approached the screens, seeing supporters cheering you on had a profound effect.”

April remembered how Margie had seemed to stand up straighter and run faster with her friends cheering her on. When she’d seen Matthew she’d experienced a burst of energy and renewed zeal for the finish. “It invigorated me.”

“Yes. We saw many instances of runners picking up speed and really enjoying the messages. When we analyzed the feedback from the voice recorders and correlated the time differences between screens…I’m getting bogged down in the details, forgive me.” She underscored her words with a wave of her hand. “Essentially we could see the system worked. The way the campaign was designed had a tangible, positive effect on the runners.”

Matthew’s
Go April Go!
Sign had warmed her heart and kept her legs pumping, but the sight of him waiting for her at the finish-line had been like coming home. When he’d kissed her it felt right. Totally right. She’d never been in the grip of such a strong sexual attraction. Marie and Eliza were always encouraging her to take a chance, to stop over-analyzing everything and get swept away.