Somewhere in Sevenoakes (16 page)

Maddy caught the kiss Helen blew her, before she stepped out silently. A weight had been lifted from Maddy's shoulders. For no particular reason, other than the fact she wanted to, Maddy left work early to go home to her cats.

At 10pm the doorbell to Maddy's studio flat rang. She jumped up, surprised and a little frightened. Alert, she put her eye to the peep-hole to see James standing at her door in a dishevelled suit. Unlocking the chains and deadbolt, she opened the door.

James crashed through. Maddy was unimpressed with the smell of liquor on his breath.

”I thought you'd call,” he said, kissing her cheek before staggering to the sofa.

”I did, but it was difficult given you didn't give me your whole phone number.”

”I thought I had,” he mumbled sleepily.

”Do you want black coffee or water?”

”Have you got a drink?”

”I think you've had more than enough James.”

”Okay,” he said good-naturedly, “water would be swell.”

Maddy laughed at his turn of phrase. She wanted to be angry with him, hate him, but in his drunken stupor he looked defenceless; as if he needed looking after. Getting them each a glass of water, she perched next to him on the couch.

”You're beautiful, Maddy. I want to kiss you properly but I think I've messed up big time.”

She wanted to harden her heart, but the deep drawl and bedroom eyes softened her mood.

”James, what happened?”

”The call I got on Friday was from the big boss.”

”I thought you were the big boss, James Nowe of SGR Nowe International.”

”I'm not the big boss. I'm a pleb. A cog in the wheel of  SGR Nowe International. I had to put myself through law school. I interned during summers there, but Dad started me at the bottom and I'm working my way up. Girls like you hear my surname and think I'm some rich boy who's had everything handed to him on a plate.”

Maddy felt guilty, given her earlier discussion with Helen.

”One of the partners called; not my father. I had to go to China because a merger we'd arranged was falling apart. Now if I played on the fact that my Dad's a founding partner of the company, I would've stayed here to spend the weekend with you, but I'm my own man. I pride myself on not only being a good lawyer, but a decent one. I like to take care of my clients. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't refuse on account of my personal life. I thought you'd understand. I kept waiting for your call, so I could let you know what was going on, but you never rang.”

”James, I didn't have your number. I swear.”

”But I wrote it down,” his voice sounded like a little boy lost.

Maddy passed him the carefully folded torn paper from his notebook, she'd carried around with her all week.

”I forgot two numbers,” he said sadly.

”I know,” said Maddy caringly.

”I spent all that time in Beijing thinking you didn't want to be with me. I behaved like a jerk over your ex. I thought you'd had enough of my moods and stuff. I wouldn't have blamed you. Work's been weird, especially with this whole thing about you.”

Maddy couldn't quite make the connection between herself and James' work but suspected having a girlfriend or attempting to start a relationship had seriously infringed on his required hours at work.

”I understand you had to go. I get it was a misunderstanding about the phone number.”

”I'm glad you understand about work. Work gets in the way of relationships sometimes, but we mustn't let it get in the way of ours.”

Maddy wanted to scold him for the assumption they still had a relationship, but she was far too thrilled  he felt the same as she after such a short span of time, that she didn't contradict him.

”Work gets in the way of plans sometimes. I get that. Don't worry,” reassured Maddy.

”You forgive me then? You understand the clash between you and my clients? I had to do what was right for the client. Personal feelings can't be involved in business. You get that?”

To Maddy, James' words were becoming nonsensical and incoherent. He'd clearly had too much to drink. That he'd chosen to return to her, be with her was rewarding. Alcohol was often known as a truth drug, if there'd been no genuine feeling from his side, he wouldn't have landed on her doorstep.

”I get it. Let's get you into bed.”

”I'd have come a lot earlier if I'd known you were going to get me in the sack,” he said, sounding brighter.

Maddy felt anger surge through her.

”James, please don't tell me this is a booty call.”

”Booty call?” his heavy lids, were straining to open.

”Friends with benefits?”

”I don't understand,” he said.

”Did you come here so you could have sex with me?”

His blue eyes blinked open.

”No. I came here because I wanted to be with you. I wanted to see you. I've wanted to see you all week. I was scared to come because you'd be angry about China and the work thing. If I'd known things were okay between us, I would've come earlier to make up and spend time with you.”

She hated her cynicism. He was drunk, but he wasn't a liar. She knew that from the hurt look on his face and uninhibited description of his feelings.

”Things are okay with us, right?” he asked.

”Yeah of course, James. Come to sleep now.”

Placing him onto the bed, Maddy held James as he slept.

James' head was pounding when he woke. He was fully clothed on Maddy's bed. She'd thrown a blanket over him, but had managed to get herself under the covers. Happily he watched her sleep. As his mind became blank he tried to piece together his conversation with her. Realising he had no recollection of exactly what was said, paranoia set in. The acquisition of Maddy's company had played heavily on his mind. Work in Beijing was fraught, but returning to the finalisation of the acquisition had been especially difficult for him to cope with. The conflicting emotions were strenuous and James wasn't happy at his response to them.

He stroked Maddy's cheek, until her eyelids fluttered opened.

”Hey gorgeous.”

”Can't believe you're here,” she said warmly.

”Can't believe you let me in here,” he replied bashfully.

”You had loads to drink last night.”

”I'd been drinking since lunch,” he confessed. ”I was supposed to be recovering from jet lag but duty calls.”

”I was on duty last night, trying to get you into bed.”

”Did I say anything stupid?” he asked, expecting the worst.

”No, only about feeling bad about the Beijing trip clashing with our weekend really. Do you remember anything I told you?” she asked cautiously.

”I was in such a rush on Friday I didn't write down the whole phone number.”

”That's right.”

Maddy wondered if he'd remember her mentioning his company's name and her accurate association between him and the partners of the firm.

”Did I miss anything out?” his early morning smile was sexier than she recalled.

”I may have done a little investigative work while you were away.”

”What do you mean?”

”I was trying to get your phone number to see what had happened, given your car wasn't in the station car park.

”You went to Sevenoaks to check the car park for my car?”

”Both car parks.”

”What, the massive one on Moreland Close?”

”Yes.”

”I park in the smaller one next to the station.”

”It's kind of irrelevant now.”

”What happened when you didn't find the car?”

”I thought I might be able to ascertain your phone number if I tried every combination of the last two numbers, but your handwriting is impossible to read. The only lead I had left was the logo on the piece of paper.”

”You rang work?”

”Eventually.”

”Why didn't you do that in the first instance?”

”Because there was only a portion of the logo on the paper. I had to do some serious research to match the logo to the company.”

”Are you sure accounting is your true calling?”

”Yes. This week was exhausting. Never again.”

”Pass me your phone,” demanded James.

Maddy handed it to him. He entered his number, saving it to her contacts. With Maddy watching, he dialled his number from her phone so she could hear his phone ringing.

”You've got it. Don't worry if you lose it, because I'm not going anywhere. Geoff would murder you if you wasted another week chasing after me and not your bad debtors.”

Her head whipped around at the mention of Geoff's name. James knew straight away he'd let the wrong words slip out.

”What's wrong?” he asked carefully.

”Nothing,” said Maddy, ”I just realised I talk about work way too much if you know my boss's name.”

James chuckled nervously.

”You want to join me for a shower?” he asked.

”Shouldn't I be asking you that?”

”It is your shower, but a guy likes to take charge once in a while.”