Page 7 of Take a Chance on Greece

‘Then if you take my advice, you’ll keep quiet about it for as long as possible. I know you didn’t have a holiday fling, and you know that, but the tat is bound to make him suspicious, and you don’t want that coming between you at such a delicate stage in your relationship. Wait until you’ve unpacked your stuff properly, and then see how you feel.’

‘You’re probably right.’ I sighed. ‘I guess I should wait until I at least have my own key. I don’t want him to lock me out because of it.’ I made a lame attempt at a joke, but I could tell from Kat’s expression that she was not taking it as one.

‘The bastard’s not given you a key yet? Sorry, he’s not a bastard, he’s a very lovely man, I know. But why hasn’t he given you a key? It’s pretty selfish at best, and controlling at worst.’

‘It’s not a big deal, he’s been busy at work, especially as he’d have had to pick up my stuff while we were off on holiday. And work is another reason why I’d really rather he didn’t find out about the tattoo. If I damage his trust in our relationship setting, it’ll also damage his trust in the work environment. I know it’s way down on the priority list compared to our relationship, but I don’t want to spoil my promotion chances.’

‘You’re sleeping with the boss. If he’s not given you a promotion yet, then I’m not sure what more you can do,’ she retorted.

I stuck my tongue out at her and she laughed.

‘Seriously though, you’re damn good at your job, Lydia. You’re overdue a promotion. I know you say he’s holding you to higher standards because he doesn’t want to be accused of favouritism, but it’s really holding you back. Have you thought about looking for a job at another firm? You guys are going to be spending a lot of time working together and living together now. It might do you good to spread your wings and let Jim see that you’re in demand elsewhere too.’

I shrugged my shoulders. She made it sound so easy, but to me it felt like a daunting prospect. I’d worked at Jim’s firm for years now, even before we started dating, and I couldn’t really imagine going anywhere else. It was comfortable and familiar and safe, and I didn’t fancy the upheaval which going to another company would involve. Besides, wasn’t there a danger that Jim would interpret any move to another firm as a personal affront? I knew how much it meant to him having my support in the professional domain as well as in his personal life.

‘Promise me you’ll think about it,’ said Kat, as we ended the call. ‘You can do far more than you let yourself believe.’

Chapter Four

The next morning, I woke with a start as the alarm clock went off. Jim leaped out of bed and turned the lights on, swearing with irritation that we would be behind schedule if I didn’t hurry up.

‘People will think I’ve lost focus now you’ve moved in,’ he said. ‘And that audit is due by close of play. We can’t afford to waste a minute.’

‘Let them think what they like,’ I said. ‘And we’ve still got plenty of time.’

‘Not if you carry on languishing in bed like that we haven’t.’

There went my plan of hiding under the covers until he left the room. I slid out of bed and moved sideways, trying to appear nonchalant as I attempted to keep my back against the wall.

‘Weren’t you roasting in that get up?’ he asked, nodding towards the voluminous flannel pyjamas I’d donned last night as part of my plan to keep him from discovering my terrible secret. Thankfully he’d fallen for my feigned deep sleep when he’d arrived back after the footy, which had given me another few hours’ grace.

‘I felt really cold. I think I’ve become acclimatised to the warm temperatures in Kefalonia,’ I answered, rather appalled at how quickly and frequently the lies were now slipping off my tongue.

Of course, this would have been the perfect opportunity for Jim to make a comment about being able to warm me up, and then for him to follow through on his suggestion, but I guess the thoughts of the audit had driven any idea of that kind of thing from his head. I quickly launched into further diversionary tactics, just to be on the safe side.

‘Good match last night?’ I asked as I grabbed an appropriate work outfit and started my attempt at changing in a way which wouldn’t give him a glimpse of my back while simultaneously not giving the impression that I’d suddenly developed the modesty of a nun.

Thankfully Jim launched into a lengthy blow-by-blow account of the game, including an in-depth analysis of all the referee’s apparently dubious decision-making abilities. By the time we’d arrived at the office, he was nearly hoarse from his enthusiastic description of the action and I felt like I’d watched the entire match. He pulled up the handbrake and looked carefully around the car park to check that none of our colleagues were around, then he leaned across and squeezed my knee.

‘I think the break has done you good, Liddy-Lou. We’ve had a lovely chat this morning. I could get used to this living together malarkey.’

What a romantic way to describe the start of the rest of our lives together. I would have been irritated by the fact he seemed unaware that I hadn’t managed to get a word in edgeways, if I wasn’t so relieved that I’d got away with my deception. As soon as we got out of the car, he stepped away from me, determined to keep an appropriate distance apart now that we were on work premises. Normally I would have teased him by attempting to loop my arm through his or by slipping my hand up his jacket, but today it felt safer to keep physical contact to a minimum.

I settled myself at my desk to go through my inbox. It was brimming with emails after my trip, and, as I waded through them, the holiday quickly faded away as if it had never happened. I say that, but there was one reminder which kept making its presence felt to make sure I didn’t quite forget about my Kefalonian stay. Today the tattoo had started itching. Not the occasional irritation that I could ignore, but a persistent prickliness that made me want to stand in the doorway and rub my back up and down the frame like a bear until the itchiness went away. I tried to concentrate on my spreadsheets, but I felt unsettled and out of sorts, so I kept on making silly mistakes. At lunchtime, I decided getting away from my desk was the best option. I knocked on Jim’s door and went in.

‘Do you want to grab a sandwich? Perhaps we can get that key cut while we’re at it?’

Jim frowned over his monitor.

‘What did you want? I’m in the middle of something.’

I was rather taken aback. ‘I’m sorry for disturbing you,sir,’ I couldn’t help retorting. Guilt-ridden I may be, but I wasn’t going to allow Jim to speak to me like that. He may be my boss as well as my boyfriend, but that didn’t give him the right to be so short with me. My obvious sarcasm shook him out of his number-induced reverie.

‘Sorry, sweets, that was unnecessary.’ He pinched the bridge of his nose in the way he does when he’s got a headache developing. ‘These figures have been driving me up the wall all morning. I’d love to go to lunch with you, but I’m not going to have time with the deadline this evening.’

He looked so deflated that I instantly forgave him for his rudeness. I made a move towards him, intending to massage his hunched-up shoulders, then stopped myself. Instigating any kind of physical contact was not a good idea at the present time. I offered the next best thing instead.

‘Do you want me to take a look? Sometimes it can help to have a fresh pair of eyes checking things over.’

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