Page 4 of Betrayal

A hot chocolate, a little conversation, she’d be out of here in twenty minutes—tops.

“The company I work for has been growing in recent years.We’ve recruited some incredible young women, and if we want to keep them, we need decent childcare.”

“Providing your own childcare is unorthodox.Wouldn’t it be easier to pay for places at another centre, or subsidise employees to choose their own?”Leaning back, he slipped the button of his jacket.His stylish T-shirt was the palest pink, more subtle than his pickup line, while his assessment was incisive.

“Been there, done that.”She allowed herself to relax a bit, wriggling further back on the leather couch.When he stilled in response—his focus entirely on her—her stomach did a slow roll.She breathed through several heartbeats before she continued.“My boss Antonio’s a lateral thinker and a good man.A number of my fellow employees are single parents.Having their children nearby and having a say in how the centre runs gives them a greater sense of security.”

“And an employee who feels listened to works harder.”He spoke with the authority of someone who’d been both employee and employer.

Who are you?How did you get from architecture to marketing?

And who do you work for?

“Establishing your own centre is a lot of work.”

“It would be, except that’s not our plan.”She lifted her head, wrinkling her nose.“Coffee smells so much better than it tastes.”

“Says the woman who’s about to drink a chocolate bar.”He nodded at the waiter.“Thank you.”

“Look at it.”She pointed at the frothy milk topping her mug, sprinkled with yet more grated chocolate.“Decadent and delicious.Yours is inky evil.”

“You obviously don’t write the jingles,” he said drily.

“I started as a graphic designer, however, I’m currently strategic manager of promotions,” she admitted.“My job description includes creative thinker.”

“Could have fooled me.”He pushed a hand through his hair, mussing it.The hunter had loosened up in the last few minutes and dropped some of his emotional distance.Anna sensed his confusion that she’d used some trick to relax him.“What’s your plan?”he asked.

“We’ve got preliminary agreement from an existing reputable childcare provider for them to handle recruitment, staff registration and legal protocols.”She’d sold the plan to Antonio in parts.“We supply the premises and join the management board.”

“Your boss plans to be on the board?That’s quite a commitment.”

Had he inched closer?His scent was too elusive to identify—beguiling, and she bet he knew it.

“I’ll be on the board.”

“As I said, a big commitment.Love or money?”He stretched his legs under the table, angling his body more toward her.

Another practised move?

“Voluntary, but that’s hardly relevant to our conversation.”She wrapped both hands around her mug of chocolate.

“You should get time in lieu.”

He’d surprised her.Anna glanced at his bare left hand.In a just world, he’d be single.Pity they didn’t live in a just world.

“Juggling charity work with full-time employment and raising a family is challenging.”

“Are you speaking from experience?”She sipped her liquid chocolate bar, impressed by the smooth segue.He’d asked about her marital and family status without uttering the wordsmarriedorchildren.Did that mean he took the institutions seriously?

“Observation.”His gaze rested on her mouth, the light in his eyes hotter than her drink.

“To answer your earlier question, I’m not married or a parent.”

“What do you want from an architect?”

“I’ve found a suitable site.”She channelled Antonio’s positive thinking that they’d be able to negotiate a lease with the new owner.“It’s nearby, was an operating childcare centre until about eleven months ago, and with some refurbishment and a bit of creative thinking, will deliver exactly what we want.”

“Creative thinking.That’s where you come in, right?”His focused study suggested he wanted to swallow her whole, while his beautifully sculptured mouth formed pertinent questions.The disconnect simultaneously teased her mind and set her insides quivering.“Are you purchasing or leasing it?”

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