Page 17 of Sparring Partners
What the hell had he been thinking… Adrian was staring at him, one brow arching as though he knew exactly what it was that had been running through his head. He only hoped to god his face didn’t look as red and hot as it felt.
“I only found it last night, at the bottom of my bag. I could have left it at reception, I suppose, but?—”
“No, I’m glad you brought it to me direct.”Because within five minutes everybody would have been wondering why you had my pen, putting two and two together and coming up with every number under the sun.
“Well, you’ve got it now and that’s the main thing.”
“Yes.”
Luca smiled, in the vain hope it was bland, pleasant and totally professional, and tried not to fidget. Just a couple of feet away, Adrian stood as still as a rock and just as unreadable. The silence was weighted, heavy.
“How’s Spud. Is he getting better?” The words rushed from Luca, anything to fill the void.
Adrian’s smile was sunshine bursting through storm clouds, and Luca couldn’t resist smiling back.
“He’s doing great — he kind of thinks he’s a puppy again.” Adrian laughed, the deep rumble sending a ripple of dark heat through Luca. Silence descended once more. Adrian looked away, his hand worrying at the back of his neck. “I’d best go and let you get on as I expect you’re very busy, running a place like this.” Adrian turned for the door, jolting Luca out of his paralysis.
“Can I offer you some refreshment? Tea, coffee?” Luca blurted.
Adrian stopped and looked over his shoulder. Something flickered through his eyes, but it was gone in a moment. He answered with a hesitant smile. “Tea, please. Builder’s strength.”
“Yes, of course.” Luca darted towards the tray on top of the fridge that was replenished daily, his hands heavy and clumsy as he dropped a teabag into a fine china cup. He hesitated for a moment before he did the same for himself.
“Is everything working out with Rhonda?” Luca asked as he handed over the tea, the cup looking like a child’s toy in Adrian’s large hand.
Adrian smirked. “Thought you’d already asked me that, and I answered.” His eyes were dark and watchful. Luca shivered as his shoulders stiffened, his body unsure whether it was thrilled or annoyed.
“A new relationship — business relationship, I mean,” Luca said, correcting himself as his skin prickled beneath the weight of Adrian’s gaze, “is often a little bumpy in the beginning.” He took too big a sip of his too hot tea and his eyes watered. Luca didn’t believe his own words. He was always at pains to ensure all contracts ran smoothly from the start, but under Adrian’s intense eyes the words — any words — were forced out of him.
Adrian shrugged. “I deliver the agreed produce on the agreed date and time, and the hotel pays me. Although that’s not yet happened.”
“We pay all our suppliers monthly, as you know. No exceptions.”
“I’m not expecting any. I’ve always found that when somebody claims you’re that, it invariably turns out to be a whole crock of—well, let’s just say it doesn’t end up being the case.” Adrian scowled as he turned his attention to his tea.
Luca glanced up at him through his lashes. The man was as unpredictable and changeable as the West Country weather. Yet, his interest was piqued. Had somebody promised Adrian he was something special? That he was an exception? Was that why the man ran hot and cold, lurching from agreeable, even friendly, to terse and grumpy?
“How long have you worked in the hotel sector?”
Luca, lost in his own thoughts, started at the question. Adrian, blunt as ever, made his question sound like an accusation.
“All my working life. I joined a large hotel chain after university, the same one I worked in at weekends when I was a student. I enjoyed the buzz of a busy hotel, so it seemed a good choice of career.” Forget about the rows with his parents, and their heavy handed insistence he join his father in his legal practice…
“Isn’t it a bit rural and out of the way for you here? I’d have thought some cool and trendy London boutique hotel would be more up your street.”
“Oh, so you’ve been thinking about me, have you?” The words were out of Luca’s mouth before his brain could yank them back.
They stared at each other across the small coffee table, the silence thick and weighty, and in that moment, like a flash in the dark, Luca didn’t mind if that was what this moody, unpredictable and devastatingly attractive, sexy man had been doing.
“Just curious.” Adrian placed the dinky cup down and stood up. He dominated the room, but for a big man there was nothing clumsy about him.
Luca stood too, their gazes locking. Adrian’s expression, as so often, was near impossible to interpret, yet if he let himself imagine, Luca might just detect the faintest hint of a smile in those full lips and watchful eyes.
The sudden, sharp ring from his mobile jolted Luca out of the thoughts he shouldn’t be having. Adrian jumped, too, and ran his fingers through his hair. Luca fumbled for his phone, sitting on his desk, almost dropping it in his haste.
“Alex.” Why the hell did he have to call now… thank Christ he just did… He looked over at Adrian and held up his hand for him to wait, but Adrian was already moving towards the door. “Sorry, Alex, just a sec.” He put the call on hold. He couldn’t let Adrian just slip out.
“Thank you, for returning the pen. I really do appreciate it.”
