‘Look…if you think this can’t work any more, and— that my being here is causing some kind of problem for you, then I’ll simply pack my case, put my things in the car and get out of your hair for good.’
Her chin had lifted with determination and her hazel eyes were flashing. Keir saw that Georgia was quite capable of carrying out her threat. This wasn’t how he’d envisaged the start of their morning together at all, but now—because of his frustration and general irritation—a scenario was threatening that he definately did not welcome.
‘Oh, no, you don’t! You’ve signed a contract that’s binding, and barring illness and acts of God you’re obligated to stay here and fulfil it!’
‘There’s no need to threaten me! I’m fully aware that I made a written promise when I signed my name, and I have always been a person who has kept her word, but—’
‘No buts! I need a secretary, and I want you to stay, so let’s have no more nonsensical talk about leaving!’
Shaking his head at her as if she was the most irritating— woman on the planet and was driving him to complete distraction, Keir strode back to his desk. Staring at the back of his head, Georgia decided that no matter what she said or did there was just no pleasing this man this morning, so she might as well give up trying. She just couldn’t work him out. One minute he was acting as if her mere presence was like a thorn in his side, and then last night he’d nearly been going to kiss her!
Just as her heart leapt at the stirring memory, Georgia recalled him asking her if she was in a hurry to leave him. The answer to that was definitely no. She’d only said what she’d said just now because his coldness towards her had upset her. No matter what the Laird of Glenteign thought of her, Georgia couldn’t turn her back on him…not yet. Not until it was really time for her to go.
There was obviously a reason he sometimes seemed to shut her out, and the clue lay with his past—she was certain of it. She wanted to help him, so she would stay.
Certain about her decision, she felt her anger dissipate. ‘All right,’ she agreed. ‘I won’t talk about leaving any more. We just got off on the wrong foot this morning, that’s all. I can see that now.’
She was interlocking her fingers, staring down at them, when she heard the creak of the leather chair that Keir was occupying. When she glanced up again, he had swivelled it round to regard her. Not having entirely finished what she’d been going to say, Georgia sucked in her breath and continued, ‘To make things a little easier for both of us, apart from working with you during the day I’ll keep out of your way as much as possible at all other times. Then we won’t have to make polite conversation with each other when we don’t feel like it.’
‘That won’t be necessary.’
‘I don’t mind—’
‘Didn’t you hear what I said? I said that won’t be necessary!’
‘Oh, for goodness’ sake!’
Throwing her hands up in the air in exasperation, Georgia stared at him in disbelief. There was clearly something about her that was pressing all the wrong buttons with him this morning—something she just didn’t get. Either that, or he was unhappy about something that had happened on his trip.
As soon as the idea had planted itself in her mind, she— found she needed to have it confirmed. Georgia didn’t want to add to his troubles—all she wanted to do was help alleviate them. Her nature was that she always tried to help.
‘Did something go wrong in New York?’
‘What?’
‘Is that why you seem so on edge?’
Georgia was beginning to wonder if it was a woman that was at the root of his bad mood, and she didn’t include herself—in spite of Keir’s suggestion last night that he’d looked forward to coming back to see her. Had there been a woman Keir liked in New York? A woman he might even be in love with? Had that woman rejected him?
Jealousy vying with fear inside her, Georgia had to work hard to keep her expression impassive.
‘Nothing went wrong in NewYork, Georgia…other— than the fact that I didn’t really want to be there!’
‘But you seemed in such a hurry to go there!’ she— exclaimed.
‘Did I?’ His handsome brow creased as though he were perplexed.
‘You really are completely impossible!’ Georgia accused him, frustrated that she clearly wasn’t going to get any answers that made any sense to anything today. Dropping her hands to either side of her shapely hips in the red linen dress, she sighed heavily.
‘That aside…perhaps we should both just get down to the business of the day and restore a little peace to the morning? We’ve had enough storms of one kind or another for a while—wouldn’t you agree?’