Couldn’t he even visit his own office without everyone questioning his motives? Alex reined in his irritation and smiled at Margaret. ‘Everything’s fine, I just forgot a couple of things.’
‘Right.’ Margaret could not conceal her bafflement. Alex had an almost clinically precise mind, he never forgot anything, but as Jenna entered the office Margaret caught the unguarded look in his eyes and speculated on the reason for it.
‘If there’s nothing else, I’ll be off now, Alex,’ the younger woman murmured.
‘Give me five minutes and I’ll give you a lift.’ Alex glanced up as Jenna hovered in the doorway. ‘I’ve got a date this evening over your way.’
‘There’s really no need,’ Jenna replied hastily, balking at the idea of being alone with him for the forty-five minute journey across town.
‘It’s no problem.’ His urbane smile disguised the determination in his voice.
To argue further would evoke Margaret’s curiosity, so Jenna sighed. ‘Thank you.’
There was no chauffeur-driven Bentley in the underground car park this time. Instead Alex led her over to an expensive-looking sports car and helped her into the passenger seat before coiling his long body behind the wheel. In the confines of the small car Jenna was achingly aware of his every movement, the way his hand brushed against her thigh every time he changed gear, and she squeezed as far as possible into the furthest corner of her seat.
‘You can relax,’ he said dryly, his patience paper-thin. ‘I’m not in the habit of making a pass at unsuspecting secretaries while I’m driving.’
‘I didn’t think you were,’ she snapped, her cheeks scarlet as she forced herself to sit properly and stare resolutely out of the window for the remainder of the journey.
Now she must appear rude and ungrateful, she thought miserably, searching for something to say to break the silence.
‘Does Miss Carter-Lloyd—?’
‘Where does Chris—?’ Alex broke off and laughed. ‘You first.’
‘I just wondered if Miss Carter-Lloyd lived near here. You said you had a date,’ Jenna reminded him.
‘So I did. But, no, Selina doesn’t live in this part of London.’
Which must mean he had a date with someone else, Jenna surmised, and wondered why she was glad that he did not date Selina Carter-Lloyd exclusively. ‘What were you going to say?’
‘I was going to ask what line of business Chris is in.’
‘Chris is…um…’ There was a frantic pause while she racked her brains. By Chris, he meant, of course, her husband. Her ex-husband was a fireman, but she had no desire to discuss Lee’s heroics. Chris had mentioned that he was going to apply for a job at a popular fast food restaurant, so she murmured, ‘He’s a chef.’
‘Really? Does he have any Michelin stars?’
‘No, he works in a burger bar.’
Alex’s brows shot upwards. ‘So you’re the main wage earner? Is that why you were unable to finish art college?’
‘Kind of,’ Jenna said, her tone non-committal. The conversation was getting way to personal, and she gave a sigh of relief as Alex turned into her road. ‘Have a good evening,’ she urged as she bade him goodnight.
‘I intend to,’ he replied, and she watched his car race off, deriding her over-active imagination at the thought of him with some stunningly beautiful girlfriend. Alex Morrell was out of her league, she reminded herself sternly, and she had the responsibility of a child to consider—a child he knew nothing about.
The rest of the week flew by, and despite the heavy workload Jenna found that she enjoyed the challenge of her job. It felt good to stretch her brain and realise that motherhood hadn’t turned it completely to mush.
She enjoyed working for Alex Morrell—although enjoyed wasn’t quite the right word. By turn he teased and terrified her, and she quickly came to respect his brilliant wit. She’d discovered that the only way she could work with him was to avoid looking directly at him. One glance at his hard, handsome face was enough to distract her mind from even the simplest task, and so she carefully studied the carpet, the desk or a point behind his shoulder whenever he addressed her. Occasionally, when her eyes sought him of their own accord, she found him watching her, but she dared not meet his gaze, her cheeks glowing pink as she hastily turned away.
With the notable exception of Katrin Jefferstone, the other staff were friendly and welcoming, and Jenna was touched when she was issued an invitation to the other senior partner’s birthday dinner.
‘Alex has made a private booking at the restaurant, and we’re all meeting there straight from work,’ Margaret explained. ‘It’s fairly informal, so I’m just going to bring another blouse to change into before we go.’