Page 3 of Third Time’s a Charm

“I’m so terribly sorry I’m late. Sydney traffic, huh?” I go from humble apology to sarcastic humour in a single breath, and it doesn’t go down well.

“Let’s just get started, shall we?” John says with a tight smile that makes him look like he has belly pain. “We’ve already wasted enough time this morning.”

I drop the HDMI cable on the glass tabletop with a clatter before I get it plugged in and fumble typing in my password. Stay calm, Louise. Be professional. I backspace and correct. Hit enter.

And … nothing. Blank screen. Normally, I’m pretty good with technology, but today it can smell my fear. I unplug. Reconnect. Check the settings. Still nothing. My lateness, the tension in the room, and the brooding, unknown figure over by the window have thrown me off my game. Ugh. Another three.

“Here, let me see if I can …” Robert takes pity on me. Of course it works for him first go, and I feel like an idiot.

Finally, I’m ready to start.

Sweaty, flustered and shaking, but ready to go.

“I don’t believe you’ve met our new regional director,” my boss says as the man at the window turns.

He’s handsome. Beyond handsome. Hot. In a severe, buttoned-up, three-piece-suit kind of way. My neglected libido sits up, crosses her legs and whispers hello, immediately raising a scolding from my inner professional.

“Jasper Spencer-Jones, this is Louise Baker, our account relationship manager.”

Holy hell. My libido slinks back into her cave. My inner professional curls into the foetal position. Cold dread washes through me.

I don’t recognise him. But I know him.

Who could forget a name like that?

Especially when you once peed on his shoes.

Chapter Two

Jasper

Ifeel like crap on a crumpet.

I’m jetlagged. I’m overheated. Something I ate at Singapore airport yesterday during my stopover isn’t agreeing with my stomach. And this meeting is now nearly fifteen minutes late getting started.

At least it’s given me the opportunity to listen to the half a dozen messages my assistant in London left me overnight. Just as I’m finishing up the last one, there’s a commotion at the door.

“I don’t believe you’ve met our new regional director,” says the middle-management guy who, unbeknownst to him, will find himself looking for a job shortly.

I don’t hear anything else he says, other than that her name is Louise.

The woman standing at the head of the table manages to look simultaneously gorgeous and a hot mess. And startled. Why does she look so startled?

“A pleasure to meet you.” I stride forward and thrust out a hand to shake hers. Which is both slightly clammy and trembling.

“Oh, ah, yes. Nice, um, nice to meet you, Mr Spencer-Jones.” The words bubble out of her mouth like water from a drinking fountain. Messy, but also somehow melodious and appealing. She releases my hand and takes a wobbly step back, dropping a hand to a nearby chair to steady herself. Her bright green eyes are nearly popping out of her head. It looks like she’s letting nerves get to her. Which is not surprising, I suppose, given the unexpected appearance of the regional director at her presentation.

“Would you like me to get started?” She waves her hand towards the screen behind her.

She obviously hasn’t looked at the screen because I’m not sure it’s meant to show a picture of her in a very skimpy sundress with a dark-haired woman, holding a glass of champagne up towards the camera, both grinning like loons.

“Oh. Oh, no. Sorry. Um. Damn. I mean … argh.” She bashes away at the keyboard of her laptop, muttering to herself as a bright blush creeps up her neck and across her freckled cheeks. The picture disappears, replaced by the company logo and what I presume is the title of her presentation. “Sorry about that.”

A flicker of attraction sparks to life, but I tamp it down. If circumstances were different, and I’d met her in a bar, I would absolutely make a move. Because everything about her is appealing. But being attracted to a member of staff is a complication I can’t afford. I need to remain professional. It’s a fortunate thing my default persona is aloof.

I tighten the familiar mask, fall into the chair to her left, opposite the guys from the Australian management team, and lean back.

There’s a sudden loud, watery rumble from my belly. I’d been momentarily distracted from my digestive distress. A quick glance at the others in the room suggests none of them have noticed the noise, thank God. I clasp my fingers over my gurgling belly and wait.