Page 35 of All Yours

Fox knew the whole team were buzzing about the project, but it was nice hearing her enthusiasm for it. She was easy to talk to.

‘Any challenges this week?’

She explained to him, in glorious technical detail, about a glitch in her design. She was so excited to describe the solution she’d invented, she clapped her hands in front of her. Her excitement was infectious. It made him remember how much he loved his job. How, in the old days, he’d shout out loud when he created a way to jump levels in a game.

‘Sounds like you’ve done brilliant work this week, thank you,’ he said. Her eyes shone at the praise. Her eyes really were a very dark brown, her lashes thick and black.

‘Thank you,’ she said, and then, as the lift doors pinged open and they stepped out, ‘If you’ve time for a coffee, we could talk some more? I’ve got some ideas that might be useful, about how to shorten the build time, for example.’

Fox, surprised, smiled, but then shook his head, remembering the whole point of leaving early.

‘Sorry, I can’t tonight,’ he said.

‘Well, anytime then,’ she said over her shoulder, seemingly unperturbed, as she pushed through the office’s revolving door. He pulled his coat collar up in the cold air. ‘What are you doing tonight then . . . ?’

‘Trick or treating with my boys. Got to be home by dark.’

‘That sounds great. My nieces are going too, they’re already dressed and ready. I hate to think of the volume levels in their house.’ She flashed him a picture on her phone of two small girls with witches’ hats on their heads and broomsticks in their hands. She laughed as she turned the other way on the corner. ‘Anyway,’ she called over her shoulder, ‘Enjoy!’

The house was quiet as he let himself in.

‘Guys?’ Fox called out but there was no reply. He checked his watch. They wouldn’t have gone without him, surely? It wasn’t even properly dark outside yet. He padded down the hall and opened the kitchen door.

‘Ghhaaaa!’ shouted a waist-high witch, complete with hat and broomstick.

‘Boo!’ shrieked an even smaller skeleton as they both jumped on him in the doorway. Fox caught them in a hug as they shouted at him to get ready and hurry up, before he noticed Little Red Riding Hood in front of him. Robyn wore a tight black dress under a red cloak which did not quite close enough to hide her gorgeous, freckled cleavage. Fox cleared his throat and shook his head at the same time.

‘Little Red Riding Hood,’ he said, dry-mouthed suddenly at a memory. ‘How appropriate.’

He remembered how her red hair had come undone in his hands, when he’d held her head and plundered her mouth with his tongue. With her back against the mirrored wall of the lift, she’d moaned into his lips, pulling him closer into her body, until all that mattered was the contact between them. The way her arms entwined around his neck, and her hips met his. The kiss that had started on the roof terrace was building into something that could only end with them naked. He wanted her so badly, this woman whose eyes smiled as she talked and whose skin smelled like honey. Only when the doors opened did they spring apart. Her cheeks were pink, her eyes fierce with intent.

‘This is my floor,’ she’d murmured, tugging him, just as a crowd of revellers from the party downstairs turned the corner into the corridor. He hesitated. He knew several in the group and felt sure they’d stop him to talk about the conference. And he didn’t want to think about the real world. Not now. This moment was theirs, a shared thing, a secret. It felt special like that. He nodded towards the group and shook his head.

‘Give me two minutes,’ he’d said urgently. ‘What number is your room?’

‘Five seven three,’ she’d whispered and then she’d dropped his hand with a final squeeze, before turning her back and walking away. He watched her, her long slender legs encased in jeans that fit every curve, as the doors slid closed again. He rode three more floors upwards, the anticipation rising in his stomach with the lift, before descending again to her floor and this time the corridor was empty. He’d practically run along the corridor, knowing he was so close to what he wanted, what he needed. He’d run a hand through his hair before knocking.

She opened the door and he heard his own breath. She was wearing only her underwear, a red lacy bra and a matching thong. Her nipples peeped at him through the fabric. Her tongue flicked across her lip. Her skin was a maze of freckles and he wanted to trace every one.

‘Sweet Jesus,’ he’d said, stepping inside the door and kicking it shut behind him. ‘Get over here, Red.’

Now, Robyn held a bag out towards him. ‘Your costume, boss, which I think you will also find fits the bill.’

He reached into the bag and pulled out a silver-grey wolf’s head. The boys roared with laughter, obviously in on the joke.

‘The Big Bad Wolf!’ Fox half laughed, thinking he would indeed like to eat her up. She cocked an eyebrow at him and nodded at the mask.

‘Closest thing to a Fox I could get. Let’s see it on then,’ she said. He slipped it over his head, adjusting it so that he could see through the eyeholes.

She nodded in appreciation, tugging one of the ears upright. ‘Perfect.’

‘Now we just need my witch’s cat!’ Reggie shouted, too excited for volume control.

‘What cat?’

Robyn bent to lift Willow from the bouncer and Fox saw she was wearing a pair of cat’s ears, tiny whiskers pencilled onto her cheeks.

‘More like a teeny tiny kitten,’ he said. Robyn stilled and seemed to take a second look at the baby, then glanced at him.