Carole Mortimer - First Love, Last Love

‘I can,’ he grinned. ‘And he’s our boss too,’ he reminded her.

How could she forget it! ‘At least we don’t work for him directly. If he knew I was Jane’s niece …!’

‘Mm, I see your point. Okay, I’ll keep quiet unless directly asked.’

‘Now is that likely? There’s no reason why Jane should make the connection—– Hello, Jane,’ Lauri turned to greet her young aunt. ‘Sit down, love,’ she encouraged, seeing her tired face. ‘You look worn out.’

Jane did as she suggested, literally collapsing into the chair. ‘I look worn out because I am worn out. Thanks, Lauri,’ she took the proffered cup of tea, and sipped gratefully. ‘Mr Blair was an absolute swine this morning.’

‘Perhaps his business trip to the States didn’t work out as he wanted it to.’ Lauri’s look was almost hopeful that that had been the reason.

‘Oh, it wasn’t that, that went fine,’ Jane instantly dismissed, slipping off her shoes to flex her tired feet. ‘No, it was something else that upset him.’

‘Oh?’ Lauri asked innocently.

‘Mm.’ Jane put her head back, closing her eyes. ‘Some idiot smashed into his car this morning.’

‘Some idiot—–!’ Lauri echoed indignantly.

‘Is that what he said?’ chuckled Steve.

‘Mm,’ Jane murmured wearily. ‘God, he’s been impossible to work for all day. He’d just started to get over it lunchtime, but when he came back he was in an even worse mood.’

And didn’t Lauri know it! She might have been the cause of his first anger, but she had been made to bear the brunt of his lunchtime upset. Her mouth still tingled from that onslaught. What on earth would Jane and Steve say if they knew about it? She shuddered to think, especially cool, calm Jane, who always kept men at a distance, including Robin Harley.

‘Maybe his lady-love doesn’t like lunchtime sessions,’ Steve joked.

His sister gave him a reproving look. ‘I don’t appreciate those sort of comments about Mr Blair. He had a business appointment. Anyway, Connie Mears is out of town.’

‘ Connie Mears?’ Lauri gasped. ‘The model?’ A vision of a tall leggy blonde instantly sprang to mind.

‘Is there another one?’ Steve quipped.

Lauri glared at him. ‘There could be.’

He shook his head. ‘Not if Alexander Blair is dating her.’

‘I’m sure he isn’t the type to be faithful to one woman,’ Lauri said bitchily. ‘Perhaps some other female turned him down at lunchtime.’ Which would account for his attack on her!

‘Lauri!’ Jane reprimanded. ‘I won’t have you talking like that, even if Steve chooses to.’

‘Don’t be such a nag, Jane. Personally I don’t think Mr High and Mighty Blair merits your unwavering loyalty to him. So far I’ve found him to be simply awful. He’s overbearing, impossible—–’

‘So far?’ Jane frowned. ‘You’ve met Mr Blair?’

Too late Lauri realised her mistake. ‘Well—er—no, not exactly. He—– Oh goodness, look at the gravy!’ She rushed to the cooker, pulling the saucepan off the heat to stop it boiling all over the sparkling white top. ‘Dinner is ready, let’s eat before it spoils,’ she clutched thankfully on to this excuse to change the subject. ‘Go and have a quick wash, Jane, while I serve the food.’

‘That was a narrow escape,’ said Steve once they were alone. ‘If you aren’t careful, Lauri, that temper of yours is going to be what lands you in trouble. I won’t mention who Blair thinks is an idiot, but I think you just might let that out yourself if you aren’t a little more careful what you say.’

Lauri took his advice and remained silent when her aunt came back, listening to their conversation but adding little herself. Jane would be furious if she found out her niece had been driving the car that had so upset their employer, and Jane had quite a biting tongue if she became angry.

They had finished their main course and were just starting on the apple crumble and custard they had for dessert when Steve flashed Lauri a sly look. He feigned a look of innocence. ‘Our little niece was propositioned today,’ he told his sister casually.

Lauri gasped, biting back her fiery retort. What could he possibly know of that kiss in the lift?’

‘Yes,’ he continued softly. ‘Some Lothario wanted to whisk her off round the world with him.’

She almost sighed her relief out loud. ‘Daryl isn’t a Lothario,’ she defended, perhaps more heatedly than normal because she had thought Steve meant Alexander Blair. ‘He’s a very nice boy.’

‘Then why did you refuse to go with him?’ Steve taunted.

Her green eyes flashed. ‘Because—because I’ve only just started my new job,’ she desperately made up an excuse.

He laughed. ‘And you enjoy being a typist so much that it wins hands down over travelling the world?’

‘Anyone would think you wanted me to go,’ Lauri snapped.

‘Will you two stop arguing!’ Jane put her hands up to her temples. ‘I have a splitting headache and all you two can do is bicker all the time.’ She gave Lauri a sharp look. ‘When did Daryl ask you to go away with him?’ she demanded to know.

‘Oh, weeks ago,’ Lauri dismissed. ‘I told him I thought it was a ridiculous idea.’

‘But he asked you again today?’

Lauri grinned. ‘He’s a trier.’

‘As long as he doesn’t succeed,’ Steve quipped.

‘Steven!’ Jane rounded on him. ‘It isn’t something to joke about.’

He sobered. ‘I couldn’t agree more. I told her we wouldn’t have let her go even if she had decided to go with him.’

‘And I told you that I make those sort of decisions for myself.’ Lauri stood up, angrily removing the empty plates. ‘Just because we all live here together it doesn’t mean you can push me around. You act more like my parents than my aunt and uncle. I’m fed up with it all the time. Why can’t you both mind—–’

‘Lauri!’ Steve cut in warningly. ‘Can’t you see Jane’s had enough?’

Her aunt was in fact very pale, and she instantly felt contrite. ‘Go and lie down for a while,’ she moved to her aunt’s side. ‘It might ease your headache.’

‘Yes,’ Jane agreed faintly, ‘I—I think I’ll do that.’

Lauri helped her to her feet. ‘I’ll cancel your date with Robin, shall I? I think you might be better for an early night.’

‘I—–Yes, maybe that would be best.’ For once the fight seemed to have gone out of Jane, dear dependable Jane who had brought Steve and Lauri up single-handed since the double tragedy of first her own parents’ death and then the death of her brother and his wife. ‘But I’ll call Robin and explain,’ she added.

‘And you aren’t going to work tomorrow if you aren’t feeling any better,’ Lauri told her sternly. ‘You can let that bully—you can let Mr Blair find someone else to use as a punch-bag.’ She cursed herself for once again letting her feelings towards that man run away with her.

Jane gave a wan smile. ‘I wouldn’t exactly say he went that far.’

‘He must have been pretty nasty to have reduced you to this state. Now come on—bed!’

Steve had already left when Lauri came back from settling Jane down, so she set about wiping the crockery he had thoughtfully washed before going out. She was worried about Jane, it wasn’t like her to feel ill, and the fact that Alexander Blair had been indirectly responsible only made Lauri dislike him all the more. Bad-tempered, arrogant swine! Jane must be mad to work for him.

Lauri hadn’t known he was dating Connie Mears, that little bit of gossip hadn’t reached the lower ranks yet. Connie Mears and Alexander Blair—however did the poor girl put up with his arrogance? If he kissed the other woman as he had her today then she knew the answer to that. Even while the kiss had not been given to evoke pleasure she had been aware of the mastery and experience behind the caress, so much experience that she had responded in spite of herself.