Chapter 17
Tallulah stared at the closed door. So Aiden started this rumour. At first, she thought it had arisen because someone had seen them working late together or walking home together. She knew she should never have let Aiden hold her hand. Engaged? What could have possessed him?
She forced herself to concentrate on work. That was the way she had always dealt with problems—tucked them in the back of her mind until it was the right time to think about them. She concentrated on the moment and hoped the problem would pass. Unfortunately, the door to the back pocket of her brain kept swinging open, and temper bubbled to the surface. When the phone rang, she snatched it up with relief. “Aiden Marlowe’s office.”
“Tallulah?” It was Cathryn from the last department she’d worked in. “Is it true that you and Mr Marlowe—”
“No,” she snapped. “I can’t talk now.”
She slammed the phone down, jumped up, and strode over to Aiden’s office door, gave a peremptory knock, and pushed it open.
Aiden clutched the phone to his ear. “I’m sorry, Loretta. I’m going to have to go. Could you make sure I get that data?”
He put the phone down. “What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong?” A pulse started to pound at the side of Tallulah’s forehead. “I’m engaged, and I don’t know how it happened. I want you to tell me exactly what you said. And then I want you to tell me exactly what you’re going to do about it.”
Aiden heaved a sigh. “I thought you didn’t want to know?”
“Aiden?” Tallulah stamped her foot before she could stop herself. This isn’t a joke.
He stood up and walked round to the front of his desk, where he leaned on the edge, folded his arms, and fixed an earnest gaze on her face. “You’ve met Sasha?”
Tallulah nodded. He knew that.
“What would be the first thing about her that you noticed?”
“She’s absolutely stunning?”
“No.” Aiden scowled. “Once you’ve got past that?”
“She’s very polished?”
“No. Don’t be so shallow.”
That does it. Tallulah rarely lost her temper, but sometimes things needed to be said. Loudly. “Don’t patronise me. I’ve met the woman twice, for less than a minute both times. How the hell am I supposed to know what she’s like?”
“I would have thought it was obvious. Sasha is one of the bossiest people I’ve ever met. She never takes no for an answer. She—”
“And I would have worked that out in thirty seconds? When the only thing she’s said to me is ‘congratulations,’ and I didn’t have a clue what she was talking about?” Tallulah wanted to slap the condescending smile off Aiden’s face. “And she called me Tinkerbelle?” She couldn’t believe she’d let him kiss her. And play with her body. It wasn’t going to happen again, that was for sure. I was right about good-looking men. They’re toxic. “Poison candy,” she muttered to herself.
“What?”
“Nothing. And how the hell am I supposed to—”
“I thought you were perceptive about people,” Aiden said. “Obviously I was wrong.”
Tallulah narrowed her eyes at him. They’d drifted away from her original question, and she had a feeling he’d manipulated her away. “Obviously. So tell me in simple language. What did you say to Sasha that made her think we were engaged?”
Aiden’s mouth twitched. It looked very much to Tallulah as if he was trying not to laugh. She gave him a fierce glare.
“I told you. I said I wanted to marry you.”
Her mouth dropped open. “I thought you were joking.” He must be mad.
“I told her it was a coup de foudre.”
“A coup de foudre?”
“A coup de foudre is—”
“I know what it is,” she said. “I think you must have it confused with a bang on the head. That’s what it sounds like to me.” She chewed on her lower lip. “So what did she say to that?”
“Asked when we’re planning the wedding.”
“And that would be when?” Tallulah was reluctantly fascinated by the web of untruths Aiden was shamelessly weaving.
“I said you wouldn’t have me,” Aiden told her.
“Well that sounds about right. So why does Sasha, and probably the whole world by now, think we’re engaged?”
“Because I persuaded you that we could have a long engagement while we got to know each other. I had to put a ring on your finger.”
Tallulah took a step backwards and leaned against the wall. “Are you insane?”
“I don’t think so.”
“You would say that, wouldn’t you?” She made a mental note to ask his sister. “Have you always been a fantasist? A liar?”
“Not really. I didn’t know I had it in me. I impressed myself.” Aiden pushed himself away from his desk and stood in front of her. “Anyway, calling me a liar’s a bit harsh. You must see my problem?”
She shook her head, refusing to look up at him. “No.”
“I could see myself marched into marital hell with Sasha. I could keep on saying no until I was strapped into a morning suit and a top hat and the only thing that would save me was someone coming up with a just impediment during the service. I wasn’t going to let it go that far.” He rested one hand on the wall above her head, trapping her with his body, while his finger drifted along her cheekbone.
“I can see that would have been a bad idea.” She raised her head and squinted into his hypnotic eyes.
“Did you know you look like a Siamese kitten from this distance?” he said.
“You—” What’s he on about? Tallulah couldn’t keep up with the jumps in his conversation. He was too close.
“And I know you’d have wanted to help.”
She nodded, mesmerised, before pulling herself out of his spell. She ducked out from under his arm. “You don’t know that. I wouldn’t have agreed to—”
“I’d have offered you double pay.”
Tallulah ground her teeth. “Will you stop implying that I’m mercenary?”
“I thought you were here because of the money?”
“I was but . . .” Tallulah let her sentence trail away as she became confused. He was definitely messing with her head. “Everyone’s here for the money. Even you.” She pushed past him. “I’m going out for more coffee. Proper coffee. You’re giving me a headache.”
He stopped her with a hand on her arm. “I’m sorry, Tallulah. You’re so sweet when you’re angry.” He backed her against the wall and kissed her, sliding his lips along her cheek to her ear. “Like a killer fairy.”
Her resolve wobbled, and she took a breath that was filled with him. She wrenched herself away. “Coffee.”
Aiden nodded at her sympathetically. “Take as long as you like.” He paused. “And bring one back with you. For me.”
Tallulah growled, clenched her fists, and stalked out of the office.
Sweet? She’d show him sweet.
It was coming up for three thirty. Perfect coffee break time. Perhaps it was unprofessional to go out during the working day, but if she didn’t, she’d probably hit Aiden with the cafetière. Or strangle him with the cord from the kettle. And that would definitely be unprofessional. Her tense mouth relaxed into a smile as she pushed open the door into reception. She thought about not going back, but knew that really would be a career killer if she’d ever wanted that sort of career.
Kyle was picking up a sack of mail from the reception desk. She tiptoed past but not carefully enough to avoid his eagle eye.
“Hey, Tallie.” He dropped the bag and made a beeline for her. “What’s this about—”
“Sorry.” She increased her speed and darted through the automatic doors as soon as they opened. “I’m in a hurry. I’ll talk to you later.” As she left the building, she looked back over her shoulder. Kyle was staring after her, his hands in his pockets and a suspicious expression plastered over his face.
She ordered her coffee and sat at a small table in a dark corner of the café to drink it. She was in no hurry to go back to the office so pulled one of the complementary newspapers over to read.
A ping from her phone pulled her out of a fascinating article on the falling price of technology stocks, and she drew it from her pocket to read the text message. It was from Zoe, who could make 7.30 that evening, and she’d managed to get hold of Mia. For a change, Mia had a free evening and would join them for pizza.
Tallulah texted back, realising with relief that she wouldn’t be able to work late. She wasn’t sure she could be around Aiden at the moment; he annoyed her so much. Her lips twitched as she imagined him spinning more and more complicated stories in an attempt to repel Sasha. Perhaps it was funny after all.
She finished her drink and magnanimously ordered an espresso for Aiden before returning to the office. Knocking on Aiden’s door, she carried his drink in. “Your coffee, sir.”
He looked up. “What? What have you put in it?”
She smirked and closed the door behind her before he could say anything else. Wisely, he didn’t follow her out.
The remaining two hours crept by slowly, and at five o’clock, Tallulah logged off, closed down her desktop, and picked up her bag. She knocked on Aiden’s door and opened it a crack.
“I’m off now,” she said. “I can’t work late tonight, but I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
Aiden jumped up from his desk and hurried to the door. “You aren’t upset, are you?”
She scowled. “I’ll get over it by tomorrow. Or in ten years’ time. Whenever you’ve sorted out this fiasco you’ve created. I’m having dinner with my brother and sisters, so I’ll leave you to it. I don’t want to be late.”
She could feel Aiden watching her as she left. She hurried down the stairs and jumped on a bus going in the direction of King’s Cross. She was hot and sticky, and the residue of her stressful day and brief loss of control made her feel dirty. A shower sounded marvellous.
It was a quarter to six when she arrived back home, and she grabbed her washbag and headed to the bathroom. The water was lukewarm— (it varied between freezing, usually in winter, and lukewarm at the hottest part of summer). Lukewarm suited her perfectly, but she turned the tap to ‘cold’ for the final thirty seconds, letting the slightly cooler water stream through her hair.
She pulled a short multi-coloured tea-dress out of her wardrobe and matched it with a pair of red canvas wedges which gave her an extra three inches of height. Leaving her hair to dry itself, she pulled it into a high ponytail and added long sparkly earrings. She was ready. Kyle wasn’t back, but hopefully, he would go straight to the pizza place in Islington.
It was a quarter to seven when she walked out into the heavy evening sun. Heat still rose from the pavements, and evening commuters rushed towards King’s Cross and the Thameslink stations. Everyone appeared flushed, sweaty, and bad-tempered. Tallulah forced herself to stroll.
At the restaurant, both her sisters and Kyle were already seated at a table on the pavement. An extra beer had been placed in front of the empty seat. Tallulah picked it up and took a long cool drink. “Mia? How’ve you been? I haven’t seen you for ages.” She ignored the gimlet stares from her other siblings and slid into the chair.
“Rehearsing with a new band,” her sister said. “We’ve a gig in Holloway next week. The first one we’re doing together. You’ve got to come. All of you.”
Mia wore a broderie anglaise camisole and white denim shorts that showed off her long milky-coffee coloured legs. Her feet were propped on the edge of Kyle’s chair, showing off her collection of silver toe-rings and her white flip flops. White-blond and gold streaked her natural dark-brown hair, and it corkscrewed around her face in a halo. A red rose tattoo encircled her upper right arm, and a wide silver bracelet the left arm.
“Of course we’ll come. At least I will,” Tallulah said.
“We’ll all come,” Zoe said, “but that’s not what I want to talk about. What’s this that Kyle tells us?”
Tallulah glanced at Kyle who smirked.
“I don’t know what he told you,” she said. “Anyway, whatever it is, it probably isn’t true.”
“You’re engaged,” Zoe said. “I didn’t even know you were seeing anyone. What’s with the secret?”
“I’m not engaged.” Tallulah glared at Kyle. “He’s a fantasist.”
He shrugged theatrically. “That’s what they’re saying at work.” He looked at his other sisters. “And I came home the other night to find her in a clinch on the sofa. With her boss.”
Mia and Zoe both turned to stare at her.
“It could have scarred me,” Kyle said. “What if I’d come in ten minutes later?”
“Yeah,” Mia said. “What if he had?”
“Nothing,” Tallulah said. “That’s what he’d have seen. He’s exaggerating. And has he told you he’s been spending most nights at some girl’s house?” She raised an eyebrow. “I thought you were going to invite her tonight.”
Kyle pointed down the road. “I did. That’s her.”
The girl picked up her pace as she realised she’d been spotted. Kyle stood up and took her hand, introducing her to his sisters.
“So, Tanya,” Zoe said. “You look like an independent witness. What’s this about Tallulah being engaged to her boss?”
“Yeah. That’s the best gossip in ages.” Tanya grinned at Tallulah. “Congratulations. And I’m with your brother. That makes me big at the moment. But why does everyone think you’re called Tinkerbelle?”
Tallulah wanted to bang her head on the table. “I’m going to kill him.” She looked straight at Tanya. “We are not engaged.”
“This came from his sister. Francesca Marlowe,” Tanya said, for the benefit of Zoe and Mia. “Surely she’d know.”
“Surely I’d know?” Tallulah gathered her dignity. “I’ll talk to him tomorrow. He’ll have to tell people it’s not true.”
“But what about the sofa?” Zoe asked.
“Yeah,” Tanya said. “Kyle told me he caught you mid act.”
“He did not.” Tallulah was getting cross. “Can we talk about something else?”
“Okay,” Zoe said. “When’s the wedding?”
The rest of the table cracked up.
Fortunately for Tallulah’s rapidly rising temper, the waiter appeared to take their orders. Tallulah asked for another beer. She not only needed one, she deserved one.
“I met the fosters for lunch,” Kyle said. “They want me to come home.”
It was interesting that he referred to his foster parent’s house as home.
“Are you going to?” Tallulah asked.
“I don’t know,” Kyle said. “It’s too interesting around here at the moment. And you need a chaperone.”
“I do not.” Tallulah slammed her bottle onto the table top and folded her arms.
“I think you do.” Kyle glanced at Tanya. “I’ll stay until the end of the holidays. I could earn some money, then go back and finish the sixth form. They seemed to think that was an okay idea.”
“I might throw you out now.”
Kyle ignored her. “I’m going to apply to do engineering. I don’t know which university yet. I don’t want to be stuck in a mailroom or hauling bricks for the rest of my life. I’ll be able to come back in the holidays, Human Resources told me.”
Tallulah heaved a sigh of relief, diverted from her own problems for a moment. She had worried about Kyle, like she worried about Mia. They needed to be settled. Zoe was the only one who wasn’t a worry.
“We’re moving to Manchester,” Zoe said. “That’s my news.”
“What? Why?” Mia obviously hadn’t heard anything about a projected move.
“Michael wants to be able to buy a house,” Zoe said. “We couldn’t afford to pitch a tent in London. He’s signed his new contract and starts in a month. I’ve had a few interviews, and two of them look promising.”
“I’ll miss you.” Tallulah hated to think Zoe would no longer be around the corner. It’s Michael, she thought. I’m sure Zoe doesn’t really want to go.
“Manchester’s not the end of the world,” Zoe said. “It’s only a couple of hours on the train.”
The waiter came back with the pizzas, and Tallulah turned to Tanya. “Do you have any plans for the next year?”