ELEMENTAL LOVE: A Second Chance Single Dad Romance Read online

  I was chomping at the bit to say something, but instead, I held my tongue. My conversation with Thomas was far from over, yet it seemed that we had no choice whether we wanted to continue or not. The decision had been made for us. The lord had spoken.

  “Not a problem,” I said, without flinching. “Goodbye, Thomas. Bye, Noah.”

  “Bye, Rachel!” Noah called, from the large chair behind his father’s desk where he was swirling, around and around. “See you next time!”

  But, if the look his father just gave me was anything to go by, I was sure there wouldn’t be a next time.

  Chapter 14

  ________

  ALEX

  I knew that look. I knew the gleam in his eyes, the hungry stare that for some reason, had girls swooning at his feet. At times, I’d been fascinated by it, even a little amused. Now, I was angry.

  He was newly engaged and I was newly involved in the deal that the merging of our two families had created. I wasn’t about to let it be sabotaged by a piece of ass, coming in and causing Tom to look elsewhere.

  I’ll hold my hands up and admit that I could see the attraction. It made sense that he’d want to look twice at Rachel. She was surely a head-turner, by all accounts. Hell, even I had to confess that I’d appreciated the sight of her, especially when she had her back turned to me and I wasn’t aware that it was her giving Noah his riding lesson.

  Tom has never had a type, exactly. But from what I knew about women, Rachel Evans ticked all the boxes. She was tall, slim and undeniably attractive. Her hair had been pulled up into a messy bun, and curls tumbled out in a way that was more charming than it was slovenly. Even in riding pants and a polo shirt, the curve of her hips and the swell of her breast was clear. Had I simply met her at a party or business engagement, I’m sure I would have found her very pleasant indeed.

  But right now, she was nothing more than a wrench in the works, a fly in the ointment of a very lucrative deal. If Tom found himself desiring another woman, it could jeopardize his engagement, and therefore completely scupper my latest plans. He’d spoken to her as if she was a long-lost friend, and I knew that he was keen to talk to her again. It was as though the man simply couldn’t help himself.

  Rachel left the room, and I heard Alastair showing her to the door. I glared at Tom. “Pathetic,” I said. “You’re about as obvious as a damn circus parade, goddammit.”

  He frowned. “I don’t know what the big deal is,” he said. “She’s an old friend of the family, and I was simply being polite.”

  “You were being you,” I said. “And I know what it means. And I can’t have you sniffing around her like an Afghan bloodhound.”

  Chewing the inside of his cheek, he put his hands on his hips. “Why not, exactly?”

  This wasn’t a conversation I was about to have in front of Noah. I called Lucinda, and she came down to collect him so he could change out of his riding gear. He wasn’t happy.

  “I wanted to tell you all about my ride, Daddy!” he cried, and I assured him that I would be up in a moment so that he could tell me all about it. He stuck out his lip but he went with the nanny all the same. Once Tom and I were alone again, I spelled things out for him once more.

  “You’re going to be a married man very soon,” I said. “That means certain things about your behavior have to change.”

  “Things have already changed,” he said, defiantly. He folded his arms in front of his chest. “I’m completely devoted to Sienna and I’d never cheat on her.”

  “But Rachel doesn’t know that.”

  “Why does that matter?”

  “Because she’s a member of the staff who is only going to get all weak-kneed and gooey-eyed over her very rich employer,” I said. “She doesn’t care about your engagement. She sees an unmarried guy with a few bucks and she’s going to turn on the charm and try to turn your head while she’s at it.”

  Tom looked at me incredulously. “My God, brother. You really do see the very worst in people sometimes,” he said. “Rachel’s a beautiful woman who’s done pretty well for herself by the sounds of things. She’s even got herself a new job in the city already. Didn’t you hear?”

  “It was a little difficult to hear anything over the sound of your heavy breathing and panting,” I said, wryly. “And I have no interest in what job she’s got lined up for herself.”

  “She’s going to work for a top interior design company in the center of New York. She must have been headhunted as you and I both know that jobs like that don’t come around very often.”

  “Anyone can call themselves an interior designer,” I said, exasperated by the way Tom didn’t seem to want to let it go. “Where is it she’s working? I’m sure I’ve never heard of the place.”

  “Elemental,” Tom replied. “It sounds familiar. Didn’t we use them once?”

  “Yes, once or twice, in fact,” I said. “Now, I need to talk to Noah and see how his riding lesson went.”

  “Is she going to be bringing him over every week?” Tom asked, and he didn’t even attempt to feign innocent interest.

  “No,” I said. “It was a one-time lesson and next week I’ll be bringing in a new teacher.”

  “Noah sure seems to like her,” Tom said. “And I like her too. And you’d like her, Alex, if your heart wasn’t so goddamn closed off.”

  “Shut the door when you leave,” I said, walking past him toward the stairs.

  I made my way to Noah’s room, and he was now in shorts and a shirt, whizzing around the playroom while holding a plane in his hand. When he saw me, he leaped into my arms. I asked him to tell me about his first lesson.

  “It was so scary,” he said, his wide eyes glaring dramatically. “She is so tall, Daddy!”

  “Who is? Miss Evans?”

  “No! Bonnie! And who’s Miss Evans?”

  “Your teacher.”

  “Oh, that’s Rachel, silly,” Noah said.

  “You call her Rachel?”

  “I asked her name, and that’s what she said. Is that not her name?”

  “Yes it is, but I thought you might call her Miss Evans, that’s all.”

  “No. She said Rachel. I like her. She’s very pretty.”

  “And what about Bonnie?”

  “Bonnie is so big that she reaches right up to the sky!” Noah said, and he stood on his tiptoes and pointed up as high as he could. “I thought I was going to fall off, but Rachel taught me how to hang on.”

  “Did you learn about the reins?”

  “It wasn’t raining, Daddy. It was sunny.”

  I chuckled. “No. The reins. It’s the name of the leather belt that goes around the horse’s head and you hold it in your hands.”

  “I held onto the saddle.”

  “Ah.” I understood what he meant. Like many beginners, he was starting out with a saddle strap, before moving onto reins. “So, did you like it?”

  He nodded. “It was super amazing.”

  “And you want to go again next week?”

  “Yes! I told Rachel that next time I want to climb up all by myself.”

  “Well, I think you might have another teacher next week,” I said. “I don’t think Rachel’s going to be able to teach you because she has another job.”

  “Tell her to leave that job and stay working here,” Noah said, and he held out his hands matter of factly, as though it made all the sense in the world for Rachel to simply do as he wanted.

  “I think she’s going to be too busy,” I said. “But don’t worry. We’ll find you someone just as nice.”

  After I left him and went downstairs, I sat at my desk and pondered for a moment. It seemed the Maitland men had taken a shine to Rachel Evans, and although there was certainly something about her, I wasn’t as bewitched as my brother and son had been.

  She needed to stay away from the house and away from my brother.

  But Tom had given me some very interesting information, the kind of information that may prove to be very useful indeed. I searc
hed through my folders for an email I wanted and found it. Within a few moments, I’d located the number I was looking for and I lifted the telephone receiver and punched in the numbers.

  The call was answered within two rings. A sweet, high-pitched voice sang down the phone to me. “Elemental Design, how may I help you?”

  “I’d like to be put through to Kate Rose,” I said. “It’s important.”

  “I’m afraid Miss Rose is busy right now,” the voice replied. I cut her off.

  “Tell her it’s Alexander Maitland. I’m sure she’ll take the call.”

  “Oh!” The familiar recognition was evident and I practically heard the penny drop at the other end of the line. “Please give me a moment, Mister Maitland. I’m sure she’s free.”

  After a short pause, there was a click and a new voice.

  “Alex,” said Kate Rose. “This is a nice surprise. How can we help you today?”

  Chapter 15

  ________

  RACHEL

  “I’m really sorry, but I don’t understand what you mean.”

  “Well, I’m guessing that he’s seen your work and he wants to hire you.”

  Kate Rose leaned back in her ergonomic chair and tapped a pen against her teeth. She had a half-smile playing about her lips, as though she was dying to ask me something.

  “How do you know Alex Maitland?” she asked. I was right.

  “I don’t really know him,” I said, and I explained how my Dad had been working for the Maitland family for many years. “It’s not what you think, though. It’s not like we have anything in common. We don’t fraternize at all.”

  “He must know plenty about you, because you haven’t even stepped through the doors and already he wants to hire you.”

  “I can promise you, Kate, that I’m as confused as you are.”

  “Well, be that as it may, I’m not going to complain about the business he’s bringing our way,” Kate said. “Let’s face it; he’s the largest contract we’ve landed this year. We worked together a year or so ago when he took over Lansdowne Theater. We were commissioned to do the reception rooms and the offices, and he paid very well. However, what I don’t understand is how he knew you were coming to work for me even before you started. It’s not as if it was common knowledge.”

  Things were slowly starting to make a little sense, but nowhere near enough for me to put the whole puzzle together. “I might have told a couple of people about the job,” I said. “But I’m still a little unclear about the whole thing. What happened, again?”

  Kate took a deep breath and I got the distinct feeling she didn’t trust me. I didn’t blame her. I hadn’t a clue how to make sense of it. “Friday, I got a call from Alex. He asked to speak to me, and according to my assistant, he wouldn’t take no for an answer. So, I stopped what I was doing, as you don’t ignore calls from a man like Alex Maitland. Then he asked me if I’d hired you and when I confirmed I had, he asked me if you were any good.”

  She paused, and I attempted a smile. “Hopefully you said yes to that, too?”

  “Of course. I told him I wouldn’t have hired you if I didn’t think you were. Then he proceeded to tell me of a brand new hotel complex just outside Hell’s Kitchen and it needs to have the best designer on the job and that he’s just fired the previous guy.”

  She took a sip of water from the half-empty glass in front of her and placed it back on her desk. “I can’t blame him for that. Henry Cohen. The man’s a mess and his designs… awful. Just awful.”

  “I’ve seen some of his work. He’s a little bit eccentric but I like some of his stuff.”

  “Well, it seems you and Alex have a difference of opinion on that score, then, as he hated the designs and insisted that you be the one to take over his new project. He wants to see you downtown later today, at his manager’s office. It’s around the corner from the new site.”

  “Has he even seen anything I’ve done?”

  “I took the liberty of shooting him an email with part of your portfolio while we were on the call,” Kate replied. “It’s what I’d do with any client who wanted to see a designer’s work.”

  “Right,” I said. “It makes sense. I just don’t understand why he didn’t come to me directly.”

  “Are you saying you would have taken him on as a personal client?”

  “No, of course not,” I said, hurriedly. “But he knew I was going to work for you, and yet he didn’t mention he had a job that needed doing.”

  “It seems he has the professional integrity to speak to me first,” Kate said, and I could see that she was putting her foot down in a situation she felt was completely out of her control. I could see that she was convinced there was some kind of conspiracy, an under-the-table deal where I was soliciting work outside of her company and I’d been caught red-handed. She couldn’t possibly have known just how shocked I was at the news she’d just delivered.

  “Anything you book with him comes through the company account,” she said.

  “Of course,” I said. “I’ll keep you in the loop every step of the way.”

  “Right. So, it’s 2 o’clock for your appointment. I’ll message you the address now.”

  I left my new boss’s office and made my way to my own. It was a large, light area, and had a great view of Central Park. I stood with my hands in my pockets, looking out in the direction of where my appointment was about to take place. I was barely a mile away from Hell’s Kitchen, and I wondered what I’d find when I got there.

  It turned out that I didn’t have long to wait. Rather than driving down, I decided to walk through Central Park, taking my time and enjoying the early July sunshine. It was crowded with tourists by the boating lake, so I turned to avoid them and walked over the grass instead.

  The building was easy to spot; it was an old beige tenement with boards erected all the way around it, spilling out onto the road. The traffic was being diverted into one lane, and there were lots of horns honking and very little movement of cars. I couldn’t help but think about how much that summed up Alex so completely: here was a project he was working on. The rest of the world would have to wait until he was finished.

  The manager’s office was on West 46th Street, around the corner from the building site. I pressed the button for the 3rd floor, as the message had instructed, and almost immediately, I was buzzed in. There was no elevator, so I walked up the stairs. At the top, there was a heavy metal door, the color of copper. There was no bell, but there was a small sign that read “Jennifer Carter. Project Manager.”

  Relieved to find that I was in the right place, I rapped on the door and within a few seconds, it opened. I had a friendly smile on my face, but I couldn’t help but feel it evaporate immediately when I saw that I was staring into the grey eyes of Alex Maitland.

  He didn’t smile, either, nor did he say hello. Instead, he looked at his watch and raised his eyebrows. “Five minutes early,” he muttered. “I guess that’s not a bad sign.”

  “Sorry to have disappointed you,” I remarked.

  “You haven’t. I appreciate people who are on time when they work for me.”

  Ugh. I was here to work with Alexander Maitland, but it wasn’t to do a simple job in the house, like bring in new plants or drop off his son from a riding lesson. Instead, I was contracted to do his bidding on a brand-new project, which had nothing to do with his estate and everything to do with the next step in my career.

  There was a lot riding on this meeting, and I knew that everyone involved knew it. I hoped that, on the other side of the door there would be a number of other people, all with different input, and I could simply listen and take notes, fading into the background.

  No such luck. I saw very quickly that in this huge loft, there was nobody around but Alex and myself.

  “I thought I was here to meet someone named Jennifer,” I said, as I followed him. “Isn’t she the manager of the place? That’s what Kate told me.”

  “I don’t like to have too many pe
ople’s opinions all at once,” he said. “It makes for unnecessary babble. Besides, I haven’t been too impressed with Jennifer’s decision-making of late, so I sent her to do something else so I could meet with you.”

  “Why couldn’t you have mentioned this at the house?” I asked. “I live next door, you know.”

  “You don’t live next door, you live on my estate,” he said, and he invited me to sit down in a leather seat, low to the ground and ridiculously comfortable. I perched on the edge of it so that the chair wouldn’t swallow me up and my legs wouldn’t be dangling over the edge as though I were nine years old.

  “I still don’t understand why Kate was the one to tell me about this job.”

  “Because I’ve gone through Elemental Design,” Alex said, and his face was perfectly unreadable. He spoke to me as though he was speaking to a child, perhaps the nine-year-old whose legs dangled from a low chair.

  He pointed to a cabinet on the far wall, under which was a refrigerator. “Help yourself to water,” he said. “I’ll have some poured into a glass. There’s ice in the icebox.”

  “I’m sorry?”

  He was looking at some papers but paused to glance at me. “Water,” he said.

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” I said, again. “I was waiting for the magic word. Please.”

  Fucking arrogant asshole, I thought to myself. If there was any chance of his ego becoming more inflated, he’d damn well float to the ceiling. And I wasn’t about to be intimidated by the likes of him. I wasn’t his servant girl, running around doing his bidding. I wasn’t Alastair, his butler, who literally made sure his master’s shoes were spit and polished every single morning.

  I was a well-respected damn designer. A contractor. Someone he needed to make his newest project work. He needed me, and he wasn’t about to start bossing me around like a little Girl Friday.

  All the same, I was thirsty, and I opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle of water, which I emptied into two glasses. I dropped in some ice and brought it back to the table, handing one to Alex.

  “On the table’s fine,” he said, without looking at me, and I was tempted to pour the whole glass over his head. I managed to resist and sat down on the leather chair again, only this time I forgot to perch on the end, and before I knew it, I’d slid right back in the seat and my legs were taken from underneath me.