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the reason he’d started tinkering with computers in the first place was because he needed something to do to pass the time while his bruises were at their most prominent. Wrinkling his nose, he pushed his plate away from him. He needed to change the topic. Fast.
    ‘You even helped me indulge some of those indoor activities.’ He made no effort to hide the teasing in his voice.
    A flicker of emotion passed over her face, gone as quickly as it appeared. She pushed her breakfast around her plate with her fork; she’d barely touched it. ‘Must be a different life now, having to deal with so many people instead of being holed up on your own.’
    ‘It is,’ he said. ‘I can’t just think about myself any more. I have a team to lead. They rely on the success of the company, and I have a very big part to play.’
    ‘I bet they look up to you.’ A soft smile pulled her lips up and for a moment she was lost in her own thoughts.
    ‘They do.’
    Yes, the mask he wore for his team was a good one—solid, practised, comforting. He’d started young, putting on a brave face for the teachers, the doctors, the Johnsons. Being a leader was a learned behaviour, but to the untrained eye it appeared as natural to him as putting his clothes on in the morning. Luckily for him, no one knew what was going on inside...no one except Elise.

FOUR
    ‘You agreed to do what I said.’ Elise planted her hands on her hips and tried to stifle the curve of a wicked smile on her lips.
    Two flint-like blue eyes stared back at her with such an intensity she could have sworn they were about to fire lightning bolts at her. Col’s breath came rapidly, his chest rising and falling within the confines of his grey T-shirt. Muscles bulged as he crossed his arms tight across his chest.
    She stood her ground, staunchly refusing to look at how incredible his body was. It was those biceps; they were a damn distraction!
    ‘This is ridiculous and pointless and... cruel .’ He looked at the group of little girls who were bouncing up and down on the spot, amusing themselves by babbling to one another and trying to point their ballet-slippered feet.
    ‘If you can’t stand to be in front of a group of four-year-olds, who don’t understand the concept of judgement, then how can you get up in front of a room full of your peers or your competitors?’
    ‘This is absolute bull—’
    Elise silenced him with a look.
    ‘Bull...poop.’ He glared at her. ‘And you know it.’
    Okay, so perhaps sticking Col at the front of her class full of four-year-old ballet students had the benefit of personal amusement. But she had warned him: if he wanted her help then she was in charge. End of story.
    ‘If you no longer require my services feel free to leave.’ She held her hand out to the door, calling his bluff.
    ‘What about the mothers?’ He gestured to the viewing window where several of the students’ mothers milled around, watching the class and talking amongst themselves. ‘Would they really want a man in here with their kids?’
    She smiled sweetly, relishing having the upper hand for once. ‘Oh, I got their permission. They’re totally fine with it.’
    Defeated, he gritted his teeth and squared his shoulders, facing the class. Good boy.
    ‘Okay, class,’ she began in her best teacher voice. ‘Today we have a special guest joining us. This is my friend, Col, and I want you to make him feel very welcome. He’s going to be helping me run the lesson today.’
    One of her students jabbed a chubby finger in Col’s direction, her cherubic face pulled into a suspicious scowl. ‘You don’t look like a ballet teacher. Where are your ballet shoes?’
    Elise’s eyes dropped to the floor. Col’s bare feet stuck out from the frayed hems of his worn jeans. He rocked up onto the balls of his feet so that his heels left the floor. Her eyes travelled back up, skimming over the denim that hugged his muscular thighs like a second skin. His T-shirt was fitted, tight