Read Instruction in Seduction for Free Online Page B

both bright pink, passed by. Driven by elephants with party hooters.
    “Me?” He looked at her like she was about to have a breakdown.
    “I love the job. You, I love it all. I love you most.”
    He paused. Checked his rear view, his watch, glanced up with those deep blue eyes (flecked with topaz to drive her crazy). Eyes she wanted to look into and see him near her for the kiss she needed so badly.
    It didn’t happen.
    “Do you like me, Nick?” She remembered they were sitting at the junction, about to pass Hyde Park. His eyes didn’t even flick to her, they stayed on the road.
    “You’re great, Ailsa. But I find it best never to blur the lines of professional and personal with colleagues. I hope that straightens things for you.”
    Deep breath. Big gulp. One, two, three and go…
    “I’d love to have an affair with you. A no-strings one, I honestly wouldn’t mind,” she blurted. “I’ve fancied you since I first met you. Working with you drives me crazy.”
    “Again, that’s really not a good idea. Perhaps we should speak to H.R. about a transfer to another section?”
    His eyes were a solemn unequivocal warning. “I don’t do affairs at work.”
    Ailsa gasped.
    Wow, all that pent up tension and preparation and personal challenge had made her world spin. Literally.
    And Nick was just watching her in a very odd fashion that wasn’t the desired effect at all. Ailsa felt her skin turn green, sweat trickle, her head spin. It wasn’t a good moment.
    And then she was unceremoniously ill out of Nick Palmer’s Mercedes window. As seductions went this was her private Room 101.
    But the following morning it hadn’t seemed remotely important. After the phone call about Kirsty’s accident. And she’d never suffered the cringe-factor of working with Nick again because she’d left without working notice. After Kirsty’s coma nothing seemed as important as her sister pulling through.
    Of course she didn’t ever regain consciousness. And Ailsa never returned to London or her studies again.
    For many years now she’d thought her brief time in London had been the worst decision of her life. She’d wasted the last months of Kirsty’s life somewhere she should never have been.
    A city who’s only saving grace was a man who barely registered she existed. And now he was back in her life offering to sleep with her.
    And yet she was telling herself Kirsty was communicating from the afterlife. Telling herself she had a right to take the lead with Nick. Did her humiliation know no bounds?
    Should she dispel and squash the crazy notions? Was she crazy?
    Or crazy not to take Kirsty’s advice and the leap for one unforgettable night with a man who still mattered?
    ***
    Nick shrugged at the turn of tonight’s events as he flicked the key card and unlocked his suite door, wishing he had the morals of a slug instead of the ideals of a saint. He’d resisted, played the gentleman, treated Ailsa with gallant respect.
    But missed out on a great start to his New Year.
    So that in the morning he’d be there for Sally (it was the anniversary of the sad day she’d said yes to her love rat husband. The one who’d now shacked up with somebody else).
    “Hey Sal, it’s me,” Nick put a call through to Sally’s room even though it was early hours of the morning. He knew she’d be up being a night owl. “Okay?”
    “Reading and skyping on the computer to The States.” Sally trained as a chef in America and still had a lot of good friends there. “I watched New Year on the news, it looked fun. Good night, Nick?” She sounded muffled. Like she’d been sleeping, or crying. Maybe both?
    “Did you talk to Mum?”
    “Yep. She’s fine and wishes you a Happy New Year. Then I ordered nachos, watched a movie.”
    “The Street Party was busy. You might’ve enjoyed it. Wish you’d been out there with me.” Then again he’d never have chanced his arm with Ailsa with his sister there. And that would’ve been a loss. “Still