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Your instinct was good. But it’s my project and I get the final say. Just because I’m enthusiastic about my work doesn’t mean I take it lightly.’
    She nodded. She hadn’t known that about him. And now she did. Good. She let out the breath she’d been holding and her lips started to curve.
    Jason regarded Kelly with interest. All week he’d been charming and friendly to her—as charming as he could be without actually flirting —but he hadn’t had more than a nod or an affirmative phrase. And now he’d just told her off and she was smiling at him? How did that work?
    He smiled back. Not his charm-the-birds-from-the-trees smile, just an ordinary one. A weary one. It had been a long week. ‘Okay. Well, as long as that’s clear. This project is my baby. And I feel exactly the same way about it as a mother feels about her children.’
    She squinted at him slightly, as if she wasn’t quite sure it was possible to equate a running shoe with a living, breathing mini human being. ‘If you say so....’
    Jason’s smile upgraded to a grin. He didn’t know why he liked his prickly assistant’s prickles so much, but he did.
    â€˜I know you’re not going to believe me, but in a creative sense it really is like seeing something born. Years ago now, I had the seed of an idea, just the inkling of a new design that might really improve a running shoe, and it’s been growing and developing ever since. The shoe is finished—it’s ready to go out into the big wide world—and I want the very best for it.’
    â€˜Why?’ she said, looking back at him. The expression she wore was of open curiosity, not guarded politeness, as he’d been used to from her all week.
    â€˜Why does anybody want the best for their “babies”?’
    She pressed her lips together and thought for a while. ‘Because you want them to fulfil their potential—be all they can be.’
    He nodded. ‘Exactly. And I know these shoes have the potential to be revolutionary—I just need to convince the rest of the world of that too.’
    â€˜Why Dale McGrath? You said the preliminary approach you made wasn’t received with much interest. Why not just target someone else, someone who can catch your vision?’
    He put his hands behind his head and let his weight push his chair into recline so he could stare at the ceiling. Why did he want McGrath so badly? There were plenty of other sportsmen out there. Some who were showier, more charismatic. But Dale’s was the face he had seen when he’d imagined the first ad campaign and now he couldn’t shake it. ‘I don’t know why, but he just fits. Call it gut instinct.’
    With that he sat up and his chair sprung upright behind him. The clock on the opposite wall said it was close to five.
    Kelly followed his gaze and started to stand up. ‘Well, if that’s all,’ she said calmly, ‘I really should be going.’
    He planted his feet on the floor and rose too. ‘Time for a quick drink? There’s a great little place just round the corner.’
    Kelly froze. ‘I don’t think so,’ she said as she straightened and met his eyes.
    â€˜Not a date,’ he added quickly. ‘Just to celebrate an intense but productive first week. Purely professional.’
    She looked at him suspiciously.
    â€˜Look,’ he said, ‘half the Aspire team will be in there anyway. It’s a regular Friday-night hang-out.’
    She shook her head. ‘I’m sorry, I can’t.’
    â€˜Can’t or won’t?’
    â€˜Can’t,’ she said stiffly. All that armour plating that had melted away when he’d been telling her about Mercury was back up in full force. ‘There’s somewhere I need to be.’
    One corner of his mouth hitched up. ‘Can’t you make him wait? Just for half an hour?’
    She hugged her