In Her Own Time Read online

  “You need to get out of my chair, I have work to do.”

  “Yeah okay, but before I do, I want to know one thing.” I cross my arms in front of me, still holding Julia’s drink. I wait for him to elaborate further, but concede when he doesn’t.

  “Argh. If it’s going to get you out of my chair, then fine. What is it? What is your question?”

  “Will you have dinner with me?”

  “No.”

  “Why not, Beth? Is it because you can’t trust yourself to be around me?” His smugness is over exaggerated when he raises his eyebrows to me.

  “Are you really that conceited? To even think you have any effect on me what so ever?”

  He unfolds himself from my chair and steps in toward me, I can hear my breath betray me as it hitches at his closeness.

  “It’s okay, Beth. I think your reaction just now answers the question more honestly than your words ever could.”

  Nash steps away and walks past in the direction of Julia’s office. I still have her tea in my hand but I need a moment to gather myself.

  “Beth! Darling, can I have my green tea now.” Julia’s high pitched voice beckons for me from behind her closed door.

  I stride in, place the cup on her desk and without a glance at either of them I rush back to my desk.

  For the rest of the day, I’m distracted by glimpses of Nash working in Julia’s office, his presence on the other side of the glass was not one to go unnoticed. My eyes wander with my imagination, occasionally being interrupted by Julie when she barked another order or request for something to be delivered in, and each time I can feel Nash’s eyes burning into me.

  By 6 o’clock, I’ve had my fill for the day, stretching in my chair before shutting down the computer, Nash and Julia are still in her office working and not wanting to distract them I do my best to leave quietly, and as it turns out my best would be knocking a whole filing tray to the ground with my handbag, sending papers scattered across the floor.

  “Here, let me help you.” In an instant, Nash is crouched down in front of me helping gather the pages.

  “I can manage.” I retort, biting back at his offer, as if I was so useless as to take care of a few scatters papers by myself.

  “You really are a stubborn little thing aren’t you, Beth.”

  “No, Nash, I just can manage on my own. Go back to Julia.”

  His hand brushes against mine briefly but I can feel the tingling it caused even after he’s pulled it away.

  Standing, facing one another for a moment; Nash’s expression unreadable, Busying myself with filing the papers I ignore him before he turns to walk back into Julia’s office.

  When I arrive at my desk the next morning Julie and Nash are already at work in her office.

  “Hello, darling, would you mind popping over the road to get us some coffee?” Julia is standing in the doorway of her office, I can see Nash behind her watching the exchange.

  I tuck my handbag under the desk before pasting a smile on my face, “Sure, no problem.”

  When I return with the coffees Julia is no longer in her office, Nash is there by himself talking heatedly on his mobile phone. I feel his eyes on me as I place the two cups on the meeting table.

  I hear his gruff ending of the conversation, a tone I had never heard him use even in our limited contact, I bring my eyes up to meet his. My heart is racing.

  “Good morning, Beth, have you reconsidered having dinner with me?”

  “No. It’s beyond me as to why you’d think I’d given your proposal a second thought.”

  “Because I have no intention of giving up on asking you. I can guarantee that you will soon be having dinner with me, Beth. It would be easier for you just to agree now.”

  “Don’t hold your breath, Nash.” I glare at him. “On second thought, do, do hold it.”

  I hear him chuckle as I walk away, squaring my shoulders and lifting my chin, I’m determined more than ever now to put the arsehole back in his place. If he thinks I will be ever having dinner with him he must be out of his mind.

  Julia returns, stopping at my desk before she proceeds back into her office. “Bethany, I need to ask you a favour.”

  “Absolutely, Julia, what is it?”

  “Well, I have reservations for dinner at Marcello’s tonight, I’m not able to make it now, so I need you to go in my place. It’s a work thing, so it’ll be charged to an expense account.”

  I loved Marcello’s, especially when I wasn’t not eating carbs. Marcello’s was an Italian restaurant with the most melt in your mouth, dreamy carbonara sauce, it was literally to die for, and getting a reservation was almost impossible. “Absolutely, what time?”

  “Reservation is for eight. I know its Friday and you probably already had other plans, so I really appreciate you helping me out here.” The corners of Julia’s eyes crinkle as she shows me a genuine smile. It was like seeing a leprechaun riding a unicorn, a rarity in its truest form.

  “No problem. I can reschedule.” I return her smile, postponing my Bridget Jones’ Diary binge fest till tomorrow.

  And it wasn’t a problem until I arrive at Marcello’s a little before eight. The moment of adulterated bliss of being in the restaurant lasted only as long as it takes for me to be shown to a table. Where there is already someone sitting, waiting. Nash. You have got to be kidding me!

  The waiter pulls out the chair for me, Nash stands and we both sit at the same time. At least he has the illusion of manners. Even if it is only in public spaces.

  “What are you doing here, Nash?”

  “Oh, Bethany, it’s so lovely to see you again.” His voice drips with an exaggeration of politeness, sickening sweet like a whole bag of fairy floss from the fair.

  “Don’t be a smart arse, Nash, what are you doing here?” My impatience growing, his ignorance of my question wears on my already frayed nerves.

  “I had dinner plans with Julia; we actually had a strategy session planned.” He shrugs his shoulders. “I guess she couldn’t make it.” The smile on his face, a testament to the fact he was already wise she wouldn’t be joining him, but I’m not fooled by his act of innocence.

  “Did you set this up because I turned you down, twice?”

  “I’m slightly offended that you think I’d need to manipulate this situation just to get you to have dinner with me.”

  “Who knows what you need to do to get a date, Nash.”

  “Let me assure you that I have never had any trouble in the past, nor do I expect any in the future. Your abrasiveness is a new experience for me though.” I watch as he dismissively runs his finger across the bottom of his wine glass, his eyes fixed on me, burning into me, it’s all I can do not to meet his stare.

  “I am not abrasive.” I take a sip of my water, still avoiding eye contact. “I just don’t tolerate bullshit.”

  “Are you accusing me of being intolerable, Beth?”

  “You appear to be intelligent, Nash, I am sure you can work that out on your own.”

  The waiter comes back to pour the wine Nash had obviously taken the liberty of ordering and notes down our own meal selections, it is a welcome reprieve from the direction that the conversation was heading.

  Nash waits until the waiter has left the table, before leaning in slightly to ask. His voice low. “Can we at least act like we are civilized, even if it is just for the duration of this dinner? Or do you really dislike me that much?”

  “Who said I did?”

  “I’m not an idiot; I can see it all over your face, Beth. Tell me I’m wrong.”

  “What reason do I have to not like you?” Please tell me because I can’t work out why I feel how I feel when you’re around. Drawn to you one moment and repelled the next, starved of your touch even though it’s so foreign to me.

  “I have no idea, after all, I am devastatingly good-looking, intelligent as you’ve already pointed out, I’m financially secure, funny, and fantastic in bed with an impeccable driving record.”
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br />   “Oh yes, not to mention egotistical, infuriating, self-absorbed and delusional.”

  “Are you still bitter because I turned you down all those years ago?”

  “Case and point of delusional.” Cocking my eyebrow at him, I lift my glass of wine to my lips.

  “Come on, Beth, I saw the way you checked me out the morning after you stayed in my bed.”

  “Case and point of self-absorbed.” I lower my glass again without taking a taste of the wine.

  “Well, I’m willing to let you rewrite some history for us, Beth.” He steadies me with his gaze over his own wine glass.

  “Case and point of being infuriating and egotistical, for that matter.” He laughs at me. I cross my arms in front of me. “And for the record, I am not bitter.”

  “Okay, well answer me this question, honestly if you would.”

  I inhale a deep breath and hold it for a moment before exhaling. “Okay.”

  “Do you think about it?”

  “Think about what exactly?”

  “Waking up together.”

  “No.” A lie. “Why? Do you?” I ask, a little too quickly.

  “Yes, but not as much as I think about that naughty striptease.”

  I can’t help but laugh now. The conversation was getting ridiculous.

  Our meals are delivered to our table and our wine glasses are refilled, prompting Nash to lift his in the air. “A toast?”

  “To what exactly?”

  I watch him as he mulls it over and then the incredibly sexy smile spreads across his face. “Here is to exposing your desires, fulfilling your dreams and being seduced by life.”

  I reflect on his words for a moment before we clink our glasses. “To desires, dreams and being seduced.”

  “My thoughts exactly.”

  The food is delicious, and it isn’t long after the empty plates are cleared that the waiter returns with the dessert menu.

  “Are you interested, Nash?”

  “In what, Beth? You? Or dessert?”

  “Dessert, Nash.” I answer, dryly.

  “Oh.” He leans back in his chair, I’m distracted by the feeling of his eyes on me as I try to read the menu.

  Saturday night I have dinner with Gretna, Matt and Ella. By the time I’m on their doorstep there is nothing more I want than to snuggle with baby Ella.

  “I so needed this little bundle of sunshine in my arms.” I rock her in my arms as she sleeps. Gretna kicks back in the recliner and watches us as we move around the living room.

  “Rough week?”

  I shrug, “Remember that first time we met Nash Gibson?”

  She raises her brow at me, I’m acutely aware this is the second time he has come up in conversation over the last week.

  “The night David set you up with him?” Her hand instantly goes to her mouth, covering it as if she had spoken without thinking.

  “Are you kidding me right now?” My rising voice causes Ella to stir.

  “I’m sorry, Beth.” She weakly apologises through a giggle.

  “Unbelievable! I just don’t feel like I know who you are anymore.”

  “Stop being so dramatic. So what about Nash? You’ve seen him now then?”

  “Yeah a bit, I mean he’s kind of hard to miss, he’s actually here consulting at work.”

  “So tell me, Beth, is he still as good looking as he was back then?”

  Matt clears his throat, he was working in the kitchen but could clearly overhear our conversation “You do remember that I’m right here?”

  “Yes, babe, I see you.” She turns back to me, “Now, Beth, answer the question.”

  “Do you mean is he still the same pretentious, self-righteous arrogant jerk? Then yes, yes he is.”

  “Come on, Beth, you had an issue with him from the moment he was breathing the same air as you. I never understood it though.”

  “What’s to understand, Grets?”

  “Why you took an instant dislike to him maybe.”

  “Oh god, not you too!’ She looks at me all doe-eyed and confused. “Nash has been constantly interrogating me all week.”

  “Oh, let me get this straight, you haven’t only seen him but you’ve been talking to him?”

  Shit! I had unintentionally backed myself into a corner, if Gretna hadn’t known me as well as she did I’m sure I could’ve convincingly bluffed myself out of the situation.

  “Yes, drinks and dinner.”

  “Twice in the one week, Beth?” I just nod, and I can’t make eye contact with her. “So, basically, you two are dating?”

  “God no, it was for work only.”

  Matt calls from the other room, “Dinner’s ready, ladies.”

  “Yea okay, Beth, sure.” I can see in her expression that she is not convinced. “I’ll take Ella and put her down and meet you in a sec.”

  Our conversation does not return to Nash for the rest of the night thankfully, instead, she fills me in on the ridiculously cute things Ella has been doing, mostly sleeping and making gooey faces, but the subject change is more than welcome.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Nash

  The best part of the week passes without even one glimpse of Beth and I had been looking for her.

  It isn’t until the elevator opens on the way out on Friday that I catch sight of her, I see as she falters when she steps into the car as if she was reconsidering whether she should stay or leave.

  We ride in silence for another two floors; more people join the car which affords me the opportunity to step closer to Beth.

  “How are you, Beth?” She ignores me, acting as if I hadn’t spoken at all. I wait until the car is clear before I reach for her hand, gentling pulling her into me. She crashes into my chest.

  “What the hell?” I can see her frustrated expression reflecting on the closed doors. “You need to let go of me right now, Nash Gibson.”

  Spinning around she raises her hand and it connects with my cheek. I think we are both just as stunned as each other, but I recover first. Grabbing both of her wrists I raise her arms above her head and hold them there against the wall of the elevator, trapping her body with mine.

  Her pupils dilate and her breath comes out a little ragged.

  “Does that passion carry over in the bedroom, Beth?”

  “I guess you will never know.” Even at my mercy, her words shoot daggers like a venomous asp.

  “So if I kissed you right now, you’re telling me that it would have no effect on you at all?”

  “Of course not, don’t be ridiculous. Let go of me, or I’ll scream bloody murder.”

  I bring my mouth crashing into hers, stopping any attempt of her screaming anything. I push my tongue into her mouth and it is rewarded with a little whimper from Beth. I release her hands I had imprisoned, and she brings one down against my chest and the other to the back of my neck, holding me closer to deepen the kiss.

  I break the kiss and watch as her eyes refocus. “Well, Bethany, if that is you unaffected then I think you should come with me now so we can have some privacy and I can try again.” I had never had that kind of response from a woman before just because of a single kiss, and the thought of its effect because of Beth was a massive turn on.

  “Are you insane?”

  “Maybe I am a little crazy, but that doesn’t change a thing about how much I want you right now.” To show her how true my words are I pull her into my body so she would be able to feel just how turned on I was by her. “Come back to my suite, Beth, show me exactly how unaffected you are by me.” I watch her face change as she registers my proposition; the sudden desire there is unmistakable. I hold my breath, waiting for her response.

  On our short ride in the taxi, it took all my willpower not to touch her. She sat quietly, as if completely impassive to the proposition she was willingly accepting. She could’ve been on the ride alone for all the interaction she incited from me.

  Our ride in the elevator continues in silence, I begged for the car to rush us to m
y floor, worried that if too much time passed Beth will consider this a bad idea.

  It wasn’t until the green light flashed on the card reader did I let myself relax again.

  “Can I fix you a drink?”

  “A scotch would be good.” She is wandering the expanse of the room, her arms wrapped around her as she takes it all in. Momentarily, she pauses at the door that leads out onto the balcony before she comes back to the middle of the room, to me.

  I pass her a glass and she immediately throws back the amber liquid, apparent that I wasn’t the only one who had nerves to settle.

  “If you are planning on continuing to drink like that, Beth, we will need to order you something to eat.”

  I fix her another glass, which she nurses instead of taking it straight to her lips. I watch as she makes her way to the lounge, kicks off her heels and makes herself comfortable on the sofa.

  “Purple today?”

  “Huh?”

  “Your shoes. They’re purple.”

  “Violet actually.” Does she really feel the need to argue over everything with me?

  “Are you nervous about being here, Beth?”

  “What? No. Why would I be?”

  “Because you seem on edge like I’m the fox on a hunt of my prey and you are the startled rabbit.” I do my best not to appear to be stalking toward her whilst joining her on the sofa.

  “Don’t be ridiculous, Nash. I’m not some sacrificial virgin at your alter begging to be taken.”

  “Well, I guess that is partially right. You will be begging soon enough.”

  “What makes you so sure of yourself, Nash?”

  “Honestly?”

  “Sure, why not?”

  “Every time I look at you I can see how much it is mutual, this attraction I have for you.” I trace my finger over her bare arm.

  “Are you sure you aren’t just confusing it with repulsion?”

  “No, sweetheart, I felt your reaction to our kiss and the body doesn’t lie. Do you need me to remind you?” I take the glass from her hand and set it down on the table in front of us, surprising me when she doesn’t protest. When I look back at her, her lips are parted slightly. I lean in close to her, I can feel her exhaling a long and shallow breath, the scent of the whiskey there, and I kiss the side of her neck as she swallows, “Beth, I’m not a bad guy.”