AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Yes. Was that what you planned to ask me?’
His brow furrowed as he shook his head, clearly puzzled. Then he looked at her and the frown disappeared. ‘No, my question has nothing to do with work.’
‘Oh.’ The single syllable was almost more than Sally could manage. She stood very still, hardly daring to breathe.
Logan smiled another of his rare, surprise-attack smiles. ‘I’d rather not discuss it here. Do you have time for a drink? There’s a quiet bar around the corner.’
Her sense of bewilderment deepened. This couldn’t be a date, could it? Surely the boss didn’t want to add her to his string of women?
Watching her, the lines at the sides of Logan’s eyes crinkled. ‘I promise I won’t keep you long.’
‘Right.’ Sally gathered up her handbag and hoped he didn’t notice that she was trembling. ‘Let’s go.’
Out on the street, the afternoon had turned gloomy and grey clouds pressed low to the tops of the city buildings. Rain threatened and the temperature had dropped and Sally hadn’t brought a coat, so she was doubly glad that Logan hadn’t exaggerated – the bar was indeed, just around the corner.
Logan pushed open the gilt framed, heavy glass door and ushered Sally inside and as the door closed behind them, the roar and beeping of peak hour traffic disappeared and they were enveloped by warmth and luxury.
The bar was unexpectedly large inside, with parquet flooring and Oriental rugs, timber panelling and plush leather armchairs. The waiters were dressed like butlers and Sally felt as if she was walking into an exclusive men’s club. At first she thought all the customers were men in dark business suits, but then she realised that there were several women, also dressed in dark business suits, with serious, businesslike expressions to match.
In her pale grey suit and rose pink top with a beaded neckline, Sally felt girlish and frivolous by comparison.
‘Let’s sit here,’ Logan said, indicating two deep leather armchairs and a low, polished table in a quiet corner. Sally sat very carefully, as she’d been taught years ago in deportment classes, knees together, feet tucked neatly, so that her legs didn’t draw inappropriate attention.
A waiter approached them.
‘What would you like to drink?’ Logan asked her. ‘Do you like wine?’
‘Yes, thanks. Red or white, I don’t mind.’
He ordered cabernet sauvignon for both of them and then, as the waiter left, he confessed, ‘I know you must be wondering why on earth I’ve dragged you here.’
‘I must admit I can’t imagine why you’d need my help.’
He released a button on his jacket and let it swing open to reveal rather a lot of pale blue, very fine shirt.
Looking utterly relaxed, he said, ‘My sister appealed to me to donate money to the Children’s Hospital. Her husband’s a doctor and she’s a physiotherapist and it’s a cause dear to their hearts.’
A donation to a hospital? Sally couldn’t imagine where this conversation was heading.
Logan continued. ‘Carissa, my sister, can be extraordinarily persuasive. She spent a few minutes talking to me about very sick children and I found myself writing a cheque with too many zeroes. But as it turns out, I was actually buying tickets in a raffle.’
‘Oh, dear.’ Sally smiled and leaned forward, intrigued. ‘So what did you end up with?’
‘Tickets to the Hospital Ball and the honour of making a fool of myself on the dance floor with Diana Devenish.’
A ball... a dance floor... Sally’s heart took off like a startled possum.Get over it, girl, get a grip. You’re not going to be there.
She swallowed. ‘Isn’t Diana Devenish a television breakfast show personality?’
The one and only.’
More calmly, she said, ‘I remember reading that she won a celebrity dancing competition on television.’
‘That’s right.’
‘And they expect you to dance with her?’
‘Exactly.’
