Page 72 of Tangled Control

I’m surprised by the hurt in her eyes.

“I’m sorry.” A lump in my throat makes me swallow. “I only found out myself the other day, when Dad caught me flirting with you in the reception. I guess he never saw a reason to terminate your babysitting duties, since I haven’t done such an impressive job my first few months here.”

I offer a lopsided smile that she doesn’t return. Now I really feel bad about my selfish, lazy behaviour. I’m a terrible boss.

“I asked Harriet why I wasn’t promoted before she left – you know, your predecessor?” Catriona’s tone is quiet. “Harriet said there were some strategic considerations. I wish she and your father had been straight with me – and with you.” She snorts. “And then I could have negotiated a better salary for my babysitting duties instead of being insulted with your current offer!” The anger is back.

“I’m sorry, but now you probably understand where my offer came from.” I run my fingers through my hair. “If it hadn’t been for me, you’d have better pay by now – and probably more interesting work tasks as well. Since you’re the junior assistant in my team with the most experience, I should get away with adjusting your salary without any questions asked.”

The quietness in the room is grating on my nerves as I wait for her response.

“I still won’t accept the offer. If you want, you can review my salary at the next quarterly budget meeting. But I will not accept it out of the blue and with no set procedure or protocol to back it up.” Then she adds bitterly, “I’d rather go without pay than have someone whispering behind my back about how I managed to get the raise.”

She is dead serious, and I can’t help but admire her pride and integrity. Just the latest items on my list of things I admire about her.

I know I should be worried about how right things seem between us. It started with sex, and it’s no doubt the best sex I’veever had. But there are other things too. Like how easy it is to talk to her. The way I don’t get tired of her company. How she moulds perfectly to my body when we’re sleeping. And yes, we hardly spend a night apart. Seeing her sleepy eyes first thing in the morning brings a smile to my face.

I hate every second that she’s not nearby, which caused me to cancel meeting my friends twice this week, even though Alexandra was supposed to be there.Especiallybecause Alexandra was supposed to be there. The way things are, I can’t face seeing her.

How can it ever end between Catriona and me when it feels so right? And how long can we keep it up without anyone knowing? We will be found out, sooner or later. Then what? How long will Catriona be happy being my dirty little secret?

“Okay, I’ll agree to wait until the next budget meeting,” I finally concede. “On one condition.”

“And what’s that.” The blue in her gaze glitters in suspicion.

“You’ll let me pay for dinner on Saturday.”

* * *

“Okay?… See you soon, Daniel. Bye, bye. Bye.”

Catriona ends the call. I shift my gaze from the road to her.

She makes a face. “I’m sorry to ruin your dinner plans.”

Ourdinner plans, where she had agreed to let me pay without making a scene about it.

“Don’t be. We’ll go some other time. And it’s not your fault.”

Catriona huffs. “As much as I hate to prove you right, it’s my lack of social life that makes my aunt and uncle expect me to take their place at the drop of a hat, even on a Saturday night.”

I grin. “Miss Taylor admitting I’m right. Sweet, sweet victory.” I’m too busy navigating to look at her, but I sense her glare at the side of my face. I chose my BMW SUV today; it’s amonster of a car, but a more comfortable drive than my vintage Jaguar.

“I’ll get you in the long grass,” she promises, then softens her tone. “Are you sure you’re okay to join me? I know it’s a bit early to be introduced to family…”

It is, and we did agree to keep “us” a secret for now. Hell, it never even occurred to me to introduce her to Rosie the other day.

“As long as Daniel is okay with me there.”

“He hates changes of routine and would be upset if no one came to see him on a Saturday night, but he’s fine with strangers. Daniel isn’t stupid, you know. Just because he’s awkward and doesn’t always communicate well doesn’t mean that he can’t understand what’s going on.” I am surprised to hear forcefulness in Catriona’s tone, but I understand it’s a reflection of conversations she must have had numerous times growing up. I give her a small, encouraging smile, and she calms a bit. “Daniel has always been marginalised. Because he’s not good verbally, some people talk over his head or treat him like he doesn’t exist. It makes me so angry.”

The more Catriona talks, the more nervous I get. Truthfully, right now, under the quiet rumble of my car, I’m shitting bricks. It’s as if meeting Daniel is the test I need to pass to gain Catriona’s respect. And it’s very important to me that she respects me, although I refuse to face why that is.

As Daniel opens the door to his bedsit in the assisted living unit, he neither looks at us nor greets us. Unfazed, Catriona walks into the small apartment and motions for me to follow. Daniel sits on the sofa, his focus trained on the TV, and doesn’t look up as Catriona introduces me as herfriend. He does however offer a small “hi”.

“Will you make us some tea, Daniel?” Catriona asks, and Daniel immediately gets up from his seat. He fusses over thekettle and lines up our three mugs perfectly. He asks me several questions about how I take my tea. Determined to do things right, I respond directly to Daniel in adult sentences, avoiding childish or simple language.

“Do you play darts?” Daniel asks later, when we’re sitting around the TV sipping our tea and munching chocolate coated Hobnobs. He still hasn’t looked at me.