A Stranger's Kiss

river.
    She had known, yet she had still fallen in love with him. She hadn’t believed such things happened. She had always imagined people were in control of their own destinies. If they were foolish and irresponsible they got hurt. She hadn’t wanted to fall in love. She had been content with her life. It hadn’t been exciting, but she had friends, had her work and the challenge of the new business. Her life would go on, she supposed. Outwardly it would hardly change at all. But she knew that contentment had flown out of the door the night she had thrown herself, unwittingly into Adam Blackmore’s arms.
    * * *
    She finally moved, surprised to find how cold she was. She glanced at her watch. She had been sitting there for two hours. Guilt carried her back to the office on winged heels, her arrival coinciding with that of Lisa Martin, who pounced on her.
    ‘I’m sorry, Tara. You’ll have to find someone else for Mr Blackmore.’
    Tara’s heart sank. ‘Is it the children?’ she asked, hopefully. ‘There is a crèche at Victoria House. Maybe something could be arranged.’
    ‘It’s nothing to do with the children. It’s him.’
    Beth raised her eyes speakingly to the ceiling, then poured a cup of coffee and sat the woman down. ‘Tell me about him,’ she said. ‘You’re the third secretary he’s had this week and I’m beginning to get interested. What did he do? Complain about your shorthand?
    Tara flashed a warning look at Beth. ‘He does dictate very fast.’
    ‘That’s something of an understatement. I don’t know who his last secretary was, but I suggested if she was that good he had better get her back no matter what it cost him.’ She half frowned. ‘He said that money wasn’t the problem. I told him it wasn’t a problem for me, either. I wasn’t prepared to work for him at any price.’
    Tara sighed. ‘All right, Lisa. We’ll pay you for today and tomorrow.’
    When she had gone she and Beth exchanged a glance. ‘It’s deliberate, isn’t it?’ Tara asked. ‘I’m not being paranoid?’
    ‘It’s deliberate. And off the top of my head I’d say Lisa has it about right. He wants you back. Although whether he knows it is a moot point.’
    ‘He...’ Her voice quivered. She cleared her throat. ‘Nonsense. Anyway, he can’t have me. And if he keeps this up he won’t have anyone.’ She pulled a pile of time sheets towards her.
    ‘You’re not going to telephone him?’ Beth asked.
    ‘No, I don’t think so. If he wants someone let him call us.’
    ‘Going to make him beg?’ Beth asked, slyly, with every appearance of innocence.
    Tara shook her head. The thought of Adam Blackmore begging for anything was unimaginable.
    The afternoon was devoted to the payroll, which required careful concentration and the phone was so busy that she soon forgot to jump every time it rang. It was a shock then to suddenly hear his voice, so close, against her ear.
    There was no polite preamble. ‘Tara. I’ve been waiting for your call.’ She gripped the phone convulsively, quite unable to speak. ‘You must know by now that I need another secretary.’
    ‘Lisa did drop by on her way home. I’m afraid I shall have to invoice you for the full two days for her.’
    ‘Find me a decent secretary,’ he said, sharply, ‘and we’ll talk about it.’ He hung up.
    Tara stared at the phone for a moment, then replaced it on the receiver. ‘Any ideas?’ she asked Beth with a sigh.
    ‘You know what I think.’
    ‘You’re wrong, Beth. He told me to go. That he didn’t want to see me again.’
    ‘Did he?’ Beth considered. ‘Then if you don’t mind me saying so, he’s going a funny way about it. Why don’t you take pity on the man?’
    Tara lowered her thick dark lashes to conceal the sudden brightness in her eyes. ‘Beth, his last secretary has just had a baby. It’s her I’m taking pity on.’
    ‘Oh, my dear. I’m so sorry.’
    ‘Please don’t...’ But it was too late. The threatening tears spilled down her cheeks.
    Beth busied herself with filing cards. ‘How about Mo? Her shorthand is good.’
    Tara shook her head. ‘She doesn’t deserve it. None of them do.’
    ‘Oh, wait a minute. I’ve got the answer… Janice is our girl!’
    ‘But I thought she was working for that accountant on a permanent basis now.’
    ‘She called in on Monday to say she’s back in the market. She’s unflappable, takes one hundred and fifty words a minute without flinching and she’s not