Dirty Seduction

NICK

I’m MORE tired than I can remember. Amusing though it is, I should be far too sensible to indulge in a crazy weekend of fucking on such little sleep.

Still, I feel sated. Thoroughly sated.

I feel blessed. Calm.

Loved.

A tap on my door, and my bright-eyed assistant steps in. She looks considerably fresher than I feel.

“Morning, Penny,” I offer, and my tiredness fades into the background as I notice the box in her hands.

“Morning, Mr Lynch.” Her smile is nervous. “I picked out that gift you wanted. Charged it to your expenses account on the weekend. I hope that’s okay,” she dithers in front of my desk, so unsure. “It was expensive…” I wave her concerns aside. “That’s great, Penny. Thank you.” She sighs and pretends to wipe her brow. And then she hands it over.

The box is black leather with fine embossed lettering. It opens so smoothly in my hands.

Penny stares at me as I stare at the gift she’s chosen. It’s beautiful. A perfect heart, so tasteful in its simplicity, twinkling with a delicate pink stone as an accent.

“It’s platinum,” she says. “And that’s a real diamond…”

“An excellent choice.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

I close the box and meet her smile. “Thank you, Penny.”

She hovers, and I stay quiet as she plucks up whatever courage she’s summoning. “Will she like it?” “I hope so,” I say.

“She’s a lucky girl.”

“I’m sure she’ll appreciate such a beautiful gift.” I wait for it, interested to see how bold she is with her questioning.

She keeps her eyes on the box. “Will she wear it to the Christmas party?”

The Christmas party.

I’ve barely given it a thought. It’s been merely a duty up until now. My attendance is a necessary annoyance as a senior partner in the practice.

I imagine Laine on my arm this year, and the prospect is considerably more appealing.

“I would think so, Penny.”

Her eyes are so warm. “That’s great. What’s her name?” “Laine,” I say.

“Laine,” she repeats. “I look forward to meeting her.”

“I’m sure she’ll enjoy meeting you, too.”

She makes to leave, but I call her back. “One more thing, Penny, if you will.”

“Of course.”

I open the gallery app on my phone and ping a copy of the butterfly picture to her inbox as she waits. “I’ve emailed you an image. I’d like it printed, please, a frame, too. I know you’ll find something just perfect.” “I’ll do my best, Mr Lynch.” I’m sure she will.

My phone tells me it’s almost lunchtime and I drop it back onto my desk. I’ve just had time to finish up my current report before it’s time to call Laine.

LAINE

KELLY ANNE DOESN’T BOTHER SPEAKING as we sit in the canteen. She knows the routine by now, knows he’ll be calling me any minute.

I dig in my bag for my phone, just like always. I like to be prepared for when his call comes in.

Only my phone isn’t in my bag this morning.

I root around, as though searching all the harder will make it materialise out of thin air.

Kelly Anne sighs as she watches. “Left your fancy phone at home, did you? Daddy Nick’s gonna be pissed you’re not at his beck and call.” She has no idea.

I feel like such an ass for sleeping in and rushing so fast to make it up to him. I can imagine exactly where my phone is, still plugged in at the side of the bed, probably still chirping out the alarm that I snoozed ten times this morning. Shit.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

I feel myself pale, my mouth dry as paper.

“Chill, Laine, it’s just a phone. No big deal.”

But it is a big deal. He always calls at one on the dot. He likes to get hold of me, to check I’m okay.

“He always calls…” I begin like she has a hope of hell of understanding.

“So?”

“So, he always calls. It’s important.”

She tuts at me. “So important. I’m sure he can wait a few hours for a status update on how yummy your sandwich was.”

I wish I could explain, but there’s no way I will. I wish I could tell her how worried he’ll be, how much tragedy he’s been through. I wish I could tell her that keeping me safe is everything to Daddy Nick.

I try to figure out ay to get hold of him, but the idea of calling him at the office practically brings on a panic attack. What would I even say? And would he be angry?

More angry than he’ll be at me for forgetting my phone?

I probably already made him late this morning, and now this. I feel like such an idiot.

Maybe he’ll punish me.

The thought is right there, and so is the guilty flutter between my legs.

I shouldn’t want that. Definitely shouldn’t want him to be mad with me.

Disappointed in me.

I wonder if he’ll use the belt his father used on him. I wonder how much it’ll hurt.

Maybe he won’t.

Maybe he’ll brush it off and tell me to be more careful next time.

I doubt it. And I’m not sure that’s such a bad thing.

“Chill, Laine, you look like you’ve seen a fucking ghost.” Kelly Anne sighs and takes a swig of her drink.

The nerves are dancing in my tummy, and the tickles tickle between my legs. I feel sick, hot and cold, and tingly all at once.

“I shouldn’t have forgotten my phone,” I say. But Kelly Anne doesn’t care at all.

NICK

I CALL AGAIN. And again after that.

I stare at my phone screen and breathe through irrational nerves.

Maybe she’s been held up in class. Maybe she’s in a noisy canteen.

It happens.

I’m fooling myself. It’s part of the rules, our lunchtime phone call. She always answers on the second ring. Like clockwork.

Only not today.

I consider my options, contemplating calling the college reception and leaving a message for her, but what would be the point?

I’ll look like a stalker for the sake of easing my paranoia, that or alarming her unnecessarily.

I force myself to get a grip, to reflect on the morning, and to weigh up the situation rationally.

She was tired and rushed, barely awake when I dropped her off at college. There’s almost certainly an entirely innocent explanation.

Almost certainly.

If there is then I shall punish her for breaking the rules so carelessly, and if there isn’t…

I daren’t even give that a thought.

I STRUGGLE through my afternoon appointments, endeavoring to give my clients my professional attention with my nerves wound tight in my chest.

I try Laine’s phone again during a lull in meetings. It rings through to voicemail just as Michael French steps into my room. He’s my joint senior partner, as much of a friend as I’d class anyone, not that the bar’s particularly high.

His smile tells me he’s heard the news. I wouldn’t have imagined anything less, not now I’ve given Penny gossip-wortdetailslsI didn’t expect the news would stay a secret, and I’m sure Penny didn’t consider it confidential information, not now I’m officially bringing my partner he theristmas party.

“Tell me about Laine with the pink diamond,” Mike says and holds out his hand across the desk. “Congratulations on the ccouple’sstatus.”

I shake it warmly. “Word travels fast…”

“Secretaries talk.” He tips his head. “She must be quite a woman to snare a stoic old dog like you.”

“Enough of the old.” I laugh a professional laugh, even though it feels like rusty iron in my throat.

“So,” he prompts. “What’s she like? You kept that one close to your chest.”

I cast another glance at my phone before I answer. No messages. “She’s sweet and kind. Gracious. Beautiful.”

“Blonde?”

I smile. “Blonde, yes.”

“Nice legs?”

I meet his stare. “Nice smile. A nice heart. The legs are merely a bonus,

Mike.”

“So she does have nice legs…” He laughs to himself. “Can’t wait to meet her. I’m sure Barbara will love getting to know her.”

Barbara French celebrated her fiftieth birthday last summer. She’s a wildfire, a sharp cracker with a sharp tongue and absolutely nothing in common with little Laine.

Mike’s digging and I know it. I make him wait, pretending to check out a fresh email.

I use the moment to contemplate whether I’m ready for this, but it doesn’t take all that long to consider.

I’m ready for everything Laine brings to my life, including any awkward questions.

I take a breath. “She’s eighteen, Mike.” I hold his stare without flinching.

He doesn’t flinch either. “A sweet young thing, I’m sure.”

“Very.”

“Then I’m happy for you.” His smile is genuine enough. “We should go out one night to celebrate with some champagne. Introduce young Laine to our office family.”

“She’ll be coming to the Christmas party,” I tell him like he hasn’t already heard.

“Excellent. I’ll be bringing Caroline, she’s back from university and no doubt she’ll be bored enough to come along. I’m sure they’ll get on fantastically. Maybe they could spend some time together. Caroline gets lonely without her uni pals. You know how it is when you’re that age.”

I’m not sure I remember, but smile regardless. “I’m sure Laine would enjoy that,” I tell him.

“Excellent,” he says. “I look forward to meeting the future Mrs Lynch.”

I raise my eyebrows. “That’s quite a statement.”

“She must be quite a woman,” he says again. “Any woman that can catch your heart after all these years has got to be one to keep hold of.” He tips his head at me. “I’ll get Barbara to pick out a hat ready for the big day.” “You do that,” I say.

He thinks I’m joking, I’m sure, and on some level I am. Making polite conversation for the sake of appearances. But it’s more than that. She’s becoming a part of my life.

It feels beautiful, and that only makes me worry all the more. I try her phone again.