Page 16

Now he’d caught a glimpse of the fire that burned beneath her serene façade, he wanted to see more. Wanted to know what made her tick. So he wouldn’t be taken by surprise again, he assured himself.

But deep down he knew it was more than that. This particular fire had been blazing since Morocco. Since the singular experience that came close only to the milestone years of turning his life around. Of making his first million.

It was the circumstances, he assured himself. The Archer deal consumed his life day and night. It was logical that everyone involved in it should take up space in his thoughts, too.

Lavinia.

Pueblo.

Saffie.

He swung away from where he’d been staring at the view.

The latest file on Pueblo needed to be read.

About to click on it, his fingers froze when warm, husky laughter reached his ears.

Saffie was out, and very few people were granted access to her office.

Rising and crossing his office, Joao pulled his door open and froze.

It was Saffie, chatting to another member of staff.

Mild shock pummelled him as he listened. He’d never heard Saffron like that before. Light. Airy. Friendly. Utterly captivating.

Utterly surprising, just as she’d surprised and captivated him in Marrakesh.

In what other ways was she different away from his sphere?

The need to delve deeper, uncover her secrets, propelled him forward. ‘Is this a private gathering or can I interrupt?’

She stiffened before swivelling around. The younger man looked equally startled. Joao took little satisfaction in his discomfort. He was still reeling over the latest facet of Saffie he’d just glimpsed.

‘I got back a short while ago. My computer was frozen, so I got Andy from IT to take a look for me.’

‘If he’s done then perhaps normal service can resume?’ he asked without taking his gaze from Saffie’s flustered face.

Saffie barely nodded before Andy beat a hasty retreat.

‘Did you have to do that?’

‘Do what, exactly?’

‘Talk to him that way. He was showing me pict

ures of his newborn niece.’

‘He was wasting your time and therefore wasting mine. And I asked you to bring me the Hunter-Shrike file when you returned.’

‘I put it on your desk two minutes after you asked for it. You were at your window staring at the view when I came in.’

Joao frowned. She’d been in his presence and he’d missed her? ‘I was thinking.’

‘About what?’

‘About your little speech.’

She tensed, her eyes widening. ‘What little speech?’