Read Online Your Room or Mine? by Charlotte Phillips - Free Book Online Page B

whole dynamic. You can’t just mess about with the rules to fit whatever suits you. This is different. At the beginning it really was a true no-strings fling – one night, no surnames, no contact details. You
know
him now. There’s an obligation involved – you have an obligation to him. Which means he is in control. When you pare it right down, what you’re doing now is banging your boss.’
    Izzy stared at her, speechless for a moment. Then her temper loosened her tongue and her opinion took over.
    â€˜He is NOT my boss! I am self-employed and in any case the work agreement between us is beside the point.’
    â€˜It’s his way of keeping tabs on you without giving up anything in return, can’t you see that? Any normal, decent bloke would have asked you out to dinner.’
    â€˜You’re overlooking the fact that a dinner date with a load of poncy small talk is my idea of hell right now. I have absolutely no desire to get involved with anyone again anytime soon, not after Joe. What I want is to concentrate on building up the business and having fun. You’re seeing this whole thing as being driven by Oliver and you’re wrong. I’m in charge here. And with him I can I enjoy some fantastic sex without having the emotional dump. What’s not to like?’
    â€˜I’m just trying to look out for you,’ Shauna said quietly.
    Izzy curbed her temper and lowered her voice.
    â€˜I know you are,’ she said. ‘And you needn’t worry. The only way this is going to move forward is on my terms. I’m in total control. No emotional investment involved.’
    She sounded utterly convincing. To Shauna and to herself.

    ****

    Oliver watched as Izzy walked the perimeter of his garden, such as it was, notebook in hand, stopping occasionally to write something down. She looked very different to the smartly dressed young woman from the garden party, but there was something undeniably sexy about the scruffy jeans and work boots she was wearing with her hair tied loosely at the back of her neck, hiding the long legs and the smooth curves underneath. She looked as if she wouldn’t give a toss about getting dirty, about her appearance.
    The way she responded to him was beyond anything he’d known before, that lack of inhibition, her determination to experience every moment to its full. He wasn’t ready to drop that yet, and when he did it would be him that dropped it, not her. Offering her this job was the perfect way of keeping her within easy reach while not having to risk any part of himself. On a sliding scale of ties it was way down below dating or friendship. A work contract had a professional detached quality that was comforting.
    Plus, the garden really did need sorting out. And her work was inspired.
    She was here now on his terms and based on their last meeting she would be expecting him to make some kind of move. Which was exactly why he would keep her hanging. Not that he wasn’t sorely tempted, good thing in fact that he’d deliberately arranged to see her in a very tight window with work commitments on either side. However much he might want to start the add-on part of their contract, there was no way he could do that today. Let her wonder what his game was.
    His staring obviously didn’t escape her.
    â€˜A bit of confidence wouldn’t go amiss,’ she said. ‘You’ve hardly said anything so far, you don’t exactly seem excited by my ideas. You haven’t handed your garden renovation over to Laurel and Hardy, you know. I do know exactly what I’m doing.’
    He shook his head as if to clear it.
    â€˜Sorry. I’m perfectly satisfied that you’re more than capable of handling the work. I just have a lot on my mind.’
    What it might feel like to peel those work clothes off her.
    â€˜Work?’
    â€˜Always,’ he said, glancing at his watch. ‘I have a pressing appointment, so