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Gabe came to a halt and stared at Polly Rafferty Was that a smile on her face?

‘Rachel tellsall hours,’ she continued ‘I just want to thank you Obviously it was less than ideal that I wasn’t back before Raff left but it’s such a relief that you were here to help out’

‘I was ainst the door frah narrow eyes

Polly see back in his chair—correction, her chair—co on the hat stand in the corner, her bag tossed carelessly on the floor beneath it Her laptop was plugged into the keyboard and monitor, his own laptop folded and put aside Several sheets of paper were stacked on the glea on top of one, the crossed-out lines and scribbled notes ireat industry It was as if she had never been away

As if he had never been there

Polly looked up, pen in hand ‘You haven’t had breakfast so I suggest you take an hour or so while I get to grips with a few things here, then we can discuss how it’s going to workwith a permanent office and an assistant for you’ She couldn’t be racious

In fact she was the perfect hostess Gabe suppressed a s of her tactics Polly was throwing down the gauntlet Oh, politely and with so it clear that absence or no absence this was her company and he was the incomer

‘You don’t want your grandfather’s office?’ he asked ‘I assumed that you would want to move in there’

A flicker of sadness ran over her face disturbing the blandly pleasant randfather The furniture and décor is just as it was, just as he chose I’ here’

But she wasn’t going to offer hier room either; he’d stake his reputation on it

‘I don’t need an hour’ He pushed off the door frame ‘I am quite happy to start in fifteen minutes’

‘That’s very sweet of you, Gabe’ The smile was back ‘But please, take an hour I’ll see you then’