Plus One is a Lucky Number. Teresa Morgan F.
the arrangements; it would give him something to concentrate on and he’d keep his mouth shut.
“I didn’t mean … well, you look great.”
“Oh … thanks,” she said, combing a hand through her hair, then smoothing her dress.
Adam looked at her speculatively. James was certain something was troubling Sophie. The last few days, whilst mulling it over, he’d been assured by James, over and over, this weekend would be good fun and that he would appreciate the break from work. But Adam was still not comfortable with this whole plan. How far would the pretending have to go?
Hopefully it would be a case of standing to the side, making idle chit-chat. As James had said, if he couldn’t sweet-talk a few old dears …
Adam hid a grin as he placed Sophie’s luggage in the boot. He’d noticed her stunned expression as she looked at the huge car – a brand spanking new BMW. He’d thought this would be more comfortable for the journey, and they could arrive in style. If Sophie wanted to impress someone, this would do it.
His expression sobered. What if it’s too flashy? This wasn’t the car he used for work. Sophie didn’t know who Adam really was. To her he was just some account manager. Only James knew his secret – had kept it for ten years, too.
Hell, he hoped he hadn’t over-done it – first impressions and all that. He needed to put her at ease, not make her think he was some poser.
“Hang on.” He shut the boot. “Let me get that.” He strode around and opened the passenger door for Sophie, smiling. She stared at him, opening her mouth, then closing it.
“Thank you,” Sophie said, settling into the black leather seat. “I can see why you insisted on driving - beats my poky little car.”
Adam chuckled, shutting her door. He took off his suit jacket and hung it up in the back. Once seated, he smiled at Sophie, receiving a fragile smile back before she looked down into her lap, then out the window. He really needed to reassure her he didn’t bite.
“Right, Cornwall it is then,” he said, starting the car.
“I said I’d pay for the fuel, and I mean it,” Sophie said in a worried tone.
Adam thought best not to disagree. Not that he would let a lady pay where he could help it. But maybe she was fretting because, although James had talked him into this, she didn’t want to look like she was sponging off him. For the sake of her pride, he wasn’t going to argue with her – yet. Besides, it had been his choice to bring the gas-guzzler of a car compared to using hers. Was she worried about the expense?
“Don’t worry about it for now, we’ll sort it out later. There’s a full tank. Let’s enjoy the weekend, yeah?” He winked and she smiled again, lighting up her face.
“Okay. But you’re doing me a favour, so I don’t want you out of pocket.”
“For services rendered?” He grinned at her, then turned his attention to the road.
Luckily, Sophie giggled, realising he was teasing her. “Yes, something like that.”
She stayed quiet while Adam drove. He wondered what to discuss. Cornwall wasn’t a trip around the corner; they had a good four to five hour journey ahead of them – providing traffic was good. Would they have enough in common to talk about or would they be stretching out conversations on the weather for the next few hundred miles?
“It’s a very nice car, by the way,” Sophie said after ten minutes, breaking the silence. Internally, Adam cringed. At least they weren’t discussing what a nice day it was.
“We could have used the convertible, but it gets a little uncomfortable after about an hour.” From experience, he knew most women didn’t enjoy the roof down; it messed up their hair, especially if going some place they’d dressed up for. And Sophie was dressed up. Besides, he wouldn’t have got his golf clubs plus all the luggage in the boot.
“Oh.”
Now you do look flash. Shut up.
“Depending on the traffic, we’ll stop after half way,” Adam said, glancing down at the clock in the dashboard. “But tell me if you need a stop before then, otherwise I’ll carry on.” He didn’t want her sitting there, too scared to ask him to stop, desperate to stretch her legs – and what fine legs they were, too.
You promised James you’d behave.
“Okay.”
“You’re very quiet, Sophie.”
“Oh, I thought you’d want to concentrate on the road,” she said.
“I don’t mind. If you want to talk, talk.”
“I’m happy listening to the radio.”
“I can put on a CD,” he said
“No, radio is fine.”
He adjusted the volume of the radio. Not too loud they couldn’t hear one another, but wanting to make sure they could listen to it. Did he usually worry this much? She seemed on edge. It’s not every day that a stranger picks you up and takes you away for a weekend.
They listened and commented on the morning broadcast. Occasionally, he’d catch the subtle scent of her floral perfume and glimpse to see Sophie staring out of the window. What was so bad about this wedding? Or was it him? He didn’t usually have a problem charming women. Was she intimidated? Shit, what had James told her about him?
Well, if he was going to do this, he was doing it properly. Adam certainly hated looking like an idiot. He didn’t want them turning up to this wedding and it being obvious that they didn’t know one another. He wanted them to step out of this car and look like a couple. This journey would be a good time to work out the finer details, and get to know the shy engineer better.
“Should we get our story straight?” Adam asked, breaking the silence that had fallen between them.
“Story?” Sophie replied, frowning at him.
“Yeah, how we met and all that. Am I going to get the third degree?”
“Hopefully not, but maybe we should have matching stories. Sorry, I didn’t think,” Sophie said, laughing nervously.
According to James, she was supposed to be a brilliant designer and could put Thomas Robotics ahead of all its competitors. Maybe talking about work would bring her out of her shell.
“It shouldn’t be too difficult. We both work for the same company,” he said, concentrating back on the matter at hand. “What about Ted Phillips’ retirement party a few weeks ago?”
“Did you go?”
“Yeah, didn’t you?” He frowned. Thinking about it, he didn’t recall seeing her there, because if she’d been dressed like this, he’d have noticed – wouldn’t he?
“Um … no.”
“Why not?”
“I was out with friends, I think.”
She’s lying. Friday nights at The White Lion was about her limits as far as Adam knew. He didn’t think she had other friends outside of work.
“How was it?” she asked, looking at him. “Did many people go?”
“Yeah, a good night.” Adam chuckled. “James got up and sang his rendition of You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling to a couple of ladies who work in Accounts.”
“He never told me.”
“I don’t think he remembers.”
Sophie laughed. “Well, we can still say we met there.”
“Okay, Ted’s retirement party.” He nodded, liking her laughter. There was honesty about it. He would like to hear it more often. It meant that she was relaxing, too.
Adam