Just do it, he willed himself. Then, with gritty determination, he hit the doorbell again. She could hardly refuse to talk to him, even if only to tell him the property was way out of his league.
The smile now a bit on the tight side, Lee opened the door and gave Paul an icy glare.
‘I thought I might look around, if you don’t mind.’
‘I do, actually.’ Lee stood to one side. ‘But I don’t have any choice, do I?’
‘Zanussi oven.’ She waved a hand around the kitchen. ‘Hob and extractor. Built in dishwasher, of course.’
‘Of course.’ Paul nodded, his attention focussed on Leanne.
‘Mulitpurpose circular unit with sliding doors.’ She indicated the superb extra storage space. ‘Amtico stardust flooring, which reflects pinpricks of iridescent light.’
Lee studied the floor underfoot, blushing profusely as Paul studied her. ‘The flooring in the living room is beechwood,’ she blurted. ‘And the décor is--’
‘Leanne,’ he said softly.
Lee gulped. ‘Very nice, don’t you think? The rest of the rooms are carpeted, apart from the hall,’ she hurried on, turning from his unwavering gaze. ‘That’s tiled with Italian—’
‘Leanne…’ Paul tried again.
‘Tiles.’
‘Leanne, please…’ Paul stopped between designer floors. ‘Let me speak, before I lose my bottle.’
Lee closed her mouth.
‘I’m sorry,’ Paul said. ‘I arrested you, wrongfully, stupidly. You didn’t lodge a complaint. I’m grateful.’
‘The bathroom has sanitaryware and…’ Lee dashed suddenly bathroomwards ‘…I’ll just go and see what’s on the floor.’
‘Leanne,’ Paul caught her arm, ‘please, just hear me out. I know I acted unprofessionally—’
Lee glanced down. ‘You are.’
‘Sorry.’ Paul snatched his hand away. Dammit. Would he ever just stop making things worse? ‘I shouldn’t have done that. Shouldn’t even be here. I know you’re not interested.’ He stopped and looked to the designer lighting for inspiration.
‘Look, Leanne, I just wanted to tell you that I didn’t…’
Didn’t what? Intend to take advantage? That’d go down well.
Paul dragged his hand over his neck, then locked his eyes hard on Leanne’s. ‘My intentions were honourable,’ he said, not knowing how else to say it. ‘I just wanted to get to know you better. That’s all.’
Leanne studied him. Down to his soul, it seemed, for a second, before turning hastily to the window. ‘Wonderful views,’ she expounded, taking a deep breath. ‘Looks right out across the city. That’s the town hall. And beyond that, the Art Gallery, home to the world’s largest collection of pre-Raphaelite art, you know.
I’m not sure whether you can see the Symphony Hall from here.’
Paul squinted past her. ‘No,’ he said, stepping closer. ‘I don’t think so.’
‘Really?’ Leanne stood on tiptoe and pointed out. ‘I thought that might be it.’
‘You reckon?’ Paul’s gaze travelled the length of her body. From her black leather boots, which were a bit of a turn on, to the skirt which revealed a lot of thigh when she walked, to the shirt, which was low-buttoned enough to hint at a promise of more. He loosened his collar.
‘Maybe not.’ Lee cocked her head to one side.’ Still, you have to admit it is a beautiful view.’
‘Oh, yes, most definitely.’ Paul stepped closer. ‘So what building is that?’ he asked over her shoulder.
‘Which?’ Leanne followed his gaze. ‘Oh, that’s the central library, a monument to 1970s architecture. Prince Charles didn’t approve, I’m afraid,’ she said, plummily. ‘Called it a modern monstrosity. It’s actually one of the only buildings to survive the era, along with the Rotunda. It’s being refurbished at the moment, but it’s worth a visit. It’s a museum in itself. A labyrinth of shelves, lined with hundreds of—’
‘Books,’ Paul finished. ‘I know. Even morons read sometimes. Nice perfume,’ he tagged on, his cheek so close to hers, he could almost taste her.
‘I, um, think that’s about it,’ Lee gasped. She didn’t move.
Paul mentally crossed his fingers and took that as a good sign. ‘Very nice,’ he murmured, breathing deep the soft scent of her. He brushed her hair from the nape of her neck. Hesitated, then dared to follow through with his lips.
Still she hadn’t moved.
Paul’s heart hammered in his chest.
He grazed her cheek with his. Willed her to turn around. His hand rode up her thigh, to find the soft curve of her hip. She was so small. His breath caught in his throat. So…feminine. He wanted to hold her. Fold her into his arms.
Make sweet love to her.
Here.
Right now.
‘I think I should go.’ Lee swung around. And Paul kissed her, impulsively, insanely, inappropriately, he pressed his mouth against hers and kissed her. Tasted her. Parted her lips with his tongue, slowly, gently. She didn’t pull away.
Miraculously.
Paul’s pulse quickened. Desire pooled inside him as Lee kissed him back. Tentatively at first, her breath coming in short gasps, her delicate tongue darting into his mouth. Her hands finding their way to his back. God, that felt good.
And then…
Paul felt her stiffen.
‘Don’t,’ she said, stepping back from his grasp.
Damn! Too fast. Paul cursed his clumsiness. He’d pushed her. Way too fast after all she’d been through. ‘Sorry,’ he said, quickly. I didn’t mean to rush you.’ He tried to make eye contact with her, hoping that she might see that the last thing he’d wanted to do was compromise her.
But Leanne dropped her gaze. ‘I think we should go now,’ she mumbled, obviously embarrassed.
‘Yes. Yes, of course.’ Paul nodded. ‘Sorry,’ he said again, inadequately. Totally inadequately, he realised. What the hell was wrong with him? He’d said he wanted to be a friend. He cared about her. Was this how he’d intended to prove it?
‘It was very professional. The, er, tour.’ He attempted to salvage the situation as Leanne continued to study the beechwood floor. ‘We didn’t view the bedrooms, but—’
‘Oh, way to go, Paul.’ He closed his eyes briefly, then bolted after her as Lee flew for the door.
‘Leanne!’ He followed her into the street. ‘Leanne, will you please listen? The only reason I wanted to see the bedroom was to check it out for my son,’ he shouted as she approached her car. ‘Not to drag you bodily in there. I’m desperate, I’ll admit that, but only to show you how much I care.’
Lee stopped in her tracks. ‘Son?’
‘I see him weekends. It’s what happens when marriages fall apart,’ Paul said, more quietly now she was actually looking at him. ‘Look, Leanne, I came to apologise. I hoped we could be friends. Obviously, we can’t. My fault. I’ll just go and leave you be.’
‘Goodbye,’ Lee said, flatly.
‘And to show there’s no hard feeling on my part, I’ll overlook the parking offence.’ Paul nodded at her parked askew car.
‘Ooh, you just have to add insult, don’t you!?’ Lee fumed. ‘I tell you something, Mr-big-shot-in-a-uniform, I’d have to be more than desperate to come anywhere near you. I’d have to be dead!’
‘Cheers.’ Paul shook his head, then watched bemused as Lee turned huffily and flounced into a lamppost.
Paul was at her side in a flash, cradling Lee in his arms, searching her eyes for contracted pupils. ‘Are you hurt?’ he asked, brushing her hair from her forehead to appraise the damage. Lee scowled at him.
He smiled.
She wasn’t, thank God. Better she didn’t drive, though, Paul decided, turning professional policeman to scrape a shocked Leanne from the ground and part onlookers authoritatively.
‘Where’re we going?’ Leanne followed him, unable to do much else with his arm around her shoulders, which is exactly what he’d intended.
‘I’m taking you home,’ Paul said firmly.
‘But… What about my car?’
‘I’ll sort it.’
‘But I can’t leave it.’ Lee hesitated. ‘It’s not taxed.’
Paul faltered.
‘I meant to,’ Lee added quickly. ‘But I don’t get paid until next week. And Richard didn’t pay the instalment on the money I loaned him. I was going to do it, just as soon as—’
‘I’ll sort it,’ Paul repeated, his jaw a little on the tight side.
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