She stood and watched as Mark checked Lachlan in, taking his details and printing him out a visitor’s pass. Then the two of them headed for the doors that led into Robinson and Balfour’s offices, and Lucy slid her card into the reader to release the lock.
‘Why don’t I get you settled into an office?’ she suggested. ‘The visitors’ ones are over there.’ She pointed at the bank of glass doors that led to three small, yet perfectly outfitted rooms. ‘You can join our visitors’ network – the wifi code is on the back of your pass.’
‘Sounds good.’ Unlike most clients, he didn’t let her lead. Instead, he walked ahead, choosing the office on the right. ‘Is there anywhere I can get a coffee?’ he asked her. ‘Just in case the jet lag hits.’
She’d be willing to bet a thousand pounds that Lachlan MacLeish never suffered from jet lag. He looked way too fresh and composed for that. ‘I’ll have one brought in. Americano with room, right?’ Damn, was that too obvious? Or was it a simple courtesy to remember her clients’ drink preferences? She tried to remember how Mrs Dalgliesh – one of her favourite clients – took her tea, but she couldn’t for the life of her recall.
His gaze softened. ‘Yeah, that’s right.’
‘Okay then.’ She glanced at her watch, as much to drag her eyes away from his as anything else. ‘I have a few messages to respond to and some phone calls to make, so why don’t we meet in my office in half an hour?’
‘Can we make it an hour? I’ve got some emails to respond to myself.’
‘Of course. If you need anything in the meantime, let me know. I’m on extension three-four-two. And Lynn, my assistant, will be in soon.’
‘I’m sure I’ll be fine.’ He nodded. ‘But if I need you, I’ll definitely call.’
She’d been rereading this email for the last ten minutes, and it still hadn’t sunk in. Maybe it was something to do with the way she kept looking up through the glass of her office wall, and over to the visitors’ rooms. She could just about see him typing away, and making the occasional phone call. A couple of times he’d stood and paced as he talked, and his eyes had met hers from across the office.
Yes, she’d felt her heart gallop in her chest. And no, it didn’t mean a thing.
Sighing at herself, she closed her laptop up and headed to the toilets for a quick freshen-up. Lynn was already in there, standing at the wall of mirrors beside the sinks, touching up her matt pink lipstick.
‘How did your weekend go?’ she asked, dabbing the corner of her lip with a piece of tissue. ‘Is your dad okay?’
Lucy glanced at the stalls, but all the doors were open. Lynn was the only one in the office that knew about her father, and she preferred to keep it that way. ‘It wasn’t too bad. I think he kind of likes the company really, though he’d never admit it. Now there’s just the house to sort out, and we’re almost there.’
Lynn smiled sympathetically. ‘You did the right thing. But you must be exhausted. Mark said you were here with the larks this morning. Along with your client.’ Lynn raised an eyebrow. ‘Who is gorgeous, by the way. Why didn’t you tell me? I would have worn a nicer dress.’
‘Is he?’ Lucy said, running her hands under the cold tap and then putting them under the automatic soap dispenser. ‘I hadn’t really noticed.’
In the mirror she could see Lynn’s smile. ‘Then you’re blind. Every single woman has been craning their heads around his office to get a glimpse. And Anneka has taken him in at least three coffees.’
&nb
sp; Lucy stifled a groan. ‘Doesn’t she have anything better to do?’ Anneka was one of the interns, though she didn’t work in family or estate law. She’d obviously made a special trip across the building. ‘The poor guy will end up with caffeine poisoning.’
‘I’m pretty sure Anneka wants him to end up with something,’ Lynn said pointedly. ‘Though it’s not poisoning.’
‘Well, I hope she doesn’t make a fool of herself. It reflects badly on the firm.’
‘Ach, she’s a good intern,’ Lynn said. ‘And he’ll be gone tomorrow. Let her enjoy him while she can.’
Lucy sighed, sliding her hands under the dryer. ‘This is why I hate having visitors come in. It disrupts everything.’
When she walked over to Lachlan’s office to collect him, Anneka was leaning on the frame of his door, talking quietly as he looked up at her. As soon as Lucy appeared behind her, Lachlan’s eyes slid over to hers, and he smiled. ‘Hello, Lucy.’
Anneka turned to look at her. ‘Hi, Miss Shakespeare.’
‘I hear you’ve been looking after Lachlan for me,’ Lucy said, nodding at the intern. ‘Thank you.’
‘She makes a good cup of coffee,’ Lachlan said, standing and unplugging his laptop. ‘Thanks, Monica.’
‘It’s Anneka,’ the girl corrected him.
‘Of course it is.’ He grimaced. ‘Thanks again.’ He nodded as Anneka walked out of the room, clearly miffed at the way he’d forgotten her name.
Lucy couldn’t help biting down a smile.