Dream Lover by Nicola Peterson Page A

against her palm.
    She nodded dumbly unable to speak, it was only as he started to move away she realised she had opened his shirt and one hand was still caressing his bare chest. Maxwell smiled then pressed his lips gently against hers once more and disappeared from her room.
     
     

CHAPTER SIX
     
    Quinn had never found it necessary to contemplate having a cold shower before in the whole of her twenty-four years of life, but at that moment an ice-cold dip was just what she needed. The man should carry a hazard warning she was ready to burst into flames!
    Long after Max had gone, long after she had got into her bed she was still thinking about him. Why should she recognise his kisses? Why should she know he would do a certain thing just before he did? But the main thing she pondered was just why had she allowed him to kiss her in the first place? In one sweep she had gone against all of her rules; don’t get involved with anyone you work with, especially the boss.
    Quinn lay her head down on the pillows, but this time instead of trying to blank the dream which had puzzled her for weeks from her mind she allowed herself to remember.
    She saw herself in their hotel lounge, then by her bedside where Max took her in his arms. She was afraid of something, closing her eyes tightly she tried to recall what it was but couldn’t. Still trying to remember she eventually fell asleep but this time she dreamt a new dream.
    Right on eight o’clock Maxwell knocked on their adjoining door, dressed to perfection, as always, this time he was wearing a slate grey business suit, a snow white shirt and a dark blue tie.
    When she opened the door he took a step forward, she one back as she realised he was about to kiss her. While showering and getting ready she had thought of nothing except how their relationship had moved from employer and employee to possibly lovers. Quinn had sat at her dressing table for over a minute trying to pinpoint the moment her feelings for him changed so dramatically. It would have been hard not to be attracted to Maxwell Cordell; he was a stunningly handsome man but and it was a big but he was still her boss. Rule number one never get involved with the boss.
    If Maxwell was troubled she avoided his kiss he took it well and smiled, ‘Good morning, I’ve had our breakfast brought up to my room. We can eat on the balcony if that suits you,’ he stood aside for her to pass into his room.
    His room like hers enjoyed a view of the River Seine, ‘This view is too good to miss,’ she smiled as he held her chair out for her. This time she couldn’t avoid his kiss; he held onto her shoulders and gently caressed her lips with his own.
    ‘You didn’t really think I was going to go without a ‘ good morning’ kiss did you?’ he smiled into her eyes while pressed his lips against hers.
    She returned his kiss and his smile but said nothing until after they had finished eating.
    ‘Max,’ she said softly, ‘I’ve been thinking,’ she wasn’t afraid of Maxwell Cordell all he did was shout, so why was she so nervous now?
    ‘Yes,’ he prompted.
    ‘About last night,’ she moved her hand away as she realised he was reaching for it.
    ‘Quinn,’ he said her name so softly her eyes flew to his.
    ‘It’s a mistake, us. I’m not into ‘flings’ with the boss,’ she took a deep breath before her courage failed. ‘It’s not that I don’t find you attractive, it’s just I make it a personal rule never to date anyone I work closely with, especially with the boss.’
    She missed his raised brows as she admitted she found him attractive, she was one of the few women he had met that didn’t make eyes at him at every opportunity. Not that he was vain about his looks it was just something he was aware of that happened.
    ‘What if it wasn’t just a ‘ fling ’ as you so tastefully put it?’ he leaned back in his chair and watched her through his half-lowered lashes.
    Quinn shook her head, ‘Until yesterday you