Free The Rebound Guy by Fiona Harper Page A

him. ‘I think you’re insane. This is London, not Los Angeles. Don’t you know that organising something like that is practically an open invitation for the weather gods to come and mess with you?’
    Jason leaned back in his chair and clasped his hands behind his head. He dropped the tone of his voice and impersonated someone; his father, she guessed. ‘The Knight Corporation is still a family company at heart, and the annual picnic is an important part of creating that ethos.’
    She raised her eyebrows. ‘Big fans of outdoor eating then, your family?’
    He shrugged. ‘Not really. Never once had one on the lawn at home, despite there being acres of it. Dad would never have been home for it anyway—too busy at the office. And my mother would never have thought to organise one without his say-so.’ He gave her a tight smile. ‘He let us go to the office picnic, though, so he could show what a great family man he was, so I can’t complain.’
    There was that hint of pain behind his laughing eyes again, the one she glimpsed every now and then that tugged at her heart. But Kelly had developed a coping mechanism for these moments, and it was very effective too. The key was to take a mental step back and see the big picture where Jason Knight was concerned, to remember that was only one facet of him and there were other things she needed to keep in the forefront of her consciousness.
    She fumbled in her pocket for the tiny object she’d stowed there earlier. ‘Erm...one of the cleaners gave this to me. She said she found it under your desk.’
    She produced a gold hoop earring and placed it in front of him. Jason stared blankly at it.
    So did Kelly. She hadn’t been aware of another woman spending significant time in this office besides her these last few weeks. Somehow the knowledge made her feel...territorial.
    He picked up the hoop and turned it over in his hand, frowning slightly.
    Kelly let out an exasperated sigh and shook her head. ‘You don’t know who it belongs to, do you?’
    The fact he didn’t answer straight away told her all she needed to know, but then his eyes crinkled round the edges. ‘Would it help if I told you that I can narrow it down to one of two candidates?’
    Kelly tried hard not to think about how such an item might get dislodged in the vicinity of Jason’s desk and just what kind of helping hand he’d had in the matter. ‘Nope. But that’s because it’s none of my business what you get up to once I’ve gone home for the evening. You could have a whole... herd ...of girls up here for all I care.’
    The mischievous grin remained, but his eyes searched her features as if he was trying to work out if she was telling the truth. She made sure she gave him no clues.
    â€˜And while we’re on the subject, Amber called again.’
    There it was, the shifty expression she’d been waiting for.... Jason didn’t have to open his mouth to let her know that poor Amber was history.
    â€˜Don’t you give me that look...that boyish, won’t-you-take-pity-on-me look! I’ve told you already that you can tidy up your own messes. You’ve made your bed, as my grandmother used to say, and now you’ve got to lie in it. Just tell the poor woman it’s over!’
    â€˜I have,’ Jason muttered, ‘and it’s not the bed bit that’s the problem.’
    Kelly pretended she hadn’t heard. She sighed and shook her head. ‘Honestly, what do you do to these women to make them so...so...whatever they are?’
    He opened his mouth, but Kelly held up a hand. ‘Scratch that. I don’t want to know how—’ She clamped her mouth shut before she could dig herself in any deeper.
    The smile playing round the edges of his eyes was pure devilment. ‘How what ?’
    She licked her lips. She had been going to say how good in bed you are, but had