Seduction Never Lies

‘But you still wish you hadn’t been cornered into coming here tonight.’

‘Well—naturally.’

‘Because you’d hoped you’d never set eyes on me again.’

She flushed. ‘That too.’

‘And you’d like very much for us both to forget our first encounter ever happened.’

‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Yes, I would.’

‘Very understandable. And for me, anyway, quite impossible. The vision of you rising like Venus from the waves will always be a treasured memory.’ He paused. ‘And I like your hair loose.’

She was burning all over now. It wasn’t just what he’d said, but the way he’d looked at her across the table, as if her dress—her underwear—had ceased to exist under his gaze. As if her hair tumbling around her shoulders was her only covering. And as if he knew that her nipples in some damnable way were hardening into aching peaks inside the lacy confines of her bra.

But if her skin was fire, her voice was ice. ‘Fortunately, your preferences are immaterial to me.’

‘At present anyway.’ He signalled to a waiter. ‘Would you like to have coffee here or in the drawing room?’

She bit her lip. ‘Here, perhaps. Wherever we go, there’ll be people staring at you. Watching every move you make.’

‘Waiting for me to start breaking the place up, I suppose. They’ll be sadly disappointed. Besides, I’m not the only one attracting attention. There’s a trio on the other side of the room who can’t take their eyes off you.’

She glanced round and stiffened, her lips parting in a gasp of sheer incredulity.

Patrick, she thought. And his mother. With Fiona Culham, of all people. But it isn’t—it can’t be possible. He couldn’t possibly afford these prices—I’ve heard him say so. And Mrs Wilding simply wouldn’t pay them. So what on earth is going on? And why is Fiona with them?

As her astonished gaze met theirs, they all turned away, and began to talk. And no prizes for guessing the main topic of conversation, Tavy thought grimly.

‘Friends of yours?’

‘My employer,’ she said briefly. ‘Her son. A neighbour’s daughter.’

‘They seem in no hurry to come over,’ he commented. ‘They’ve been here for over half an hour.’

‘I see.’ Her voice sounded hollow. ‘It looks as if I could well find myself out of a job on Monday.’

His brows lifted. ‘Why?’

‘I think it’s called fraternising with the enemy,’ she said tautly. ‘Because that’s how the local people regard you.’

‘Some perhaps,’ he said. ‘But not all. Ted Jackson, for one, thinks I’m God’s gift to landscape gardening.’

‘I’m sure you’ll find that comforting.’ She reached for her bag. ‘I think I won’t have coffee, after all. I’d like to leave, please, if reception will get me a taxi.’

‘No need. Charlie is standing by to take you home.’

She said quickly, ‘I’d rather make my own arrangements.’

‘Even if I tell you I have work to do, and I won’t be coming with you?’ There was overt mockery in his voice.

Her hesitation was fatal, and he nodded as if she’d spoken, producing his mobile phone from his pocket.

‘Charlie, Miss Denison is ready to go.’

She walked beside him, blisteringly aware of the looks following her as they left the dining room and crossed the foyer. The car was already outside, with Charlie holding open the rear passenger door.

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