He caught her head between his hands, looked down into her face, his hazel eyes smiling. 'Did I tell you I think you're gorgeous and I'm crazy about you?'
'Goodnight, Aston,' Lindsay said.
He kissed her mouth lightly, then released her and walked out of the house into the dark night. She stood in the doorway, a yellow stream of light falling down the drive in his wake, and watched him climb into his car. The engine flared and he drove off. Lindsay closed the front door and went back to Alice who was sitting on the couch staring at nothing, her legs curled up under her, her hand propping up her head.
As Lindsay sat down next to her, Alice said; 'If I only knew what had happened to him, where he was… not knowing is the worst, I think I could even stand it if I knew for certain he had gone off with another woman or just left me because he was tired of me. I could bear anything but this, I keep trying to think, going round and round in circles getting nowhere.' ,
'You ought to try to get some sleep—you're exhausted. I'll stay up in case there's any news and I'll come and wake you if…'
'No,' Alice said. 'I couldn't sleep, I'd never be able to close my eyes. I can't shut off my head. Lindsay, what if he's d…'
'Don't say it!' Lindsay said sharply, wincing. 'Don't even think it, of course he isn't.'
The door bell rang briskly. Alice stumbled to her feet, white as a sheet, her eyes widening until her skin stretched tightly over her cheekbones. She looked old, suddenly. Lindsay wanted to cry, but she forced herself to stay calm.
'I'll go, it's probably the police to ask you a few questions,' she said.
She took a deep breath before she opened the front door. What if the police had bad news for them? There was no point in thinking about it. She pulled the door open and made herself look at the man on the doorstep, only to feel a deep thrust of shock as she recognised him. Even in that shadowy light Daniel Randall was unmistakable, then he stepped forward into the yellow light from the hallway and his hard-boned, arrogant face came into full view. Lindsay was stricken, she couldn't speak or move, she half believed she was imagining things. He was the very last man she had expected to see.
CHAPTER TWO
'Cat got your tongue?' Daniel looked at her stunned face with a derisive smile, and the question broke the spell of disbelief holding her rigid. She felt a wave of hot colour rushing up to her hairline. What was he doing here? She hadn't set eyes on him for over a year, why had he turned up like this tonight?
'What do you want?' She stepped sideways to block his way; she didn't want him walking into the house and saw no reason why she should pretend he was welcome.
'As quick-witted as ever, I see,' he drawled, and the way he spoke was all too familiar. Daniel Randall always used that slow, iced voice when he wanted to make someone feel stupid; he was a past master at destroying people and using the simplest means to do it—a lifted eyebrow, a smile, a drily succinct comment.
Lindsay wanted to hit him, and that feeling was familiar, too; hostility was the safest emotion to feel towards Daniel Randall.
'What the hell do you think I'm doing here?' he asked before she could say anything. 'And are we going to stand here much longer? I'm not a door-to-door salesman, I don't enjoy talking on people's doorsteps.'
Over his shoulder Lindsay saw his car parked under a street-lamp, a sleek, powerful white sports car with elegant lines which had been carefully designed for effortless speed. For some reason, the sight of it annoyed her.
'Get back in your car and hit the road, I've got nothing to say to you,' she snapped, closing the door. Daniel's foot met it and the door jarred. Lindsay glared at him through the opening. 'Go away!'
'Don't be a fool, Lindsay,' he said, and at that moment a car roared up behind his and parked with a screech. Someone leapt out of it and Daniel looked round, frowning.
'Get inside,' he said to Lindsay, thrusting her back into the hall with a violence which stopped her arguing. Daniel followed her and slammed the front door behind him.
'What…' Lindsay began furiously, and he gave her a sarcastic smile.
'Want to talk to the press, do you?'
Her mouth opened and nothing came out. The front door bell rang, but Daniel ignored it. He walked towards the sitting-room, catching Lindsay's arm en route and pulling her in his wake, struggling to free herself without success. The door bell went on ringing and Alice stared at them, pale-faced, wide-eyed, nervous apprehension in the way she stood there.
'What's wrong? What's happening? Aren't you going to answer the door? Lindsay…' Her voice died away as she recognised Daniel.
'Hallo, Alice,' he said in a gentle voice, and smiled at her. When he chose, Daniel could give out charm and warmth; his grey eyes held both now, and Lindsay resented the way Alice relaxed and smiled back.
'Daniel! I didn't realise it was you, how are you?'
'I'm fine, how are you? Any news of Stephen yet?'
Her lower lip trembled and she caught it between her teeth, her eyes too bright, 'No…'
'How do you know Stephen's missing?' Lindsay asked suspiciously, staring at him.
He turned that wry glance on her, his eyebrows raised. 'A reporter told me.'