Out of Control

He said in a brisk voice, 'I'll pick you up in the lobby at three-thirty, then,' and rang off.

She put the phone down, staring at it in stupefaction. He didn't waste time, did he? She buzzed for Maddie, re­arranging the files on her desk in an absent-minded way.

'Oh, Maddie, what arrangements did you make about picking Pam up? Is she coming here and what time?'

Maddie whisked away to get the folder and laid it open in front of her. 'You're picking Pam up on the way to the station.'

'F

rom Gabi's place?'

'That's right. At three-forty-five. The train is four-lifteen; you should make it in plenty of time.' 'We aren't going by train—will you ring Pam and tell her to get to the office by three-fifteen, instead? Mr Gifford is taking us in his private jet.'

Maddie looked suitably impressed. 'Golly!'

'Shut your mouth, Maddie, and ring Pam,' Liza said drily.

'Aren't you excited?' Maddie asked, but at Liza's impatient glance she left the office to ring Pam, Liza tried to concentrate on the work she had to get through before she left that weekend.

Pam hadn't arrived by three-twenty and Maddie rang her again, but Gabi's number was engaged for the next five minutes. Maddie only got through just as Liza was about to go down to the lobby to meet Keir Gifford. She appeared in the doorway as Liza was checking her reflection.

'She left rather late, but she should be here any minute,' Maddie said breathlessly.

'Let's hope so,' Liza said with grim patience. 'Mr Gifford isn't the type to enjoy being kept waiting.'

He was in the lobby when Liza stepped out of the lift and she tensed immediately she saw him. Keir watched her intently all the way across the marble floor between them; she felt like hitting him, because he knew he was making her nervous and it was amusing him.

Lifting her head, she consciously walked with a sway; a model's trick, faintly arrogant, very cool. It erected a shield for her; kept him at a distance.

'I'm sorry, I'm afraid Pam hasn't arrived yet. She may have been delayed in traffic, but she is on her way and I hope she won't be long.'

He raised his brows and looked at his watch. 'We'll wait for a few minutes then." Turning, he beckoned to the doorman who shot over, all attention. 'We're going down to the car park. When Miss Jones arrives, send her down, will you?'

'Why don't we wait for her here?' asked Liza as he took her arm to lead her back to the lift.

He didn't answer and she frowned as they shot downwards, suddenly afraid that she was going to find herself alone with him in his car, but as she stepped out of the lift she saw a uniformed chauffeur straighten and step on a cigarette before springing to open the passenger door of a long, black limousine.

'This is more comfortable than standing around in the lobby,' Keir said, sliding her into the rear seat and getting in beside her, and in one sense she had to admit he was right because the car was ultra-luxurious—the deep leather seats and air conditioning made it a very comfortable place to wait for Pam—but on the other hand Keir's presence was distinctly inhibiting.

Keir had told the chauffeur to wait by the lifts for the third member of their party, so they were alone once the man had put Liza's suitcase into the enormous boot of the car. Keir hadn't had a case; perhaps his was already in the boot?

'Will your family be at Hartwell this weekend?' she asked, smoothing down her straight blue linen skirt.

'My mother and sister will be,' he said, watching her brief gesture before his narrowed eyes slid down her long, sleek legs. Liza was watching him, angrily vibrating at the cool way he assessed her, and yet even angrier to find herself noticing the way his black hair sprang back from his forehead in a widow's peak, the moulding of that hard mouth, the line of his throat rising from a stiff, white collar. His suit was pure Savile Row today; very formal, very elegant. She had a flash of memory: Keir in his shabby tweeds and muddy boots. There was a funny little ache inside her. Why hadn't he been what he seemed that day?

He said softly, 'Missing Bruno?'

'Yes,' she told him with defiance in her voice, and their eyes met; Keir's sharp, searching, Liza's veiled by deliberate refusal to show what she thought. She did miss Bruno; she had enjoyed the free and easy nature of their relationship, the total absence of sexual awareness, any sexual hassle. It had made life so much more fun not to be challenged or disturbed the way she was every time she saw Keir.

'But you're not dating anyone else,' he said, his tone a cool statement. 'Who says?' she shrugged, tossing back her head. 'My detective.'

Liza's mouth opened wide and she drew in air sharply. 'You're kidding!'

He wasn't; he smiled.

'You've still been having me watched?' She had to make sure this wasn't one of his elaborate jokes, although his face wasn't teasing. It was amused, though, so she couldn't be sure.

'I'd put an agency on the job when I first heard about you and Bruno,' he told her calmly, i told you that. I had you checked out.'