Then she looks up and smiles. “I was bartending at a party and a woman from the agency that was supplying the dates asked if I wanted to be one of the dates.”
“Hmm… you did it for charity, of course. No payment.”
Her face becomes bright red, but she doesn’t look away, and oddly manages to sound sincere. “Charity, obviously.”
Then she changes the subject quickly, which makes me think charity, obviously is a half-truth.
“I saw when I researched you that you are very interested in horses,” she murmurs, batting her eyelashes.
I try to keep my amusement from showing. Clearly, she doesn’t flirt much. “Yes, I keep a stable in England.”
“I used to ride a horse a long time ago. It’s the best feeling in the world when you are galloping on a powerful horse.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Do you go to England often?”
“I’m going there tomorrow… want to come? We can go riding together.”
Her eyes widen with shock, then she blinks, and stammers, “I… I… have to work tomorrow. Er... thank you for the offer… it… is very kind of you.”
I smile pleasantly. “I wasn’t being kind. I wanted to take you away for a… how do you Americans say? A dirty weekend.”
“Oh!” She puts her knife and fork down. Somehow, I think she’s finished eating. Not that she ate much.
“I… I have to work, otherwise I would come,” she says with a frown.
“Relax,” I drawl. “You’re not the first woman who’s turned me down.”
She looks surprised. “Really? Do women ever turn you down?”
“Plenty, when I was younger… and a nerd.”
“I can’t believe it. You were a nerd?”
“Yup, I was glued to my computer screen day and night. Couldn’t even look a girl in the eye.”
She smiles, her beautiful sapphire eyes filling with relief that the conversation has moved away from her. “God, I can’t imagine you being shy.”
“I was not shy. I wasn’t interested. I was so completely and utterly consumed with the thing I was creating I barely slept.”
She leans forward, her face inquisitive, the creamy swell of her breasts tantalizing. “What were you creating that so consumed you?”
I stare at her warily. Her beauty is distracting and I’m itching to feel her skin, but is she from the enemy? I can’t tell, but I won’t take any chances. “Just a computer program. Would you like some dessert or coffee?”
She hesitates. “Do you want dessert?”
I shake my head. “I believe the chocolate tart is very good.”
“Very tempting, but I’m not sure I can eat anymore.”
I catch the eye of one of the passing waiters and make a writing motion with my hand, then turn back to her. “It’s been a lovely evening. Thank you.”
“I… uh… I wonder if perhaps I can have a drink at your place?”
I lift an eyebrow. “Drink?”
Hot color rushes into her face. Either she is an excellent actress or she has never done this before.
She takes a deep breath. “You know, one for the road.”
“I have a party to go to tonight.” There is a pause, then I hear myself say, “Would you like to come?”
She looks confused. “A party?”
“I have to say a quick hello to someone important to me.”
For a second I think she is going to refuse, and perhaps it would have been best if she does. Then she smiles that sexy, sinful, smile and says, “Sure. Let’s go to this party of yours.”
And a very, very strange thing happens inside my body.
Raine
A midnight blue Rolls Royce waits for us. The doormen rush to help us into the back. I have never been inside a Rolls before and I swear it is like sitting on a bed. It is so comfortable. The plush leather is smooth under my palm and the car is scented with some delicate perfume.
“Wow, this is nice,” I murmur.
His phone must have vibrated in his pocket, because he takes it out and looks at it. “Please excuse me. I have to take this call.”
“Go right ahead,” I say quickly.
He launches into Russian. I turn to look out of the car. I can hardly believe the reflection in the window is me. I have never done anything like this before in my life. To be honest I haven’t done much in life except work. There hasn’t been much time for partying. I never let myself acknowledge it, but life has been hard. I listen to him talking and suddenly a weird thought comes into my head. How nice it would be if he was my man. If I could stop working so hard and just for a little while let someone else pay the never-ending bills.
Then I pull back from the thought.
He will never be mine. He and I are chalk and cheese. We wouldn’t get on. Who am I kidding. He pretty much made it clear he wouldn’t want me beyond a one-night stand or a dirty weekend in London. It’s a silly thing, but when he invited me to go with him to London, I wanted to say yes. I wanted to say yes with all my heart.