A Convenient Proposal

'I don't think I do.'

'They've had a little thing going for months on the quiet,' Monty continued affably, not at all put out by Candy's cool tone. 'Joanna told me herself—confidentially, you know?' He tapped the side of his greasy nose as he winked at her. 'And she also let on you've been asking about me, so no need to be shy, m'dear. I'm all for the modern way of doing things. Bit of variety is the spice of life and all that, eh?'

He was suggesting she and Quinn swop partners for the night with himself and Joanna? Candy stared at the grinning, amiable face in front of her. It was completely without malice or bashfulness; Joanna had obviously led him to believe his suggestion would be welcomed with open arms. Or perhaps the ice-cool blonde hadn't intended Monty to be quite so bald in his approach? Whatever, she had to put him right, and quickly. And then she found she didn't have to.

'I'm afraid Joanna has been taking a walk in cloud-cuckoo-land again.' Quinn's voice was like a steel blade behind Monty, and as Monty turned Candy saw Quinn had Joanna at the side of him. The beautiful blonde's face was scarlet with rage. 'I've just put her straight on a few things, and while we're on the subject I'd like to make it clear that Joanna and I have never been an item, Monty. Okay?' Quinn gave a smile that wasn't a genuine smile at all. 'So Joanna is all yours. And Candy—' here Quinn deliberately allowed his eyes to stroke Candy's flushed face '—is all mine.'

'Oh, I see.' The warning in Quinn's voice was obvious even to Monty. 'Ticketyboo, old man. Ticketyboo.'

'And we believe in fidelity. Isn't that right, sweetheart?'

Quinn held her gaze, his black eyes glittering. 'Both now and later, when we're married.'

Candy heard Joanna's sudden intake of breath and Monty's confused, 'Married?' but she was struggling with her own set of emotions, the chief being one of furious outrage. How dared he take this ridiculous farce so far? she asked herself angrily. Posing as his girlfriend was bad enough, but to announce to all and sundry they were intending to make it permanent was going beyond the call of duty. He could think of some other way to ward off Joanna Embleton-White because she had had enough. More than enough!

'So…' Joanna's gaze held all the warmth of an arctic winter. 'Do we take it congratulations are in order?' the slim blonde asked tightly, looking straight at Candy.

Candy didn't know what to say, but she summoned up a fairly bright smile from somewhere and wished Quinn Ellington to a place that was very hot and very final. 'Nothing is decided yet,' she managed at last, 'so perhaps congratulations are presumptuous.'

'Nonsense, darling.' Quinn was going for the Oscar. 'I want that band of gold on your finger as soon as possible and you know it.' He turned his dark gaze on Monty as he drawled easily, 'Can you blame me?'

'Not at all,' Monty responded gallantly, with an uneasy glance at Joanna's white, tight-lipped face. 'Quite understandable, old man.'

'I think so,' Quinn agreed with silky aplomb. 'And now, if you'll excuse me, I want to make sure my fiancée has something to eat. I'm sure we'll catch up with you later.'

Candy was so furious she didn't trust herself to say a word, steadfastly keeping her mouth shut as Quinn led her across the room and out into the hall towards the dining room where the sumptuous buffet reposed. But Quinn didn't lead her into the high ceilinged, wood-panelled dining room, as she had expected; instead he suddenly pulled her through a door to their left and Candy found herself in a large, book-lined study as Quinn flicked on the light and shut the door behind them.

'Calm down and hear me out before you say anything.'

Candy's head shot up as Quinn spoke, her vivid blue eyes shooting sparks and her soft mouth straight and taut. 'Nothing, nothing you could say would excuse such total, absolute arrogance, Quinn,' she snapped vehemently. 'How you could have the effrontery, the gall to stand there and tell them we're going to be married is beyond me!'

He was standing with his back against the door, leaning in a casual pose with his arms folded across his chest and his handsome head slightly tilted as he surveyed her wild expression. 'I was completely out of line. I know it,' he admitted calmly.

'Do you?' She was so angry she could have spit. 'Big deal! Why I didn't tell them you are an out-and-out liar I really don't know. I should have.'

'You didn't let me down in front of Joanna and Monty and the rest of them who were close enough to eavesdrop because you aren't like that,' Quinn said with unforgivable composure.

'You think I'm a fool, is that it?' she shot back hotly.

'No, that is not it.' His hand had clamped on to her wrist as she had made to turn away from him, hurt beyond measure, and now he took her upper arms in his hands, his fingers biting into her flesh as she struggled to break free. 'That's the last thing I think you are.'

'I don't believe you.'

'Then I'll have to convince you, won't I?' He had seen the telltale glimmer of tears deep in the sapphire eyes and his voice had gentled accordingly. 'I think you're pretty terrific, if you want to know, and I don't see any reason why we can't make my declaration a reality. We get on well, we each have our separate careers, so we're not likely to tread on each other's toes or get bored, and I'd bet my life we'd be more than compatible sexually…if you wanted that to be part of the deal. Of course that could happen at your own pace, when you're ready.'

'I don't believe I'm hearing this.'

She was staring at him as though he had lost his mind, and maybe he had, Quinn thought soberly, but he had had enough of Monty and the like pawing her about as though she was like the rest of the butterfly types who flitted in and out of their social scene. He'd wanted to do murder half the night.

'Why?' he asked calmly. 'I'm expanding the practice and a wife would be very useful to me. Dinner parties, entertaining—it is all so much easier with a hostess, besides which I'm tired of the Joannas of this world and their demands. You've had more than enough of the so-called love element to last you a lifetime, and so have I. And I would make sure you don't lose out on the deal. I am financially independent due to investments and other business deals; we'd live well. I could build you a wonderful studio at the back of the house—'

'Quinn!' She interrupted him before he could say any more. 'Quinn, we don't love each other.' Or you don't love me, more to the point.

'Exactly.' He smiled at her as though she had agreed to this ridiculous proposal. 'That's why it would work so well, don't you see? I've done the love thing and it's a killer, as your experience with Harper must have told you. But why should the past prevent us from enjoying life in a partnership in the future? The benefits are numerous. Think about it We can be happy together knowing there are no great expectations on the other party; we can have fun, help each other out; my name and the ring on your finger will protect you from the Monty creeps and we can be friends too. Many couples go through life without that ingredient, Candy.'

She remembered what his mother had said and eyed him helplessly. She was the only woman he had ever had a friendship with. Surely that boded well? And then she caught the thought frantically, shocked that she was even considering such a crazy notion. She couldn't agree to marry Quinn. The mere idea was emotional suicide.