‘We left the restaurant, Jude,’ she corrected dryly. ‘That doesn’t mean we left the hotel,’ she added pointedly.
Jude’s scowl deepened as he easily understood her implication, his narrowed gaze searching on her almost defiant expression. If May were to be believed, then instead of eating she and David Melton had gone upstairs together to one of the hotel bedrooms…
‘Besides,’ she continued hardly, ‘I’m surprised you even noticed our departure considering the identity of your own dining companion.’ The last was added scornfully.
It wasn’t easy, but Jude forced visions of May in David Melton’s arms from his mind—for the present! He would get back to that subject in a moment.
His smile was mocking now. ‘Ah, you recognised her,’ he murmured with satisfaction.
May gave a derisive laugh. ‘Along with everyone else in the room! But then, how could anyone not recognise the beautiful actress, April Robine?’
Jude wasn’t sure he liked that scornful edge to May’s voice when she spoke of April. He had known the beautiful actress for several months now, had never found her to be anything other than warm and charming, her patience infinite with the fans who so often intruded upon her privacy. Even yesterday evening as they had been eating their meal, several people had come over to their table to ask for her autograph, and none of them had gone away disappointed, in April or the acquired autograph.
‘Your friend David certainly found her charming when he came over to our table to say hello,’ he bit out caustically.
May was too startled by the statement to be able to hide the emotion, her cheeks paling slightly, her eyes a deeper green than usual. ‘I don’t know what you mean.’ She shook her head dismissively.
‘I mean that April and your friend David apparently know each other,’ he bit out abruptly, having been surprised himself when David Melton had come over to their table to be greeted so effusively by April. ‘In fact, from the warmth with which they kissed each other yesterday evening, you might say they know each other very well!’
Jude frowned as May seemed to pale even more. Two days ago May had assured him that she wasn’t interested in David Melton; in fact she had insisted, despite the other man’s obvious entreaties, that David Melton meant nothing to her. And yet her reaction now to the other man’s acquaintance with the beautiful April seemed to imply otherwise…
May moistened dry lips before visibly swallowing hard. ‘What does that have to do with me?’
He looked at her consideringly. ‘Everything, I would have thought—if your implication that you and David spent the night together at the hotel is the correct one!’ he rasped.
She drew in a sharp breath. ‘For your information, I slept in my own bed last night!’
‘Meaning that you and Melton only spent the evening in bed together at the hotel?’ Jude scorned.
‘Meaning that it’s none of your damned business where I spent yesterday evening!’ she returned forcefully.
He was going to shake her in a minute. Or kiss her again. Neither of which was a good idea.
He had learnt that only too well two days ago, could still feel the softness of her lips as they responded to his, the warmth of her curves as her body moulded against his. The very thought of David Melton enjoying those lips and her desirable softness was enough to make him forget everything else. And he didn’t want to feel that way. Not over this woman. Or any other woman.
He drew in a deeply controlling breath. ‘May, I actually came here to ask you to have dinner with me this evening.’
She straightened, eyeing him mockingly. ‘Really?’
‘Really,’ he confirmed dryly.
May gave a shake of her head. ‘Then you have a very strange way of going about it.’
Because he had been sidetracked by talk of her friendship with David Melton.
But it was time to forget about Melton, and April, and concentrate on what he really wanted from this woman.
‘Okay,’ he sighed frustratedly. ‘Let’s start again, shall we? May, will you have dinner with me this evening?’
‘No,’ she answered without hesitation, her gaze mocking. ‘And just why is it that everyone seems to think I need to have dinner bought for me at the moment?’ she added frowningly.
‘Probably because you look as if a few good meals inside you wouldn’t come amiss!’ Jude’s gaze moved deliberately down her obvious slenderness.
‘Thanks,’ she snapped. ‘But the answer is still no!’
He scowled at her stubbornness. ‘David Melton has booked you for this evening, too, hmm?’
‘No—that’s lunch,’ she told him derisively, obviously enjoying his frustration.