‘You know you are,’ she said miserably.
‘I thought so. She wouldn’t be pleased?’
‘What do you think?’
Alex laughed. ‘She wouldn’t be pleased at all.’
‘She would be furious.’
‘Mm. So I have you in my power, do I?’
Lauri gave him a sharp look. ‘I wouldn’t go that far.’
‘Oh, I would. My Miss Prescott, and I don’t mean you—’
‘That’s good, because I’m not yours. And I don’t think Jane would like being called that either. Spoken to anyone else but me that remark might have been misconstrued. You really should be more careful about what you say, Mr Blair.’
She heard him draw an angry breath. ‘You are without doubt the most outspoken young lady I’ve ever met! I don’t know why I’m wasting my time on you.’
‘Neither do I,’ she retorted, seeing they were nearing the Blair office block. ‘Could you drop me off here, please,’ she pleaded. ‘I—I’ll walk the rest of the way.’
‘So that you aren’t seen with me?’ he taunted.
‘Yes!’ She met his speculative look defiantly.
‘What’s it worth?’ he queried softly.
‘What’s it—What do you mean?’
He quirked an eyebrow. ‘What do you think I mean?’ He had slowed the car right down. ‘If you arrive back with me then my Miss Prescott will no doubt get to hear about it—and I bet you’re willing to do quite a lot to stop that happening. Tell me, does she frighten you as much as she frightens me?’
‘Jane frightens you?’
‘Terrifies me.’
‘Liar!’ she laughed.
‘Maybe. But she’s certainly a formidable lady. She won’t stand any nonsense.’
‘Are you telling me that you’ve made a pass at my Aunt Jane?’ Lauri exclaimed.
‘Heaven forbid!’ he drawled in mock horror. ‘She’d soon put me firmly in my place. I daren’t make a wrong move with that lady, and I would make a guess that you daren’t either. I think crashing into my car constitutes a wrong move, don’t you?’
‘Yes,’ Lauri admitted reluctantly.
‘So, what’s it worth?’ he repeated.
‘I don’t know what you mean,’ she evaded.
‘Oh, I think you do, Lauren,’ he taunted.
‘No,’ she desperately shook her head. ‘No, I don’t. I certainly don’t consider the accident and keeping it from Jane reason enough to—to—I’d rather tell her everything than sink to that level!’
‘Why, what do you mean, Miss Prescott?’ He feigned shock. ‘I was merely suggesting you agree to have dinner with me, certainly nothing else.’
‘Have dinner with you?’ she repeated dazedly.
‘Yes.’ He stopped the car at the side of the road, turning to look at her. ‘Will you come?’