First Love, Last Love

‘After a bit of persuading. She wasn’t too happy about leaving me alone with Alex,’ she explained.

‘I don’t suppose she was. One of these days you can tell me exactly what I did interrupt.’

She blushed. ‘I already told you, it was nothing. I think you should know, Jane’s seriously contemplating marrying Robin.’

‘God, no!’

‘Mm,’ she nodded.

‘But he’s all wrong for her.’

‘I know. But she muttered something about him being steady and reliable, and never letting her down.’

‘He’ll never let her down because he is steady and reliable. The man’s only half alive!’

‘I know that too.’ Lauri shrugged. ‘I just thought I should warn you.’

‘Thanks,’ he grimaced. ‘When she gets back I’ll try and talk some sense into her.’

‘I think you’ll be too late.’

‘Too late?’

‘I think Robin intends proposing this weekend. As long as she meets Mummy and Daddy’s approval, of course.’

Steve looked ready to explode. ‘Damned cheek! She’s too good for him if anything. And what sort of man is he that he has to have his parents’ approval at his age?’

‘Alex said the same—Well, he did,’ she insisted. ‘He said that if Jane were interested enough in him to marry him he wouldn’t care what his parents thought.’

‘My God, he isn’t after Jane too?’

Lauri laughed at his expression. ‘I don’t think so. He just likes her.’

‘I doubt the feeling is reciprocated now that she knows he’s been taking you out. Okay, okay, enough said,’ he muttered as she stiffened angrily. ‘But I don’t like it.’

‘I’ll note your disapproval,’ she teased. ‘Now I for one am off to bed. I’d advise you to do the same.’ She got to the bottom of the stairs before turning to face him, a mischievous look in her eyes. ‘I bet you sobered up a lot quicker than you got drunk,’ she taunted.

‘I wasn’t drunk,’ he retorted indignantly, ‘just slightly merry. But I’m certainly sober now.’

She was still laughing when she entered her bedroom, although her humour died as soon as she had closed the door behind her. Damn Alex Blair and his mischiefmaking! Whatever devil had entered his system she would let him know she didn’t appreciate it. He had been so completely different tonight, almost seeming to despise her at times—when he wasn’t making love to her, that was.

If only he weren’t so potent to her senses. But it was no use denying the desire he made her feel, he knew of it every time he touched her. She dreaded to think what would have happened if Steve hadn’t come home when he did, she could even now be in Alex’s arms. He would be a lover who took his time, gave her every pleasure she had ever dreamt of before taking his own passion to its body-shattering conclusion.

Her body still tingled where he had touched her, although far from soothing her bruises she thought he might have inflicted a few more. And why had he been trying to make her confess her love for him, playing with her body in a way that would ultimately have made her tell him anything he wanted to hear? The fact that she did love him, and she knew she could no longer deny that to herself at least, would have to remain her secret. There would be no denying him if he knew of her true feelings.

Steve was on his third cup of coffee, by the time she came down the next morning. ‘God, I had a lousy night,’ he groaned.

‘You probably had more to drink than you realised,’ she said unsympathetically.

He scowled at her. ‘It wasn’t the drink. It was worry about you that kept me awake.’

‘Me?’ Lauri raised her eyebrows, setting about cooking their bacon and eggs for breakfast. ‘One egg or two?’ she asked absently.

‘Two. And don’t change the subject.’

She smiled. ‘Whatever’s wrong with you, it hasn’t affected your appetite.’

‘Lauri!’