To Love Again

hiding evidence of her earlier distress. She felt good, and she knew she looked good.

Lucas put the newspaper down slowly, the darkening of his eyes the only outward sign

of his approval of her appearance as he stood up to briskly drape her jacket over her shoulders.

But that involuntary reaction was enough for Christi, and she shot him a provocative

smile over one shoulder as his hands lingered caressingly against her.

His hands were abruptly removed as he turned away. ‘With you dressed like this, I feel

we should do more than just go out to dinner,’ he rasped.

If their engagement were a normal one, she would have moved into his arms and told him

she didn’t want to go out at all, that she would much rather stay here, in his arms, making

love as passionately as they had last night.

But they weren’t like any normally engaged couple, and so she just smiled brightly.

‘Dinner sounds just fine,’ she assured him.

He nodded distantly, his hand politely on her elbow as they left her apartment to go

down to his waiting car.

This wasn’t the Lucas she was used to, the Lucas she could tell anything to, and know he

would either sympathise or offer advice that wasn’t intrusive.

She could have wept for the friendship they had sacrificed, but Lucas had to think it was

worth it to have his children back with him. She pushed from her mind thoughts of what

would happen to her and Lucas if he should lose the battle for custody of his children...

She smiled a little wanly at Simon as he saw them to their table, hoping he wouldn’t

connect her with the woman who had telephoned that night to arrange a table for Mr

Kingsley, only to find Lucas was already taking Marsha out to dinner! She knew Simon to be a

man of quick intelligence, his watchful gaze not missing a movement in ‘his’ restaurant, and if

he had recognised her voice that night he remained silent now.

Lucas’s tension didn’t relent as the meal progressed, and conversation was an

uphill battle Christi felt she was fast losing. Ordinarily, silence between them would have been

companionable, but now Christi was afraid that if she left a lull in the conversation Lucas might take

it to voice the doubts he seemed to be having about them, and seemed to be having more with

each passing minute.

She couldn’t even remember the meal she ate, and considering the exquisiteness of

the menu served there that was evidence of her disturbed peace of mind!

‘—Dizzy and Zach about the wedding ...’ Her voice trailed off lamely as she realised

exactly what she had been babbling, her stricken gaze raised to Lucas’s sudden stillness. She

hadn’t meant to mention that telephone call, hadn’t meant to talk of their marriage at all!

Lucas sat back, his hands resting lightly on the table’s edge. ‘Oh?’

She swallowed hard. ‘I wanted to make sure they didn’t go off to America before I’d had

a chance to tell them,’ she explained with a grimace, having told Lucas over breakfast that

morning of Zach’s dual careers. He had been a little surprised, but obviously had other things on

his mind. Now he was all too intent on what she was saying.

‘I intended going up to see your uncle tomorrow,’ Lucas bit out abruptly.

Her eyes widened. ‘You never said ...’

He shrugged. ‘I haven’t seen you all day to tell you anything.’

‘No, but—I’m sorry if I ruined your plans,’ she frowned. ‘I thought I was just getting one

obstacle out of the way,’ she grimaced.

His eyes narrowed. ‘And is it?’ he drawled slowly. She longed to tell him of the teasing

comment her uncle had made about ‘older men’, but Lucas just wasn’t approachable enough

just now. ‘Zach intends staying in England to write the screenplay,’

she answered hollowly. ‘So he and Dizzy will be in England for several more months yet.’

‘How about next week?’ Lucas grated.

She moved her shoulders shruggingly. ‘Next week, too.’

‘I meant,’ he bit out slowly, ‘how did your uncle feel about us being married next week?’

She gave a wan smile. ‘He seemed to think that after knowing each other for four years it

was about time!’

Lucas gave an impatient sigh. ‘It seems to me he could show a little more concern for your

welfare!’ He looked angry.

‘Why?’ Christi looked at him curiously. ‘Are you going to beat me? Keep me barefoot and

pregnant for the next ten years? ’ Her eyes gleamed mischievously.

There was no answering smile in Lucas ’s expression. ‘Of course not,’ he rasped

harshly. ‘But I hope I would show a little bit more interest in the man Daisy chose to marry.’

Daisy. And Robin. The reason he was marrying her in the first place.

She gave a deep sigh. ‘I think I’ve spoken of you enough over the years for my uncle to

realise you’re a kind and wonderful man, that you’ll be good to me, c-care for me,’ she

completed briskly, not knowing if that last were true any more. ‘And your business reputation is

something he doesn’t need to be told about,’ she dismissed abruptly. ‘What else does he need

to know about the man I’m going to marry?’ That he loved her, but that was something she

couldn’t assure Zach!

‘So he’s agreeable to the wedding being next week?’ Lucas snapped.

‘Of course,’ she nodded.

Lucas lapsed into silence again, nodding for the bill, frowning darkly as he waited for

it to be brought to the table.

‘I was invited to a party tonight.’ He spoke harshly once they had left the

restaurant. ‘I wasn’t going to go, but—well, we might as well put in an appearance,’ he shrugged.

Was he testing her? Had he decided that not just any wife would do, that she would

have to fit in with his friends and life-style, too? She couldn’t think of any other reason why

he should suddenly decide the party seemed like a good idea, after all; he hadn’t even

mentioned it to her until now.

Accepting that he didn’t return her love was one thing, understanding his need to have

Daisy and Robin with him was another, but she wouldn’t be put on trial as to her abilities to

be a suitable wife for him!

‘I’m not sure I

‘Have a little patience, Christi!’ Lucas gave a rueful grimace. ‘I’m a little out of practice

with considering another person’s wishes. Would you like to go on to a party with me?’

Even this slight softening in his harshly remote mood was enough to make her feel like

crying! ‘I’d love to go to a party with you.’ She gave a shaky smile.

She had been to dozens of other parties just like this one turned out to be, and even

knew several of the people there, although she could tell she and Lucas were the centre of

some attention for attending this party together.

‘I know actresses like to "make an entrance", but this is ridiculous!’ murmured a

conspiratorial voice at her side.

Christi turned eagerly to greet David Kendrick, kissing his cheek warmly, having felt a little

conspicuous standing on her own while Lucas went to the bar to get them both another drink.

‘Do that again,’ David invited wolfishly, his eyes gleaming with laughter.

She gave a husky laugh as she saw several people were looking their way. ‘I don’t think

I’d better,’ she said ruefully.

David glanced about them too, grimacing. ‘Maybe not,’ he drawled, suddenly very

serious. ‘Am I allowed to ask what you’re doing here with Lucas?’ He frowned his puzzlement.

‘Enjoying the party?’ she shrugged.

‘Besides that,’ he dismissed thoughtfully. ‘As far as I know, you’ve never been to one of

these parties with him before.’

Lucas was standing across the room, engaged in conversation with another man now,

although she knew he was aware of her own conversation with David, having seen him glance

in their direction a few seconds ago, on ly to turn away again uninterestedly.

She turned to give David a bright smile. ‘That’s right, I haven’t.’

‘Christi

‘Would you like to be among the first to congratulate us—me?’ she continued lightly.

‘Lucas and I are to be married next week.’

Instead of answering her, David looked at her searchingly, concern in the dark blue eyes.

‘Why?’ he finally asked.

She laughed softly, keeping the despair firmly at bay. ‘Why do people usually get

married?’ she derided.

‘Because they love each other,’ he dismissed. ‘Now, tell me, why are you and Lucas

getting married?’

‘Really, David

‘Christi,’ he put his hand on her arm, squeezing lightly, ‘it’s too sudden to just be a

coincidence so soon after I told you about Marsha remarrying.’

Her head went back proudly. ‘I happen to love Lucas very much.’

He nodded. ‘And it’s obvious from the way he was behaving the other night that he feels

he has a proprietorial claim on you, too, but that isn’t reason enough for him to marry you.’

Christi drew in a ragged breath. ‘We’re getting married because it’s what we want to

do.’ She couldn’t lie and say that Lucas returned her love. ‘And you’re saying Marsha’s plans