"Dammit, Lydia!" The cool control was slipping, she 'noticed interestedly as he took her arm and roughly pulled her out of the way of an elderly couple who had come to stand just behind them, patiently waiting for the _lift, the woman's face bright with interest as she caught the last part of their exchange.
"What the hell do you expect me to do, leap on you in the middle of the night?" he asked curtly.
"I want my own room," she repeated resolutely.
"I never dreamt--' " For crying out loud, woman. “He shut his eyes briefly and then glared at her in exasperation.
"I always have the suite when I stay here, and knowing that it had two bedrooms I obviously assumed--' “I know what you assumed," sh
e said tightly.
"I don't believe I'm having this conversation." He appeared, for once, completely out of his depth, and then as the lift doors opened she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder.
"Excuse me, dear." The little old lady was standing behind her, her husband watching anxiously from inside the lift as she reached forward and murmured conspiratorially in Lydia's ear in a stage whisper that was clearly audible to Wolf,
"You stick to your guns, my dear. There is too much of this free love these days-- ' " Right. That's it. “As Wolf took Lydia's arm and marched her few feet into the lift, the woman's husband made a swift exit to join his wife, taking her arm and walking swiftly in the opposite direction.
"You are going to come up with me, inspect this damn suite and then see you've got nothing to worry about," Wolf said furiously as the lift took them effortlessly upwards. "Dammit all, Lydia, every other woman of my acquaintance would be mad if I hadn’t booked a suite--' " I'm fully aware of that," she said icily as she forced herself not to wilt under his temper.
"And I am not “every other woman"." The phrase had cut through her heart like a knife.
_"Tell me about it." He shook his head slightly as he leant against the side of the lift and watched her with eyes that softened suddenly as they ran over her flushed stiff face and tremulous mouth.
"I haven't been in such a crazy situation since I was eighteen and out on a date in my first car when I really did run out of petrol. I seem to remember there was an interfering old busybody about then too, in the first car that came by. My girlfriend disappeared with her and that was the end of that. "
He eyed her mockingly as she glanced at him once quickly before fixing her gaze somewhere over his left shoulder. “I’m really not some sort of sex-crazed animal, you know," he drawled slowly as the lift drew smoothly to a halt.
"I don't know what impression you've picked up or what little stories or gossip you've been listening to, but I'm not completely without sensitivity."
"Just morals." She didn't know what made her say it, perhaps it was the easy mockery in his voice and face when she was as tense as a coiled spring, but once out the words couldn't be retrieved and she stared at him aghast as the handsome face hardened into stone-cold granite and his eyes took on the texture of polished glass.
"I'm going to do us both a favour and pretend I didn't hear that."
She found herself ignominiously frog- marched out of the lift into a small corridor before she could protest. The bellboy had opened the door and placed their suitcases inside and at their approach he prepared to leave, pocketing the folded note that Wolf slipped him with a beaming smile which faded somewhat as he glanced at their grim faces.
"I'm sorry. Wolf." As soon as the door had closed she launched into an apology before she lost her nerve.
"That was a rotten thing to say and without foundation. I don't know anything about you--' _" No, you don't. “His face had relaxed at her words but now he walked across to the drinks cabinet in the far corner of the beautiful lounge, gesturing for her to be seated on the massive corner unit that wound round a large open fireplace in which several logs crackled. "
What would you like to drink? “he asked coolly.
"I don't--' She stopped abruptly. She didn't really drink, Matthew had never approved of alcohol and she wasn't keen on the taste, but she needed something to relax her a little if she was going to get through the rest of the evening without shattering into a hundred tiny pieces.
"Sherry, please," she answered stiffly.
He poured himself a stiff whisky and brought both glasses over to the set tee where she was perched nervously.
"Come here." He placed the drinks on the coffee- table and took her hand, drawing her up and across the room to a door at the far end. "" This would be your room.
It has its own en suite bathroom, so you needn't emerge until you are fully dressed, with your coat on if you wish. “He eyed her wickedly as she blushed a deep scarlet. The room was huge and very luxurious in soft shades of gold and red, an open door in one wall revealing a magnificent bathroom complete with sunken bath and the biggest shower cabinet she had ever seen.
"There is another bedroom for me, again with bathroom," he continued blandly as he gestured for her to precede him out of the room, 'and you will notice you can lock your door from the inside. I could perhaps arrange for a bolt to be fitted if you're a little nervous? "
"I'm sure that won't be necessary," she said tightly as she walked back over to the fire with burning cheeks. He was loving this, just loving it, but then she had made the most colossal fool of herself.
Why, oh, why hadn't she waited and made sure of the facts before launching
in with the veiled accusations? But he had just seemed so sure of himself, so in control, as though he had done this a thousand times before. And he probably had. She glanced at him now as he sat down beside her and reached for his drink. With a thousand different women. Her heart pounded violently. And that was what had made her so mad. The self-knowledge was a bitter pill to swallow.