And didn’t Lauri know it! She might have been the cause of his first anger, but she had been made to bear the brunt of his lunchtime upset. Her mouth still tingled from that onslaught. What on earth would Jane and Steve say if they knew about it? She shuddered to think, especially cool, calm Jane, who always kept men at a distance, including Robin Harley.
‘Maybe his lady-love doesn’t like lunchtime sessions,’ Steve joked.
His sister gave him a reproving look. ‘I don’t appreciate those sort of comments about Mr Blair. He had a business appointment. Anyway, Connie Mears is out of town.’
‘Connie Mears?’ Lauri gasped. ‘The model?’ A vision of a tall leggy blonde instantly sprang to mind.
‘Is there another one?’ Steve quipped.
Lauri glared at him. ‘There could be.’
He shook his head. ‘Not if Alexander Blair is dating her.’
‘I’m sure he isn’t the type to be faithful to one woman,’ Lauri said bitchily. ‘Perhaps some other female turned him down at lunchtime.’ Which would account for his attack on her!
‘Lauri!’ Jane reprimanded. ‘I won’t have you talking like that, even if Steve chooses to.’
‘Don’t be such a nag, Jane. Personally I don’t think Mr High and Mighty Blair merits your unwavering loyalty to him. So far I’ve found him to be simply awful. He’s overbearing, impossible—’
‘So far?’ Jane frowned. ‘You’ve met Mr Blair?’
Too late Lauri realised her mistake. ‘Well—er—no, not exactly. He—Oh goodness, look at the gravy!’ She rushed to the cooker, pulling the saucepan off the heat to stop it boiling all over the sparkling white top. ‘Dinner is ready, let’s eat before it spoils,’ she clutched thankfully on to this excuse to change the subject. ‘Go and have a quick wash, Jane, while I serve the food.’
‘That was a narrow escape,’ said Steve once they were alone. ‘If you aren’t careful, Lauri, that temper of yours is going to be what lands you in trouble. I won’t mention who Blair thinks is an idiot, but I think you just might let that out yourself if you aren’t a little more careful what you say.’
Lauri took his advice and remained silent when her aunt came back, listening to their conversation but adding little herself. Jane would be furious if she found out her niece had been driving the car that had so upset their employer, and Jane had quite a biting tongue if she became angry.
They had finished their main course and were just starting on the apple crumble and custard they had for dessert when Steve flashed Lauri a sly look. He feigned a look of innocence. ‘Our little niece was propositioned today,’ he told his sister casually.
Lauri gasped, biting back her fiery retort. What could he possibly know of that kiss in the lift?’
‘Yes,’ he continued softly. ‘Some Lothario wanted to whisk her off round the world with him.’
She almost sighed her relief out loud. ?
??Daryl isn’t a Lothario,’ she defended, perhaps more heatedly than normal because she had thought Steve meant Alexander Blair. ‘He’s a very nice boy.’
‘Then why did you refuse to go with him?’ Steve taunted.
Her green eyes flashed. ‘Because—because I’ve only just started my new job,’ she desperately made up an excuse.
He laughed. ‘And you enjoy being a typist so much that it wins hands down over travelling the world?’
‘Anyone would think you wanted me to go,’ Lauri snapped.
‘Will you two stop arguing!’ Jane put her hands up to her temples. ‘I have a splitting headache and all you two can do is bicker all the time.’ She gave Lauri a sharp look. ‘When did Daryl ask you to go away with him?’ she demanded to know.
‘Oh, weeks ago,’ Lauri dismissed. ‘I told him I thought it was a ridiculous idea.’
‘But he asked you again today?’
Lauri grinned. ‘He’s a trier.’
‘As long as he doesn’t succeed,’ Steve quipped.
‘Steven!’ Jane rounded on him. ‘It isn’t something to joke about.’
He sobered. ‘I couldn’t agree more. I told her we wouldn’t have let her go even if she had decided to go with him.’