First Love, Last Love

‘Oh—oh yes. And if by anything stupid you mean what I think you mean, you can forget it. I’m not interested in Daryl that way.’ Only one man had the power to excite her to the point of forgetting everything else but him, to make her forget all the morals Jane had taken pains to instil in her.

‘How about Alex?’ Steve taunted.

She blushed uncomfortably. Many more questions like this and she would give herself away completely. Damn Alex Blair and his potent kisses! ‘Alexander,’ she corrected cheekily, opening the door to admit Daryl.

She forced herself to accept Daryl’s greeting kiss, aware that her response was a trifle strained. After Alex Blair’s kisses she couldn’t bring herself to give Daryl any more than the mildest of caresses.

‘Are you feeling all right?’ he asked her once Steve had taken his leave and they were alone.

She avoided looking at him. ‘I’m fine. Maybe a little tired.’

‘Oh, only you seem preoccupied.’

‘Sorry,’ she gave him a bright smile. ‘Steve and I have just been wondering if Jane is serious about her boy-friend. I suppose I’m still thinking about it,’ she lied.

‘I see. Do you think she is?’

Lauri laughed. ‘I have no idea. Steve was more worried about it than I was. I just want Jane to be happy.’

Daryl frowned. ‘Talking of Jane, I thought you said you were going shopping with her lunchtime?’

Another lie, but she had had to make some excuse for not joining him. ‘Yes,’ she answered warily.

‘Then why didn’t you? I saw her eating her lunch in the canteen. She was with a couple of the other secretaries, so I didn’t speak to her.’

‘Actually she—she had to work at the last minute,’ Lauri said hastily. ‘No doubt she was just snatching a quick meal before going back up to her office.’

‘She didn’t look in any hurry to me.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ she queried sharply, attack the best form of defence in this case. ‘What are you implying?’

‘Why, nothing,’ he looked surprised by her aggressive tone. ‘I just wondered why you didn’t let me know and then we could have gone to lunch together as usual.’

‘I went shopping anyway. I—I had some things to get.’

‘I could still have come with you,’ he complained.

‘Well, I didn’t think of it,’ she snapped impatiently. ‘Is it that important?’ She knew she was being bitchy, but she couldn’t seem to help it.

‘It doesn’t appear to be to you,’ he said almost sulkily. ‘But as I’m only going to be around another three days I thought, mistakenly, that you might want to spend as much time with me as possible. It seems I was wrong.’ He stood up. ‘Would you like me to leave?’

‘Don’t be silly, Daryl!’ She felt guilty about her treatment of him. Alexander Blair might have her totally confused with his male magnetism, but that was no reason to take it out on Daryl. ‘Sit down and we’ll listen to some records.’

‘Well … If you’re sure?’

‘I’m sure.’ It was about the only thing she was sure of!

She was just as bad the next day, her work output nowhere up to standard. How could she have agreed to go out with Alexander Blair on Saturday? It was an act of sheer madness on her part. He had openly admitted he was only seeing her so that he would tire of her. How flattering that was!

Why was it that men like him, men who threw their independence from women out as a challenge to any red-blooded female, had the power to captivate? But he wasn’t just a challenge to her, although his remark about familiarity leading to contempt still rankled, he really did attract her most strongly. She wasn’t even sure she liked him as a person, he was much too arrogant and dictatorial for her independent nature, but he only had to kiss her to get her to agree to anything he suggested. As long as he didn’t suggest they sleep together she should be all right!

‘Telephone call for you, Lauri,’ Carly called over to her.

She looked up with a frown. She never received calls here. ‘Male or female?’ she asked before going into the office.

Carly grinned. ‘Oh, definitely male.’

‘Daryl?’