Dishonourable Proposal

'I'm waiting, Katy.'

So much anger and hurt—too many emotions were surfacing tonight, and she wanted nothing more than to get back to the hotel as quickly as possible, before she said something she would regret.

'Can we leave now? I've had enough. I'll refund you the money if it's not two yet.' She stood up and swayed slightly—her legs felt none too steady—but in seconds Jake was beside her, his arm going around her waist to support her. He bent his dark head towards her blonde one.

'I will take you back to the hotel, but first answer me.'

Half drunk she might be, but she still recognised Jake's determination. 'Does it matter?' she said wearily; raking over the past was a futile exercise.

'Yes, I think it matters a great deal to me,' Jake responded. He turned her to face him, his arms crossed around her waist, holding her close against his hard body. Tell me. Why do you say I was responsible for preventing you from working at Meldenton years ago? Why do you think I am a hypocrite?' he questioned adamantly. 'Make me understand.'

She raised her head and looked up into the dark piercing eyes burning down into hers. She felt the heat of his body, the hard length of his muscular thighs pressed against her slender limbs. The tension in him communicated to her even though her head was swimming. She had to get out into the fresh air, away from Jake, but first she had to answer him.

'You seduced me when I was eighteen, the daughter of your "good friend", and now have the gall to condemn my lifestyle.'

'Seduced!' he exclaimed. 'You were begging for it.'

She ignored his exclamation, and his crude comment. 'Oh, come on, Jake,' she drawled, forcing her lips into what she hoped was a confident smile while her mind searched frantically for something to say without admitting she knew about Monica. Slowly her smile turned into a rueful grimace. 'Remember when we had sex...' she could not say 'made love' '... I asked you if I was the first woman you had loved, and you told me I was the first and only woman you had loved? God, but I was naive—I actually believed you were a virgin as well. Instead I was only one in a long line.' She noted with interest the dull flush that burnt up under his skin. 'What would you call it, Jake—the old double standard or hypocrisy? I know what I'd call it.' Katy snorted, and before he could respond she added, 'By the way, when did you last visit Dad, your "good friend"?' she asked spitefully.

Jake's hands fell to his sides and she was free. She shot a quick glance at his face and to her surprise she saw guilt registered there...

'It must be nearly a year; I have been out of the country a lot,' he qualified, avoiding her eyes.

By sheer luck she had hit a nerve. Of course he wouldn't have visited her father, she thought bitterly.

Once Monica had left, her father's house would have held no appeal for him.

'Rather the pot calling the kettle black, Jake,' she derided.

Katy did not see the angry bitterness in his eyes when he lifted his head and looked around the room as if he had just realised where they were. He turned back to her and for an instant the tension was electric. She thought he wanted to shake her, but instead Jake straightened his broad shoulders, and clasped her elbow in his strong hand.

'This is no place to explain, to talk,' he said flatly. 'We're leaving.'

Her legs almost buckled when the fresh air hit her, and if it had not been for Jake's hand supporting her she would have crumbled to the ground at his feet. Living mostly in France for the past few years, she was quite used to drinking wine, but in the club she had drunk four glasses in quick succession.

A camera flash went off in her face. She closed her eyes and instinctively turned, hiding her face in the warmth of Jake's broad chest. She groaned inwardly: the Press would have a field-day. It was the last coherent thought she had for some time.

'Are you all right? Can you walk, or shall I carry you to your room?'

Katy opened her eyes. Jake was leaning over her, his darkly handsome face frowning his concern, or more likely disgust, she thought ruefully. She had rather gone over the top in the past couple of hours. She was still feeling woozy, but at least she could recognise they were in the Rolls, parked outside the Inn on the Park, her hotel.

From her alcohol-hazed mind she managed to gather enough self-control to reply slowly, 'Thank you. I can walk perfectly well.' She crossed her fingers in hope. 'There is no need for you to accompany me.' And with what little elegance she could muster she slid out of the car, to stand, swaying slightly, on the pavement. She took one step before a large arm circled her waist and almost dragged her up the steps to the hotel entrance.

'You little fool, for all your sophisticated airs, you shouldn't be allowed out alone,' Jake said bluntly, before turning to the reception desk and demanding her key.

Katy could not fail to notice the expression of knowing male complicity on the young man's face as he handed Jake her key, and she stepped back out of Jake's reach.

'Do you want coffee sent up?' he demanded.

'No, thank you. I never drink coffee at night,' she confessed. The young receptionist's look had sobered her up quicker than coffee ever would.

'May I have my key, please?' She held out her hand to Jake. There was no way he was coming upstairs with her. She was not that intoxicated.

Instead of giving her the key Jake caught her outstretched hand in his, 'I always see my dates safely to their doors, Katy.' His wide mouth twitched with a hint of suppressed humour, and, tightening his grip on her hand, he urged her towards the bank of lifts. 'And you would not want to spoil that young man's pleasure. He will be fantasising about you and me all night.'

'Not all night, Jake.' She glanced at the slim gold watch on her wrist. 'Another forty minutes and your time is up, and it can't be a moment too soon for me,' she avowed bluntly, leaving him in no doubt that she considered the evening a duty not a date.

'In that case I'd better not waste any more time,' he said silkily, and as the lift door closed behind them he turned her into his arms.