Claire made no effort to hide. It probably wouldn’t have been so bad if Claire wasn’t normally such a levelheaded person, but to see her so captivated by this man was completely out of character. And Jason Earle accepted her adoration as his due, played with her emotions like a master fiddler.
Eden’s contempt for the man grew as the evening progressed, and a couple of times she had to actually bite her tongue to stop herself being openly rude to him. She stood up with a certain amount of relief when Tim once again asked her to dance.
Jason Earle stood up too. ‘Would you mind if I had this dance with Eden?’ His request was directed at Tim.
Tim raised surprised eyebrows, giving his sister a quick look. He shrugged. ‘I suppose not. Eden?’
She drew a ragged breath, her annoyance deepening at the challenge she could read in Jason Earle’s expression. ‘I have no objection,’ she accepted coolly.
He guided her to a space on the dance floor, pulling her into his arms to move slowly to the rhythm of the music. The top of her head on a level with his chin, Eden was very aware of the tangy smell of his aftershave and the less tangible smell of his body, a completely male smell that wasn’t unpleasant, in fact, the opposite.
The group on the stage was one she particularly liked, their music soft and romantic, and she had to stop herself from relaxing against the taut hardness of this man’s body, to resist the temptation to yield against the arms clasped about her waist. She had been surprised by the way he had made no effort to dance more formally, holding her lightly to him, his warm breath softly fanning the hair at her temple.
The tension between them was unmistakable and finally Eden could stand it no longer, throwing back her head to look at him. ‘Your business dinner turned out to be more enjoyable than you anticipated,’ she said sarcastically.
‘Not at all,’ he returned smoothly, meeting her gaze unflinchingly. ‘I always enjoy my dinners with Claire.’
Her mouth turned back sneeringly. ‘So Tim has been telling me.’
He smiled, a completely natural smile that made her breath catch in her throat. He really was a most attractive individual, and perhaps Claire’s infatuation with him wasn’t so difficult to accept after all. ‘I’m sure he has,’ he acknowledged softly.
Eden looked away from that smiling mouth, determined not to be affected by the charm he could display when he chose to. ‘You really had no need to lie about your dinner date being a business one,’ she told him. ‘We didn’t particularly want you to stay anyway.’
Jason laughed softly. ‘Leash your claws, little girl,’ he advised softly. ‘My dinner with Claire was exactly what I said it was—business.’
‘Oh yes?’ she scorned, her golden eyes disbelieving.
‘Yes,’ he nodded. ‘Claire works for me.’
Her eyes widened. ‘For you?’
‘I own the magazine she runs.’
‘Oh!’ She couldn’t deny that this information had taken her by surprise, but really she ought to have made the connection herself. ‘I see. But would Isobel Morton see your—dinner in the same light?’ she enquired sweetly.
His mouth tightened into a thin line. ‘Meaning?’
‘Oh, I’m sure you know what I mean, Mr Earle.’
‘No, you tell me.’
Eden shrugged. ‘It’s public knowledge that you’re going to marry my father’s widow.’
‘Is it now?’ he queried softly.
‘Oh yes. Do you think she would approve of you seeing Claire?’
‘Do you intend telling her?’
‘Me?’ She couldn’t hide her surprise. ‘Why should I tell her, I’ve never met her and already I dislike her. She broke up my parents’ marriage, she and my grandfather. Besides, it’s nothing to do with me.’
‘I couldn’t agree more,’ he said grimly, his arms tightening painfully about her waist and so pulling her closer to the hard strength of his body. ‘I consider my private life none of your business.’
‘But you do intend marrying Isobel Morton?’ She wished he would let her go. The music had changed twice since they had come on to the dance floor and she could see Tim giving them anxious looks. And as for Claire…!
‘I may be,’ he agreed tightly.
‘Does Claire know about that?’
He raised dark eyebrows. ‘Are you by any chance threatening me?’
Eden opened wide innocent eyes. ‘Threatening you? I have no idea what you mean, Mr Earle.’
‘Oh, I think you do, Eden,’ his voice was icy. ‘I don’t react well to threats.’
Her laugh wasn’t quite as confident as she would have liked it to be. ‘I think you’ve misunderstood me, Mr Earle. I merely wondered if Claire knew you were shortly to be married.’
‘I’m well aware of what you wondered,’ he snapped. ‘And although I may have been a friend of Isobel’s for some time now there’ve been no definite wedding plans made, no matter what may or may not be public knowledge,’ he added mockingly. ‘Tell me, why didn’t you just come right out and tell Tim and Claire that you know me?’
‘Why didn’t you?’
He shrugged. ‘I took my cue from you. You didn’t seem to want them to know.’
‘I didn’t see the point, as I have no intention of going to see my grandfather. But don’t worry, Mr Earle, I won’t tell Claire about your other—friend.’
‘Claire knows about Isobel,’ he told her coldly. ‘I’ve never made her any promises concerning our own relationship.’
‘I don’t suppose you need to—the poor woman worships you,’ she said disgustedly. ‘I find it quite nauseating to watch.’
‘Then don’t,’ he advised abruptly.
‘It’s a little hard not to.’ She moved out of his arms. ‘Shall we go back to the table, Mr Earle, now that you’ve assured yourself that I don’t intend making things awkward for you?’
‘You can make things as awkward as you want, Eden, or attempt to. I don’t think Claire would be particularly bothered by anything you have to say. But I do think we should return to the table, we’ve said all we want to say to each other—for the moment.’
‘Does that mean I can be excused having dinner with you tomorrow?’
Jason’s mouth thinned angrily. ‘You make it sound as if I forced you into the arrangement.’
‘And didn’t you?’ she challenged.
‘I don’t think so,’ he met that challenge unflinchingly. ‘I think you’re under a misapprehension
