The Bell turned out to be a small pub, whose restaurant had a big reputation. As soon as they stepped through the door they were assailed by the most delicious smell of food. And although Abby had been sure she had no appetite, the dishes on offer were too tantalising to refuse.
The chauffeur wasn’t with them, of course. Luke had said he would give the man a ring when they were ready to leave, and Felix had appeared happy with that arrangement.
They were shown to a table for two. The crisp white tablecloth and the bud vase of roses were complemented by a lamp with a rose-coloured shade.
‘This is lovely,’ said Abby, glancing about her. Anything to avoid looking into Luke’s eyes. ‘Have you been here before?’
‘No, but my father has,’ replied Luke as a waitress came to ask if they would like a drink before their meal. Then, apparently remembering her liking for white wine, he ordered a glass of chardonnay for her and a beer for himself.
The waitress departed and Abby nodded. ‘Of course. You said your father lives in Bath,’ she continued, hoping to keep the conversation light. ‘It seems very nice.’
‘So do you,’ said Luke in a dangerously bland tone, bringing an immediate flush of heat to her cheeks.
‘You don’t have to say that,’ she said shortly, annoyed with herself for allowing anything he said to disconcert her. Then, determinedly, ‘Tell me about Felix.’
‘What do you want to know?’
Abby gave him an enquiring look. ‘Oh, I don’t know,’ she said casually. ‘How you saved his life, perhaps?’
‘Felix exaggerates.’
‘Does he?’ Abby arched an inquiring brow. ‘I didn’t get that impression.’
‘The helicopter I was flying had to ditch in southern Afghanistan,’ he said shortly. ‘Felix was hurt, and I dragged him out of the aircraft.’
‘Was it on fire?’
Luke’s mouth turned down. ‘Don’t make me out to be a hero, Abby.’
Abby stared at him. ‘But you can fly a helicopter?’
Luke shook his head. ‘Let’s talk about something else.’ He paused. ‘Do your parents live near Ashford?’
‘No.’ Abby hesitated. Then she said, ‘My father was killed in a car accident when I was five, and my mother died—a few years ago.’
‘I’m sorry.’ Luke sounded as if he meant it. There was a moment’s silence, then he picked up the menu the waitress had left. ‘So—what would you like to eat?’
It was difficult to choose, but Abby finally settled on avocado and prosciutto, followed by sea bass, with a scallop and butter sauce. When the waitress returned with their drinks, Luke gave the order, barely glancing at the menu before ordering the avocado, too, and a steak.
Once again, there was silence for a few minutes, and then Abby, who had been tasting her wine, said, ‘How about you? You said your father lives in Bath, but you didn’t mention your mother.’
‘That’s because my mother doesn’t live with us,’ replied Luke tersely. ‘She walked out when I was ten years old. My father’s not a poor man, but my mother found herself a man with more money than he had.’
‘So do you see her now?’
‘No.’ Luke clearly didn’t want to talk about it. ‘The last I heard, she was on her fourth husband. I don’t know where the hell she is and I don’t particularly care.’
Abby suspected he did care as she absorbed his words.
She hesitated and then ventured daringly, ‘Is that why you’ve never married?’
The vehemence of his response startled her. ‘I’ve been married, Abby,’ he said bitterly. ‘As a matter of fact, I married the girl I’d been going out with before you came on the scene.’
‘Ah.’ Now it was Abby’s turn to be confused. She pressed her lips together before saying challengingly, ‘So you weren’t free when we met either.’
Luke’s expression darkened. ‘Oh, I was free, Abby. I didn’t do commitment. Anyone could have told you that.’
‘Then—’
‘But I was stupid enough to think that you were as innocent as you looked.’ He snorted. ‘And then, guess what? I found out you weren’t.’
Abby didn’t say anything and after a few moments he went on, ‘The marriage didn’t last. Like I said, I don’t do commitment. But Sonia didn’t suffer by it. I’m pretty sure she’d checked out my bank balance before she accepted my ring.’
Abby shook her head. ‘You’re very cynical.’
‘Do you blame me? I guess you’re going to tell me that you’re not.’
‘I hope I’m not,’ said Abby at once. ‘And I probably have more reason to be so than you.’
Luke regarded her scornfully. ‘I’m sure you believe you can justify what you did. Forgive me, if I don’t shed any tears on your behalf.’
Abby pressed her lips together. She was tempted to walk out of the restaurant at that moment, but the waitress returned with their food and she felt obliged to stay in her seat.
Instead, she had to content herself with glaring at him until the woman had gone. Then she said grimly, ‘Do you really think I’ll stay and eat with you after that?’
Luke sighed. ‘I’m not going to apologise for what I said.’
‘I wouldn’t expect you to.’ She paused. ‘I’ll get a taxi to take me home.’
But when she would have got up from her seat, Luke put out a hand and restrained her.
‘Okay,’ he said. ‘I shouldn’t have brought up all that old stuff now. But you started it, asking about my mother. She almost ruined my father’s life.’
Abby’s tongue appeared to moisten her lips. ‘And that’s your excuse?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Are you implying that I almost ruined your life?’
He looked taken aback at that. ‘Uh, no,’ he muttered unwillingly. Then his hand tightened on her wrist and Abby felt the undeniable rush of awareness. ‘Don’t go,’ he said huskily, and heat like liquid fire ran through her blood. ‘Whatever happened in the past, I still want you.’
Abby looked down at the lean brown hand gripping her wrist and felt her stomach tighten. It was useless to pretend she didn’t want him, too.
But want and need were two very different bedfellows. An appalling pun, she acknowledged, but this time she intended to keep her head.
Withdrawing her wrist
