aren’t unwanted,’ Matt said smoothly. ‘We would love you to come along.’
‘I’ve already been through all that,’ Jenny told him, as she picked up her bag from a chair. ‘She can be very stubborn, can our Helen.’
‘But—–’
‘She doesn’t want to go, Matt,’ Jenny said firmly. ‘And nothing will persuade her.’
This time Helen was sure she could sense an undercurrent, a feeling they knew something she didn’t. Jenny hadn’t emphasised the word ‘nothing’, and yet the inflection had been there all the same.
‘Is there something you aren’t telling me?’ she asked them.
Jenny frowned. ‘Why should you think that?’
She shrugged. ‘Just your manner. Is there something?’
‘Well, actually—–’
‘No,’ again Jenny cut in on Matt, ‘there’s nothing. Shall we go, Matt?’ she said pointedly.
‘But—–’
‘Shall we go?’ she repeated firmly.
He sighed. ‘Oh, all right. But he isn’t going to like it.’
‘He?’ Helen picked up sharply. ‘And who might “he” be?’ she asked suspiciously.
Jenny gave Matt an angry glare. ‘Now look what you’ve done! I had no intention of mentioning that he was behind the invitation.’
‘Oh,’ Matt looked shamefaced. ‘I see.’
‘By “he”,’ Helen said tautly, ‘I take it you mean Leon Masters?’
‘Well—–’
‘Of course we do,’ Matt acknowledged impatiently. ‘Hell, what’s the use of prevaricating, Jenny?’ he snapped as she went to interrupt yet again. He looked down at Helen. ‘Leon wants you there today.’
Her mouth tightened. ‘Does he now?’ She looked angrily at her cousin. ‘I take it this is what you meant by a different approach?’
‘Now look what you’ve done, Matt!’ snapped Jenny. ’Why couldn’t you have just kept quiet?’
Helen stood up. ‘I’m glad he didn’t. So I was supposed to go along today as Leon Masters’ companion,’ she mused softly. ‘God, that man has a nerve! Doesn’t he know how to take no for an answer?’
Jenny shrugged. ‘I should think it’s quite a few years since anyone said it. It’s a new experience for him.’
‘Well, his new experiences can continue. Tell him the answer is still no.’
‘Now look, Helen,’ Matt chided. ‘Leon isn’t an easy man to cross. He can be a right swine at times.’
‘Oh, I know that,’ she said bitterly. ‘But I don’t have to say yes to him. Some of the other women in his life may not have been so lucky—I’m sure he has a lot of influence in the acting world.’
‘Hey, now I wouldn’t ever say he’s used blackmail to get a woman,’ Matt admonished. ‘When I said he could be a swine I meant in his manner and verbally. As far as I know he’s always played it straight with everyone.’
‘Except me,’ said Helen vehemently. ‘He was being underhand and arrogant in getting you to take me with you today. All it’s done is increase my dislike of him. Tell him his little plan failed—miserably. I don’t like him and I don’t want to go out with him.’
Matt raised his eybrows. ‘Another new experience! Most females I know would love to have your opportunity.’
‘They’re welcome to it!’
‘Come on, Matt,’ Jenny linked her arm through his, ‘let’s get out of here before you do any more damage. I think you’ve put your foot in it enough for one day.’
He looked sheepish. ‘Well, how was I to know you hadn’t told Helen about Leon’s involvement?’
‘You should have tried using a little common sense.’
‘Please don’t argue about it, you two,’ Helen told them. ‘It isn’t worth it.’
Jenny bent to kiss her on the cheek. ‘Sorry, love. I was only doing what I thought best.’
‘Involving me with Leon Masters?’ Helen derided.
‘With any man. I didn’t care who it was.’
‘Thanks!’
Jenny sighed. ‘You know what I meant. I was only trying to help.’
Helen grimaced. ‘That kind of help I can do without.’
‘All right, I know when I’m beaten. Have a nice day.’
‘And you.’ Helen picked up her book. ‘And don’t rush back on my account.’
‘We don’t intend to,’ Matt said moodily.
‘Don’t be such a bad loser,’ Jenny chided teasingly.
‘It’s all right for you, but what do I tell Leon? He’s going to be furious,’ he groaned.
‘You’ll think of something,’ Helen said uncaringly. ‘Preferably the truth.’
‘Which is?’
‘That I’m not interested,’ she said in a bored voice.
She went back to her book, pretending an interest she no longer felt until she heard them leave, then relaxed back on the sofa. Leon Masters had a nerve using a trick like that to try and trap her into meeting him. She had no doubt that he had been the one to insist on secrecy about his presence there today.
Thank heavens she hadn’t agreed to go. She didn’t want to meet Leon Masters again, not in any circumstances. And she didn’t want to probe this reluctance too deeply; sufficient to say she didn’t want to see him.
The book that had seemed so good earlier on no longer held her attention, her thoughts drifted again and again, and to things she would rather not be reminded of, painful things that could only hurt her. Why was it always Leon Masters who disrupted the even tenor of her life like this, however unwittingly? Why did he have the power to anger and unnerve her at one and the same time? What was it about him that—
She scowled as the doorbell rang, and got reluctantly to her feet to answer it. It couldn’t be the milkman, she had paid him yesterday, and they weren’t expecting anyone to call today. It must be someone for her cousin.
Her mouth fell open as she saw who stood on the doorstep. It was Leon Masters, vital and attractive in dark brown fitted shirt and trousers, the sunlight shining on his golden hair. ‘What do you want?’ she asked
