knew all about her divorce, of course; they had been friends for years. Gillian, however, thought Hunter was the bee’s knees, and couldn’t understand why Keisha would want to live without him. She had often urged her to get in touch and try to patch things up.
But Keisha had been adamant that it wouldn’t work.
With her elbow held in a vice-like grip, Hunter guided her through the laughing, talking crowd to a secluded corner. When he pushed her down onto a chair she looked mutinously into his face. ‘This is a complete waste of time,’ she declared.
‘I don’t think so.’ He took a couple of glasses of champagne from a hovering waiter and pushed one across a low table towards her.
Keisha didn’t want the drink, but something made her pick it up and down the whole lot in one swallow.
Hunter gave a satisfied little smile.
In three years he had matured quite dramatically. His glossy black hair, which had been almost shoulder length, was now brutally short. It showed no sign of receding, but there were a few distinguishing grey hairs at his temples.
He’d used to have twinkling eyes, but now they were serious. His thick level brows hadn’t changed, but his mouth no longer smiled in that mysterious way that had churned her insides. She had used to think that he looked like a dashing highwayman. Now he was a coolly contained businessman, very much in control of himself and all those around him.
And why was she noticing all this when she didn’t even want to be here? Damn! He was too much under her skin; she had never really forgotten him, especially the exciting times they’d spent together in bed. She wondered whether there was any other man in this whole world who could stir her senses so gloriously.
But marriage wasn’t just about sex. A couple needed to be friends and companions as well. And most importantly of all there needed to be trust. Which was something that had been sadly lacking in their relationship.
‘More champagne?’
Keisha nodded, and Hunter hailed another waiter.
‘Do you like what you see?’
She instantly averted her eyes, uneasy that she had been openly studying him, but more embarrassed that he had noticed. ‘You have a few grey hairs,’ she announced.
‘I guess it’s because I’ve been working hard. My business has grown dramatically. I have offices in Europe now, and I’m hoping to open one in New York next year. I’m hardly ever at home.’
‘Why don’t I find that surprising?’ she asked drily.
Hunter hissed sudden anger. ‘You knew that I had no choice if I wanted to get ahead. Really, Keisha, your attitude’s not changed one iota. Maybe I had a merciful release? You’re not cut out to be an executive’s wife.’
Keisha said nothing, picking up her glass and taking a sip of the sparkling wine. Then she twirled the crystal flute between her fingers and stared down at the tiny bubbles.
‘So it’s not the fact you’ve been missing me that’s caused you to lose so much weight?’ he asked, his blue eyes intent upon hers. ‘It’s someone else who’s done this to you?’
Wouldn’t it be good if she could disappear as quickly and completely as the bubbles in her glass, thought Keisha. Pop—they had gone! No more fear that they would be swallowed whole and live the rest of their lives swimming through miles of tubes—just as she was now swimming through years of revived memories.
Ignoring his question, she said, ‘Actually, I’m pleased for you. You deserve success.’ Yet even to her own ears she did not sound sincere.
‘For that I thank you,’ he acknowledged quietly, inclining his head. ‘So, now that you know what I’ve been doing, tell me what you’ve been up to. Your mother told me you’d moved away.’
Keisha’s eyes widened in stunned disbelief. ‘You spoke to my mother?’
‘What did you think?’ he asked, both brows rising this time, his eyes very wide and questioning. ‘That I wouldn’t come looking for you?’
‘She never told me.’ Keisha could hardly believe that her parent had kept secret the fact that Hunter had been searching for her. And the worst part was that now she could never thank her.
‘She wouldn’t tell me where you were either,’ he responded. ‘She said that if I tried to find you I’d have her to deal with. She’s a tough cookie, your mother. Lord knows what sort of tale you spun her. She spoke to me as though I were some sort of perverted idiot.’
Keisha was amazed that her mother had stood up for her like that. Not that it would have stopped Hunter if he’d been really determined. She compressed her lips and tears threatened. ‘My mother died recently.’
‘Oh!’ he said. ‘I didn’t know. I’m sorry to hear that.’
And he looked it. Compassion softened his face and she had the feeling that he wanted to pull her into his arms. She hoped he wouldn’t. She didn’t want to experience the warmth of his body, his steady heartbeat, or the pleasure it could give her. Thinking about her mother made her vulnerable. She wished he hadn’t brought the subject up.
‘Don’t be,’ she said sharply. ‘She was very ill towards the end. It was a merciful release.’
‘You must miss her.’
Keisha nodded.
‘So where are you living now?’
‘In my mother’s house,’ answered Keisha reluctantly. Though for how much longer was one of the things worrying her.
‘And is there a man in your life?’
It was Keisha’s turn to lift a brow, and she noticed that he was watching her face closely. She hoped he wasn’t thinking of suggesting she move back in with him, that they try again. Heaven help her! ‘I hardly think it’s any business of yours.’
His brows lifted again, but he didn’t pursue the subject. Though she had a feeling she hadn’t heard the last of it.
There had been no man in her life since Hunter. For the first twelve months she had been too fragile, and since then she had nursed her sick mother and had had no time for boyfriends.
And she didn’t want any more of these personal questions.
‘I’m getting out of here,’ she declared, scrambling to her feet. ‘I’ll call a taxi. If you see Gillian tell her I’ve gone.’
But Hunter stopped her. ‘If you insist on going then I will take you myself,’ he said, in that deep, sexy voice that impinged on her nerve-ends every time she heard it. It was low and persuasive at this moment, snaring her, and when he caught her wrist and held on to it while he too rose from his chair Keisha knew she was lost.
He had a stranglehold on both her body and her senses.
There was no escape.
CHAPTER TWO
HUNTER’S CAR
