feeling that he ‘knew’ quite a lot more than he had so far revealed to her.
Most important of all, she was sure that Rome knew of her own relationship with Richard Heaton…
CHAPTER TWO
HIS visual attention concentrated on Rome Summer, Quinn felt rather than saw the female lawyer’s reaction to what he’d just said. She’d stiffened defensively, as if, instead of merely stating the name of the man who was hounding his sister, he had actually personally insulted her.
He turned to her, to find her gaze fixed on Rome Summer, angrily, accusingly.
Quinn shook his head as he turned away, mentally dismissing the woman, and her…relationship, with his host; it was none of his business if she chose to be the plaything of a rich and influential man. He was here to sort out the complex and potentially damaging situation Corinne was caught in the middle of.
‘Richard Heaton…’ Rome repeated hardly.
Quinn nodded. ‘Do you know him?’ With all of Rome’s business interests, it wouldn’t be so surprising if he didn’t; efficient as he thought himself, Quinn couldn’t claim to know all of his employees, either!
‘Not personally, no,’ Rome answered curtly. ‘But I have heard of him,’ he added.
Causing the woman Harrie to give the older man another sharp look, Quinn noticed irritably. Beautiful as she was, he hadn’t wanted her here in the first place—and she’d done little since that time to warrant him changing that opinion!
‘Really?’ she prompted softly now, her emerald gaze narrowed on her employer.
Rome returned that probing gaze unflinchingly. ‘Really,’ he drawled mockingly. ‘Surprised?’ he added tauntingly.
The woman swallowed noticeably, looking slightly pale, Quinn noted curiously, giving him the definite impression that there was something going on in this conversation that he had no part of. But whatever it was, he, for one, certainly didn’t have the time for their games.
‘I—’
‘Could we get back to the subject?’ Quinn rasped his impatience over the top of what Harrie had been about to say. ‘The subject being that Richard Heaton is blackmailing your sister into giving him an edge on any political stories she might have access to, both now and in the future, in exchange for not making public her own past indiscretion?’ Rome stated bluntly.
This man was as forthright as he was himself, Quinn realised ruefully. But by the same token, he winced inwardly, in this case, a little softening of the truth might have been welcome. After all, it was his sister the two of them were discussing.
‘That is a very strong accusation to make, Mr McBride,’ Harrie put in coldly. ‘Blackmail of this kind is definitely a prosecutable offence. But, by the same token, so is slander. In which case, Mr McBride, I hope that you’re sure of your facts?’ she asked harshly, staring at him with glittering green eyes.
Quinn realised she was Rome’s legal advisor, but, nevertheless, he wished she would stop interrupting! There were only the three of them in the room, for God’s sake; who, if it should emerge that what he was telling them wasn’t the truth—which it most certainly was!—was going to make that claim of slander?
‘I’m very sure of my facts,’ he told her with dismissive contempt. ‘And I’m hoping that, between the two of us—’ he turned back to Rome ‘—we may be able to do something about it?’ It was a question, but at the same time it was also a plea for the other man’s help.
Which didn’t sit too well on his usually capably independent shoulders, Quinn acknowledged ruefully. Although he had a feeling that Harrie would claim that independence was actually arrogance!
Oh, damn what the woman thought of him, he told himself impatiently. She was beautiful, yes, but she was also the mistress of Rome Summer—which, in his eyes, nullified her legal capabilities in this instance. Even if they should turn out to be excellent. Which was yet to be proved…
‘Even if what you claim should turn out to be the truth, exactly what is it you expect Rome to do about the situation?’ she persisted in claiming his attention.
Much to Quinn’s increasing chagrin! In his experience, lawyers were there to advise when asked for that advice, and if not they remained silent until consulted. Rome’s personal relationship with this woman had given her an arrogance of her own that was completely intrusive in this particular situation.
Quinn gave her a humourless smile. ‘I think that’s for Rome and myself to decide—don’t you?’ he prompted insultingly.
She drew in a sharp breath as that insult registered, turning to her employer. ‘I strongly advise you not to become any more deeply involved in this situation until we have had chance to look into it ourselves,’ she told Rome stiltedly.
‘There’s nothing to talk about, darling,’ Rome murmured apologetically before turning to Quinn. ‘And I believe I already have an idea that may be the solution to your problem.’ He stood up to stroll over to the tray of drinks that stood on the dresser. ‘Tea is all well and good,’ he said lightly, ‘but sometimes something a little stronger is required; can I get you a whisky, Quinn?’ he offered, holding up the bottle of twelve-year-old malt.
Ordinarily, he would have refused, rarely indulging in the stuff, and never when he was working. But this wasn’t work as such, and he was invited for dinner…
‘Thanks,’ he accepted, becoming more convinced by the moment that Rome was going to help him in this situation. ‘Just a small one. No ice or water,’ he added as he relaxed back in his chair. They were both more than capable men; he was sure that between the two of them—Harrie’s aggravating presence excluded!—they could come up with a way to put an end to Corinne’s difficulty. They had better; he’d assured his sister that they would!
‘Harrie?’ Rome offered smoothly.
‘No—thank you,’ she refused stiffly, her cheeks bright red now where minutes ago they had been unnaturally pale, her hands tightly clasped together on her primly set knees. ‘Rome, I really think—’
‘I already know what you think, Harrie,’ Rome cut in gently, stepping forward to hand Quinn his drink before moving forward and lightly placing his free hand on one of Harrie’s tensed shoulders. ‘But Quinn is telling the truth, darling,’ he murmured huskily. ‘He—’
‘I don’t believe you—or him!’ Harrie stood up abruptly, moving away from that restraining hand to include Quinn in her angry glare, her body rigid with fury now as she faced the two of them across the room. ‘I simply do not believe Richard is capable of doing the things he has been accused of here today!’ she stated coldly, her head raised haughtily.
If anything she was even more beautiful in her anger, Quinn acknowledged abstractly. Totally wrong in her summing up of the situation, of course, but extremely beautiful, her eyes flashing like emeralds, an attractive flush to her cheeks, her breasts pert beneath the tailored suit, her legs long and shapely. Beautiful, and desirable. Although Quinn had never questioned why Rome was involved with her, only the sense of mixing business with pleasure. Even with a woman as beautiful as Harrie…
And the question also remained, why was she so angry?
Although
