Then she saw his manner change, his lips tighten, his eyes grow darker. As the two men turned away from each other she saw in his face something that boded ill for anyone who crossed him.
Then he caught her looking at him. His expression cleared and his smile returned.
That was only part of their performance, she told herself. But as he neared her she could have sworn she saw warmth again in his eyes.
Marcel and Cassie came close.
‘We’re having an early night,’ he said. ‘It’s a busy day tomorrow.’
‘Good idea!’ Travis said.
Soon everyone was drifting away towards the elevators. Upstairs they headed for the corridor where they were all staying. Leonid wheeled Perdita towards her room and, mindful of Amos’s watchful eye, leaned down so that his head was on a level with hers.
‘We’re nearly at your door,’ he murmured. ‘They’re looking to see if I come inside with you. We mustn’t disappoint them.’
‘Mustn’t we? Perhaps I have something to say about that.’ She gave a gasp of theatrical horror. ‘What kind of girl do you think I am? The kind who invites a man to her room just because he showed her around Moscow?’
He grinned. ‘I guess I’ve been meeting the wrong kind of girls.’
‘I’m sure you have,’ she teased. ‘And I’ll bet you’ve enjoyed every minute of it.’
‘Are you suggesting that I’m a man who plays around with every female he can lay his hands on?’
‘Are you suggesting that you’re not?’
Their eyes met in perfect amused understanding.
‘I’ll answer that tomorrow,’ he murmured. ‘Right now I think any answer I gave would be the wrong one.’
‘Probably. Some men have an infallible gift for getting it wrong.’
His voice dropped to a low whisper. ‘I could make you pay for that.’
‘You could try.’
‘Think I can’t?’
She chuckled softly. ‘Surely you wouldn’t take revenge on a poor frail creature in a wheelchair?’
‘Certainly not. I promised to take care of you, so now I’m coming in to undress you and put you to bed.’
Her eyes gleamed in appreciation of these tactics. This was an experienced foe, up to every trick, and challenging him was fun.
‘Very kind,’ she said. ‘But I haven’t asked you to do that.’
‘A gentleman doesn’t wait for a lady to request his help. He volunteers his services.’
‘And if she says she doesn’t require them?’
He looked surprised. ‘Did I ask your opinion?’
‘No, I can’t imagine you asking anyone else what they thought.’
‘I’m glad you understand me so well. Now, we’re nearly there, and they’re all finding excuses to linger in the corridor and observe us.’
‘So they’ll see you come in.’
‘More than that. I’m going to kiss you. And no power on earth can stop me.’
‘Then I won’t waste time trying,’ she assured him.
This time his hand was on her shoulder. As he lowered his head she almost thought he would indulge in a passionate embrace, but he was too clever for that. In full view of his family he drew her close for a brief touch of the lips, lingering just long enough for a soft caress, then drawing modestly back.
As he wheeled her inside she caught a last glimpse of the family observing them, and knew by their expressions that Leonid had been right.
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.
