Janice had whispered in her ear that Aunt June had told her Charlie’s relations had been falling over themselves to persuade him to stay with one of them but he had declined all invitations, graciously but very firmly.
‘And I think we might even allow you a couple of glasses of wine,’ he continued quietly, blithely unaware of her sudden sharp look at his face, ‘if your stomach’s recovered?’
‘It wasn’t a hangover, actually.’ Her voice was tight but she couldn’t help it—enough was enough. ‘I had a touch of food poisoning from a suspect seafood cocktail last night.’ He would allow her a couple of glasses of wine! What did he think she was? A little puppy being allowed treats?
‘Really?’ It was lazy and relaxed and told her he didn’t believe a word of it, and it made her mad. Even more mad than she had felt earlier.
‘Yes, really,’ she said bitingly, and this time he noticed the tone.
‘Don’t be prickly, Janice. I’m only thinking of you,’ he said softly, ‘and there’s nothing worse than a woman who doesn’t know when she’d had enough. It’s most…unattractive.’
She’d had enough, all right—more than enough—and the façade was back on with a vengeance! He wanted a cute little girlie to keep him company tonight, did he? Well, he was going to get just a little more than he had bargained for.
She took a long deep breath, a really long deep breath, and prayed for the strength to control her anger and not blow it. ‘I’d love to have dinner with you, Xavier,’ she said carefully.
‘Good.’ His voice was slightly amused; he clearly thought she was still a little huffy. ‘I’ll pick you up from your home, shall I? What’s the address?’
‘Oh, no, don’t do that.’ What did she say now? What excuse could she give? Her mind had gone blank. Essie thought frantically, and then said quickly, ‘I’ve got to see a couple of college friends about a project we’re involved in, first. I’ll get a taxi to your hotel after I’m through—say, about eight-thirty? Is that okay?’
‘Sure.’ His eyes had narrowed slightly but the tone was still relaxed. ‘I’m staying at the Blue Baron. Do you know it?’
Did she know it? She was staying there herself! Essie smiled and prayed some more, this time for the ability to hide her agitation from those razor-sharp eyes that had homed in on her with unnerving perception.
‘Yes, I know it.’ She heard her voice speak calmly and coolly and was amazed at how normal it sounded. Perhaps she had gone in for the wrong career, after all; she was better at this acting than she would ever have thought possible! ’Till eight-thirty, then.’
‘Eight-thirty.’ And then he bent his head towards her, his gaze mesmerising as it held hers. Although she knew he was going to kiss her and that she really should pull back, she didn’t.
His lips were warm and firm as they brushed hers in the lightest of caresses, and he turned away immediately, but not before she had felt a hundred tiny electric shocks tingle in every nerve in her body. They were still tingling, warm and fluid, as she watched him make his goodbyes to the two respective pairs of parents, before striding down into the car park and over to a dark blue Mercedes.
He didn’t look at her again as he drove out of the hotel grounds but she knew he was aware of her—as vitally aware of her as she was of him. And again she told herself this was crazy, dangerous, that she was way, way out of her league and that her little joke, her small effort at revenge, had escalated into something more disturbing.
Janice joined her as the Mercedes disappeared, tucking her arm through Essie’s as she said, ‘You’re seeing him tonight?’ in a tone that said she knew the answer before Essie spoke.
Essie nodded slowly.
‘Then take it from me, girl, tell him in the first few seconds what you’ve done, turn it into a joke against yourself somehow, and you’ll have him eating out of your hand. He’s crazy about you; he fancies you like mad.’
‘He fancies Janice Beaver, actually,’ Essie said, with a weak smile.
‘A rose by any other name…’ Janice grinned at her before she said again, urgently this time, ‘Tell him, Essie, right off. That way you can start again, and who knows what might come of it?’
‘I don’t want anything to come of it.’
‘No?’ Janice’s tone was sceptical.
‘No. I mean it.’ Essie turned to look Janice full in the face now, and something in her eyes made Janice’s gaze narrow. ‘The last thing I want to do is to get involved in a relationship, Janice. There was someone at university… Well, I got my fingers badly burned, that’s all, and I prefer the odd light date with no strings attached now. My career is my life and I intend to keep it that way.’
‘You sound a perfect match for Xavier, if you ask me.’ Janice looked into the ethereally beautiful face that was quite strikingly lovely for a few moments before she murmured, ‘Yes, the perfect match.’
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