surge. And then berated himself because he knew nothing about her. For all he knew she could be the same as the rest. ‘It’s not because I’ve been short of choice,’ he said shortly. ‘There’s simply been none whom I’ve wished to marry.’
‘You have very exacting standards, is that it?’ she asked, her fine eyebrows delicately arched.
‘I suppose so.’
‘And you’ve never found Miss Perfect?’
‘Not yet.’ But maybe today he’d got lucky. If she took after her aunt then he’d have no complaints. Helen was a wonderful, caring woman. Money didn’t mean anything to her. She always said that it was a person’s mind and attitude that counted.
‘This is a beautiful spot,’ said Lara. ‘So different to what I’m used to. I live in a town with no river or lake for miles. Water is so relaxing, don’t you think?’
If you sat and looked at it, yes, he supposed. But not when you had an exciting girl by your side. ‘Some people find it that way,’ he agreed.
‘But you don’t?’
‘You know what they say about familiarity.’
‘I’d never get fed up of this. Nor Darling Harbour. My aunt took me there the other day. I don’t know where it got its name, but it’s very apt. I didn’t want to come away.’
‘I’m glad you like it. One of our early governors, Sir Ralph Darling, renamed it after himself. The Aborigines called it Tumbalong.’ He would have liked to take her there but knew it was too soon. She was being nice for her aunt’s sake, but after tonight—would she want to see him again?
For the first time in his life Bryce Kellerman felt unsure of himself.
CHAPTER TWO
FIVE days had gone by since the party and Lara had heard nothing from Bryce Kellerman. To her dismay and increasing horror she felt disappointed, and couldn’t understand why since she’d made it plain that she didn’t want to see him again. Wasn’t she better off without a man in her life?
Helen also commented on Bryce’s lack of communication. ‘Perhaps he’s busy. We’ll give him a few more days and then invite him to dinner.’
Lara hadn’t mentioned Bryce to her aunt so she knew that this was Helen up to her tricks. But even so, the thought of seeing him again sent her heart into overdrive. It also annoyed her that he’d caused a chink in her carefully erected armour. She’d need to be careful.
As it happened Helen didn’t need to invite him. The next day, when they got back from a sightseeing trip, there was a message for Lara on the answering machine. ‘I’d like to take you out for a meal tonight,’ Bryce said, his deep, gravelly voice sending a shiver down her spine. ‘I’ll pick you up at eight. Any problems, give me a ring.’
Although her aunt was all of a fluster, Lara played it down. ‘I don’t want to go; I don’t want to get involved,’ she declared firmly.
Helen shook her head. ‘Bryce will never hurt you.’
Maybe not! But why take risks? And yet even as she thought this Lara heard herself say, ‘I suppose one date will do no harm.’
‘It will give you a chance to get to know him properly,’ reassured the older woman with a pleased smile. ‘If I was twenty years younger I’d marry him myself.’
‘Who’s talking about marriage?’ demanded Lara, eyes sparking indignation.
Helen grinned. ‘I simply wanted to let you know what a good catch he is.’
‘I came here to get over one man, not get hooked by another,’ she retorted, cross with her aunt for letting her imagination work overtime.
But when Bryce came, looking devilishly handsome in grey linen trousers and a blue short-sleeved shirt, Lara couldn’t stop her heart quickening. Her head told her not to get involved, to be wary every step she took, but there was no escaping the fact that he was an exciting male who aroused her in every way possible.
Not that it meant anything. Roger had thrilled her in the first few months of knowing him, and she really had thought she was in love—until she’d discovered what he was like. Her husband had stifled her feelings and emotions. He had used her. He’d made love when he’d wanted to, when he’d felt like it, her own needs and desires never entering into it. For all she knew Bryce could be the same. She daren’t risk it.
For her date Lara wore a pale blue sundress with shoestring straps and a ballerina-length skirt, her corn-gold hair tied back in a blue scrunchie, wisps of fringe softening her hairline. Her only concession to make-up was a touch of lip gloss and mascara. She didn’t need anything else. Already her colour was heightened, her eyes bright with anticipation.
Bryce’s smoky grey eyes made a slow, thorough inspection. ‘You look stunning,’ he said softly.
Lara swallowed and tried to appear nonchalant. ‘This old thing, I’ve had it for years.’
‘Whatever, the colour suits you. Hi, Helen, I promise to take good care of your niece.’
‘I know you will,’ said Helen with a fond smile. ‘Lara has a key so you don’t need to bring her back early on my account.’
Lara frowned. ‘I will be early, Helen.’
‘As you like, dear. Now you two run off and enjoy yourselves.’
Bryce’s car was an old black Ford and as he opened the door for her Lara couldn’t help remembering the day she had climbed into Roger Lennox’s car. She’d been so pleased with herself. Nothing had warned her of what was to come. She was more wary now, more attuned to the way a man’s mind worked. She had no intention of making the same mistake twice.
To her delight Bryce took her to Darling Harbour, to a seafood restaurant overlooking the water. It was magical. A myriad lights shone around them—from the buildings, from the boats, from reflections in the water, from the indigo, star-hung sky. It was perfect.
A night for romance! Lara shivered at the thought.
‘Tell me about this guy who let you down so badly.’ Bryce had ordered pre-dinner drinks and they’d chosen from the extensive menu.
She closed her eyes, not really wanting to talk about anything that would spoil this moment in time.
But Bryce was insistent. ‘You said he was a control freak. In what way?’
Lara shrugged. ‘He was a wealthy man but not a generous one. I had to account to him for breathing almost. He chose my friends, what I wore, what I did. He sold my car and kept making excuses for not buying me another, so I was trapped in the house unless he took me out. We lived miles from anywhere, not even on a bus route.’
‘And you had no inkling before you married him?’
‘I was swept off my feet. He owned the company I worked for. He indulged me; I was flattered; I was blinded by love.’ Change that to greed, she added silently, and it would be about right. She hadn’t been able to see any further than the pound signs. It was something
