Kate Hardy - To Tame the Playboy

She frowned briefly as she showered and got dressed. Sebastian had seemed distinctly on edge a few times during the evening…she’d noticed a look on his face that was undeniably dark and moody. After all, she thought, as she brushed out her hair and began working it quickly into one long plait, if he really disliked Rudolph Malone’s company that much, why ask the man to supper? He could have made some excuse, surely? She bit her lip. She’d found Sebastian’s overt coolness a touch embarrassing. It had made her feel awkward, though she wasn’t really surprised, not when she thought about it. Her host was the type who didn’t suffer fools gladly, and it seemed obvious to her that Rudy fell quite easily into that category. She stopped what she was doing for a moment and stared at herself in the mirror. The two men could not have been more different, she thought. Rudy was smooth-tongued, his languid gaze as he’d kept on studying her unashamedly making her cringe, his touchy-feely mannerisms distinctly offensive. While Sebastian…Well, Sebastian was something else entirely…

Then she coloured up, remembering the way his lips had found hers a couple of nights ago, the way he’d practically wrapped himself around her so closely she’d actually been aware of his heart hammering against her breast. But…had it really happened? Because neither of them had referred to it since, which was so incredibly odd. Then she shrugged. Who cared, anyway? She was going home tomorrow. It was time to move away, move on. With no emotional complications.

Anyway, she thought, as she went towards the door, a kiss was no big deal, surely—didn’t mean a thing. She paused for a second before going down the stairs. Liar, she thought. That had been no simple kiss. Sebastian Conway—no doubt highly experienced in the art—had filled her whole body with such intense longing he could have taken her that night with no effort at all. And she felt ashamed to admit it. If she’d said yes, instead of no to him staying, what would that have done to her long-term plans? Because one-night stands were not for her, and never had been. If she and Sebastian had been lovers that night—as she’d known he’d wanted them to be—it would have been merely a passing pleasure to him. But not for her. It would have meant far more to her than that. Yes, it was certainly time to go home.

When she went into the kitchen, she was surprised to see Sebastian there. It was gone nine-thirty—he always breakfasted far earlier than this. He was sitting at the table, turning the pages of a daily newspaper casually, his mug of coffee untouched. He barely looked up as she came in.

‘Morning, Sebastian,’ she said brightly, glancing down to see that her place had already been laid at the table.

‘Morning…er…Fleur…’ he replied, almost as if he’d forgotten her name! When he did look up, his eyes were totally impassive as they met hers. ‘I trust you slept well?’ he said briefly.

Fleur’s heart sank for a moment. This was not the same man who’d driven her to Truro, who’d bought her that delicious lunch, who’d sat with her for those few brief minutes in the cathedral and so thoughtfully handed her his handkerchief to dry her tears. This was another man, someone else, someone unknowable and mysterious—and not particularly friendly!

‘Pat’s gone down to the shops,’ he added, without looking at her. ‘She’ll be back mid-morning, so she says, and then you’re expected up at the cottage for tea, I believe.’ He paused. ‘Coffee’s just been brewed, by the way.’

Fleur swallowed. What had happened to make him so cool with her? she asked herself. He was in a funny mood and it certainly wasn’t her imagination. She sat down opposite him and began pouring out her drink.

‘It looks as if I have to go back tomorrow, Sebastian,’ she said. ‘I’ve just received a call from the lab. There’s a flap on about something that needs everyone there.’ She reached for the cream. How easily that complete lie had slipped from her lips. It hadn’t even made her blush. ‘So my holiday is going to be cut short, I’m afraid,’ she added. ‘But I’ve had a great time, and I feel rested and fully restored.’ She paused. ‘I hope I haven’t been too much of a nuisance.’

‘Isn’t that out of order,’ he said abruptly, ‘telling you to return early? Surely everyone needs a decent break to really unwind—especially in your particular field.’ He drank from his mug. ‘Can’t you tell them that if you stay until next week, as you’d intended, you’ll be in a better state of health so that they get their pound of flesh when you do return?’

Fleur was surprised at that. She’d have thought he’d have been delighted to see the back of her!

‘Sadly, a couple of people are off sick,’ she said. ‘So they didn’t have any option but to call in the rest of us.’ Another lie, she thought. Well, wasn’t it the case that one little lie led to another and another until you couldn’t stop?

There was silence for a few moments while he finished what he’d been reading. Then, again without looking at her, he said, ‘Well, what did you think of Rudy?’

Fleur hesitated. ‘I…well, he’s rather…outspoken, isn’t he?’ she replied slowly. She’d better be careful because the man was Sebastian’s friend. It wouldn’t do to express herself too freely.

‘If you mean he’s rather full of himself, then I would certainly go along with that,’ he said flatly.

Fleur shrugged. ‘He’s in the theatre, so you said. I believe they’re all a bit like that. Goes with the territory.’

‘Did you…find him attractive?’ was the next question, which caught Fleur right off guard.

She frowned briefly. ‘I didn’t think about him in those terms,’ she said.

‘Oh, come off it. All you women size us men up and down, make instant assessments, don’t you?’ he persisted. ‘Viewing the potential candidate to progress the human race…All way back in the subconscious, of course, but I believe it to be a substantial fact.’

‘I can’t speak for others,’ Fleur said calmly. ‘I certainly didn’t find him…interesting…if that answers your question.’

‘Oh, well, I just thought you two were getting on rather well, that’s all,’ he went on. ‘You seemed to be hanging on to his every word, giving him all the attention, which he was clearly lapping up. It saved me from having to entertain the man,’ he added. ‘You did that all by yourself.’

Right, Fleur thought. If he wanted a battle, she was up for it.

‘He was a guest in the house, Sebastian,’ she said coldly, ‘as I am. And if I had thrown the evil glances at him that you did, I would have failed to discharge my duty in that capacity. So if you really want me to give you my honest opinion of the gentleman, here it is. I thought he was the most revolting little creep that I’ve met in a long time, curling his ankle around mine like some disgusting worm. Would you like me to have slapped his face, demanded an apology, and then run from the room? Well, sorry to disappoint, but I’m not combative by nature. I prefer to avoid trouble if possible. And, incidentally, it was your feelings that were uppermost in my mind. It would have been embarrassing for you if I’d made a scene. So, to answer your enquiry, I did not find him attractive, not one bit. And, as for that squeaky little giggle of his, I’m sure that’s a condition he could get treatment for.’ She paused, her face flushed. ‘The man is a complete buffoon,’ she finished.

He closed his newspaper with a flourish and stood up. ‘I think I’ve got the message,’ he said, ‘but you acted out the part very well. So perhaps I should thank you for that. He left almost as soon as you’d gone to bed, by the way, so clearly he thought there wasn’t anything else worth staying for.’ He turned away to fetch his jacket from the hook. ‘I’ll be away for the rest of the day, so…enjoy your…last one,’ he added, going out and closing the door.