Daphne Clair - Infamous Bargain

‘Oh?’ His head cocked as though he wanted to hear more.

She wasn’t prepared to exchange confidences with this discomfiting stranger. She opened her mouth to ask if he was ready to leave now, but he forestalled her. ‘And are you prepared to be hers?’ he asked. ‘Or your father’s?’

Feeling as though some piece of the conversation was missing, Briar said hesitantly, ‘I...help when I can.’

‘I’m sure you do.’ He gazed at her almost broodingly. ‘I suppose you all have a lot to lose.’

‘I’m not sure what you mean.’

‘All this—’ he looked about them ‘—is very impressive. Gives the effect of a solid background.’

Her eyes sparked. ‘Everything my father has he’s got by his own efforts. He’s never pretended to be anything he isn’t.’

‘Maybe that’s a matter of opinion.’

Apprehension fluttered in her stomach. Something was wrong, and the supreme confidence of this man, contrasting with her father’s peculiar nervousness tonight, had a lot to do with it.

He said, ‘I only needed to ask around the financial community when he began pursuing my acquaintanceship, to find out why.’

With a trace of acid that brought a brief surprise to his eyes, Briar said, ‘You mean it wasn’t for the charm of your personality? And what did you find out?’

‘That your father needs cash, and he needs it fast.’

Several things fell into place. Her anger dissolved in fright, which automatically she tried to conceal. ‘I...don’t know anything about my father’s financial affairs,’ she said. ‘And if I did I wouldn’t be discussing them with you.’

‘No,’ he said slowly, ‘I suppose that isn’t your role.’

Role? Whatever he meant by that, the expression on his face warned her that it wasn’t good. He looked hard and contemptuous, and she didn’t like the way he was studying her, his gaze moving from her defiant eyes down to her feet and slowly back again.

Stiffening under the visual assault, she said, ‘I’m afraid I’m not up with the play. I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.’

‘Oh, come on.’ He was smiling, in an oddly angry way. ‘You’ve played it perfectly so far. Done everything darling Daddy told you to.’

He knew ? ‘My father is just being a good host,’ Briar said. Some dim understanding of what he meant began to filter through her puzzlement. Her voice turned icy. ‘This is your first time in our home and he hoped you’d enjoy the evening. I think you misunderstood. If you’ve finished in here...’

‘Surely you’re not finished yet? You don’t need to give up on providing me with enjoyment just because I find you—and your father—a little...obvious.’

Briar took a deep, disbelieving breath. ‘If this is some kind of game—’

‘Isn’t it?’ he queried, his brows rising diabolically. ‘I thought it was the oldest game in the world. Or should I say...profession?’

BRIAR felt almost dizzy. Anger brought a flush to her cheeks and buzzed in her head. She wanted to hit him, lash out with her hands, wipe the cool, scornful smile from his handsome face.

She clenched her fists at her sides, but her voice, a notch higher than usual, shook. ‘I don’t know how you usually conduct your business, Mr Roth, but I assure you that my father would never expect me to lower myself to that level. I suggest you get your mind out of the gutter! Or better still, crawl back in there where you belong. Excuse me, I need some clean air.’

She turned, making for the door, but was brought up short by a hard hand on her wrist pulling her about to face him.

Tugging at it, she said, eyes blazing, ‘Don’t you touch me!’

‘Hang on there.’ He easily swung her to one side, reaching over to push the door shut.

Alarmed, she tried to kick out at him, but he evaded it and let her go so suddenly that she almost lost her balance.

Now he was standing against the door, leaning on the panels with his hands in his pockets and his burnished-pewter eyes alert and bright.

‘If you don’t get away from that door I’ll scream,’ she threatened.

‘Don’t be silly, I’m not hurting you. Not even touching you, in fact.’

Her head went up, her mouth stubbornly set. ‘I want to leave.’

‘In a minute.’ He was regarding her with speculation. ‘Are you mad because I called your bluff, or because I was wrong in my assumptions?’

Briar’s hand clenched. ‘I’m not going to defend myself to you. You probably wouldn’t believe me, anyway.’

‘Try me,’ he offered.

She debated trying to shove him aside, but although she was no weakling, he had the edge over her in both size and strength. She’d felt the power in his grip as he held her. ‘You were wrong,’ she said, her voice very even although she was sizzling inside. ‘Totally, completely wrong .’

He seemed to be weighing that up, still steadily watching her. ‘Your father didn’t tell you to give me a good time?’

Briar felt her cheeks burn again. ‘He didn’t mean what you think.’

Softly, Kynan asked, ‘Are you sure?’

An insidious doubt crept into her mind. Shaking it off, she said, ‘Of course I’m sure. He wouldn’t...and anyway, I wouldn’t...’

Something like a grin briefly appeared on the chiselled mouth. ‘I’m beginning to believe that you wouldn’t.’ He paused. ‘I apologise.’

An apology was certainly due. ‘Am I supposed to thank you for that?’ she enquired.

The grin widened slightly. ‘Not necessarily.’

‘Good.’ She was still simmering. ‘Might I suggest you refrain from jumping to bizarre conclusions next time someone offers you their normal hospitality?’

‘Oh, come on, Briar.’ He folded his arms and crossed one ankle over the other, looking at her. ‘What was I supposed to think? Your father was throwing you at me at every turn, and you certainly didn’t seem to be objecting. You brought me in here on the flimsiest excuse—’

‘He told me to—’

Kynan nodded. ‘Are you always such a dutiful daughter? You seemed to be quite pleased with the idea.’

‘I’m a good actress.’

He smiled openly at her tart tone. It made him look considerably less formidable. ‘A natural,’ he agreed. ‘So...you don’t really like me at all?’

‘Should I?’

‘Ouch!’ he murmured. ‘What should I do? Go down on my knees?’

She could hardly imagine it. ‘You could start by moving away from the door.’

For a second or two he stayed there, then he unfolded his arms and stood aside, waiting.

Briar took an uncertain step forward, and Kynan leaned over and turned the handle, throwing the door wide.

‘Thank you,’ she said, sweeping past him into the passageway.

He closed the door and came to her side, saying nothing as they returned to the other room.

Some people were leaving, and Kynan took her arm in a light hold, drawing her closer to him to make way for them. Her father and Laura were seeing them out, Xavier casting Briar and Kynan a sharp glance.

‘I should be going, too,’ Kynan murmured. ‘I think I may have outstayed my welcome.’

She gave him a sarcastic look, and he laughed. ‘I’ll go home and find some sackcloth and ashes,’ he promised. ‘Can you bear to say goodnight to me civilly?’

Briar regarded him stony-faced. It seemed to her he was taking the whole thing rather casually. He was doubtless used to charming birds from trees when he took a mind to it, but it would take more than a smile and a careless apology to mollify her. ‘Goodnight,’ she said, and held out her hand.

He looked down at it, smiling faintly, before he took it in his. ‘Goodnight, Briar.’ He turned her hand over, and raised her fingers fleetingly to his lips. She felt the warm brush of his mouth against her skin, and some unidentifiable sensation passed through her body. Then he released her and went to say goodnight to her father and stepmother.