Lucy Gordon: Tycoon for Hire

‘Thank you,’ she said, placing her hand in his.

She half missed her footing as she stepped out, but his fingers tightened, holding her steady, and she had an unnerving sense of vibrant power streaming through him and communicating itself through the contact of their skin. For a moment her heart beat faster.

She turned to reach back into the car for her velvet stole, but he was there before her, whisking it out and settling it around her bare shoulders. She couldn’t suppress the tremor that went through her at his touch, and involuntarily she glanced up to meet his eyes. She found them fixed on her with a look that brought the colour flooding into her cheeks.

‘You’re beautiful,’ he said seriously. ‘In fact, you’re sensational. I’ll be a proud man, with you on my arm. No, don’t say it!’ He held up a finger to silence her, although she was too taken aback to speak. ‘You don’t care whether I’m proud of you or not. It’s not part of our bargain. Well, I don’t care whether you care or not. I’m telling you, you’re a knock-out!’

Something was making it hard for her to speak. ‘Thank you,’ she stammered at last. ‘It’s nice to know that my escort approves of me.’

‘I don’t approve of you,’ Steven said wryly. ‘I disapprove of this whole situation. A woman who looks like you shouldn’t have to hire a man, and if she does there’s something badly wrong in her life. But you’re gorgeous, sexy, and an incitement to every man to do something he’ll regret. I only wish I had time to explore that contradiction.’

‘My contradictions don’t concern you,’ she said, her cheeks flaming.

‘They would if I decided to let them,’ he said carelessly. ‘What a pity that I don’t have time!’ He drew one finger slowly down her cheek. ‘We should be going inside.’

‘Yes,’ she said, remembering, with an effort, why they were there. ‘We should.’

Jennifer had attended many functions at Catesby House, and was familiar with its plush red and gilt interior, sweeping stairway and glittering chandeliers. But tonight she seemed to be seeing everything for the first time. The lights were more dazzling, the colours of the other women’s dresses more vivid, and the black and white of the men more intense than she remembered ever noticing before.

She went to the cloakroom to deposit her stole. As she emerged to where Steven was waiting for her at the foot of the staircase she had the chance to observe him from a distance, against other men.

The comparison was all in his favour. He was almost the tallest man there. Certainly his shoulders were the broadest, his air the most impressive. But what struck her most was the confidence and authority that radiated from him. He looked like a predator, appraising lesser beings prior to devouring them. She’d seen that aura before, in men who headed great corporations. How did an unemployed actor come to have it?

Actor. Of course. He’d assumed the right role. Anxious to have a good atmosphere between them, she approached him with a smile. ‘Congratulations,’ she said warmly.

‘I beg your pardon?’

‘You’ve got right into the part. You look as if you belong here.’

‘Thank you,’ he said with suspicious meekness. ‘I’m rather nervous among all these important people.’

‘They’re not really important. They only fancy they are because they’ve got money. Most business folk don’t matter half as much as they think they do.’ With a flash of mischief, she added, ‘Just look down your nose at them, and they’ll take you for one of themselves. I’m expecting you to be a big success.’

His lips twitched. ‘You don’t feel you got cheated on the deal, then?’

‘On the contrary, I think I might have a bargain.’

‘Maybe I didn’t do so badly myself.’ He offered her his arm. ‘Shall we go?’

Together they climbed the broad stairs and entered the huge ballroom that was already crowded. Steven’s sharp eyes saw at once that Jennifer outshone every other woman in the room. She knew how to choose perfume too. The elusive aroma that reached him was warm, with the faintest hint of musk. It wasn’t the perfume of a young girl, but a woman, with all that implied.

He wondered what kind of lover had touched her heart. Had she chosen a giant among men? And what was she like when she was with him? Did her curved mouth grow tender and her dark eyes glow with desire?

They moved through the crowd, smiling and uttering greetings. Several people knew him, and Steven had a nervous time steering her away from them. He would be lucky to get through tonight without discovery, he realised.

‘Come to the bar,’ he muttered. ‘There’s something we need to talk about while I get you a drink.’

‘I’ll have an orange juice, since I’ll be driving home.’

‘Two orange juices,’ Steven told the barman. He grinned at Jennifer. ‘Just in case you change your mind.’

‘Meaning you think you can change it for me?’ she challenged him.

‘Is that what I meant? Thanks for letting me know.’

His eyes were teasing, and Jennifer couldn’t help smiling back. ‘That’s exactly what you meant,’ she said. She turned back to look at the room. And then the smile froze on her face.

David was standing a few feet away from her.

JENNIFER had wondered if David would be here. Now she realized that she’d always secretly expected him. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of his perfect features under thick, wavy, fair hair.

He looked in her direction and Jennifer saw the shock in his eyes. In another moment he would hold out his hands to her and all their differences would be forgotten. But he stayed frozen, his mouth opening and closing. He seemed confused. Then a young woman laid a hand on his arm, and he bowed his handsome head attentively towards her.

Jennifer stood there, stunned. David had turned away from her. There was a bleak, blind look in her eyes, and she forgot everything else, including Steven, watching her face closely.

Perhaps, she thought, David too had hired a companion. But a glance at the young woman banished that thought. She was mousy, and didn’t know how to make the best of herself. This wasn’t a professional. She was ‘real’.

Jennifer’s insides twisted at the thought that David had found someone else so soon. Then the girl smiled at him. It was a gentle, heartfelt smile, and it made her face charming. Jennifer was unable to control her little gasp. Steven heard it, and his eyes narrowed with interest.

‘So that’s him,’ he murmured in Jennifer’s ear.

‘Him—who?’

‘The pretty boy with the dull girl.’

‘I don’t know what you mean by pretty boy—’

‘He’s like a sugar figure on top of a wedding cake.’

‘Can we drop this?’ she asked with an effort.

‘But why? I’m only here to show him that you don’t give a damn. So let’s show him—unless you’re scared?’

‘Of course not,’ she said quickly.

‘Then take the bull by the horns.’

‘You’re right.’ She advanced on David with her hands outstretched. ‘David! How lovely to see you.’

He too recovered himself, and she knew he hadn’t expected to find her here with another man. ‘Jennifer,’ he said. ‘What a—a lovely surprise.’

‘But you knew I planned to come.’

‘Yes—er—yes, of course. It’s just that—let me introduce you to Penny.’ He hastily drew forward the young woman, who gave Jennifer a nervous look, followed immediately by her delightful smile.

‘This is Steven Leary,’ Jennifer said. As the men shook hands she began to feel more confident. At least David knew she wasn’t sitting forlornly at home, waiting for the phone to ring, and he need never know how often she’d done just that.