`You didn't do all that much for them, sitting there making eyes at that creep Xavier, either!' Luke snapped, striding along beside her. `God only knows what Robard thought!'
`What should he think? That you had a pleasant and efficient secretary to act as your interpreter, that's all!'
`Yes, one who did her best to distract his son from the details of the proposals! I wouldn't be surprised if Robard thought I'd asked you to do it deliberately because I didn't think the proposal would stand up to much scrutiny. You and Xavier spent so much time smiling at each other that he didn't have a chance to look at the details!'
`He smiled at me, I smiled back! What was I supposed to do, put a bag over my head?'
The tension that had simmered between them all day had flared into anger out of all proportion to what had happened. Kate was beside herself with fury. She had done exactly as Luke had asked, and what thanks did she get? He was totally unreasonable; anyone would think he was jealous, the way he was carrying on! If she had any guts she would tell him just what he could do with his job and get the first train back to Dijon. Let him win his precious contract without her!
Storming onwards, Kate stepped off the pavement without thinking, only to find herself hauled back by an iron hand as a battered Renault shot past with a squeal of tyres, a blast of horn and a rude gesture out of the window.
`For God's sake, look where you're going!' Luke shouted at her. `You could have been killed!'
Kate struggled to free her arm, but Luke kept a firm hold of it as he looked pointedly each way to check that nothing was coming and then marched her across the road.
`Let go of me!'
`You might at least thank me for saving your life!'
'Quite frankly, I don't feel like thanking you for anything at the moment.' Kate managed to shake her arm free at last. `In fact, I don't feel like talking to you at all until you're more reasonable.' She turned towards a side-street. `I'll see you back at the hotel.'
`You're here on business, not pleasure, Kate,' Luke said dangerously. `That means you don't just flounce off on your own without asking!'
`I'm your secretary, not your slave. I'm entitled to some free time.'
A muscle worked in Luke's jaw. `Oh, very well, if you must! There's no point in trying to do any work when you're in this kind of mood. Just make sure you're not late, and come back in a better temper!'
He was a fine one to talk about temper, Kate thought savagely as she stalked off. Muttering to herself about Luke, she hardly noticed where she was going until she found herself unexpectedly on boulevard Haussmann. Determined not to go back to the hotel until the last minute, she went into one of the large department stores that lined the street.
She emerged some time later, clutching a large carrier-bag, a defiant glint in her eyes. If Luke thought that she was set on flirting she would show him just what she could do when she tried!
It was dark by the time she got back to the hotel, and the shop windows along the rue du Faubourg-St-Honore glittered invitingly, each more opulently chic than the last. Kate slowed her steps as she passed, oblivious to the crowds hurrying past her on their way home, her French blood approving the sheer sophistication and style of the displays.
There was no sign of Luke as she collected her key at reception and made her way to her room, but hardly had she put the key in the lock than Luke's door opened, so abruptly that she could almost have suspected that he had been listening out for her.
`About time you turned up! What have you been doing all this time?' he demanded, putting paid to any hope that he might have calmed down enough to apologise.
`Shopping,' Kate said shortly.
`How like a woman! One night away from home, and she has to go to the shops.' Luke glowered and ran his hand through his dark hair. He had evidently been working. His shirt-sleeves were rolled up and his loosened tie hung untidily. `I hope you're going to be ready in time.'
Kate clenched her teeth. `Have I ever been late for anything?'
`No, but there's no telling what you might do in the mood you're in!'
`I am not in a mood!'
Unexpectedly Luke grinned. `Oh, yes, you are! I can always tell when you're angry. Those quiet brown eyes of yours fleck with gold and your chin comes up-just the way it is now.'
Kate decided that that wasn't worth answering. `I shall be ready on time, just as I always am,' she said coldly. `What time would you like to leave?'
'We arranged to meet them at the restaurant, didn't we? We'd better make sure we're there first. I'll give you a knock at seven-or won't that be enough time for you to get ready?'
There was a malicious glint in his eyes and, although Kate knew that she would have to hurry quite unnecessarily, she would have died rather than ask him to give her a few more minutes.
`Seven o'clock will be fine.'
Kate showered quickly and then sat down in front of the mirror in a towelling robe, her wet hair wrapped in a towel. She had been lured to one of the cosmetic counters in the department store, where an immaculately made-up girl had shown her how to transform herself into a woman so sophisticated and alluring that she was almost unrecognisable.
It was as well she still had her French chequebook, Kate thought as she laid the collection of eye-shadows, blushers, foundation and mascara out in front of her. It had been an expensive whim, and it wasn't as if the cosmetics had been her only expense!
She almost lost her nerve when she sat back and looked at the final effect. Her eyes looked huge and sultry, her mouth provocative with its bold outline of red lipstick. The blushers and highlighters had been used more subtly, but no less effectively.
She looked stunning.
She would never be able to carry it off, Kate realised in panic, but it was ten to seven, and there was no time to take it all off and start again. Hurriedly drying her hair, she stepped into the dress she had bought and smoothed it down in front of the mirror.
She had never worn a dress like it. It was black, with short sleeves and a plain round collar that somehow made the slash at the cleavage all the more dramatic. Kate leant forward experimentally and winced. It hadn't seemed quite that revealing in the shop. She would have to sit bolt upright all evening!
Kate studied her reflection with a sense of shock. The dress stopped just above her knees, and the high-heeled shoes merely emphasised the length of her slim legs. She had never looked like this before, with that bright challenging look in her eyes and the wanton provocation of face and figure.
There was a sharp rap on the door and Luke's voice called, `Ready?' impatiently.
A small smile curved Kate's mouth as her doubts suddenly disappeared. Even if Luke sacked her, he would remember her this time!
She picked up her bag and jacket and opened the door just as Luke raised his hand to knock again.
For a long moment he just stared at her, and then his hand fell slowly to his side.
`I'm ready,' said Kate brightly, stepping past him and pulling the door closed behind her.
Luke's eyes dropped to her legs, and then travelled accusingly upwards to her face. `I didn't buy you that dress!'
`This old thing? No, I brought it with me. I thought it might come in handy.'
`Did you, indeed?' he said grimly. `And what about all those clothes I bought you?'
'They're very nice, of course, but I'm allowed to wear some of my own clothes, surely?'
`I'd have preferred it if you'd worn something a little more… suitable. This is a business dinner we're going to, not a nightclub. Perhaps you could remember that?' Luke's face was a mask of disapproval. This was the man who must have seen Helen in far more risqué outfits!
Kate was unrepentant. She felt heady with a sense of her own power tonight. `Don't be so stuffy, Luke. No one could possibly object to a black dress for dinner.'
`It depends on how you wear it! And why are you all made up like that?' Luke asked grumpily 3.s they walked down to the lift. `I suppose all this effort is for Xavier's benefit? Don't tell him you've fallen for that pseudo-French charm!'
'I'm half-French myself-remember?-and I can assure you that there's nothing pseudo whatsoever about his charm,' Kate said sweetly, mowing it would annoy him. `You could learn a lot from him!'
The lift doors whispered open and she swept inside, followed by a scowling Luke. The lift was lined with mirrors and their reflections multiplied around them. Kate risked a peek at Luke. He looked dark and dangerous in his formal suit.
He glanced at her and she looked quickly away, tilting her chin unconsciously.
`I must say, this is a new side to you, Kate,' he said. `I'd never expected you were the kind of girl to own a dress like that.'
`There's a lot you don't know about me.'
`So it seems. How often do you wear it?'
'Oh, quite a lot.'
`Seems funny that you haven't got round to taking off the price tag, in that case,' Luke said sardonically, reaching over to pull the tag out of the neckline behind her.
The nape of her neck shivered where his fingers brushed against it, and colour stained her cheeks as she pulled herself away to tear off the tag resentfully. If he had given her a little more time she would have noticed it herself.
On Xavier's recommendation, she had booked a restaurant in the rue de Buci, a narrow street on the Left Bank. It was already crowded when they arrived, the waiters with their long white aprons threading their way skilfully between the tables.
Kate was in a feisty mood, and kept up a flow of gay conversation while they waited for Philippe and Xavier to arrive, in spite of a distinct lack of encouragement from Luke. When they appeared she greeted them warmly, and was gratified by their admiring attention.
"No Mistaking Love" отзывы
Отзывы читателей о книге "No Mistaking Love". Читайте комментарии и мнения людей о произведении.
Понравилась книга? Поделитесь впечатлениями - оставьте Ваш отзыв и расскажите о книге "No Mistaking Love" друзьям в соцсетях.