Christy McKellen – Bridesmaid with Attitude (страница 7)
‘If you’re on TV there’s a chance the papers might report on any hook-ups you have. I don’t want my mother to hear about them. It would ruin what we’re trying to do here.’
‘So I have to promise to be celibate till this thing is over?’
‘Yes.’
‘And you seriously won’t help me out?’
The impulse to push him into submission was too strong to ignore. She needed to win this now, for the sake of her pride. She ran her fingers gently up and down his arm, feeling him tense even more under her touch.
‘You’re going to leave me in a state of sexual frustration? So cruel!’
He grabbed her arm, wrapping his fingers around her wrist and pushing it against her own body, imposing a barrier between them. ‘I’m sure you can find some other way to satisfy your carnal urges. There are tools for every job. Be creative.’
‘It’s not the same.’
‘You’ll survive.’
She huffed out a sigh, hoping he couldn’t feel the tremble in her hand. ‘Okay, but you have to promise to be celibate too … until this thing is over.’
‘That won’t be a problem.’
She shook her head in disbelief. ‘Are you made of stone or something?’
‘It
‘Look, if you’re worried this is actually some elaborate plot to trap you into marriage and steal all your money, then don’t be. I have plenty of my own money. I don’t need to steal someone else’s.’
‘It never crossed my mind,’ he said, his back to her.
She couldn’t tell if he was being serious. His tone was so dry it almost cracked the air.
He turned back, his expression closed. ‘We’ve probably got enough information to go on for now,’ he said, ‘and I have things I need to deal with before my mother comes back.’ He pointed a finger at her in a commanding manner, as if she was a naughty puppy. ‘Wait here.’
She watched him stride out of the room, wondering what he was going to fetch. A horse whip, perhaps? Or a pair of shackles? The mere thought of it only intensified the low hum of erotic tension that had plagued her all afternoon.
How could he be immune to the heat between them?
Perhaps she’d pushed him too hard, too fast? Normally it wouldn’t bother her if she made a man uncomfortable with her brazenness, but she didn’t want to jeopardise this thing with Theo.
Truth be told, she was flabbergasted by his assertion that he wouldn’t sleep with her. No one had ever turned her down before, and the challenge of getting him to change his mind had now embedded itself firmly in her mind.
She really wasn’t looking for anything serious, so why the heck shouldn’t they have some fun together? There was clearly a spark of attraction between them, even if he was refusing to acknowledge it.
It wasn’t as if she was under any illusions about where she fitted in the grand theatre of life. She saw herself as the ruthless ex-lover that sweet, wholesome women saved their damaged alpha conquests from. In fact it amused her to think of herself as the facilitator of other people’s Happy-Ever-Afters.
According to the gutter press she had loose morals, but she didn’t cheat or mess around with men already in relationships—that was where she drew the line. She didn’t
Theo was a whole other proposition. Smart, philanthropic
He returned a moment later, pen and paper in hand.
‘Write your phone number down on here and I’ll call you later to confirm the details about tomorrow,’ he said, dropping them onto the table.
She dipped into a low curtsey. ‘Yes, M’Lord.’
He flashed her a disparaging look, clearly not in the mood for any more teasing. ‘Let yourself out.’
Swivelling on the spot, he marched away, his feet making a heavy slapping sound on the flagstone floor.
‘You’ve been a great audience,’ she called after him, making sure sarcasm dripped from every syllable.
When she got home to London, the first thing Emily did was call Lula to tell her that she’d ninety-nine per cent sorted out the wedding reception venue problem.
‘Just give me a couple more days and I’ll have it all wrapped up and reconfirmed. Don’t worry, it’ll happen—I’ll make sure of it.’
‘How the heck did you swing it, Em?’ Lula asked, her husky DJ’s voice light with relief.
‘I used my feminine wiles,’ she replied, experiencing a surge of relief to hear her friend sounding so happy again.
‘Please tell me you didn’t sleep with him.’ Lula’s tone was jokey, but there was just a hint of expectancy in it.
‘Of course not. I just made a very good case. He
‘Jeeze, Em, you’re a fast worker.’
‘What can I say? Zee guys, zay
‘So they should. You are a total goddess.’
‘Why, thank you, my darling. Anyway, I’d better scoot—got to get my beauty sleep if I’m going to impress His Lordship tomorrow.’
‘Okay—night, babe.’
‘Nighty-night.’
Emily had just ended the call when another number flashed up on the screen.
‘Hello?’
‘Emily, it’s Theo.’
Her chest did a strange squeezy thing at the sound of his voice. ‘Hi. So we’re on?’
‘I told my mother about you. I said I’d been keeping you quiet because I wanted to be sure about committing to you before introducing you to her.’
‘And?’
‘As predicted, she wants to meet you. I think she’s a little suspicious about how I’ve suddenly produced you out of thin air and wants to make sure she’s not being taken for a ride.’
‘Smart woman.’
‘That she is.’
‘So should I come for lunch?’
‘Yes. Get here for midday tomorrow and be ready to turn on the charm.’
She pinched her nose to make her voice sound nasal. ‘Wilco, My Lord. Coming through, loud and clear.’
‘Emily?’
‘Yes, my darling?’
‘You’re starting to worry me.’
She laughed. ‘Chill out, Your Earlness, it’s going to be fine.’
THEO WAS FINISHING up a job in his workshop before lunch the following day when Emily strolled in, looking for all the world like a demure, rich debutante in a strait-laced knee-length skirt, smart high-heeled shoes and a soft pink blouse which was buttoned up nearly to her neck. She’d tamed her wild curls into a sleek-looking knot on top of her head and her make-up was subtle and sparing.
She’d tied her personality down tight.
He felt oddly disconcerted by it.
Frustratingly, he’d not stopped thinking about her since he’d left her in his kitchen the day before, forcing himself to walk away from the bone-rattling sexual tension between them before he did something stupid like acting on it.
‘You’re early,’ he said, glancing at his watch to confirm it was only eleven-thirty.