Flowers for My Love by Katrina Britt Page A

you.’
    He pushed her almost roughly into the yielding, well-sprung leather seat, and lost no time slipping in beside her behind the wheel.
    He said equally roughly, ‘You shouldn’t have had that new hairstyle. You’re taking an unfair advantage of me.’
    Davina flashed him a startled look and said nothing.
    ‘Here I am trying to forget you and you come right into my arms with a new look which absolutely floors me,’ he went on harshly.
    Her eyes flashed. ‘Pot calling kettle black!’ she cried. ‘Here you are flaunting a handsome head of tight golden curls that any woman would give her ears for and you censure me for changing my hairstyle. Of all the nerve!’
    ‘That’s nothing to do with it.’ He took in the delicate curve of her cheek, the thick curling eyelashes and the abundant shiny hair falling into natural waves. Then he looked down at the small boned delicate wrists and ankles.
    Davina did not speak nor look at him. While it was very flattering to know that she could attract him, she was afraid ...
    of him, of her own emotions. It was becoming extremely difficult to keep herself inviolate from his attacks on her armour.
    To her frightened heart the air with him around was filled with gunpowder that was likely to explode at her first sign of weakness.
    Wearily she said, ‘You remind me of Rex. You have the same idea that anything you want you must have.’
    Nick paused in the act of starting the car. ‘And what’s wrong with that providing you work to that end? It puts zip into life to set your sights on something and strive to that end.’
    ‘A little unfair, though, when the dice are loaded in your favour with charm and good looks,’ she protested.
    ‘Most people can have charm and good looks if they take the trouble to cultivate them. As for what you wear, while it helps, it is, after all, the expression you wear on your face, not the clothes you put on that counts,’ he said sardonically.
    ‘Do you know, I agree with you entirely.’
    ‘Nice to know that we agree on something. Where would you like to eat?’
    ‘I wasn’t aware that I’d agreed to eat with you.’
    He laughed. ‘You have no other option—I’m much bigger than you are! I’ll take you to my club. They’ve only recently begun to admit ladies—providing they’re escorted by a member, of course.’
    ‘Of course,’ she echoed, and laughed.
    It was nice to have V.I.P. treatment in a sanctum the very air of which bristled with males. The food was excellent, the wine of the very best and the service impeccable.
    ‘You’re very quiet,’ Nick said over the coffee.
    ‘I’m too replete with food. I’ve eaten too much,’ she confessed.
    ‘Nonsense, puff of wind would blow you away. Cigarette?’
    He offered her his cigarette case and she refused. He lit a cigar for himself.

    ‘I’d like to tell you a bit about myself,’ he said carefully.
    ‘My parents are away spending the winter in Florida. Mother had a bad bout of ‘flu last year and Dad decided to take her away for the winter. They’re missing the spring and aren’t coming until summer is on the way.’
    Davina smiled. ‘I can’t imagine you with parents. You’re so self-contained. You don’t seem to need anyone.’
    ‘Well, I do, and I miss my parents like hell.’ He leaned forward to tap ash from his cigar into an ashtray on the table.
    As he did so the rays of the sun slanting through the windows turned his hair to gold and Davina longed idiotically to run her fingers through the tight curls.
    She said wistfully, ‘Are your parents fair or dark?’
    He grinned. ‘Fair, both of them. I could say that Mother is the reason I’ve not married up to now. I’ve been looking for someone with her sentiments.’
    Davina was aghast. ‘But that isn’t the way to marry and be happy. You have to fall in love first, and you certainly couldn’t fall in love to order.’
    He leaned across the table and looked audaciously into her eyes.
    ‘Have you ever been