high-carat diamonds in her earlobes and in the slender bracelet snaking around her wrist—how would she cope if that wealth were to evaporate? He knew all too well that if he—or another turnaround expert—did not rescue her father it was the very likely outcome of Lassiter’s disastrously fragile financial situation.
Does she know how close to the wind her father is?
he speculated. If she truly were a pampered princess then it was unlikely she did. Females like that did not trouble themselves over the source of their funding. They took it for granted that the largesse would not stop. Besides … His eyes narrowed infinitesimally. Unlike Lassiter’s mistress, she had made no effort to fawn on him. Just the reverse! Had she any realisation of just how essential he was to her father’s continued affluence—and therefore her own—she would surely not be so chilly and rejecting of him!
But her frigid demeanour was because she was tryingto deny the effect he was having on her, he reminded himself. She was trying to resist him. That was why she was so determined to give him the cold shoulder. His dark eyes glinted briefly. Did she really not realise that her attitude would merely spur him on?
Her tension now was visible in the stiffness of her spine. Clearly she was wishing him to perdition—but in that he was not going to oblige her. He took a contemplative mouthful of his drink, enjoying the fine bouquet and fiery resonance of the vintage cognac.
‘Perhaps you occupy yourself in charity work?’ He trailed the suggestion in front of her.
His reward was a daggered glance. ‘Of course,’ she agreed. ‘Attending essential functions like this one. Which as you can see—’ her voice was viciously sweet ‘—I am
so
enjoying.’
Even as she spoke she knew she’d been unacceptably rude. But it was too late to take her unpleasantly sarcastic riposte back now. Too late, she thought with a hollow grip inside her, to do anything at all about Leon Maranz’s disastrous, unwanted impact on her except hold him as far at bay as she possibly could! Even if that meant crossing every boundary of social courtesy.
A desperate thought crossed her haunted mind. Perhaps if she were sufficiently rude to him he’d at least back off and leave her alone. Go off and seek a more willing, complaisant woman—goodness knew there were enough of them here tonight! He could have his pick if he wanted. So why,
why
did he have to focus on
her
, for heaven’s sake!
I can’t cope with this! I can’t cope with having this happening to me here, and now. He’s part of my father’s world, and I have every reason to reject that world—reject anything to do with it! I’ve got responsibilities and duties that are two hundred miles away which I cannot abandon even if I were to want to—which I don’t. So I just don’t want this—I don’t want this man paying me attention, trying to pull me, trying to get me into bed. Because that, obviously, is what he wants …
Like a guillotine slicing down, she cut off her train of thought. It was far too dangerous. Emotion writhed in her. All she wanted to do was get to her feet and bolt—just get away from the man invading her presence, disquieting and disturbing her, making his impact felt so powerfully and overwhelmingly.
The sudden tightening of his expression showed her that he had not appreciated her sarcasm, and for a moment she felt an impulse to apologise to him. Then she hardened. Making him dislike her was as good a way as any to keep him at a distance. Besides, a resentful voice said in her head, she didn’t
want
to be so affected by him. She didn’t
want
to have this fluttery quickening of the pulse, this perpetual shimmer of awareness of him. She wanted to be immune to him, to be unaffected by him, completely indifferent to him.
This time tomorrow I’ll be back at home—safe
.
She made the thought hang in her head, clinging to it. All she had to do was get through the remainder
Does she know how close to the wind her father is?
he speculated. If she truly were a pampered princess then it was unlikely she did. Females like that did not trouble themselves over the source of their funding. They took it for granted that the largesse would not stop. Besides … His eyes narrowed infinitesimally. Unlike Lassiter’s mistress, she had made no effort to fawn on him. Just the reverse! Had she any realisation of just how essential he was to her father’s continued affluence—and therefore her own—she would surely not be so chilly and rejecting of him!
But her frigid demeanour was because she was tryingto deny the effect he was having on her, he reminded himself. She was trying to resist him. That was why she was so determined to give him the cold shoulder. His dark eyes glinted briefly. Did she really not realise that her attitude would merely spur him on?
Her tension now was visible in the stiffness of her spine. Clearly she was wishing him to perdition—but in that he was not going to oblige her. He took a contemplative mouthful of his drink, enjoying the fine bouquet and fiery resonance of the vintage cognac.
‘Perhaps you occupy yourself in charity work?’ He trailed the suggestion in front of her.
His reward was a daggered glance. ‘Of course,’ she agreed. ‘Attending essential functions like this one. Which as you can see—’ her voice was viciously sweet ‘—I am
so
enjoying.’
Even as she spoke she knew she’d been unacceptably rude. But it was too late to take her unpleasantly sarcastic riposte back now. Too late, she thought with a hollow grip inside her, to do anything at all about Leon Maranz’s disastrous, unwanted impact on her except hold him as far at bay as she possibly could! Even if that meant crossing every boundary of social courtesy.
A desperate thought crossed her haunted mind. Perhaps if she were sufficiently rude to him he’d at least back off and leave her alone. Go off and seek a more willing, complaisant woman—goodness knew there were enough of them here tonight! He could have his pick if he wanted. So why,
why
did he have to focus on
her
, for heaven’s sake!
I can’t cope with this! I can’t cope with having this happening to me here, and now. He’s part of my father’s world, and I have every reason to reject that world—reject anything to do with it! I’ve got responsibilities and duties that are two hundred miles away which I cannot abandon even if I were to want to—which I don’t. So I just don’t want this—I don’t want this man paying me attention, trying to pull me, trying to get me into bed. Because that, obviously, is what he wants …
Like a guillotine slicing down, she cut off her train of thought. It was far too dangerous. Emotion writhed in her. All she wanted to do was get to her feet and bolt—just get away from the man invading her presence, disquieting and disturbing her, making his impact felt so powerfully and overwhelmingly.
The sudden tightening of his expression showed her that he had not appreciated her sarcasm, and for a moment she felt an impulse to apologise to him. Then she hardened. Making him dislike her was as good a way as any to keep him at a distance. Besides, a resentful voice said in her head, she didn’t
want
to be so affected by him. She didn’t
want
to have this fluttery quickening of the pulse, this perpetual shimmer of awareness of him. She wanted to be immune to him, to be unaffected by him, completely indifferent to him.
This time tomorrow I’ll be back at home—safe
.
She made the thought hang in her head, clinging to it. All she had to do was get through the remainder
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