Whirlwind by Charlotte Lamb Page A

grey eyes she held her ground, her chin lifted in defiance. She wasn't giving him the satisfaction of imagining that she was running away from him.
    Behind stage was so crowded that Laird and Patti had to push their way through to Joey and Anna, and that gave time for Anna to note that Laird had his arm around Patti's slender waist and she was leaning slightly on his shoulder, the intimacy undisguised and so casual that Anna ground her teeth in bitter distaste, wishing she had never made such a fool of herself as to offer the other girl advice Patti clearly did not need and must have laughed over once she was alone.
    She could hardly doubt the evidence of her own eyes, yet she was incredulous, nevertheless. How could Patti have deluded her so easily? She must be a better actress than Anna had believed; her performance as a shy, embarrassed adolescent had been superb. She had been totally convincing.
    'Congratulations, Joey,' drawled Laird, shaking hands with him. 'A marvellous production.'
    Oh, absolutely, Anna thought—Patti had given a brilliant performance and not in the play tonight.
    'You had us all eating out of your hand,' Laird said, smiling. He was in evening dress; it infuriated Anna to see how breathtaking he looked in the elegant, expensively tailored suit. There was a red carnation in his buttonhole, and she stared at it, remembering the red roses he had sent her, her throat raw with pain and rage. Her dilated eyes slid up over his broad shoulders and that hard-boned face to find him watching her with insolent amusement.
    'Especially you, Miss Rendle,' he murmured, taking a step towards her, his arm relinquishing Patti's waist. His hand came out and before Anna realised what he meant to do he had seized her own hand and was lifting it to his lips.
    Her fingers shook as she felt the touch of his mouth on her skin, and he shot her a glance from under dark lashes, aware of that betraying tremor.
    'You have a very rare gift,' he said. 'You can make people laugh and cry all at the same time. I can't remember a more exciting first performance in the theatre, can you, Joey?'
    Joey smiled paternally. 'She has possibilities,' he conceded, without going over the top. 'If she works hard,' he added even more cautiously, then glanced at Anna with curiosity. 'I didn't realise you knew Laird, Anna.' His eyes narrowed as she flushed, then he laughed. 'Oh, of course, Patti must have introduced you—I'd forgotten you two had become friends.' Looking back at Laird, he asked quizzically, 'Is the cat out of the bag or do you still prefer to be anonymous?'
    'Oh, I don't think we should let anyone else in on the secret,' drawled Laird, shrugging.
    'Up to you,' Joey said indifferently. 'Are you coming to the party?'
    'I wouldn't miss it for worlds.'
    Anna's heart sank; if he was coming to the party she wasn't going to enjoy it—how could she? Quite apart from the nerve-racking tension of seeing him, remembering what he' had done to her, she would have to watch him chasing Patti.
    I'm not jealous, she told herself angrily. Patti must be out of her mind after what I told her—or did I merely make her twice as intrigued? Patti was only eighteen and fascinated by men like Laird Montgomery.
    I should have remembered, Anna thought, silently furious with herself. At that age I was always reading about men like him and wishing I could meet one, a modern Lord Byron—mad, bad and dangerous to know. She had grown out of that phase, but Patti was still young enough to be vulnerable to Laird Montgomery, and he seemed interested enough in her. After all, he'd been waiting for her the night he took Anna to the penthouse, it had been Patti he was chasing!
    A wave of heat swept over Anna as it dawned on her that he couldn't really have cared who he took to bed that night. He had wanted Patti but, cheated of her, he had taken Anna instead, like someone idly picking a flower on a walk and chucking it away a moment later.
    Feeling sick, she swallowed,