‘So how’s it going?’ he asked.
His closeness disrupted her concentration, causing her fingers to stumble on the keys. Cursing inwardly, she deleted the mistyped letters.
‘It was going fine,’ she said pointedly.
He ignored the sarcasm. ‘How do you rate it yourself?’
‘On the basis of what we’ve got up to now, I’d say it stands an excellent chance of becoming a best-seller,’ she answered with truth. ‘Your mother has a way with words.’
‘Part of what makes her such a good actress, I imagine. Words are her stock in trade.’
‘Other people’s words. These are her own.’ Kerry swung her head as he moved to the big mahogany desk a few feet away, meeting the grey eyes with that same involuntary tensing of muscle and sinew. ‘Are you planning on staying?’
Dark brows lifted. ‘Do you object?’
‘Only in the sense that I find you a distraction.’ She could have bitten off her tongue the moment she had said it, seeing his mouth take on the infuriating slant. ‘The same way I’d find anyone a distraction when I’m trying to work,’ she added swiftly. ‘I realise it’s your study, but you did say I could use it.’
‘In your line you should be used to having other people around,’ he returned. ‘I’ve some work of my own to do, but I’m happy enough to have you share the premises.’
With anyone else there would be no difficulty, Kerry acknowledged. The best will in the world couldn’t put her at ease with this man. Standing there in yet another of the beautifully cut suits—blue this time—he radiated a masculine air of command that set her teeth on edge.
‘I’m just about finished for the day anyway,’ she claimed. ‘I’ll leave you to it.’
He studied her thoughtfully, dropping his gaze to linger for a deliberate moment on the firm thrust of her breasts outlined against the cream silk of her shirt. ‘We never met before, by any chance?’
She shook her head, making no effort to disguise her contempt. ‘We hardly move in the same circles.’
‘So you’ve based your view of me on what?’
Her chin lifted. ‘You get a lot of publicity.’
‘Oh, I see. My media reputation.’ His tone was dry. ‘You believe everything you read in the newspapers?’
Kerry gave him back look for look. ‘I don’t recall you ever suing any for libel.’
‘So far I never felt any need. The people who matter to me know me well enough to take everything said with a pinch of salt—the rest aren’t important.’
‘In which case,’ she asked, ‘why bother about my opinion?’
His smile was slow. ‘You’re another matter.’
‘Meaning you’re accustomed to instant idolisation from women?’
‘I wouldn’t go quite that far, but I don’t usually elicit instant detestation either. How about giving me the benefit of the doubt and forming your own judgement?’
Kerry curled a lip. ‘You just can’t accept it, can you?’
‘Accept what?’
‘That the woman exists who can find you resistible!’
The smile came again, grey eyes acquiring sudden tawny lights. ‘Is that a challenge?’
‘No, it damn well isn’t!’ she said, furious with herself for getting involved in any kind of repartee with the man. ‘As I’ve said before, I’m here to work, not to play games with you!’
‘I don’t recall you saying that before. Not in so many words, at any rate.’ He was openly laughing, eyes crinkling at the corners. ‘I like your style, Kerry. So refreshingly astringent! Makes me wonder if that’s the real you—or if there’s a softer side underneath it all. Be interesting to find out.’
Kerry took a hold on herself, aware of being got at. ‘If there is,’ she said with withering scorn, ‘you’re unlikely to find it!’
‘Now that,’ he returned, ‘is quite definitely a challenge!’ Still smiling, he turned back to the desk and added over one shoulder, ‘Make sure the heads are properly parked when you exit.’
‘I always do,’ she snapped, resenting both the instruction and the mockery. ‘I’ve used computers before.’
‘That’s OK, then.’
Kerry was seething as she despatched the afternoon’s work to the printer, standing there and ostensibly reading the print-out as it emerged. Lee had taken a seat behind the desk and was going through some papers. She could see him from the corner of her eye, dark head bent, one lean hand wielding a pen—her presence obviously forgotten. He’d had his fun with her—that was all it had been—and now it was back to the important things in life. So far as she was concerned, he could go to hell!
With the hard copy safely stored, and both machines switched off at last, she was free to leave. It would be less than adult to stalk out without a word, she decided, and steeled herself to murmur a short, ‘Goodnight.’
Lee looked up, his lean, hard-boned features illuminated by the desk lamp he had switched on. For a fleeting moment he appeared on the verge of putting some question, but the words didn’t materialise. ‘Have a good evening,’ was all he said.
Estelle was watching children’s television in her sitting room. She looked round without embarrassment when Kerry went in to take her leave.
‘I adore Blue Peter, don’t you?’
‘I’ve never really watched it,’ Kerry confessed.
‘No, I suppose you’re always on your way home from work when it’s on.’ She added unexpectedly, ‘Why don’t you stay and have dinner with us tonight? Lee will run you home.’
‘It’s nice of you to invite me but I have a date tonight,’ Kerry improvised hastily. ‘In any case, I wouldn’t dream of dragging your son across town.’
‘I’m sure he’d be more than willing, but if you already have an engagement...’ The older woman paused, eying her speculatively. ‘Someone special, is it?’
‘Just a friend.’ It was time to go, before she got herself involved in further lies. She gave her employer a smile. ‘The hard copy is in the top drawer, if you want to go through what we’ve done up to now.’
‘I think I’ll leave it until we’ve got a bit further,’ Estelle returned. ‘I hope Lee didn’t disturb you too much.’
‘Not at all.’ Another lie, but the only answer she was prepared to give. ‘See you on Monday.’
Coming out of the cloakroom some minutes later dressed for the street in the camel coat which had cost her almost a week’s salary, she was disconcerted to find Lee waiting for her in the hall. Leaning against the staircase newel post, he looked deceptively benign.
‘I ordered a taxi for you,’ he said. ‘From now on there’ll be one on tap every evening. All you have to do is make a call whenever you’re ready to leave. The bill will be taken care of.’
A munificent gesture, Kerry was bound to acknowledge, though not one she cared to take advantage of, coming as it did from him.
‘Thanks, but I’m quite happy taking the tube,’ she said shortly.
The rejection made little noticeable impact. ‘I’m more concerned with your reaching it safely. It’s already dark out there. No time for a woman to be walking the streets on her own.’
‘I’ve