Bought With His Name. PENNY JORDAN

of a woman about her; any further conclusions he might draw could only be an anti-climax.

      ‘On the contrary,’ he told her smoothly, with a speed which caught her off guard, ‘I could easily provide you with the Mercedes and the Ferrari. Think about it, Genista. I’m not averse to paying generously for my pleasures.’

      ‘How predictable you are!’ Genista hissed back angrily. ‘You want something and you immediately think all you have to do is buy it. Haven’t you learned yet that some things simply can’t be bought?’

      Her heated speech made him raise an eyebrow, his eyes gleaming sardonically as he looked down at her, saying with slow deliberation, ‘But we already know that you’re not one of them, don’t we, Genista?’

       CHAPTER THREE

      BOB and Genista left the office early, heading for the garage. The car was all ready for her. Bob and the salesman enthused over it, while Genista eyed the gleaming metallic green paintwork, and wondered how she had ever imagined she was going to be able to drive this elegant monster.

      ‘It’s a doddle really,’ the salesman assured her. ‘Automatic transmission—a beautifully well-behaved car, perfect for a beautiful lady,’ he told her gallantly.

      Bob was endlessly patient while Genista drove nervously towards her flat. He had an hour to spare, he told her, so if she liked they could drive about so that she could accustom herself to the feel of the vehicle.

      By the time they returned to the apartment Genista was beginning to feel slightly more confident. The car, despite its weight and size, was easy to handle. The leather seats cushioned her comfortably, and there was plenty of space for her long legs.

      ‘Can I reward your patience and steady your nerves with a drink?’ she invited Bob when they stopped.

      He glanced at his watch, the worry she had noticed earlier in the day in his eyes again.

      ‘I won’t, if you don’t mind, Gen,’ he apologised. ‘It’s Elaine. She’s in a bit of a state.’ He tugged uncomfortably at his tie, avoiding Genista’s eyes, and then said on a rush, ‘She’s got some bee in her bonnet about getting old, says she’s worried I might fall for some young dolly bird. I’ve told her it’s all nonsense.’ His voice had gone very gruff, and Genista’s heart went out to both him and Elaine. ‘Thing is, Gen, she’s discovered a lump in her … in her breast, and she’s working herself up into a rare old state about it. Our doctor’s told her the chances are it will be benign, but she’s convinced it will mean an operation …’

      ‘Oh, poor Elaine!’ Genista was genuinely sympathetic. How dreadful it must be for any woman to have to face that sort of operation, especially one as vulnerable as Elaine. No wonder she was worrying that Bob would find her less attractive! It was all nonsense, of course. Bob loved his wife, Genista knew that, but even so, she could quite see why he might not want Elaine to be unduly upset. Cold fingers of fear touched her spine. What if by accident Elaine should get to hear of Luke Ferguson’s suspicions? But of course that was impossible. How could she? And suspicions were all that they were. Everyone else in the office knew that there was nothing between Bob and herself, and if Luke Ferguson bothered to ask around, he could find that out for himself.