A Suspicious Proposal. Helen Brooks

She glanced across the room and then back to Essie. ‘And it’s pretty insulting to me, too, if you think about it. I might not be God’s gift to the male sex, but I can still get the odd fella’s juices going, I can tell you.’

      ‘I don’t doubt it for a minute.’ Essie grinned back, and then, as their gazes met and held, both girls collapsed into helpless laughter.

      ‘So when are you going to tell him?’ Janice asked, once they had composed themselves.

      ‘I don’t know.’ Essie shrugged her slim shoulders. ‘When I’m tumbled, I suppose; someone is bound to drop me in it eventually.’

      ‘Talking of tumbling…’ Janice’s face was suddenly serious as she looked into the deep violet-blue eyes in front of her. ‘He’s got a bit of a reputation, Essie, so watch yourself. He’s the original cool love-’em-and-leave-’em type; never gets involved and plays strictly by his own rules. According to Aunt June, he has women throwing themselves at him all the time; but as soon as it looks like getting serious it’s curtains. He’s not a man to mess with.’

      ‘I don’t intend to mess with him, Jan, not in that sense, anyway,’ Essie said firmly. ‘He’s arrogant and rude and overbearing—’

      ‘And gorgeous.’ Janice’s voice was full of laughter now. ‘You have to admit that, Essie, even if you don’t like him. He’s totally drop-dead gorgeous. That mixture of cool control and ruthlessness is dynamite and, when added to his looks and the fact that he’s absolutely loaded…what an aphrodisiac!’

      ‘Jan, you’re awful.’ Essie pushed at the other girl’s arm but she couldn’t help laughing. Janice was one on her own, a real original, and she was warm and funny and kind. In the short time she had known her, Essie had found she liked Christine’s cousin very much. And Janice was quite right—it was every bit as insulting for Xavier to label Janice as it was for him to label her, Essie thought militantly. Janice might not look like Marilyn Monroe but that didn’t mean she couldn’t make it in the theatre, or that she didn’t have plenty to offer a man.

      The two girls did a duty tour of some of the guests before making their way to Christine and Charlie’s side as the time approached for the bridal couple to get changed. The reception was due to finish at seven o’clock and Christine and Charlie were catching a train to London, where they were staying overnight before flying to Greece for two weeks.

      Christine had brought her suitcase to the hotel and now, as Essie and Janice helped the other girl change in the little room the hotel had provided, there were plenty of giggles and fun. And then Christine was ready, looking lovely in a pale blue stretch-silk dress with a white cotton jacket, and the next few minutes were full of goodbyes and confetti and tears from both the mothers as the newly-weds departed in their taxi.

      And all the time, through every moment that had elapsed since she had left Xavier’s side, Essie was conscious of a tall, dark figure dominating her thoughts and keeping the host of butterflies in her stomach dancing madly.

      Perhaps he knew by now? As the taxi disappeared out of the hotel car park with a cheerful honking of its horn, Essie turned to survey the crowd standing on the steps, and immediately she caught Xavier’s eye. He was at least a couple of inches taller than the other men present but it was more the quality of aloofness that seemed to permeate his air space that acted as a magnet. And she saw straight away, from the warm smile and lazily hooded eyes, that as yet he was oblivious to the trick she had played on him.

      And Janice was right, he was gorgeous, she admitted faintly. The dark grey suit that screamed a designer label, the jade-green shirt and silk tie were all of the very best, but it was him—Xavier Grey—that was breathtaking.

      She shouldn’t have started this. The thought was there and it was disturbing, but in the next moment he had made his way to her side, looking down at her with silver-blue eyes that caught the last of the dying sunlight.

      ‘You performed your duties admirably.’ His smile included Janice, who was standing at her side, and now his gaze swept over the pair of them as he said courteously, ‘Perhaps you would allow me to buy you both dinner, if you’re not otherwise engaged?’

      She must tell him. This had gone far enough and it was time to come clean. But before she could open her mouth Janice said brightly, ‘Oh, I’m sorry, Mr Grey, but I’m already booked. I’m sure Janice would love to have dinner with you, though.’

      ‘Would you? Love to have dinner with me, that is?’ he asked her softly as Janice disappeared with a cheerful goodbye into the crowd moving back into the hotel.

      ‘I…I don’t know—’

      ‘You’d be taking pity on a lonely stranger if you did,’ he drawled persuasively. ‘I’m booked into a hotel—my own choice, as I’m sure you know. I can’t stand these family get-togethers,’ he added, somewhat caustically, ‘and I’m flying to Germany to oversee a business deal first thing in the morning. I wasn’t looking forward to eating alone.’

      She doubted that. He was the type of man who would relish being alone—hadn’t his own comment confirmed that very thing? And on their tour of the guests earlier Janice had whispered in her ear that Aunt June had told her Charlie’s relations had been falling over themselves to persuade him to stay with one of them but he had declined all invitations, graciously but very firmly.

      ‘And I think we might even allow you a couple of glasses of wine,’ he continued quietly, blithely unaware of her sudden sharp look at his face, ‘if your stomach’s recovered?’

      ‘It wasn’t a hangover, actually.’ Her voice was tight but she couldn’t help it—enough was enough. ‘I had a touch of food poisoning from a suspect seafood cocktail last night.’ He would allow her a couple of glasses of wine! What did he think she was? A little puppy being allowed treats?

      ‘Really?’ It was lazy and relaxed and told her he didn’t believe a word of it, and it made her mad. Even more mad than she had felt earlier.

      ‘Yes, really,’ she said bitingly, and this time he noticed the tone.

      ‘Don’t be prickly, Janice. I’m only thinking of you,’ he said softly, ‘and there’s nothing worse than a woman who doesn’t know when she’d had enough. It’s most…unattractive.’

      She’d had enough, all right—more than enough—and the façade was back on with a vengeance! He wanted a cute little girlie to keep him company tonight, did he? Well, he was going to get just a little more than he had bargained for.

      She took a long deep breath, a really long deep breath, and prayed for the strength to control her anger and not blow it. ‘I’d love to have dinner with you, Xavier,’ she said carefully.

      ‘Good.’ His voice was slightly amused; he clearly thought she was still a little huffy. ‘I’ll pick you up from your home, shall I? What’s the address?’

      ‘Oh, no, don’t do that.’ What did she say now? What excuse could she give? Her mind had gone blank. Essie thought frantically, and then said quickly, ‘I’ve got to see a couple of college friends about a project we’re involved in, first. I’ll get a taxi to your hotel after I’m through—say, about eight-thirty? Is that okay?’

      ‘Sure.’ His eyes had narrowed slightly but the tone was still relaxed. ‘I’m staying at the Blue Baron. Do you know it?’

      Did she know it? She was staying there herself! Essie smiled and prayed some more, this time for the ability to hide her agitation from those razor-sharp eyes that had homed in on her with unnerving perception.

      ‘Yes, I know it.’ She heard her voice speak calmly and coolly and was amazed at how normal it sounded. Perhaps she had gone in for the wrong career, after all; she was better at this acting than she would ever have thought possible! ’Till eight-thirty, then.’

      ‘Eight-thirty.’ And then he bent his head towards her, his gaze mesmerising as it held hers. Although she knew he was going to kiss her and that she really