One Night in the Orient. Robyn Donald

      “And?”

      “So far no luck, but I’ll keep at it.” Nick frowned. “So you’ve got a week to spend in London?”

      She shook her head. “No.” “Why?”

      “Can’t afford it,” she admitted, lifting her chin to give him a direct glance that glittered a challenge. “I have to go home.”

      Now was not the time to press her about the absence of her engagement ring. He owed it to her parents to make sure she was all right. “We can discuss your options over dinner. Come on.”

      After a moment’s hesitation she shook her head. “I’d really rather not, Nick. I’m not dressed—”

      “It’s all right. We’ll eat at my place.”

      He saw her waver and felt an odd, irritating triumph when she nodded.

      “Very well,” she said quietly, as though too tired to protest further. But once she got up she made a final objection. “Nick, I’m probably not going to be very good company.”

      “Why?”

      “Oh, nothing important.” Her voice was stronger, more like the Siena he knew.

      You’re lying. And you’ll tell me what’s going on before the evening’s out, he thought. The Siena he remembered wouldn’t have let a change in plans affect her like this.

      She said, “I’ll go up and get changed. I won’t be any more than ten minutes.”

      “You’re fine the way you are,” he told her.

      After giving his suit a brief glance she said with a return to her usual tone, “I’ll change.”

      Shoulders held very erect, she walked across the foyer towards the lift. Although small, he thought, his loins stirring again, she was in perfect proportion. Well-worn jeans showed off slim, elegantly shaped legs, and the clear pink thing she wore on top marked every curve of breast and hip, and the narrow allure of her waist.

      He wasn’t the only one watching her. The receptionist, a boy not long out of his teens, was also following her progress with too much interest. A spurt of anger took Nick by surprise.

      He caught the kid’s eye, and was coldly and foolishly pleased when he flushed and with a bobbing Adam’s apple got busy with the computer. Nick transferred his gaze to two other men. Hastily they abandoned their interested survey and disappeared into the bar.

      Satisfied, Nick quelled his cold disapproval and waited.