‘About six months,’ she replied. ‘I’ve been living with him for three months of that time.’
A muscle twitched in Matt’s cheek at this revelation, but he continued methodically eating his lobster for a moment before glancing across at her with appraising blue eyes.
‘And what do you think of him?’ he demanded.
Lisa hesitated. There was a lot she wanted to say, but Tim had strictly forbidden her to say most of it. He was morbidly afraid of the sort of angry scene he believed would ensue if his mother and uncle discovered that he was still pursuing his passion for art against their wishes. Left to herself, Lisa would have been perfectly frank with Matt. She would have told him that his nephew showed extraordinary promise as a painter and begged him to let the youth give up his half-hearted study of economics and go to art school full time. Yet Tim had sworn her to secrecy and she did not feel that she could betray his trust. Her misgivings showed in her face.
‘There’s no need to be tactful,’ urged Matt irritably. ‘I want the truth from you. What are your impressions of my nephew’s character?’
Tim’s character! Well, it was easier to be truthful about that than about his ambitions. Tim had never sworn her to secrecy about his character.
‘He’s basically a nice boy,’ she replied in the measured tone of a headmistress giving a character reference. ‘Although he is rather spoilt and he seems to think he can have whatever he wants simply by demanding it.’
‘That’s Sonia’s influence,’ said Matt in an exasperated voice. ‘She’s a very silly woman and she gave in to him too much when he was a child. Still, I suppose it’s not surprising that she spoiled the boy after his father died.’
‘How did his father die?’ asked Lisa hesitantly. ‘Tim has never told me.’
A shadow crossed Matt’s features.
‘He was piloting a light aircraft, which crashed. Tim was only two years old at the time.’
Something in the grim lines of Matt’s face told her that long-ago grief still haunted him. She thought about how she would feel if her own adored brother, Brian, had met with such a disaster and instinctively flinched.
‘I suppose he was your older brother, wasn’t he?’ she said huskily. ‘I’m so sorry.’
Matt’s gaze darted swiftly across the table to meet hers, as if he was startled by the sympathy in her voice. Then he shrugged.
‘Thank you,’ he replied. ‘But it was a long time ago. I seldom think of it now.’
‘You can’t have been very old when it happened.’
‘I was eighteen. There was a ten-year age gap between my brother and myself.’
‘Only eighteen?’ she exclaimed. ‘And yet he made you trustee for the whole estate?’
Matt’s mouth hardened. ‘Yes. He thought I was the tough one in the family and he knew I was shrewd at handling money even then. I bought my first portfolio of shares when I was sixteen. You’d do well to remember that, Lisa.’
Lisa gave him a baffled look. Why would she do well to remember it? What did it have to do with her? Although perhaps this was the opening she had been waiting for, to turn the conversation round to Tim’s interests again. If she could persuade Matt to give Tim more financial freedom, perhaps she need not even mention the delicate subject of art.
‘Can I ask you something?’ she said. ‘If you wanted to, could you wind up the trust and leave Tim in control of his money?’
‘Yes,’ said Matt in a clipped tone.
Lisa let out a long sigh.
‘I really think you ought to do that,’ she urged.
‘Why should I?’ demanded Matt suspiciously. ‘He’ll come into his inheritance at the age of twenty-five in any case, and all his expenses are paid for him at the moment. He doesn’t go short of anything.’
‘No, he doesn’t go short of anything,’ agreed Lisa passionately. ‘But he doesn’t have control of anything, either, and that really infuriates him. I’m sure he wouldn’t get involved in so many silly stunts at the university if he didn’t feel so hemmed in by you and his mother. In my opinion, half the reason he’s so silly and disruptive is that he feels as if he’s treated like a child.’
‘Does he now?’ said Matt dryly. ‘Well, he’ll simply have to put up with it until I’m convinced that it’s in his best interests to change my approach. And I’m not convinced of that yet. Tell me, are you in love with Tim?’
Lisa choked with laughter.
‘Of course not!’ she retorted.
‘Yet you live with him?’ demanded Matt sternly.
All the hostility between them seemed to come bubbling to the surface as the implication of his words sank in.
‘So you assume—’ cried Lisa hotly and then bit off the words.
‘I’ve seen for myself that you lie around naked on the dining table inviting his attentions,’ continued Matt in a hushed, rapid tone so that she had to strain her ears to catch the words. ‘So I assume that you’re having an affair with him. Is that unreasonable?’
Lisa flushed scarlet and glanced uneasily around her, but the other guests in the restaurant seemed quite unconscious of what they were discussing. Her mind raced as she tried to gather her thoughts. She could have told Matt Lansdon the simple truth, every bit of it, including the bargain about the art lessons. But why should she? What business was it of his?
‘It’s nothing to do with you,’ she flared.
‘I see,’ he replied mockingly. ‘Then I’ll simply have to go on making my assumptions, won’t I? But if you’re not in love with Tim, are you at least fond of him?’
‘As a matter of fact, I am!’
‘Then leave him alone, Lisa,’ urged Matt, leaning forward across the table and seizing her wrist. ‘Move out of that flat and give him a chance to grow up. He doesn’t need a woman like you in his life when he’s barely out of school and still wet behind the ears.’
‘A woman like me?’ echoed Lisa. ‘And what exactly is that supposed to mean?’
‘You know damned well what it’s supposed to mean. You’re a sensual, ambitious little schemer and you’re using your considerable charm and physical attraction to lure him into your nets.’
‘I’m flattered that you think I have charm and physical attraction,’ jeered Lisa.
‘Don’t be. It’s a simple statement of fact, not a compliment. What baffles me is why you bother. Is the money really worth it?’
‘What money?’ demanded Lisa contemptuously.
‘The money you hope to get when Tim marries you,’ snapped Matt.
Lisa’s mouth fell open. ‘Is that what I’m supposed to be after? Marriage to Tim?’
‘Oh, I love the bewildered innocence, sweetheart! But you’re wasting your time trying to fool me. Sonia’s already told me you and Tim are planning to get married.’
Lisa very nearly picked up the champagne bottle and emptied it over Matt’s head. Then she took a long, deep breath and exhaled slowly. She had disliked Tim’s mother from the moment she met her, considering her snobbish, patronizing and extremely silly, but even Sonia was incapable of such a pearl of fantasy without at least a grain of truth to get her started. Tim must have said something to set this whole tale in motion!
‘Where did you hear this?’ she asked.
‘Tim told her. She says she’s found you in the house twice when she went to visit him. The first time she suspected you were living with him, so the second time she arrived unannounced, found a wild party in progress and Tim draped all over you.’
‘It wasn’t a wild party!’ protested Lisa. ‘It was just a few of Tim’s friends at the end of third term. We’ve had much wilder parties than that.’
‘Have you?’ demanded Matt in an ominous tone. ‘As your landlord, I hardly find that reassuring. Anyway, be that as it may, Sonia tackled Tim about it afterwards and demanded to know what you were doing there. At first he told her a lot of implausible stories and then finally blurted out the truth—that he had fallen in love with you and was planning to marry you
.’
Lisa gave a low gasp of indignation.
‘That idiot,’ she muttered. ‘I might have known he’d go to pieces once Sonia started interrogating him. He’s nothing but a big, silly kid.’
‘Exactly,’ growled Matt. ‘So why are you wasting your time on him? You don’t need a boy, you need a grown man, and a powerful one at that, to keep you occupied, young lady.’
‘Oh, so you’re offering your services, are you?’ demanded Lisa sarcastically.
Matt’s hold on her wrist tightened.
‘I might be, I just might be,’ he growled. ‘Not marriage, Lisa. I’ve no intention of marrying a woman who’s available to the highest bidder, but a love affair, that’s something else.’ He leaned forward and his voice was so low that she could scarcely catch the words, but when she did they made her quiver with rage and something else. ‘I can make you tingle and ache with sexual passion in a way that boy hasn’t even discovered yet. You’re a gambler and a deeply sensual woman, Lisa, and I’m a man of considerable experience. Why don’t you try your luck with me?’
CHAPTER TWO
LISA was so outraged by this question that for a moment she was completely speechless. Yet if she was honest, it was not only outrage that she felt. A strange, throbbing warmth began to pulsate deep inside her at Matt’s words, and the intense, stormy look in his eyes made her feel breathless. Feeling almost as angry with herself as with him, she jerked her hand out of his grip and gave him a cold, challenging stare.
‘What exactly are you suggesting?’ she demanded.
Matt smiled lazily as if he was enjoying the situation.
‘I’m a wealthy man,’ he said in a low voice. ‘I could set you up in style with a luxury flat and a studio. I already come to Melbourne quite frequently on business and I could come even more frequently for pleasure.’
Lisa felt the taste of rage in her mouth, as pure and toxic as neat alcohol.
‘You make me sound like a fast food outlet,’ she hissed. ‘Juicy steaks, medium rare, prepared to perfection while you wait! And our money back guarantee if we fail to satisfy.’
Matt looked at her from under half-closed lids.
‘Oh, I don’t think you’d fail to satisfy,’ he murmured.
She leapt to her feet with an inarticulate gasp of rage.
‘I’ve never been so insulted in my life!’ she cried.
Matt seized her wrist again. Gently, tenderly, as if this was nothing more than a playful disagreement between them. Yet there was something merciless in that grip.
‘Sit down,’ he invited. ‘I haven’t finished with you.’
‘Well, I’ve finished with you!’ she flared and turned as if to flee.
His grip tightened. There was a latent physical force in that warm, hard, masculine hand that enthralled and alarmed her. He wasn’t actually hurting her, she couldn’t say that, but he was making her aware in the most blatant possible way of his virility and strength. With a sense of disbelief, she realized that the only way she could escape would be to shout for help and knock over a few wineglasses. For one wild moment she seriously contemplated the prospect. But Matt’s wordless, lingering smile made her decide against it. He might seem conservative on the surface, but with a sudden flash of insight she guessed that he was really totally indifferent to the opinion of others. If she made a scene, he was probably perfectly capable of swinging her over his shoulder and marching out of the restaurant. Shuddering inwardly at the image, Lisa subsided into her seat and glared at him.
‘Am I to take it that your answer is no?’ he asked mildly.
‘Yes,’ said Lisa between her teeth.
‘Your answer is yes?’ marvelled Matt, deliberately misunderstanding her. ‘What an unexpected pleasure! I’m sure we’ll get along brilliantly together.’
‘I didn’t mean that!’ flared Lisa, losing all patience. ‘I meant yes, my answer is no. Oh, stop trying to make me sound stupid! I wouldn’t have an affair with you if you were the last man on earth.’
‘And yet you’re prepared to do it with Tim?’ he challenged.
‘Well, he says he’s going to marry me, doesn’t he?’ demanded Lisa sarcastically. ‘He told Sonia so, didn’t he? I’d hardly be likely to give up the prospect of marrying Tim just so that I could go to bed with you, now would I?’
‘You’d be wiser if you did,’ growled Matt, dropping his benevolent pose. ‘A marriage between you and Tim would never work.’
‘Why not?’ asked Lisa angrily.
‘He’s not up to your weight,’ retorted Matt.
‘If you’re going to make cheap shots about my figure—’ began Lisa.
‘I’m not talking about your figure!’ cut in Matt impatiently. ‘It’s magnificent, as you well know. I’m talking about your personality, your style. I’ve seen enough of you to know that you have vitality, gusto, humour and blatant sex appeal. Compared to you, Tim is nothing but a colourless boy. Maybe in a few years he’ll gain some colour, but not if he’s stuck in your shadow. Lisa, I’m appealing to your better nature. Give him up!’
Lisa scowled at him. She was secretly flattered by his comments about her vitality and sex appeal and she couldn’t help agreeing with his assessment of Tim. All the same, she felt it was underhanded of Matt to try to appeal to her better nature after he had already leapt to such outrageous conclusions about her greed and ruthlessness. She still felt angry and offended and wanted to go on fighting with him until she had evened the score before she laid down her weapons.
‘What makes you think I have a better nature?’ she cooed.
Matt’s eyes flashed ominously.
‘Then you won’t give him up?’ he challenged.
Lisa smiled provocatively, enjoying the heady sensation of power that his uneasiness was giving her.
‘Tell me one good reason why I should.’
‘Money.’
‘What?’
Lisa almost fell off her chair.
‘I thought that would make you take notice,’ said Matt contemptuously. ‘All right, here’s the deal. I’ll pay you if you promise to move out of Tim’s flat and stay away from him for a year.’
Lisa stared at her companion in disbelief. Was it a joke? No, it couldn’t possibly be. Matt’s expression was grimly serious and he was already reaching inside the pocket of his dinner jacket for a chequebook and a gold pen.
‘What’s to stop me from taking the money and going back on my word?’ she demanded, turning over the possibilities as if it was some kind of quiz game. ‘Or do you have too high an opinion of my character for that?’
‘No, I don’t,’ retorted Matt rudely. ‘Naturally I’ll take precautions. The payment will be in quarterly instalments with the first one being made now as a gesture of good faith. Once you’ve moved out of the flat there will be three more instalments at intervals of three months, provided you keep your side of the bargain. And, believe me, I have ways of checking.’
‘You mean you’ll have a private detective spying on me?’ she demanded.
Matt shrugged and smiled unpleasantly. Lisa let out a low gasp of rage.
‘Just as a matter of interest, how much are you offering me to do this?’ she demanded.
He named a figure that made her jaw drop.
‘B-but that’s a fortune,’ she stammered.
‘I take it we have an agreement then,’ he said coldly, scrawling on the cheque and signing it with a flourish. ‘There you are, Lisa. It’s been most interesting doing business with you. Now what about my other offer of changing your allegiance from Tim to me? Are you sure you don’t want to accept that, too?’
For a moment she was speechless with indignation, then belatedly she found her voice and her power of movement. With shaking fingers she snatched the cheque from Matt’s hand and glanced down at it. A long row of noughts at the end blurred before her gaze. Then holding the paper as distastefully as if it were a spider, she thrust it into the candle flame.
‘I have only one thing to say t
o you,’ she told him as the acrid smoke coiled up. ‘If I ever choose to marry Tim, there is no way on earth that you’ll be able to stop me!’
A warning heat scorched her fingers so that she dropped the charred remnants of the cheque in the ashtray. Then, snatching her evening bag off the table, she strode to the door with her head held high and her eyes flashing. A brief pause to claim her coat and she was on her way. She was dimly aware of a hubbub behind her as a waiter bustled over to investigate the smell of smoke and Matt placated him with a substantial tip before hurrying after her. He caught up with her just as the doors of the lift were closing. Thrusting one muscular, black-clad leg between them, he forced them open and rejoined her. He looked as impeccable as ever, but something wild and dangerous lurked at the back of his ice-blue eyes. Lisa felt an irrational surge of panic as the doors closed behind him, leaving them alone together. Her heart began to thud frantically and her breath came in shallow flutters as the lift plunged downwards.
‘Don’t ever behave like that in public again,’ he warned.
Then he swept her into his arms and kissed her. It was not just the motion of the lift that gave her that dizzy, plunging sensation. As she hurtled down the lift shaft, locked in his arms, Lisa had a giddy feeling of being totally powerless. A warning bell sounded as they reached the car park, but Matt simply reached out and pressed the button for the top floor again. He was still kissing her passionately when the door opened near the restaurant and Lisa came to her senses enough to realize where they were.
Flushing, she broke away from Matt and had to endure the disapproving glances of two elderly women and the sly grins of their spouses on their way down again. She was relieved when they parted company with the older couples and emerged into the car park, but even then her troubles were not over. Matt took her arm tranquilly and guided her towards the limousine, visible behind one of the pillars.
Mistress For Hire (Harlequin Presents) Page 3