Master of Her Virtue

by Miranda Lee

  The noise was quite horrendous, much louder than when you watched it on television, but it was a wondrous sight, one which anyone living in Sydney should personally experience at least once in their lifetime.

  It brought some much-needed gladness to her heart and renewed her New Year’s resolution to turn over a new leaf where her social life was concerned. She would in future say yes to any invitations which came her way, which included guys asking her out on dates. Though, Leo was right; a girl had to be careful these days. Still, she had enough common sense to restrict any first dates to somewhere public. Dinner would do till she got to know her date better.

  Not that she cared about dating anyone right at this moment.

  Her eyes slid from the never-ending fireworks down to the part of the balcony where Leo and the blonde had been. Violet frowned. The blonde was still there, but not Leo. Where on earth had he got to?

  ‘Happy New Year, Snow White,’ came a voice just behind her, a suave James Bond voice which sent a shiver down her spin.

  Violet’s hand tightened on her champagne glass as she turned slowly round, determined not to do anything gauche like spill her drink or blush, or anything which would further betray her feelings for Leo. But her heart still pounded madly behind her ribs, and her stomach was suddenly as tight as a drum.

  The smile she dredged up for him felt stiff and forced.

  ‘And Happy New Year to you too,’ she returned.

  His eyes narrowed on her. He went to say something then clearly changed his mind.

  Just then the fireworks stopped, reminding Violet that it was time to say good night. Good night and goodbye. The thought that she was unlikely to see Leo again was a serious downer. Still, she supposed she should be grateful to him for showing her that she was a normal girl with normal desires, not to mention attractive enough to be taken as a credible love interest for a man like Leo.

  ‘Henry,’ she said, and tapped her nearby boss on the arm. ‘It’s been a wonderful party but I have to go. Joy is probably already outside, waiting to take me home.’

  ‘Oh, what a shame!’ Henry said. ‘The party’s just getting started.’

  She just smiled, then reached up to give him a peck on the cheek. ‘There’s always next year,’ she said. ‘Bye, Henry. Bye, Leo,’ she added, turning her eyes his way. ‘It was lovely meeting you.’

  Which it was. He really was a nice man, just as she’d told Joy. Clearly, he wasn’t lining up the blonde for a sexy sleepover, otherwise he’d still be with her.

  ‘I’ll walk out with you,’ he offered.

  ‘All right,’ she agreed, unable to resist being with him for a couple more minutes.

  Once again he relieved her of her champagne glass, depositing it on a nearby table before cupping her elbow and escorting her back inside. Violet gritted her teeth as he steered her across the living room towards the front door, his touch still making her feel all hot and bothered inside. They were outside in the corridor before she remembered her bag.

  ‘Oh!’ she exclaimed. ‘I’ve forgotten my bag.’

  Leo was quick to offer to get it for her and quick to do so, giving her a few invaluable moments for her to regain some much-needed composure.

  ‘I’d rather you didn’t come downstairs with me,’ she said when he handed over her bag.

  ‘Why’s that?’

  She shrugged, unable to think of a credible excuse. After all, what could she say—if you accompany me out to Joy’s car I’ll have to endure the third degree all the way home?

  ‘All right,’ he agreed. ‘But before you go...’

  His hands reached out to cup her shoulders, his touch gentle but his eyes glitteringly hard.

  ‘I think I deserve a goodbye kiss, don’t you?’

  Violet was to think later that it was like something out of one of her historical romances. She wasn’t given time to answer Leo’s rather rhetorical question before he pulled her close and kissed her. Not a soft, tender kiss; a hot, hungry kiss which forced her lips apart, his tongue entwining with hers before she could do more than gasp.

  But as quickly as it began it was over, Leo’s expression self-deprecatory as he put her away from him then turned to push the down button for the lift.

  ‘I’d say sorry if I was,’ he said with a wry little smile. ‘I’ve been wanting to do that all night. But not to worry, Violet. I’m not one of those men I warned you about with more money than morals. I don’t seduce sweet young things like you. But perhaps it’s as well I’m flying back to England in the near future, because you are one hell of a wicked temptation. I dare say I might see you again some day. But not too soon, hopefully. I think of myself as a decent man but I’m no saint.’

  He whirled away from her and strode off back down the corridor without a backward glance, leaving her staring after him in a state of shock. Just a kiss—her first kiss—and she would have said yes to anything he wanted. Violet trembled at the thought.

  Thank heavens he had more control than she had. But even so...

  Violet rode the lift down to the foyer in somewhat of a daze, her head whirling with a host of amazing thoughts. He’d wanted to kiss her all night, had he? How thrilling. How utterly, utterly thrilling!

  And who knew? Like Leo said, it was possible that she would see him again. He was sure to come visit his father at some stage.

  Oh, really? the dampening voice of reality piped up. Like, it only took him eight years to make the trip down under this time. He might not make it for another eight years. You’re dreaming, girl. You’re always dreaming. Be real. Your fantasy lover is flying back to England in a couple of days and the likelihood is you’ll never, ever see him again.

  Tears pricked at Violet’s eyes as she made her way through the foyer and out to where Joy’s car was parked in the driveway, ready to leave. Despite blinking madly and saying a bright, ‘Thanks for coming’ as soon as she opened the passenger door, Violet was on the immediate end of a suspicious glance.

  ‘You are upset,’ Joy said straight away. ‘Tell me what happened.’

  Violet thought about confessing all to Joy but only for a split second. Joy was a dear friend but Violet doubted she could possibly understand her feelings at this moment. She’d probably say she had a narrow escape.

  ‘Nothing happened,’ Violet denied. ‘I’m just tired, Joy. I found having to make conversation with a whole lot of strangers rather stressful. I’m not used to being a social butterfly. Still, actually seeing the fireworks live made it worth the effort.’

  ‘Were they better than last year?’ Joy asked as she started the engine and drove slowly up the steep driveway.

  ‘Yes. They were.’

  ‘We’ll watch them together when we get home. And have a nice mug of hot chocolate.’

  Violet cringed inside. She didn’t want to see the fireworks again, or have a nice mug of hot chocolate. She just wanted to crawl into bed and have a good cry.

  ‘Oh, I forgot,’ Joy said, throwing Violet a breezy smile. ‘Happy New Year, love.’

  ‘You too,’ Violet returned, her heart lurching a little as she recalled how Leo had said those same words only a few minutes earlier.

  ‘I’ll bet you’re proud of yourself for going to that party now.’

  ‘I guess so.’

  ‘You guess so! I think it was very brave of you, and a great start to your New Year’s resolutions. Now all you have to do is buy a whole new wardrobe, keep up with the new hair and make-up and blokes will be lining up to ask you out. Oh, and start going to a unisex gym. No more of that girls-only place. You’re never going to find a boyfriend there!’

  Violet smothered a sigh. ‘You could be right, Joy.’

  ‘I am right. You listen to me and you’ll be a woman of the world before you can say Jack Robinson.’

  ‘And what constitutes a woman of the world?’ she asked wearily.

  ‘You know full well what I’m talking about, Violet Green. You’re the one who said your main aim was to get rid of you
r virginity before next Christmas.’

  ‘True.’

  ‘Difficult to do that without a man.’

  ‘True again,’ Violet said, her mind filling with the image of one man in particular.

  ‘With all the after-Christmas sales on, this is the perfect time to buy new clothes,’ Joy rattled on.

  Violet wished Joy would stop talking. She felt very tired and rather headachy. She really had drunk a lot of champagne. She was going to have a terrible hangover in the morning.

  As for shopping for a new wardrobe.... Violet wasn’t sure about getting herself a new wardrobe any more. Neither did she feel all that enthusiastic about any of her other New Year’s resolutions. Suddenly, none of them seemed to have any point.

  Because she didn’t want to get just any old boyfriend. Meeting Leo had somehow spoiled her for that idea. Neither did she want to lose her virginity just for the sake of it. If and when she had sex, she wanted it to be with someone special; someone dashing, handsome and charming; someone who put her at ease and made her feel incredibly attractive; someone who’d called her a wicked temptation and had kissed her with the kind of passion which, yes, had made her want to do anything he asked.

  In short, when and if she had sex, she wanted it to be with Leo Wolfe.

  But that wasn’t going to happen, was it?

  Only a miracle would make that dream come true, and Violet didn’t believe in miracles.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  A SOMEWHAT DEPRESSED Violet was having breakfast two mornings later when her mobile phone rang.

  It was Henry calling, she noted, a jolt of adrenaline immediately charging through her sluggish veins. For a split second she hoped he was ringing her with another invitation—a farewell dinner for Leo, perhaps?—but she suspected it was nothing of the kind. No doubt it was just some query to do with work. Henry never actually stopped working, not even during their Christmas break.

  ‘Good morning, Henry,’ she answered, pleased at how coolly professional she sounded. ‘Great party the other night. So, what’s up? Someone send you a book you actually like for a change?’

  ‘No, no. Nothing to do with work. I have this small problem which I’m hoping you can help me with. The thing is, sweetie, tonight is Leo’s last night here and I’ve organised a night out on the town for just the two of us. Dinner at a nice restaurant at Darling Harbour, followed by a show. They’ve brought back Priscilla, Queen of the Desert for a short season. It’s playing at the Lyric, the theatre in the Star. You know where I mean, don’t you?’

  ‘Yes, Henry, I do know the Star.’ One could hardly live in Sydney and not know of the city’s one and only casino. Not that Violet had actually been there. But she knew it was a glam place, even more so since undergoing a major refurbishment not that long ago.

  ‘Been there, have you?’

  ‘Actually, no, I haven’t, Henry.’

  ‘Have you seen Priscilla?’

  ‘Only the movie, not the musical.’

  ‘That’s good. Then you’ll really enjoy going with Leo tonight in my place.’

  ‘What?’ Violet hadn’t meant to sound so sharp. Her reaction was shock, not reluctance to go.

  ‘Is there a problem with that?’ Henry said. ‘I thought you wouldn’t mind. After all, you and Leo got along famously the other night.’

  ‘Well, yes, yes, we did,’ Violet admitted, still trying to get her head around the situation. ‘So, why can’t you go?’

  Henry sighed. ‘Must have eaten something bad yesterday. Either that or I’ve caught a nasty stomach bug. Anyway, I still feel ghastly this morning. I couldn’t possibly go out tonight. So, how about it, Violet? It’s not too much to ask, surely?’

  ‘Does Leo know you’ve asked me?’ Violet choked out.

  ‘Well, no, actually. Not yet. He’s out doing his morning row on the harbour. The man’s obsessive about his daily exercise regime. Makes me tired just watching him. But I know he won’t mind. He thinks you’re terrific.’

  Violet tried to speak but her mouth had gone bone-dry. For the past thirty-six hours she’d thought of nothing else but Leo Wolfe, his kiss and what he’d said to her afterwards. The thought of going to dinner and a show with him tonight was the stuff dreams were made of. Dreams and miracles. Was fate being kind to her here, or cruel?

  ‘I’m surprised at you, Violet,’ Henry ground out before she could agree. Which of course she was going to do, once she got some moisture in her mouth. ‘Leo might have the reputation for being a ladies’ man but, I assure you, you are perfectly safe in his hands. My son is a true gentleman.

  ‘What’s that? Yes, Leo, I’m talking about you, believe it or not. It’s Violet on the phone. I’ve just asked her to go out with you tonight instead of yours truly because I’m simply not up to it. Anyway, the infernal girl is umming and aahing like you’re some kind of sexual predator about to pounce. Here, you talk to her.’

  She swallowed as she waited for Leo’s voice to come down the line.

  ‘You don’t have to go, you know, Violet,’ were his first words, delivered in a rather irritated tone. ‘No one’s forcing you. You can always say no.’

  ‘But I can’t!’ she blurted out. ‘I mean...that’s one of my New Year’s resolutions—not to say no to social invitations.’

  ‘I thought I warned you to use your common sense in that regard.’

  Common sense! Was he insane? Her reactions and responses to him had nothing to do with common sense. She was desperate to go out with him tonight. Desperate to see him again, even if it was just to talk to him.

  ‘Henry assured me you were a true gentleman,’ she pointed out, worried that he was looking for some excuse to call the whole thing off.

  Leo’s laugh carried a disturbingly amused tone. ‘That was possibly foolish of Henry.’

  ‘Are you saying you lied to me last night? That you really are a callous seducer of women?’

  ‘A callous seducer? No, no, I’m not that.’

  ‘I didn’t think so.’ Was she vaguely disappointed that he wasn’t?

  ‘In that case, why the hesitation?’ he asked.

  ‘Henry got it wrong,’ she said hurriedly. ‘I wasn’t hesitant, just startled. I would like to go with you tonight. Truly, I would.’

  The sudden silence down the line was unnerving. Had her desperation shown through?

  Did he sigh? She was sure she heard him sigh.

  ‘What time would you like me to pick you up?’ he said at last.

  Now it was Violet who sighed—with relief.

  ‘You don’t have to do that,’ she offered. ‘You might get lost. I could take a taxi to the restaurant and meet you there.’

  ‘Absolutely not. That’s not how I do things, Violet. I always pick up my date and deliver her home afterwards.’

  His date: he’d called her his date. Violet had never had a date before. This was her first. And it was with Leo Wolfe. And, whilst a first date wasn’t quite as fanciful as having him as her first lover, it was still going to be a momentous occasion for her.

  ‘There’s a navigation system in the car I hired,’ he went on, ‘so I’ll have no trouble finding you. I gather Henry has your address?’

  ‘Well, yes, but—’

  ‘So how long would it take to get from here to your place?’ he interrupted.

  ‘That depends on the time of day. During peak-hour it can take ages. You’ve no idea how busy it gets.’

  ‘Violet, I live in London. Your peak-hour traffic is bad but I’m used to much worse.’

  Violet didn’t want him coming to pick her up, didn’t want Joy seeing him and thinking all kinds of things. As much as it was sweet of Leo to offer to pick her up, she just knew it wasn’t a good idea.

  ‘But coming here first is out of your way,’ she argued. ‘Look, how about we compromise on this? I’ll take a taxi to the restaurant and you can drive me home after the show. By then the traffic won’t be nearly as bad.’ And Joy will be sound asleep. ‘Okay?’ she added wit
h crossed fingers.

  ‘I can live with that.’

  ‘Great. So, what’s the name of this restaurant?’

  ‘I’m not sure. Something Italian. I’ll have to ring you back with the details.’

  The sound of Joy’s bedroom door opening brought a moment of panic. ‘Er, no, don’t bother to ring back. Just send me a text.’

  ‘Fine. See you tonight, then,’ Leo added and hung up.

  ‘Did I hear you on the phone just now?’ Joy said as she entered the kitchen and headed for the kettle.

  ‘Yes, Henry rang,’ Violet replied, not untruthfully. ‘Tonight’s his son’s last night in Sydney and he was planning to take him out to dinner and a show. Anyway, Henry’s not well so he’s asked me to go with Leo in his place.’

  Joy’s head swung round, her eyebrows raised. ‘Really? And what did you say? I hope you agreed,’ she finished up with a stern glare.

  Violet was initially taken aback by Joy’s attitude. But, once she thought about it, she supposed there was no reason for her friend to raise objections. After all, Joy knew nothing of Violet’s wild infatuation, or the passionate kiss Leo had given her the night of the party. According to Violet’s report, Leo was a very nice man. It was as well, though, that she’d organised for Leo not to pick her up. One look at the man in the flesh and Joy might not have been so approving.

  ‘Well, yes, I did,’ she admitted. ‘I couldn’t very well say no, could I? It would have gone against my New Year’s resolution.’

  Joy nodded. ‘True. Though I’m still a bit surprised. You haven’t exactly been at your bubbly best since Henry’s party. I thought perhaps you might have been going back into your shell.’

  ‘I’ve just been tired, Joy. And somewhat hung-over. I drank way too much champagne that night. I feel much better this morning. But I’m going to have to get myself up and out to the shops ASAP. I’ll need something decent to wear tonight.’ Or possibly indecent, came the unexpectedly wicked thought. Something which showed off her figure. And her breasts. Leo had certainly looked at her breasts the other night.