He looked even less confident. ‘Surprise?’
Charly gave him a dazzling smile. ‘Yes—surprise,’ she drawled provocatively.
‘Oh.’ The man coloured with embarrassment. ‘Er—Okay,’ he beat a hasty retreat back to his desk.
Charly’s mouth tightened once the lift doors had closed. Aaron Grantley was going to get a surprise, all right, but she wasn’t sure it was one he would like!
Her foot tapped impatiently on the carpeted corridor as she waited for him to open the door to her knock, the three-inch heels on her sandals giving her legs a slender elegance. Only the slight widening of her eyes showed she was put off-guard as Aaron opened the door wearing only a towel draped about his hips, a second towel about his neck as he wiped the excess shaving-foam off his recently shaved chin.
He didn’t look in the least surprised to see her, and Charly could only assume he had already identified his caller through the small peep-hole in the door. She wished she had thought to put her hand over it!
‘Well can I come in?’ she asked waspishly. ‘Or do you always keep women standing outside your door like this?’
His mouth quirked as he stepped back to let her enter the comfortably luxurious suite. ‘Not my bedroom door, anyway,’ he drawled.
‘I’m sure,’ she derided coldy. ‘I—’ she broke off as she saw the pretty redhead seated in the lounge for the first time, her brows rising questioningly as she turned back to Aaron.
‘Charly, this is Erin Brody,’ he introduced calmly, not in the least perturbed by her arrogance. ‘Erin, this is Rocharlle Allenby-Hart. Charly to her friends,’ he added with a grin. ‘And as her fiancé I think I must qualify as that,’ he said goadingly.
Her mouth tightened. ‘Miss Brody,’ she greeted abruptly.
‘Nice to meet you,’ the other woman nodded, smiling openly, American, like Aaron. ‘I had no idea you were engaged, Aaron.’ She looked at him curiously.
He shrugged, seeming not to care that he had just greeted his supposed fiancée wearing only a towel when he had been alone in the suite with another woman. ‘Charly doesn’t actually believe in engagements,’ he dismissed. ‘But we are getting married.’
‘Congratulations,’ the younger woman said warmly.
Aaron arched mocking brows at Charly’s puzzled look. ‘I think I forgot to mention that Erin is my secretary,’ he drawled, triumphant humour in emerald eyes. ‘That’s all for tonight, Erin,’ he told the younger woman. ‘We’ll continue in the morning.’
‘Secretary?’ Charly derided softly once Erin had taken her leave, the other woman, with her voluptuous figure, looking the least like a secretary that she had ever seen. ‘At least James used to tell me they were business acquaintances!’ she scorned.
Aaron shrugged. ‘Erin is my secretary. I like to have beautiful women around me.’
‘So did James.’
His face darkened at this second mention of her husband. ‘Don’t keep comparing me with a husband you obviously despised,’ he rasped.
Her head went back proudly. ‘Why not? You’re very much alike.’
‘I doubt that,’ he bit out. ‘I would never have treated you in the way he obviously did.’
Charly’s mouth twisted. ‘So you’re sticking to the story that Erin is just a secretary?’
‘It isn’t a story, and it happens to be the truth as far as I’m concerned. What she does with other men is none of my concern. She has a brother who plays professional football who would probably rearrange my face if I so much as looked at her suspiciously,’ he grimaced.
Charly sighed. ‘Don’t try and make me laugh. I’m angry with you and I want to stay that way!’
He pulled a face. ‘In that case I think I’d better go and put some clothes on before we continue this conversation; I have a feeling the argument you’re spoiling for might go more in my favour if I looked a little more dignified!’
‘By all means get dressed,’ she invited impatiently, preferring not to have to look at his bare muscled chest any longer anyway. ‘But don’t be long, I have to leave in a few minutes.’
His eyes narrowed to hard slits. ‘Am I to take that to mean you didn’t get dressed up like that just to see me?’
‘Of course I didn’t,’ she snapped, sitting down, crossing one silky covered leg over the other.
‘Then who’s it for?’ His eyes were still narrowed.
‘None of your damned business,’ she bit out coldly.
His expression darkened. ‘We’ll continue this conversation when I get back!’
Charly slumped down in the chair slightly once he had gone into the bedroom, wishing she had a drink at that moment, knowing she would have had a cigarette if she didn’t hate the damned things so much. Because for a moment, a very brief moment, jealousy such as she had never known before had wracked her body as she looked at Erin Brody in Aaron’s suite with him!
Jealousy! She couldn’t believe it, still felt devastated by the realisation that she had hated the thought of Aaron being with any other woman but her. She didn’t even like the man, but after yesterday night she knew that she wanted him!
‘Charly, I—Are you all right?’ Aaron frowned as he came back into the room, and Charly realised she must have gone pale as she admitted to herself that her physical need of this man hadn’t just been for last night.
‘Of course I am,’ she snapped a reply, glaring at him. ‘I spent the afternoon with Molly listening to how Matt is going to be your best man, we’re having a church wedding, and three or four children!’
‘Ah,’ he nodded understandingly. ‘You’re a little annoyed, right?’
‘I’m a lot annoyed! Although annoyed doesn’t really begin to describe how I feel about it!’ she bit out, her anger at her attraction to him in spite of herself also contained in this exchange. ‘You could at least have warned me!’ she accused.
‘I did mean to,’ he assured her slowly. ‘But somehow we got sidetracked last night.’
She avoided his gaze at the mention of last night. ‘You shouldn’t have told them those things in the first place!’
Aaron shrugged. ‘It just seemed to come out so naturally. Molly was very pleased for us.’
‘Well I’m not!’ She glared up at him.
‘Okay, I’ll try and avoid conversations like that in future,’ he dismissed, his eyes narrowing. ‘Now you can tell me who you’re meeting tonight?’
‘A business acquaintance,’ she dismissed.
‘Dressed like that?’ he scorned.
Her eyes flashed silver. ‘There’s nothing that says I can’t look nice to meet a business acquaintance!’
‘There is—me!’ he bit out. ‘I don’t want you meeting another man looking like that.’
‘Well that’s just too bad, because there’s nothing wrong with the way I look!’
‘I’m well aware of that,’ he rasped. ‘Which is why I don’t think you’re going to any business meeting—’
‘I didn’t say I was,’ she cut in coldly. ‘Just that I know the man through business.’
‘You aren’t going!’
Her eyes flashed. ‘I am!’
‘You’re supposed to be marrying me!’ His mouth was tight.
She gave a scornful laugh, standing up. ‘We both know that isn’t true, so I’m at liberty to see who I please, when I please.’
‘You didn’t seem to feel the same way about Erin being here with me earlier,’ he taunted.
She avoided his probing eyes. ‘I couldn’t care less what women you see, but it might not have been me at the door,’ she pointed out desperately, knowing she had hated the thought of him making love to the other woman.
‘Is that the only reason you were so annoyed at seeing her here?’ he mocked.
‘Of course,’ she snapped. ‘You don’t seriously think I minded for myself, do you?’ she derided.
‘I know damn well you did,’ he mocked.
Her mouth firmed into a thin line. ‘I think you were wrong
the other day, Aaron, your ego is still very much intact—in fact, it’s running wild! Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a date.’
Aaron grasped her arm. ‘Who is he?’
Her eyes flashed. ‘None of your business!’
‘Tell me, Charly,’ he ordered in a softly threatening voice.
She hadn’t seen him this angry since the first night when he arrived at Matt’s apartment to accuse her of being his mistress. ‘If you must know,’ she began contemptuously.
‘Oh I think I must,’ he drawled mockingly.
‘His name is William Shaw.’
‘Of Shaw Electronics?’
She looked at him sharply. ‘Do you know him?’ That would be just her luck the way things were going lately!
To her relief Aaron shook his head. ‘Of him. So,’ he released her, stepping back, ‘does Matt know you see other men on the evenings you don’t see him?’ he bit out.
Her mouth twisted. ‘Why don’t you ask him?’
‘Because I’m asking you,’ he rasped.
She shrugged. ‘I doubt if he knows about Bill,’ she answered truthfully.
‘Or vice versa,’ Aaron derided.
‘Bill wouldn’t be interested in Matt,’ she answered, again with complete honesty.
Aaron frowned. ‘Don’t you find your life a little—complicated, the way it is?’
She gave him a haughty look. ‘I like my life exactly the way it is. Or rather, I liked it.’
‘Before I came along to spoil it,’ he guessed dryly.
‘You’re the only complication I can see,’ she nodded, looking down at the slender gold watch on her wrist. ‘I’m late,’ she realised irritably.
‘Why not call him and tell him you’ll be there soon?’ Aaron suggested mildly.
Charly eyed him suspiciously. ‘What are you up to now?’
‘Nothing.’ He moved across the room to pour himself a drink. ‘I just thought you might like to ring his home and explain that you’ll be late.’
‘He isn’t at home.’ She still frowned at Aaron’s helpful about-face. ‘We’re meeting at the restaurant.’
He shrugged. ‘Then call the restaurant.’
‘Aaron—’
‘If you don’t want to, fine,’ he dismissed. ‘I was only trying to be helpful.’
‘Why?’
‘Because you’re late for your date—’
‘A date you were trying to stop me going on a few minutes ago!’ she reminded hardly.
‘I realised you’re right, it’s none of my business.’ He met her stormy gaze with calm green eyes.
She was still wary of the reasons for his sudden change of attitude, but she made the call to the restaurant anyway, Bill coming on the line a couple of minutes later. She explained that a friend had dropped by unexpectedly and she had been delayed, avoiding Aaron’s mocking gaze as she assured Bill she would be at the restaurant shortly.
‘I have to leave now,’ she told Aaron once she had rung off. ‘Thanks for the use of the telephone.’
‘Any time,’ he nodded.
‘And I really would appreciate it if you didn’t embellish our relationship to Molly any further.’
‘Fine,’ he nodded again.
‘Aaron, what are you up to?’ she snapped demandingly, hesitating in the act of leaving.
‘Me?’
His look of a feigned innocence convinced her more than ever that he was up to something. ‘Aaron—’
‘You really should be going, Charly,’ he suggested mildly. ‘You did say fifteen minutes,’ he reminded.
‘Yes,’ she still frowned suspiciously. ‘I’ll see you next weekend.’
‘If not before,’ he nodded.
She gave him a sharp look. ‘And what do you mean by that?’ she looked at him warily.
Aaron shrugged. ‘Well there’s always the possibility that I might need to see you before for some reason. But don’t worry,’ his voice hardened, ‘I’ll call you first.’
She stiffened. ‘There’s no need.’
His gaze was steady on her flushed face. ‘I’ll call first,’ he stated flatly.
Charly knew he was implying he didn’t want to call at her apartment without her knowledge in case she had Matt there, taking her leave abruptly.
But she still wasn’t convinced by his suddenly helpful mood, his air of innocence, a frown marring her brow all the way to the restaurant.
CHAPTER SIX
SHE didn’t know why she was surprised to see Aaron enter the restaurant about fifteen minutes after she had, Erin Brody at his side. But she was. And her surprise must have shown in her face, Bill turning round to follow her line of vision.
‘Do you know them?’ He looked back at Charly.
She dragged her stunned gaze away as Aaron and Erin were seated at a table a short distance away from them. ‘Yes,’ she confirmed abruptly, furiously wondering how Aaron had known it was this particular restaurant she was meeting Bill at; she felt sure she hadn’t mentioned the name of it during her telephone conversation with Bill earlier.
‘Rocharlle?’
She looked up guiltily, knowing she had missed something Bill said. ‘Sorry?’
‘I asked if you would like them to join us?’ he offered politely.
‘No! Er—I’m sure they would rather be on their own,’ she spoke more calmly, giving him a dazzling smile. ‘As we would.’
Bill looked visibly taken aback by this intimate warmth. As well he might! He had been trying to persuade her for months to go out to dinner with him, and even when she had finally agreed it had been with some reluctance. No wonder he was surprised by her flirtatious manner now. She had a feeling he was going to be a lot more surprised by her behaviour before the evening was finished, Aaron’s arrogance in following her here bringing out a rebellious streak in her. Because he had followed her, the coincidence of being here was just too great for it to be otherwise.
She felt herself stiffen as she saw Aaron getting to his feet and coming towards their table, keeping her eyes averted as she sensed him standing beside her.
‘What a coincidence,’ he said with obvious insincerity—at least, it was obvious to Charly, Bill seemed completely convinced by the act. ‘I had no idea it was this restaurant you were going to, Charly.’
‘Charly?’ Bill was surprised by the nickname.
She shot Aaron an impatient look before turning to the other man. Until tonight Bill had remained purely a business acquaintance, and in business she always preferred the formality of being Rocharlle Allenby-Hart; who could take a woman called Charly seriously in business! ‘Just a shortened version of my name,’ she dismissed, doubtful if this man would ever be more than a ‘business acquaintance’.
Aaron nodded, a wicked gleam in his eyes. ‘Charly and I are old friends.’
Bill stiffened, a man in his early forties, silver gleaming in his thick dark hair, a look of cynicism to his handsome face. ‘Oh?’ he prompted warily.
‘Very old friends,’ Aaron antagonised.
‘I believe Erin is feeling neglected,’ Charly told him through stiff lips.
He turned to glance at the other woman, Erin giving a little wave of acknowledgement as she saw that glance. ‘She looks happy enough to me,’ he mocked. ‘Actually I came over to see if you would care to join us?’
Charly’s mouth tightened even more. ‘I don’t think so, thank you,’ she glared at him warningly.
‘Why not?’ he asked bluntly.
Colour darkened her cheeks. ‘Because I’m sure the two of you would rather be alone,’ she snapped.
‘Not particularly,’ he shrugged. ‘Besides, how can you be alone in a crowded restaurant?’
She gave an impatient sigh. ‘Bill and I have business to discuss.’
‘You can discuss it later,’ Aaron told her arrogantly. ‘Come on, Charly,’ he encouraged throatily. ‘It’s been so long since we saw each other.’
She held on to her temper with effort at his deliberate goading of her.
‘Bill?’ she prompted abruptly.
He looked no more pleased, now he had heard the familiar way Aaron spoke to her, with the arrangement. ‘I have no objections, but it would be an inconvenience for the management if we were to change tables now,’ he added with relief.
‘Not at all,’ Aaron contradicted smoothly. ‘In case you haven’t noticed, Erin and I are at a table for four.’
Charly looked up at him accusingly, sure that fact hadn’t come about as casually as Aaron was implying it had. ‘In that case…’ she muttered. ‘Bill?’
‘Of course.’ He stood up, holding her chair back for her, the waiter carrying their cocktails to the other table.
Aaron made the introductions as they all sat down, Charly somehow finding herself seated between Erin and Aaron, giving Bill a helpless look as he looked less than pleased at being seated across the table from her.
It was an awkward meal for everyone except Aaron, who seemed unaffected by Charly’s scowls, Bill’s displeasure, and Erin’s puzzlement, talking about everything and nothing, drawing Bill into a business discussion.
Charly could cheerfully have hit him, was furiously angry with both him and Bill by the time they reached the coffee stage of their meal, seriously considering walking out on them as she returned from the ladies’ room.
‘That would only embarrass Erin and Bill,’ Aaron drawled.
She turned furiously to find him leaning against the wall in the entrance area. ‘And whose fault would that be?’ she demanded. ‘You had no right following me here.’
‘I didn’t follow you,’ he told her calmly.
‘Then how did you know I would be at this restaurant?’ she scorned.
‘What makes you think I did know?’ he enquired with a pained innocence.
‘Because these sort of coincidences didn’t happen to me until you came into my life!’ she hissed, lowering her voice as some people entered the restaurant behind them.
‘What a boring life you must have led until I came along,’ Aaron drawled.
‘How-did-you-know-which-restaurant-I-would-be-at?’ she asked again with controlled violence.
He shrugged, bending his head guiltily. ‘Okay, I’ll confess—’
‘And stop trying to look and act like a naughty boy caught out in a misdemeanour,’ she snapped. ‘It’s ridiculous in a man of thirty-four.’
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