‘I’ll be ready,’ she promised huskily.
‘I’ll be looking forward to seeing you.’
Natalie wanted to ask why he didn’t arrange to see her tomorrow then if he wanted her that badly, but pride kept her silent as he took his leave of her, kissing her lightly on the lips.
Natalie made her way to bed slowly, lost in a dreamy euphoria, wishing she didn’t have to go to bed alone, that Adam was with her. Maybe soon, very soon, he would be…
* * *
‘Are you avoiding me?’ Lester demanded to know.
Natalie had hardly been able to believe it when he turned up at her flat at seven o’clock Saturday evening. She was all ready for her evening out at Adam’s, the dusty pink material of her cocktail dress interwoven with gold, giving a shimmering effect as she moved, her dark make-up deeply attractive, her hair a gleaming black bob.
When the doorbel had rung at seven o’clock she had thought it was Jamieson arriving early. She hadn’t been able to hide her surprise, or dismay, when she saw it was Lester, and she invited him in dazedly. She hadn’t seen him since the night they had gone to the theatre together, although she had received several telephone calls from him, turning down all his invitations. She had hardly expected him to just turn up here like this. Jamieson would be here at any moment!
‘I’m going out, Lester,’ she told him awkwardly.
‘I can see that.’ He looked at her with narrowed brown eyes. ‘Anyone I know?’
‘No,’ she shook her head.
‘Why, Natalie?’ he frowned. ‘I thought you liked me.’
‘I do—’
‘Then why?’ he repeated angrily. ‘I thought we had something good together. I was going to ask you to marry me, Natalie.’
She knew that. ‘I’m not ready for marriage, Lester,’ she told him lightly. ‘Not with you or anyone else.’
‘This man—’
‘Is a friend, nothing more.’ And yet she knew she lied. Adam could never be a friend to her, but oh, how she wanted him as a lover! She had spoken to him on the telephone yesterday afternoon, and even that had been enough to set her senses spinning, the eagerness with which he was looking forward to seeing her tonight echoed by her. Even now she could feel the excitement surging through her veins at the thought of shortly being with Adam again.
Lester frowned, his suspicion aroused by the dark flush to her cheeks. ‘Are you sure about that?’ he queried in a hurt voice.
‘Lester, you really have no right—’ She broke off as the doorbell rang. This time it had to be Jamieson!
Lester raised dark brows. ‘Your date?’
‘Er—yes.’
‘Well, aren’t you going to answer the door?’ he taunted.
Her mouth set angrily. ‘Of course.’ She marched past him, pulling open the door, becoming flushed with embarrassment as Jamieson’s curious gaze passed her to look on to Lester.
‘Mr Thornton sent me, Miss Faulkner.’ It was almost a question.
Her flush deepened. ‘I’ll be with you in just a moment,’ she said dismissively.
Jamieson’s censorious gaze returned to her. ‘I’ll wait downstairs, Miss Faulkner.’
‘Thank you.’ She was flustered as she closed the door to turn and collect her jacket and clutch-bag, giving Lester a pointed look.
‘Adam Thornton?’ he asked softly.
She sighed. ‘Yes.’
‘Business or pleasure, Natalie?’
Her head went back, her irritation acute. ‘A little of both,’ she told him defiantly.
‘I see.’ His mouth twisted. ‘Well, don’t let me delay you,’ and he walked to the door.
He had gone before she could make any further comment. Damn him! He had already taken some of the gloss out of the evening, making her feel almost guilty for wanting to see Adam. And why should she feel guilty? Adam made her feel marvellously alive, wonderfully happy. She was going to enjoy this evening with him in spite of Lester.
Jamieson got out of the car to open the back door for her the moment she came down the steps, seeing that she was comfortable before getting back behind the wheel. The back of the car smelt vaguely of the cheroots Adam liked to smoke, bringing the memory of him to her vividly. She hoped Tracy and Jason hadn’t already arrived; she would like to be alone with Adam for a few minutes at least. Certainly long enough for him to kiss her.
Once they reached the apartment building Jamieson once more got out to open the door of the Rolls for her, and Natalie looked up at the apartment building with something like awe, not liking to even guess how many storeys it was.
‘Mr Thornton has the penthouse apartment, Miss Faulkner,’ the chauffeur supplied.
‘Thank you,’ she said gratefully, wondering how she was going to find that out without appearing too stupid. She had no idea where Adam lived.
The man on the desk showed her into the lift himself. The inside of the building had a quiet elegance that spoke of opulence. The lift doors opened directly into Adam’s apartment, and Adam himself stood only a short distance away from her as the door closed behind her and the lift began its descent. He looked magnificent, the deep blue of his velvet dinner jacket deepening the colour of his eyes, emphasising the height and breadth of him, the darkness of his hair, the distinguished grey at his temples.
Natalie noticed none of the warmth and style of the room as she continued to look at him, not the deep pile carpet of the dark brown carpet, the goatskin scatter rugs, the tan leather suite, the tasteful paintings on the pale green walls, the beautiful brown velvet curtains, the drinks unit and mahogany stereo, soft music filtering from the latter. She had eyes only for Adam, not even noticing as the butler took her jacket, only moving forward as Adam took a step towards her.
‘What was he doing there, Natalie?’ Adam stood directly in front of her, almost touching her, but not quite.
Her brain felt befuddled by his closeness. ‘Who?’ she echoed dazedly. ‘Where?’
‘Lester,’ he bit out, his eyes narrowed. ‘What was he doing at your flat?’
She frowned. ‘How did you—’
‘Jamieson used the telephone in the car to tell me he’d been delayed because you had a—visitor. It was Lester, wasn’t it?’ he demanded to know.
‘Yes. But—You’re hurting me, Adam!’ she gasped as his fingers bit painfully into her arms.
‘Are you still seeing him?’ he rasped.
‘No—’
‘Then why was he there?’
‘He just came to see why I didn’t want to go out with him any more. Adam, you’re hurting me!’ she repeated with a groan.
Still he didn’t relent, his eyes glittering down at her. ‘I’d hate to think you’re like your sister after all.’
Natalie bristled resentfully at this unfounded condemnation. ‘What are you implying?’
‘I believe you already know that,’ he bit out.
She drew in an angry breath, her pleasure at seeing him again rapidly dissolving in the face of his accusations. ‘I don’t think I—’
‘God, why are we thinking at all!’ he groaned suddenly, pulling her hard against his body, claiming her mouth with his, his fierceness knocking the breath from her lungs.
She rebelled at his rough handling, still angry with him, then she felt the warmth entering her body, reaching out and touching every part of her, so that soon she abandoned herself to standing on tiptoe to return the kiss, her arms about his neck.
‘Mm, that was good!’ Adam breathed his satisfaction several minutes later. ‘I believe we were about to have our first argument,’ he mused, still holding her firmly in the circle of his arms.
‘First?’ she derided, her heartbeat seeming to take for ever to steady to normal.
‘The others were different,’ he shrugged dismissal of them. ‘Then I didn’t know what you mean to me.’
She still didn’t know, and she wasn’t going to find out just now, because the ascent of the lift told her that Tracy and Jason had arrived and
were on their way up.
‘Don’t be nervous,’ Adam kissed her lightly as he sensed her tension. ‘You’ll be fine.’
She turned to greet the other couple as the lift doors opened, instantly recognising Jason Dillman, the blond good looks almost too good to be true, the sure confidence in dark brown eyes. He looked surprised to see her, which meant Adam hadn’t seen fit to tell him she was to be here tonight. Before she could turn her full attention on the woman at his side she was shocked to the core by Adam’s method of introduction.
‘Jason you already know, Natalie. And this is my sister Tracy. Tracy, this is my hostess and—and friend, Natalie Faulkner.’
Natalie looked up at him in amazement, his arm still about her shoulders as he obliquely laid claim to a relationship he had turned down from her only two days ago, that of being her lover!
CHAPTER SIX
NATALIE acknowledged the introductions as if in a dream, alone now as Adam poured drinks for the other couple, the butler having taken Tracy’s wrap. Natalie could feel the colour slowly flooding her cheeks as she received curious looks from both Tracy and Jason, the latter mockingly so; there was a slight leer to the brown eyes she deliberately avoided.
Adam had deliberately given the impression that she was the latest woman in his life, and while that could have become true two nights ago she didn’t like the way he had laid claim to the relationship in front of the other couple.
She accepted her drink from him, determinedly ignoring him and turning her attention to Tracy Dillman. It was obvious the two of them were brother and sister; the colouring was the same, the blue eyes and very dark hair, but the harshness and cynicism shown in the brother’s eyes and mouth were softened out to an incredible, almost unbelievable beauty in the sister. Tracy’s features were so softly delicate she looked almost unreal.
Natalie dealt with beautifully sophisticated and polished women every day, women who could rate as some of the most beautiful in the world; Judith’s perfect features were a good example of that. And yet Tracy Dillman had an ethereal beauty, the sort of delicately etched features that haunted.
Natalie watched the other woman as she spoke to Adam, admired her natural grace, every movement seeming to be one of beauty, her laugh like the melodious tinkling of a bell as her brother said something funny. Tracy was exquisite, almost childlike at times, having an eagerness, a vivaciousness that gave her inner sparkle, the fresh alertness of her expression seeming to show her interest in everything. She had the look of an entranced child, still believing in all the promise and magic life had to offer, had a magnetic beauty that drew people to her, one minute looking the child, the next a sensually exciting woman as she unconsciously flirted with deeply blue eyes and long dark lashes.
Looking at her, witnessing her bubbly happiness that seemed to charm the people about her, Natalie found it difficult to understand why Jason needed other woman, why he had Judith now. And Tracy obviously adored her husband; she touched him often, her fingers caressing, so why did Jason have affairs?
By Adam’s scowl in his brother-in-law’s direction she would say his thoughts were running along the same lines, although Jason seemed oblivious of the disapproval of either of them, as he seemed unaware of his wife’s loving expression, drinking heavily of the whisky Adam’s butler was now at hand to supply him with every time his glass looked like emptying. Natalie was still sipping her first glass of sherry, Jason was probably on his fourth glass of whisky.
Brother and sister chatted—at least, Tracy did, seemingly unaware of the tense atmosphere about her, and Natalie felt resentful of Adam’s introductory words of possessiveness, and the way his hand firmly held her elbow. Jason was lost in his own private lack of interest in his surroundings.
‘I had no idea you were holding out for the head of the company.’
She turned sharply at the scorn in those softly spoken words, realising the reason for Jason’s insulting behaviour as she saw that the brother and sister were now intent on Adam’s extensive record collection, leaving her momentarily open to Jason’s barbs.
She gave him a haughty look, her training as a model allowing her to withstand the familiarity of his gaze as he openly looked down the low cleavage of her gown. ‘I beg your pardon?’ she enquired coolly.
‘Adam,’ he sneered. ‘The powerful head of Thornton Cosmetics. You would have got further with me, Natalie,’ he smiled, shaking his head. ‘Adam doesn’t give favours for privileges.’
‘No?’ She arched dark brows.
His confidence wasn’t shaken in the least by her coolness. ‘No,’ he affirmed. ‘Whereas I…’
Her contempt was obvious as she looked at him. ‘I’m well aware of your business practices—as is Adam,’ she added pointedly.
He was still unshaken, glancing over to where his wife was now laughing happily with her brother, her long dark hair falling in soft waves to just below her shoulders in a lightly feathered style that added thickness and vitality to its glowing blackness. But Jason seemed to see none of his wife’s magnetic pull, as he looked at his brother-in-law. ‘As is Adam,’ he confirmed lightly.
She gasped. ‘Don’t you care?’
Jason smiled. ‘Adam has known of my—practice, for seven years,’ he drawled. ‘Why should I start to care now?’
‘You unfeeling swine!’
‘And Judith told me you were the calm, practical one!’ he taunted.
God, how she hated this man! He cared for no one but himself, not his wife, and certainly not for the over-confident Judith. He would use her sister, and when she bored him or became a nuisance, he would discard her, as he would have done Tracy long ago—if only she weren’t so useful to him in her trusting love.
Her mouth twisted contemptuously. ‘I’m calm and practical enough to see straight through you!’
‘And Adam?’
Natalie hated herself for the blush in her cheeks, but she didn’t think any woman would completely control the dull red colour—especially as a lot of it was due to anger! If Tracy Dillman weren’t here, a sweetly naïve woman who seemed blind to the darker side of her husband’s nature, she couldn’t have hesitated to tell this man exactly what she thought of him.
As it was, she could only glare at him, the aquamarine colour of her eyes lightening to green. ‘My relationship with Adam is none of your damned business!’ she snapped.
‘Maybe not,’ he taunted. ‘But I’m sure Judith will be interested to hear that her supposedly prudish sister has no need to preach after all.’
Natalie stiffened, her eyes narrowed. ‘What do you mean?’
He gave a mocking laugh, his good-looking face ugly in his contempt. ‘Judith told me about the sisterly chats the two of you have been having lately, about your preaching attitude. She was even starting to feel guilty about seeing me, but not when I’ve told her about you and Adam.’
Her mouth tightened. ‘Told her what?’
He continued to smile, the expression in his eyes deliberately insolent as her breasts heaved up and down beneath the pink and gold material of her dress, her anger acute. ‘I’m not blinded to you by sisterly respect as Judith is,’ he taunted. ‘I can see exactly why you’ve chosen to share Adam’s bed.’
‘Really?’ Her tone was icy.
Jason nodded. ‘Adam’s really angry this time, he must be to have threatened Judith. God, I’m proud of the way she threatened him straight back!’ he added with relish.
And Natalie could cheerfully have hit her sister in that moment for telling this man so much! Judith had to be completely infatuated with him. ‘Even though your wife could be hurt by such a threat?’ she snapped.
‘Tracy?’ he glanced over at her. ‘She wouldn’t believe it,’ he said with satisfaction. ‘You may have noticed, Tracy is in love with me.’
‘Yes,’ she sighed.
‘Don’t look so disgusted, Natalie,’ he mocked. ‘We all do what we have to to survive in this life. I need other women, you need your agency. And you’re
willing to do anything you can to give it the success it deserves.’
Angry colour darkened her cheeks, her eyes glittering with suppressed fury. ‘I don’t like your implication,’ she ground out.
‘No?’ Jason arched one dark blond brow. ‘You should have thought of that before you took Adam as your lover.’
‘I—’
‘Didn’t either of you hear Morton announce dinner?’ Adam had joined them without either of them being aware of it, his blue eyes narrowed suspiciously.
Jason smiled at him, a leering smile that owed little to genuine humour. ‘Don’t worry,’ he drawled. ‘Your—friend and I have merely been discussing mutual business acquaintances.’
‘Indeed?’ The other man looked sceptical.
‘Oh, but we have, haven’t we, Natalie?’
She glared her dislike at him. His conversation might have been extremely insulting, but it was true that Judith and Adam, the main topics of their conversation, were business acquaintances of them both. ‘Yes,’ she confirmed tightly.
‘How interesting,’ Adam drawled with heavy sarcasm. ‘If you’ll excuse us, Jason…?’ he said pointedly.
The other man shrugged, moving to join Tracy as they went into the dining-room.
Natalie walked at Adam’s side, staring straight ahead as Jason saw his wife seated at the table, knowing that piercing blue eyes never left her profile.
‘Did Jason insult you?’ Adam rasped at her continued silence.
Still she didn’t look at him. ‘Wasn’t he supposed to?’
His fingers bit into her arm. ‘What the hell is that supposed to mean?’
Now Natalie did look at him, her eyes sending out darts of bitter anger. ‘Did you expect your brother-in-law to respect your “friend”?’ she bit out furiously.
‘By that I take it he didn’t?’
‘No!’
‘I see.’ His eyes were like chips of ice as he pulled out her chair for her to sit down, seating himself opposite her at the oval table, Jason to one side of him, Tracy the other.
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