Honeytrap: Part 1 Read Free Page B

different situation. Even though it wasn’t for real, it still stirred up all those basic feelings of male pride and anticipation.
    He glanced over again at Caroline. This time she turned her head a little and caught him looking. He held her gaze, just long enough for her to know that it wasn’t an accident. He looked away and back again. Was that a flicker of something in her eyes? He smiled. She smiled back, a half-smile. Was she interested? She could be – or it could just be mild amusement that was playing on her lips.
    For the next ten minutes they continued with the to-and-fro, an age-old game that was probably being played out in numerous bars and pubs across the country. It could have gone on much longer if Harry hadn’t had a stroke of good fortune. A group of young businessmen – city slickers by the look of them – decided to try their luck with the women. They moved in like a pride of lions with their white teeth bared and their eyes full of hunger.
    Caroline Westwood wasn’t impressed. After a brief conversation with one of the men she stood up and left the table. As she approached Harry, he slipped his hand into his top pocket and activated the recording device. ‘Game on,’ he murmured.
    She came straight over to the bar and put her glass on the counter. ‘Don’t get the wrong idea,’ she said in a cool clear voice. ‘I’m only after five minutes of peace.’
    ‘You don’t have to worry on that score. I’m the quiet sort – and I’m all out of ideas tonight.’
    Caroline arched her eyebrows. ‘Should I ask?’
    Harry, following his instincts, decided to go off script. It was time for some improvisation. Somehow the story that Lorna had provided didn’t quite fit the bill. ‘Let’s just say I had a casual arrangement to meet a girl here this evening; turns out it was a bit more casual on her part than mine.’
    ‘And now you’re broken-hearted.’
    ‘I’m putting on a brave face.’
    ‘You’ll get over it.’
    ‘Easy for you to say.’
    Caroline took a sip of champagne and looked at him over the rim of her glass. ‘Life’s full of disappointments.’
    Harry put out his hand. ‘I’m Richard,’ he said. ‘Can I buy you a drink?’
    ‘Caroline. And thank you, but I already have one.’
    As they shook hands, Harry took a moment to scrutinise her. From a distance she had looked ten years younger than the age he knew her to be, but close up he could see the fine lines around her eyes and mouth. Not that it made her any less attractive. She had the confidence of a woman who knew she could still turn heads. ‘A seat, then,’ he said, getting to his feet.
    Caroline glanced at the empty stool, but made no attempt to take his place. ‘I’m fine. I’m happy to stand for a while.’ She paused and then said, ‘So, Richard, apart from being unlucky with women, what else can you tell me about yourself?’
    ‘What else would you like to know?’
    ‘Only the interesting bits,’ she said. ‘I don’t care for being bored.’
    ‘Who does?’ Harry asked. Now that the game had begun, he felt two conflicting emotions: one was the desire to succeed – to make her succumb, to make her want him – but the other was more ambiguous, a suspicion that he wasn’t exactly playing fair. The choice to stay, however, was still hers. She could walk away at any time, turn her back and return to her friends. ‘I’m in personal security. I take care of people.’
    ‘A bodyguard,’ she said. Her gaze slid the length of his body from his face to his toes as if assessing his potential. ‘Is that what you mean?’
    ‘Pretty much.’
    Caroline gave him a deliberately provocative look. ‘Well, you’ve certainly got the build for it.’
    ‘It’s not just about muscle,’ he said. ‘Never judge a book by its cover.’
    She glanced over at the young men who had ordered more champagne and were laughing too loudly. Their faces were flushed, their eyes shining as brightly as the gold Rolex watches