Mistress at a Price Read Free

Well, you ’ re clearly not dressed for a stroll in the countryside. Besides, I saw cars arriving earlier, done up with flowers and ribbons, plus girl in crinoline with veil looking furious. The usual stuff. ’

    He paused. ‘ So what role are you playing in all this? Matron of honour? ’

    ‘ You ’ re not as observant as you think. ’ She held up bare hands in a challenge she immediately regretted. ‘ I ’ m not married. ’

    ‘ That doesn ’ t necessarily follow, ’ he returned. ‘ Wedding rings might not be politically correct this month. ’

    She hesitated. ‘ I ’ m simply the bride ’ s cousin. Just another guest. ’ She made a business of looking at her watch. ‘ And I really should be getting back now. ’

    ‘ Why the sudden haste to go? ’ His tone was lazy but his eyes were intent. She could feel them examining her, with all the intimacy of a touch, and felt her throat tighten in mingled alarm and excitement.

    ‘ You wandered down here as if you had all the time in the world, ’ he went on.

    ‘ Because, ’ Cat said tautly. ‘ Things are quite tricky enough back there without me causing offence by staging a disappearing act. ’

    ‘ Although you ’ d like to. ’ It was a statement, not a question. ‘ So, what ’ s the problem? Got a secret yen for the groom? ’

    ‘ God — no! ’ The denial was startled out of her.

    ‘ Well, that came from the heart. ’ His mouth slanted into a wry grin. ‘ What ’ s wrong with him? ’

    Now was the moment to tell him politely it was none of his business and go, thought Cat. Leave immediately, with no looking back.

    So how was it she heard herself answering? ‘ He plays rugby all winter, cricket all summer, has too much money and a roving eye. Plus he drinks far more than he should, and is already overweight. ’

    He whistled appreciatively. ‘ You paint with words. No wonder the bride was looking so cross. Couldn ’ t you have done her a favour and produced a just impediment? ’

    ‘ I don ’ t think she ’ d have thanked me, ’ Cat said drily. ‘ Even if he has been leering down her best friend ’ s cleavage all through the reception. ’

    His brows rose. ‘ Have they cut the cake yet? If not, I ’ d watch what she does with the knife. ’

    Cat realised her mouth was twitching, and tried to control it. ‘ It ’ s not funny. And I really don ’ t know why I ’ ve told you all this, anyway, ’ she added frankly.

    ‘ Because you needed someone to talk to, ’ he said. ‘ And I happened to be here. ’

    ‘ Well, it ’ s very disloyal of me, ’ she said. ‘ And indiscreet. So, it would be kind of you to — put the whole thing out of your mind. ’

    ‘ All duly forgotten, ’ he said. ‘ Except, of course, for meeting you, ’ he added thoughtfully. ‘ You can ’ t really expect me to relegate that to some mental dustbin. That ’ s too much to ask. ’

    ‘ But we haven ’ t met, ’ she said. ‘ Not really. ’ Oh, God, if he ’ d only stop looking at her like that. She could feel a languid warmth invading her that had nothing to do with the heat of the day. And instinct told her that it spelled danger — a complication that she didn ’ t need.

    ‘ It ’ s just been a chance encounter, ’ she continued hastily. ‘ And it ’ s over now, anyway. I — I ’ m sure you have things to do. ’

    ‘ Such as? ’

    ‘ Well… ’ Cat gave his shirt and jeans a dubious look. ‘ You do work here, don ’ t you? ’

    ‘ Among other places, ’ he nodded.

    ‘ Then someone ’ s paying for your time, ’ she said. ‘ And they might not be too pleased to find you… ’ She hesitated, searching for the right word.

    ‘ Loitering? ’ he supplied, his eyes glinting mockingly. ‘ With intent? ’

    She bit her lip. ‘ Something like that. I — I didn ’ t think jobs were that easy to come by these days. ’

    ‘ That rather depends on the job, ’ he told her softly. ‘ And whether or not you