When Only Diamonds Will Do Read Free

smiled at him ‘—you know the rest of it. Incidentally—’ she reached into her purse and withdrew a hundred-dollar note, which she slid across the table towards him ‘—thank you so much.’
    He let it lie on the table.
    ‘I gather you’ve got your resources back?’
    She nodded. ‘Yes, my car got delivered to the hospital so I was able to go home and change, et cetera.’ She sipped her champagne. ‘Mmm…Delicious. Tell me something, Reith—what do you do?’
    ‘This and that.’
    She looked comically askance at him but she wasfrowning. He’d changed his cargo pants and sweatshirt for jeans, a navy shirt open at the throat and a beautifully cut finest tweed sports jacket. And he wore a sports watch that would have cost a small fortune. All in all, he looked right at home in this very expensive restaurant, not to mention darkly attractive.
    ‘That sounds rather evasive.’ She traced the rim of her glass with one slender finger as she withdrew her senses from the masculine onslaught of the man and thought of his answer to her question.
    ‘It’s also true.’ He shrugged. ‘I specialize in buying and rescuing companies in trouble.’
    Kim frowned. ‘What’s the appeal in that?’
    He studied her for a long moment. ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘Well, usually one has a vocation; you’re drawn to medicine or law or farming or something.’
    ‘It’s the challenge,’ he said. ‘It’s always a learning curve but some business principles, supply and demand, for example, always stand whether you’re dealing with fashion or minerals or sheep. What do you do?’
    She took another sip of champagne and looked thoughtful. ‘I teach. English,’ she said and smiled at his expression. ‘Thought that might surprise you,’ she murmured.
    He grimaced. ‘Why?’
    ‘Why did I think it would surprise you? I get the feeling you don’t approve of me, Mr…um…Reith.’ She eyed him with a glimmer of wry humour in her blue eyes. ‘It’s quite a strong feeling,’ she added gently.
    ‘You did nearly cause me to wipe myself out,’ he reminded her.
    She laughed. ‘Yes, well, I’ve already confessed to having a…an unusual kind of day. I’m generally a much more organized person.’
    His lips twitched and he shrugged.
    Kim planted her elbows on the table and rested her chin in her hands. ‘You couldn’t have said it more eloquently if you’d actually spoken the words.’
    He raised his eyebrows. ‘What?’
    ‘You find that hard to believe?’
    ‘I …’
    Kim sat back and interrupted. ‘Not that I mind. We’re a bit like ships in the night, aren’t we?’
    He didn’t answer, merely studied her.
    ‘Would you mind if we ordered dinner?’
    ‘Not at all.’
    ‘That’s the other thing I messed up today,’ she confided. ‘I haven’t had a thing to eat since breakfast. And do you mind if I order lobster? I always have lobster here; I can thoroughly recommend it.’
    ‘Be my guest,’ he murmured.
    ‘Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it. It’s not cheap so I insist on paying for my dinner. Actually, I’d like to pay for yours too!’
    As a way of cutting me down to size? Reith wondered. As a way of being a Theron and making others aware that they’re not quite in the same class?
    ‘As a way of saying thank-you for the lift today and for lending me money for flowers and suggesting dinner,’ Kim murmured.
    Their gazes clashed.
    Had she read his mind? he wondered, then became aware of a resolve forming within him that he didn’t think he’d be able to ignore—he wanted this girl in his bed; he wanted to find out how she liked being made love to, whether she was still a Theron to her fingertips when she was hot and excited and writhing beneath him.
    ‘Do you surf?’
    They were out in the cooling night air, strolling towards the car park, when Reith asked the question.
    ‘Of course,’ Kim said without hesitation.
    ‘Of course?’ he queried, glancing down at her with some irony.
    She paused and looked