Bedroom Diplomacy(51)

That maybe she’d been listening to him a bit too long.

“Do you think anyone would notice if I nibbled your ear?” he asked. “Squeezed your bum?”

“Probably, but I know someplace they wouldn’t.”

She could tell she’d piqued his interest.

“Those doors across the room lead to the balcony. There’s a dark corner at the far right, behind this enormous potted plant. Meet me there in five minutes?”

“Hell yes.”





Sixteen


As they parted, Rowena nodded stiffly, as if she could barely stand to be civilized. Colin wasn’t sure if her father could see or not, but she kept the charade up. What he found utterly amazing was the way men followed her with their eyes, how women burned with envy when she was close by and Rowena was clueless to it. Her self-esteem was so dragged down and beaten up, he wondered if she could ever heal, but tonight, when she told him he made her feel good about herself, he knew she was savable. And he wished he was the man who could help, who could be there for what he knew would be a very long and painful journey. But honestly, she deserved better.

And considering his recent experiences with the senator and his Jekyll-and-Hyde personality, Colin was half tempted to tell the man to get stuffed. He knew the treaty was important, but nothing shy of life or death was that important. Not important enough to pander to such an immoral, imperious son of a bitch.

But he wouldn’t just be hurting his family. It would be his entire bloody country. They were the ones who wanted—and would benefit from—the treaty.

Colin walked to the bar and asked for a ginger ale. He’d sworn that as long as he was seeing Rowena, out of respect for her, he wouldn’t touch a drop of alcohol. Though he was far from an alcoholic himself, it was still tough to say no when asked if he wanted a drink. He enjoyed drinking socially, although he rarely ever had enough to become intoxicated. But he couldn’t imagine how hard it must have been for Rowena, especially in a setting like this when everyone he could see seemed to have a drink in their hand.

He tugged at his collar, as if he were warm, then walked out the door to the balcony. There was a chill in the air, so not many people were out there. He walked casually along the railing, looking down at the gardens below. He could see the day-care center down the hill, the back of the pool house to the right. He edged farther down until he reached the potted plant to which Rowena had referred, but it was so dark, he couldn’t see if she was there or not. Then a slender arm shot out and a hand locked around his arm, pulling him behind the plant.

“Anyone see you?” Rowena asked.

“I don’t think so.”

“Good.”

He couldn’t see her face, but he could hear her smile, sense the urgency in her touch when she slid her arms around his neck and kissed him.

He set his drink down on the railing and scooped her up. With her father home tonight, they would be limited on their alone time, but he would think of something.

“I probably shouldn’t mention this,” she murmured against his lips, “but I’m not wearing panties.”

He groaned and cupped her behind in his palms, ground against her. They would definitely have to find somewhere to sneak off to.

“Am I interrupting something?” someone said from behind them, and they darted apart. It was clear from the voice and large outline of the individual, it was the senator.

Colin cursed under his breath.

“As a matter of fact, you are,” Rowena said in a voice and a tone that Colin barely recognized as hers. “Do you mind?”

“Not again, Rowena,” he said, his voice dripping with disdain.

“Senator,” Colin said, stepping out into the light. Clearly the jig was up, and he refused to let him think badly of Rowena. This had been his idea, and a bad one at that. “Let me explain….”

“You just can’t stop your jaws from flapping,” Rowena said, and he was stunned to realize she was talking to him. “You Brits are all alike. All talk and no action.” She looked down at his crotch. “No action at all. I guess some people can’t hold their liquor.”

What the heck was she doing? “Rowena?”

“You weren’t even worth the trouble.”

She started to walk away, and her father grabbed her by the wrist. “You didn’t honestly think I would allow you at my party without assigning someone to keep an eye on you?”

Bloody hell. Colin hadn’t anticipated that.

“I can’t say I’m surprised by your behavior,” her father said.

“I guess I get points for consistency.”

She grabbed the ginger ale and started to walk past him, but he grabbed her upper arm. Colin saw her wince and could tell he was holding on tight.