“No freaking way. I’d rather get engaged to your monster friend Harley.”
Luc laughed out loud at the comment. For a moment, he looked almost young and carefree, and Lia did her best to ignore the queer little twist in her gut.
“I doubt Harley would agree,” he said. “You’re not his type.”
Lia sighed. “I don’t want to get engaged to you.” She knew it was a pathetic reason, but it was the truth. Luc didn’t seem impressed, and she searched her brain for a better argument. “Okay,” she said eventually, “forget all that. But what can it possibly achieve?”
“Publicity.”
Lia was totally bewildered. “Yeah right, because the whole world gives a damn if we get engaged.”
“Do you ever read the gossip columns?”
“No.”
“Well, you’ll just have to believe me that I can get us the publicity we need. People are interested in me, believe it or not. You may consider me unlikable, but many others find me fascinating.”
Lia could well believe it, but she ignored his teasing tone; she wasn’t ready to be teased by this man, however fascinating he might be. “I still don’t understand. So you get the publicity, we get our names in the papers, then what happens?”
“And then your father, wherever he is, sees it, or more likely hears about it and can’t resist coming out to…”—he paused as if thinking of a suitable word—“…congratulate you on your amazing catch.”
Lia snorted. “Commiserate more like. And I’m not convinced of that. He’s made a pretty good job of ignoring us for the past ten years. I doubt he even knows Mike exists.
“I think he will. Harley says he doted on you.”
“Harley was wrong.”
“We’ll see. I’m hosting a party next Saturday night. It was organized a long time ago, but it will be an ideal place to announce our engagement.”
“I don’t like parties.”
“Well, pretend. We’ve already established that you’re a good actress. So act.”
Luc got up, crossed the room, and poured himself a drink. “Are you sure you don’t want one?” he said with a glass in midair.
She shook her head. Tonight she was staying firmly in control of all her faculties. “I would like a coffee, though.”
Luc put down his drink and headed for the kitchen, and Lia sighed with relief as the door shut behind him. He was so intense, but strangely enough, despite his blackmail threats, she felt safe with him. Well, maybe safe was not the right word, but she was sure he wouldn’t attack her or force himself on her.
She sat back and closed her eyes. His plan had no chance of working, so it was pointless to worry about her father turning up. Pete had suggested she take a holiday. When was the last time she’d had some time to herself? She couldn’t remember—she’d been constantly training since she was sixteen.
She looked around at her luxurious surroundings. If she had no choice but to stay here, why not make the best of it? Not that she would mention that to Luc—she had no intention of making things easy for him.
“I can’t go to your party,” she said as he handed her a steaming cup of coffee. She took a sip; it was delicious, strong, sweet, just the way she liked it. “I don’t even own a dress.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll get someone to take you shopping. Just make sure you have everything you need.”
“Who?” she asked suspiciously. “Who will you get to take me shopping? I’m not sure I want to be ‘taken’ anywhere.”
“Her name’s Maggie. She was a…” he paused for a moment, “…a friend of my mother’s.”
She didn’t want him to have a mother with friends; it made him too human. She was determined to see him as nothing more than the monster she had called him. If only he looked like a monster. She put down her cup and jumped up. “I’m going to bed.”
He stood and caught her shoulder as she passed, her mind completely numb as he turned her toward him. She stared at his lips as he lowered his face slowly. It seemed to take forever, but finally his mouth came over hers, firm but gentle. His tongue slid gently into the moist recesses of her mouth, filling her with the taste of whiskey and warm man. It lasted the briefest of moments, and then he stepped back.
Chapter Eight
Luc tasted her sweetness. Briefly, he was tempted to push her beyond the limits she had already set out, but he could sense the tension radiating from her body. He made do with a question instead.
“Alone, cara?”
He almost smiled as she gave him a filthy look out of those beautiful, extremely expressive eyes. Then she turned and stalked off.