Richard hadn't exaggerated when he'd said Mrs Diamond was lovely. She was. A natural blonde, if Holly was any guess, her fine creamy blonde hair was styled into soft waves that framed a face that almost defied description. An angel's face. Delicate features. Huge green eyes. A soft mouth. And skin that was as fair and silky smooth as the rest of her.
Her dress was not the dress of an angel, however. Made in champagne-coloured satin, it was long and slinky, with spaghetti straps and a neckline that might have looked tacky if she hadn't had small, firm breasts. Her nipples were prominent, however. Round and hard. Like pebbles.
Age-wise, she was possibly around thirty. From a distance she looked younger, but up close Holly could see life's experience in and around her eyes.
"Hi there," Alanna said. "I'm so glad I caught you in here by yourself. I wanted to speak to you about something and I couldn't in front of the others. Reece would have killed me. Richard, too, I imagine."
"Oh?" Holly was at a loss.
"Reece told me a few weeks back that he'd put Richard in contact with the Wives Wanted agency and … well … you see, you might not know this, but I was one of Natalie's girls too, and … Oh, dear! I can see by the look on your face that you're embarrassed that I've brought this up. You're right. I shouldn't have. I'm sorry."
Holly wasn't embarrassed so much as stunned. Richard had been seeking the services of Wives Wanted? Her Richard, the one who'd just been making love to her in the car? The same Richard whose mother had proclaimed had never even looked at another woman since his wife died?
Holly couldn't think straight for a moment. If Richard was on the lookout for a wife of convenience, then what was she? A potential candidate, or a sexual stopgap to tide him over till he found the right woman to marry?
She opened her mouth to indignantly deny that she was one of Natalie's girls, whoever Natalie was. But at the last second, Holly bit her tongue. Whatever Richard's agenda was where she was concerned, he obviously wasn't going to tell her the truth.
His mother sure didn't know her precious son as well as she thought she did.
Holly had to find out what was going on here.
"Please don't apologise," she said. "The thing is, I'm not … um … one of Natalie's girls. I do know about the Wives Wanted agency, though," she added swiftly. "Richard told me about it the other day. And, yes, he did mention that was how you and your husband got together."
"Oh, dear, now I feel even worse. I wish Richard had told Reece all this. But you know men. They just don't communicate the way we women do," she added with an exasperated shrug of her slender shoulders. "So how did you and Richard meet?"
"I was delivering some flowers to his mother's house last weekend. He happened to be home on a visit. Mrs Crawford was out and Richard answered the door. I'm the local florist."
"Oh, how romantic! There again, Reece says Richard's always been a romantic. He wasn't at all convinced that Wives Wanted was the right way for Richard to find a wife, but Richard was adamant at the time. Of course, after what happened to Joanna, you could understand why he might not want to fall madly in love again. Oh, Lord, there I go again! You do know his first wife was killed in a car accident, don't you?"
"Yes. I did the flowers at her funeral, actually. I've known Richard's mother for years. I just didn't meet Richard himself till the other day."
"Phew! Thank God I didn't put my foot in my mouth twice in five minutes. So tell me, what do you think of Richard? I can see he's very taken with you."
"We've only been out once together before tonight," Holly said. "For dinner last Saturday night. But what I know, I like. Still, I would never consider marrying any man I didn't love. Or who wasn't madly in love with me."
"Yes, well, we women all think that at some time in our lives," Alanna remarked ruefully. "Sometimes it's better to settle for something less … intense. Something less dangerous."
Holly blinked. "Dangerous? What do you mean by dangerous?"
"Men who are madly in love can become very jealous, and irrational. Even violent. I prefer a less volatile relationship, especially in a marriage. Reece and I have a wonderful understanding of each other's needs. He gives me what I want and I give him what he wants. We're a darned good team, even if I say so myself."
She looked Holly up and down with thoughtful eyes. "You're a very attractive girl, but a few years younger than most of the women at Wives Wanted. When you get older, you might think differently. But if you want my advice, you could do a lot worse than to marry Richard. He's a good man."
"He hasn't asked me to marry him. I'm not sure he ever will."
"Oh, I think he will."
Holly didn't know whether to feel flattered, or furious.
"If he does, then I'll be saying no," she said firmly, and told herself she meant it. "Especially if he's still in love with his wife. Which his mother warned me is the case."
"Does that bother you?"
"Yes, it does."
"In that case, definitely don't marry him," Alanna said with a hint of coldness in her voice. "Jealousy is a curse. Now, I must get back to my guests. I'll just make sure I'm still decent first."
When she turned around to check the back of her dress in the long mirror hanging on the powder-room door, Holly's eyes widened. She'd thought her own dress was borderline in modesty but the back of Alanna's dress-which she hadn't seen earlier-left absolutely nothing to the imagination.
Mainly because there was no back. The only thing stopping the entire creation from sliding off her slender curves were the spaghetti straps that crossed at her shoulder blades and attached at the sides just above her waist.
What had Holly really staring, however, was how low the dress was cut at the back, plus the way it clung to Alanna's well-toned buttocks. No way could she be wearing any underwear at all!
"Reece likes me to dress sexily, but I think he's gone a bit too far this time," Alanna remarked as she tried to hitch the dress higher, all to no avail. "I'm going to start choosing my own evening gowns in future. Are you finished in here, Holly? If so, we can go back together. But not a word about this conversation to the men."
"Absolutely not," Holly agreed.
But Alanna had given her plenty to think about.
She still wasn't convinced Richard ever intended asking her to marry him. It seemed more likely he just wanted some sex from her. Surely, he would marry someone more like his wife. Someone older and more sophisticated and better educated. Someone from this Wives Wanted agency.
And if you're wrong, Holly? What if he is targeting you as the next Mrs Richard Crawford?
A tiny shiver rippled down her spine by this thought. So much for her declaration that she wouldn't marry a man who wasn't madly in love with her!
Still, Alanna's marriage to Reece seemed to be successful, she reasoned. Maybe a loveless marriage could work. Provided the sex side of things was all right.
No doubt Alanna didn't mind sleeping with her very handsome husband.
But for how long? Yes, how long before Alanna began to feel as if she was just being used, till she realised that her role in her husband's life was little more than that of a trophy wife?
Was that what Richard wanted of her?
Holly wished she felt more repulsed by the idea of being Richard's trophy wife. She'd talked holier than thou to Alanna, but would she really say no to marriage, if he ever asked her?
Holly was quite grateful to return to the party with her hostess by her side. With all these thoughts tumbling through her head, she needed someone with her as a buffer. She didn't want to say anything to Richard to spoil their night together and she was afraid she might do that. Her temper was already simmering at his not being open and honest with her.
Logic came to her rescue before her resentment could boil over. Why would Richard have told her about his being a client of Wives Wanted? A man of his personality and pride would keep such a thing a secret.
But what on earth was the attraction of a matchmaking service with these two men? They could have their pick of women. Surely.
Holly could only conclude that neither of them wanted love, or romance. They just wanted a beautiful woman to share their lives, and their beds. Not such a terrible crime, she supposed. But rather cold-blooded.
She shivered again.