The Millionaire's Revenge(33)

‘As you would any of your employees’?’

‘I always listen to what others say,’ Gabriel confirmed ambiguously. ‘If you want to have a breather before you begin looking for a car, then by all means.’ He glanced down at his watch. ‘In fact, it is almost time for lunch. Why don’t we go somewhere and have a bite to eat? Mmm?’

Laura suddenly and inexplicably felt the sharp edge of panic rip through her. The sun was bright and hard and emphasised every angle of his face. And what she saw disturbed her. More than that, frightened her.

‘Don’t you have to get back to London?’ she asked ner­vously. He had an empire to run, for heaven’s sake! Surely he couldn’t spend all his lime swanning around up here in the manner of a country squire with nothing better to do?

As if he had read her mind, he said wryly, I am the boss. I can come and go as I please and there is still too much to do here for me to leave at the moment.’ But she was right. Sophisticated though communications were, he still needed to be physically present in his office some time soon and once there he would find himself bombarded with all the minutiae that he had hitherto enjoyed but which would take his mind off the business in hand.

He would have to speed things along.

He gave her a shuttered look. ‘What about that little Italian just at the corner over there?’ Very deliberately he placed his hand on the small of her back, and even though he felt her tense under the slight pressure of his touch, he didn’t remove it. In fact, his contact widened until he was guiding her across the road with his hand circling her waist.

A purely routine gesture, Laura thought frantically. They had just completed a huge deal by any standards and he was probably just trying to show some sign of friendliness. It was her fault if her body was reacting like dry tinder being set ablaze. He had a girlfriend already anyway. The thought of that steadied her and as soon as they had crossed the road she politely pulled out of his grasp.#p#分页标题#e#

They could carry on like this for ever, Gabriel thought suddenly. One small move on his part followed by five large steps back on hers. She had been warned off him from the start and any ceasefire between them was doomed to falter.

He snapped his teeth together in angry impatience. Bid­ing time was all well and good but it wasn’t his style. By tonight, he promised himself. He would taste those lips by the end of the evening and then he would begin his assault on her senses.

‘Tell me,’ he said as soon as they were shown to a table, ‘what is the state of your love life?’

‘What?’ Flabbergasted, Laura looked at him in pure amazement.

‘Your love life,’ Gabriel repeated. ‘What is the state of it? By which I mean, do you have a lover?’

‘I know what you mean! I was just stupefied that you have the nerve to ask!’

‘Well, I do,’ he said calmly.

‘It’s none of your business.’

‘I wish I could be as phlegmatic about it as you are...’ He paused and Laura felt an unnerving tug of anticipation as she wondered feverishly where he was going with this one. Would he be jealous if she did have a lover? He had always had a jealous streak a mile wide and she couldn’t stop the sizzle of intense excitement at the thought of arousing his jealousy now, ridiculous though any such no­tion might be.

‘But it makes sense for me to know, as your employer. If you were... involved with a man, I would obviously try and curtail too many trips that necessitate overnight stays... Oh, come on, Laura, it is a purely practical ques­tion.’ Dark eyes lazily inspected her face.

‘I ...well, at the moment, I’m not actually involved with anyone, so I would be free to overnight anywhere should the situation require it. Not that that was really any busi­ness of yours. I mean, I don’t ask you about Anna, do I?’

‘Anna?’ For a few seconds he had no idea what she was talking about.

‘Oh, don’t pretend to be all innocence, Gabriel.’ Let him say it, she thought viciously. Then this unwanted pull of attraction will go away under the burden of reality. ‘You know who I mean. The dusky bombshell you were cud­dling up to at the house. I believe she goes under the title of your chartered surveyor!’

‘Oh, that Anna.’ He smiled slowly and positively purred with the satisfaction of having drawn her out into the open. ‘My cousin.’

The game was on. He was back in full control and ready to pounce.



CHAPTER SIX

‘Your cousin.’ Laura tried to give a snort of disbelieving laughter, but she was rapidly reaching the conclusion, the mortifying conclusion, that he was telling the truth. ‘Ha,’ she finished weakly.