Czytaj książkę: «The Fiancee Charade»

CHAPTER TWO

ALEX stared at the young woman in front of him, the droplets of her drink running down his jaw, the damp patch on his shirt sending mixed signals.

Did he deserve that? Probably.

Did he know her? Must.

He stroked his jaw, wiping off the moisture, running through the possibilities. But for the life of him he couldn’t place her. He was sure he’d remember this woman. She was too fine, too sassy, and far too brazen to forget.

Long chestnut-coloured hair fell around her shoulders with stunning blonde streaks that gave the impression that she spent a lot of time in the sun. It was loose and free, like the words that had burst from her mouth. And what a mouth. Her lips were full and alluring, sending sharp bolts of desire hurtling through his body.

She appeared to be office material, but she wasn’t wearing a shirt under the white waistcoat she wore—a bit of a turn-on—and the skirt was tight around her hips and thighs, enticing his imagination as to the perfection of the body underneath.

Alex raised his gaze to meet her large emerald green eyes, wide and sizzling.

If he knew her, he would go all out to make up for his mistake—including not recalling her. If he didn’t, he’d change her mind about him…so he could experience that sharp tongue and passion first hand.

‘Do I know you?’ he offered, focusing only on the beautiful stranger, subtly aware of the stir of his colleagues behind him.

‘I…I—’ she choked, looking away from him to the floor. ‘I’m—’ she started backing away ‘—not…sorry.’

‘If I’ve done anything to upset you I’d really like to sort it out.’ He tipped his head, trying to catch that fiery look in her emerald-green eyes.

Never had he seen such passion in someone’s eyes. It was as though she was going to throw herself into his arms—or kill him. Either way, she seemed far more exciting to consider than another Friday dinner meeting with his executives.

Hell, he could really do with something a bit more challenging than this everyday routine he was drowning in.

She lifted her chin suddenly, staring him straight in the eyes unflinchingly. ‘Really? You’d like to sort out my problems?’

He couldn’t fight smiling. He loved helping women, solving their problems and making their lives easier. And they were so welcoming to his knight-in-shining-armour gestures. ‘Sure—it’s not every day that a beautiful woman comes up to me and initiates a conversation like this.’

Her nod was almost imperceptible.

He slipped his hands into his trouser pockets, rocking his weight back on his heels. ‘Maybe I can buy you another drink?’

She straightened tall, her full red lips pressed tightly together. ‘I don’t think so.’ She backed away, straightening her jacket.

‘Who are you?’ he asked, taking a step towards the beauty in front of him.

This couldn’t be all there’d be between them…she’d approached him. Alex straightened his tie, watching her carefully, his mind abuzz. What was happening? He was smiling, he was charming, he was saying all the right things and he looked okay… ‘What’s this all about?’

‘I—’ she started, and a shadow passed over her face.

He moved closer to her, the call to answer the mystery of this woman throbbing through him, the strange pull in his chest impelling his legs to move, to follow. ‘Let’s sit down somewhere quiet and talk about this…us.’

She jerked her chin up, her eyes flashing fire. ‘I’m from…Women Against Womanisers,’ she said, pursing her lips and nodding strongly. ‘Just doing my bit.’

All thought left his mind.

Alex stared at the woman, words failing him.

A soft smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she turned and walked away, leaving him standing there.

‘What on earth was that about?’ Lucas asked, stepping forward and slapping his hand on Alex’s shoulder.

‘I have no idea.’ He forced his feet to move. ‘But there’s not a doubt in my mind—she’s just what I need.’

Jess walked directly to Kath, trying not to break into a run. She could hardly breathe, hardly think for the jumble of words in her head, the heat in her cheeks, the pounding in her ears.

What had possessed her to be sucked in by Kath’s needling and march up to the one man in the world she’d had no intention of being anywhere near?

Kath swung around on her stool, feigning innocence with wide eyes and raised brows. ‘How’d it go?’

Jess threw up her hands, her stomach tossing as the conversation flooded back to her—every word of her crazed babbling crashing into his calm responses. ‘Don’t ask.’

‘It looked good.’

Jess shook her head. How could a person with four years worth of hatred, wimping out in the face of her evil nemesis, look good?

Her cheeks burned. How was she going to exact her revenge on the guy with a shred of dignity now he knew she was the total twit who’d lost it, tossed a drink on him and spoken absolute rubbish to him?

Women Against Womanisers? Where had that come from? Sure, if such an organisation existed she’d be the first to sign up—giving support to other women who’d been screwed over by men. And there’d be a lot.

She bit her bottom lip. She just hoped he believed it, and forgot all about her.

Jess straightened her jacket, willing her pulse to slow. It was over. So over. And there was no way she was going to be eating anywhere tonight—least of all here. ‘Let’s get out of here.’

‘Did you get it all off your chest?’ Kath stood up slowly, her gaze probing Jess’s face. ‘You have to feel better now that’s over?’

‘Sure,’ Jess choked, looking towards the front door, hoping she sounded more convincing than she felt. ‘I told him.’

Kath hooked her handbag over her shoulder, tipping her head to one side, looking past Jess as though she wasn’t there. ‘I don’t know…I don’t think you made your point very clearly at all.’

Jess sucked in a deep breath. ‘You weren’t there. You have no idea.’ So she’d barely scratched the surface. But now wasn’t the time. She had to work out a way to get their company playing ball with the big guys, to get the clients that Alex Calahan coveted and to drive him broke—as he deserved.

‘So, if you saw Calahan again…?’

She lifted her chin. There was no way she was going to let Kath know the truth about the encounter. It was better to let her partner in business believe she was over the ‘Crush Calahan’ crusade and that she was in no way as idiotically vulnerable as any other woman to the man’s evil charms.

‘Not a problem,’ Jess said easily, seeing as she didn’t plan to see the guy ever again. Unless you counted giving change to him in the street after she’d turned him into a pauper.

‘Good. Because he’s behind you.’

She stiffened, then relaxed. Kath had to be joking. There was no way Calahan would come begging for more of the same—she’d acted like a total idiot.

‘I’m not joking, Jess,’ Kath said from between clenched teeth, imitating the smile of a Cheshire cat, her attention behind Jess.

‘Jess,’ said a distinctly male voice, rich and smooth behind her. ‘Nice name. Short for—?’

Jess’s heart leapt into her throat.

She stared at her friend, flexing her fingers as his warm friendly tone slid through her, doing strange things to the nerves in her body.

She wanted to turn around and shove the guy into next week. But she was frozen to the spot, her breath coming short and ragged.

‘I’m Katherine,’ her ex-friend said, reaching past Jess, offering a nervous sort of smile.

Jess saw Kath’s hand vanish in his large hand beside her, out of the corner of her eye, and her mind darted to how strong and smooth and sensuous his hand probably felt against hers.

‘Alex,’ he said smoothly. ‘But I’m guessing you already knew that.’

Kath nodded. ‘So…’ she offered, glaring at Jess, widening her eyes.

What could he possibly want? Her mind rattled through the possibilities. To give her a dry-cleaning bill? Or a date?

She bristled. He’d better get used to disappointment.

She swung around to face him, her breath snagging in her throat at the sheer presence of him, so close to her, watching her with his deep blue eyes as though he was searching her very soul.

The corners of his mouth tipped. ‘Hello.’

‘Hi,’ she whispered, forcing air into her lungs. ‘I’m sorry…if I gave you the impression that I wanted something from you. I don’t.’

He touched his jaw, his eyes sparkling. ‘Good.’

She stared at his mouth, trying to understand the meaning behind the word, his presence, the strange tingling in the pit of her stomach.

‘I’d like to propose—’

Kath gasped.

‘—that you may have a unique viewpoint to offer, and I’m more than interested in exploring it to the full.’

‘Really?’ She crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes at the man. What sort of pick-up line was that? She’d expected more from a guy with the reputation of wooing the ladies the way she’d heard he did.

‘I’d appreciate your perspective.’

‘I have no idea what you’re talking about, and I have no intention of spending one more minute of my time finding out.’ Jess snatched up her bag from the bar. ‘I’ve said my piece.’ She shot Kath a look. ‘And I won’t waste my time or my breath on self-serving womanisers who are out to exploit everything and everyone around them. Good night.’

She snagged Kath’s arm and lurched towards the exit.

‘Jess?’

Her name on his lips hit her deep in the chest. She swung around to face the last man on earth she wanted using it.

‘That’s exactly the perspective I need. I’m looking to change my image…and I need some honest advice.’

She sucked in a deep breath.

‘I’ll pay you for your time.’

‘Of course you will,’ Kath piped up, stepping forward. ‘And I expect you’ll want her to incorporate herself into your day-to-day routine, so she can point out exactly what’s happening on a minute-by-minute basis?’

He blinked, and nodded. ‘Yes, that would be a good idea. I hadn’t thought about it. I just figure I need some guidance from one of your members when it comes to my attitude with women.’

Kath shot Jess a questioning look.

She swallowed hard. Kath had no idea what was going on—that she hadn’t vented it all on Calahan, that she’d fed him a false line. She looked at her friend. ‘I did my bit for Women Against Womanisers—seeing as he qualifies as a prize-winning jerk in the first degree. I told Calahan here as much, and exactly what I thought of him.’

Kath’s eyes widened, glinting. ‘Right.’ She swung to face Calahan. ‘And I’m sure your womanising activities extend far beyond dating and into every part of your life, Mr Calahan?’

He frowned. ‘No. Maybe. Possibly.’

‘So if my fellow member of our organisation here took time out of her valuable schedule to instruct you in the ways of the sensitive New Age man…?’

Jess stiffened, glaring at Kath, who’d cottoned onto the conversation far too quickly and was taking full advantage.

Calahan smiled at Kath, adjusting his tie and pulling back his shoulders. ‘Exactly what I’m after.’

What in heaven’s name was Kath getting her into? And why on earth would she want to follow Calahan around all day telling him what he was doing wrong?

She paused. It could be fun, screwing with his head. But, no—nothing could induce her. She had a business to run, clients to seduce away, and campaigns to wage against the Calahan empire. ‘Not a chance. You’re an arrogant son of a—’

Kath grabbed Calahan’s hand again and pumped it enthusiastically. ‘She’d be happy to help you out.’

Jess’s heart leapt to her throat. ‘Kath?’

‘You’re one of our most active members,’ she offered, widening her eyes at Jess. ‘So I’m sure you’ll sacrifice your time to help Mr Calahan back from the dark side. Goodness, Jess, you have to agree that the world can never have too many men trying to be more sensitive to a woman’s needs.’

Jess stared at Kath, her blood pounding in her veins. She was conscious of her mouth being open, of it drying, and of no words coming out.

‘You can’t tell me that you’d refuse to help a womaniser who’s addressing his problems?’ Kath took Jess to one side and rubbed her shoulder as though she could warm her to the idea. ‘Come on. You can sit in on his meetings,’ she said with a seductive lilt in her voice, ‘and follow him around as he talks with potential clients and stuff. Instruct him on where he’s getting it wrong. Won’t you?’

‘Will I?’ she said cautiously, then registered Kath’s words as they spun around her head, their significance seeping into every pore.

It made perfect sense. If they were ever going to have a chance of competing for business with this guy’s empire they had to know how the enemy ran his camp. And if, in the process, she happened to hear what companies were looking for representation, it wouldn’t be out of the question to use that information and offer them an alternative. Would it?

Jess bit her bottom lip to stop the smile threatening her cool expression. She was sure Calahan wouldn’t mind…It was business, and when it came to business with Calahan anything was fair. She turned to face him again.

‘I’d be awfully grateful,’ Calahan said smoothly, offering Jess a business card. ‘If you could get out of your usual job for a day and come to my office…say Wednesday…we’ll get on with it.’

Kath snatched the card from Calahan and nodded enthusiastically. ‘She’ll be there.’

Jess watched the most arrogant, irritating man in Sydney saunter back to his group, his head held high, his shoulders back, his irritating confidence oozing from every pore.

‘Oh-my-God.’ Jess forced herself to move, stalking to the front door of the fancy restaurant. ‘I can’t.’

Kath followed a step behind. ‘You can.’

She swung around to face her friend. ‘What did you do? Did you wake up this morning and decide that today you were going to destroy my life?’

‘You’re being melodramatic. This is going to save us.’ Kath linked her arm in hers, grinning. ‘Our prayers have been answered.’

Jess sighed. ‘I don’t think I can deliberately go and steal his clients…’ That would make her no better than him, and if there was one thing she never wanted, it was to be like Alexander Calahan.

‘What about you just get some dirt on the guy, then?’ Kath leant close. ‘You said yourself that the article had to be a lie. Get the proof.’

‘That would put a spanner in the works,’ she said slowly, mulling over the idea, feeling a weight lifting from her shoulders at the thought that she could do some good.

‘There’s no other way we can put one there.’

What could she say to that? Kath was right. This was a boon and a half. She just wished it didn’t involve her going anywhere near the man she loathed.

‘It’ll be fine. You’ll love it. You can point out all the guy’s faults and get paid for it too.’

Jess bit her lip, her body chilling. ‘But that would mean the article is genuine, wouldn’t it? If he really wants to change himself?’

‘Could be just another stunt?’

‘Yes.’ Kath was right. Cripes, it was what they’d come to expect from the guy—and if she was going to have to spend time with the handsome jerk she was going to make it count.

She’d spent long enough keeping score. It was time she took a shot herself.

Alexander Calahan wouldn’t know what hit him.