‘In that case,’ his blue eyes crinkled at the corners, ‘I’ll let you have a ride in my new car.’
‘Oh dear, I’m afraid I don’t accept lifts from strange men,’ said Dulcie.
‘It’s a Lamborghini.’
‘What colour?’
‘Red of course.’
‘Oh, all right then.’
Chapter 27
Liza, rubbing her eyes and pulling open the front door, protested, ‘Good grief, it’s only seven o’clock.’
Kit looked as if he’d been up for hours. He winked, unperturbed by the grumpy welcome.
‘Do you know what today is?’
She had to think for a minute. ‘Tuesday.’
‘No. Well, yes,’ he admitted, ‘but what else?’
‘I give up.’
‘It’s time you got bored with me.’
Liza already knew that. She smiled.
‘Do I have to?’
‘It’s been a month,’ said Kit. ‘Aren’t you bored yet?’
Her arms went around his neck. When she had finished kissing him, Liza looked up into his extraordinary yellow-gold eyes.
‘You know I’m not. I’ve never been less bored.’ Or more frustrated, come to that.
‘The thing is,’ said Kit, reading her mind and looking amused, ‘you aren’t bad. I quite fancy you, in fact. Maybe we shouldn’t risk spoiling things.’
‘Meaning ...?’
He shrugged.
‘Well, I don’t know. Maybe we should stay as we are. Platonic friends. No sex for at least the next ten years. What are you doing?’
Ask a silly question.
‘Unfastening your belt.’’Oh. Not keen, then, on my idea?’
‘Not very keen, no.’
Kit kicked the front door shut and leaned back against it, his eyes fixed on Liza’s face.
‘What are you doing now?’ he said finally.
‘Just unzipping your trousers.’
‘Liza.’
‘Mm?’
‘I love you.’
Liza looked away, unable to speak. All these years and it had happened at last. She’d heard these words so many times before, but this was the first time she’d actually wanted to hear them. Until now, they’d always made her feel sick.
‘It’s almost killed me, waiting this long,’ Kit went on. ‘I want to make love to you more than anything in the world.’
Liza quivered helplessly. She knew it was corny, but a tingling sensation actually was going down her spine.
She cleared her throat and nodded. ‘Me too.’
‘But if it’s going to change things between us ... if it’s going to spoil all this ...’
‘I don’t think it is,’ said Liza, who had wondered the same thing herself. This time she shook her head, desperate to convince him she was right. ‘I really don’t think it is.’
‘Tell you what.’
‘What?’
Slowly, he slid the straps of her white nightdress off her shoulders.
‘You don’t get bored with me,’ whispered Kit, his breath warm against her neck, ‘I won’t get bored with you.’
He was so in control. Liza wondered how on earth a twenty-three-year-old could be so self-assured. Heavens, he acted older than she did.
‘Is that a promise?’ she said, dry-mouthed. The need to know was overwhelming.
As he carried her through to the bedroom, Kit said, ‘Cross my heart, hope to die.’
* * *
It wasn’t a let-down.
