„Number one because it was effective…“
Kalinda said nothing, waiting for number two.
„And number two,“ he went on obligingly, „because I think the idea has a lot of intrinsic merit“
„Meaning?“ she challenged bravely.
„You and I make a good team, Kalinda,“ he began intently. „We work well together, we’re attracted to each other, we’re…“
„Is this a proposal?“ she gasped, horrified.
„If you like…“
„If I like! I have never heard such an unromantic, unemotional suggestion in my life! You might as well be proposing a… a
„A
„Not so long ago you only wanted an affair!“ she reminded him tightly.
„There are other factors involved now, don’t you think?“ he asked reasonably.
„Business factors!“
„May I take it from your seething expression that you’re turning down my proposal?“ he inquired politely, his eyes enigmatic.
„You may consider the proposal hurled back in your teeth!“
„Then I’m off the hook? There will be no future accusations that I’ve deliberately humiliated you?“ he drawled.
She whitened, shocked by the twist in the argument Desperately she grabbed at her pride and her strength of will „You… you may consider yourself quite free,“ she muttered „You have, after all, given me my chance, haven’t you?“
He shrugged. „It wouldn’t have been a bad arrangement, Kalinda.“
„No wonder you call yourself a shark when ft comes to business. You can be quite cold-blooded, can’t you?“ she snapped, desperately using anger to shore up her willpower. She was deeply shocked at her desire to say yes to his proposal; to accept him on any terms.
Something in him hardened perceptibly. „I would think that ‘cold-blooded’ is the one accusation you wouldn’t make. You are, after all, in a position to judge the issue. Have I ever been cold toward you, Kalinda?“
She ground her teeth. „That’s got nothing to do with this!“
Suddenly a slow grin began to replace the firmly marked line of his lips and the hazel eyes softened. „Does it strike you that you’re on the verge of becoming slightly irrational in your arguments? It’s a good sign, actually. It gives me hope.“
Kalinda’s hands knotted the white linen napkin in her lap but her voice was properly flippant „A good businessman doesn’t rely on hope. He relies on facts and figures.“
„You’re wrong, you know. Business people are essentially optimists. Who else but an optimist would wager such vast sums of money on anything as tricky as competing in the national economic marketplace?“
„Are you going to argue with me all evening?“
„No, honey, I’m not I’m going to enjoy this evening and I’m going to do my damndest to see that you enjoy it, too!“
„Of course. We have an image to maintain, don’t we? As long as David and his wife are in the vicinity…“
„We shall do our best to appear the happily engaged couple,“ he concluded firmly.
And much to Kalinda’s surprise, Rand proceeded to do exactly that He was charming and attentive. He entertained her throughout the first course until she finally began to relax and respond to the intelligent, amusing conversation.
By the time the entree arrived, she had firmly pushed the depressing business proposal into the background of her mind, telling herself that it had all arisen out of Rand’s determination to help her defend Brady Data Processing, ft wasn’t his fault she had overreacted.
They were lingering over dessert, a fresh raspberry torte, when Kalinda glanced up to see David and his wife leaving. The other couple did not stop to say good-night to Rand and Kalinda.
„Are you beginning to find it amusing?“ Rand inquired blandly.
„David’s reaction to us? Yes, 1 am. I could almost see the little wheels going around in his head when he realized you were firmly on the side of Brady,“ she admitted, grinning.
„So I’m forgiven for my claim to being your fiance?“ he asked whimsically.
„I’m sorry I blew up,“ she apologized meekly. „It’s just that it took me by surprise. You should have warned me, Rand.“
„I was afraid you wouldn’t agree to it“
„So you sprung it on me just as you sprung it on David.“ She shook her head „When I first met you in the mountains I kept telling myself your talents were being wasted. I was right“
„I’m not sure that's a compliment,“ he groaned „But I’ll let it go for now. Are you finished?“
„One last raspberry.“
„Good. It’s a shame to waste all these fine feathers we’re wearing. I thought we’d go dancing at a nightclub I used to know near here.“
Kalinda made no protest, knowing in her heart that she would do anything to prolong the evening. Anything to prolong her fragile, dangerous relationship with Rand Alastair.
A few moments later, the fringed, sequined stole glittering around her shoulders, Kalinda found herself gently stuffed into the front seat of the Lotus. When Rand slid in beside her, turning to smile, she became very aware of the dark intimacy of the small car. And of the proposal she had just turned down.
There was little conversation between them as Rand drove to the nightclub, a delicate, stirring, undeniably sensual feeling permeating the confined atmosphere. Kalinda didn’t want to fight it even though she knew she should.
But the evening had made her realize how tenuous her relationship with Rand now was. He would help her stave off David Hutton’s takeover bid, but after that there would be nothing to keep him by her side. She sensed he still desired her, but she couldn’t shake the feeling his need was somehow connected with the fact that she had been his ticket back to the business world. He claimed he’d come back to prove himself to her, but she was far too aware of the satisfaction he was taking in the effort. Rand had wanted an excuse to come back to the thing he knew best and she had been that excuse.
Torn by the knowledge that she would have leaped at his proposal if it had been delivered with even a modicum of love, Kalinda sought to justify her response when Rand took her into his arms on the dance floor. If she wasn’t going to marry the man, why was she clinging to him like this? There was no future, or at least not one which boded well. Why prolong the agony of a final good-bye?
His arms slid warmly around her waist as the soft, slow music drifted through the dark, romantic nightclub. Other couples moved nearby, each lost in a private world. Kalinda rested her head on Rand’s shoulder, her arms moving with an aching intimacy around his neck.
Rand’s fingers gently kneaded the curve of her hip as he pulled her close. „I think we make a very convincing engaged couple,“ he murmured in her hair. „No, don’t you dare tense up on me. I was merely stating a fact Did you forget how good we are together when you turned down my proposal this evening?“
„Mutual desire is not enough to justify marriage,“ she whispered into the fabric of his jacket.
„But it is enough to justify an affair, isn’t it?“ he whispered deeply, lips grazing the tip of her ear. He pressed her closer, deliberately melding her body with his until she was keenly aware of the hard warmth and the beginnings of arousal in him.
„Rand, I don’t think we ought…“
Her fumbling words were gently cut off as he turned her head with one hand and kissed her. It was an incredibly seductive experience, Kalinda discovered, to be kissed on a dance floor. The lazy, probing passion of it somehow combined with the flow of music and the gleaming shadows. She melted against him as she always seemed to do when he held her like this.
Sensing her surrender to the moment, Rand slowly, deliberately began to increase the physical tension already blossoming between them. His mouth moved moistly on hers, parting her lips, sipping her honey. He used
