Bride By Choice

little shopping trip?’

And now Helen noticed that Lorenzo looked uncomfortable. ‘I really have to be working, Mr Baxter,’ he said, trying to disentangle himself from Calypso without actually pushing her away. He failed.

‘I’ve told you, call me Dagwood.’

‘I have to work, Dagwood.’

‘Hey, what the hell! You’ve already taken a million off me. Relax. Have fun.’

‘My girlfriend will be arriving any minute.’ There was a desperate edge on Lorenzo’s voice that made the sun come out for Helen.

‘I don’t believe you have a girlfriend,’ Calypso teased. ‘You’re just playing hard to get.’ She giggled. ‘I like that in a man.’

‘I promise,’ Lorenzo said, ‘Helen is real. And she’ll be here.’

‘You don’t know that,’ Dagwood bellowed cheerfully. ‘Anyway, who needs her? A young guy should know how to enjoy himself, know what I mean?’ He gave an ugly wink. ‘Call her and put her off.’

‘I think I will just-make a call.’ Lorenzo freed his arm at last, and turned away from them into a corner, frantically pulling his mobile from his bag. Calypso shrugged and sauntered to the bar.

Helen inched close enough to Lorenzo hear the ensuing conversation.

‘Elroys? Is Miss Angolini back yet?-You said that last time-but she hasn’t called me- no, no, you don’t understand, she can’t be on leave-Why? Because I have to talk to her. It’s a matter of life and death-no, it’s more important than that-’

‘Then you’d better tell me now,’ Helen said, amused.

He nearly fainted.

‘How did you get there?’ he whispered, looking as though he’d seen a ghost.

Helen put her palms together, genie style. ‘You rubbed the lamp, master, and here I am.’ She became herself again. ‘What is it that’s more important than life and death or-’ she cast a speaking glance at the Baxters ‘-can I guess?’

‘Helen, you’ve got to save me. That girl’s a piranha and she’s got me lined as the next meal. I can’t just tell her to get lost because her father is Dagwood Baxter of Baxter Consumables, and he’s given me a huge order. So I have to evade her subtly.’

‘Subtly? You?’

‘All right. Save the funnies! I have an order that’s going to make me look awfully good to Renato, but my virtue is under threat. I’m trying to protect them both.’

‘Which one is more important?’

He gave her a baleful look.

Helen was enjoying this more every minute, but she concealed her amusement to say, ‘She’s little more than a child. What’s her father doing?’

‘Everything he can to push us together. She’s the oldest eighteen you ever saw. She already has one divorce behind her. But to Dagwood Baxter she’s still his “little girl”. What Calypso wants, Calypso gets.’

‘And Calypso wants you, hmm?’

‘I’ve been dropping broad hints about my girlfriend, and calling you since last night, but you weren’t there.’ He sounded ill used.

‘I wasn’t there because I was on my way here,’ Helen pointed out.

‘You knew I needed you,’ he said, deeply moved. ‘And you came.’

‘I didn’t know, I-something made me come.’ The air seemed to be singing in her ears. It was coincidence, of course.

Then irresistible temptation made her say, ‘I just can’t see you as a blushing violet. She’s a beautiful girl. Why not enjoy the situation?’

For the first time she saw him angry. ‘That’s a stupid question,’ he flashed. ‘A really stupid, stupid question.’

They regarded each other.

‘I guess it was,’ she said at last.

‘I’m glad we got that clear.’ He was still offended.

‘He’s coming over.’ Helen had seen Dagwood Baxter from the corner of her eye.

‘Then it’s time for action,’ Lorenzo muttered, and the next moment she was being enveloped in a crushing embrace. ‘Darling, how wonderful to see you.’

His lips against hers made it impossible to answer. It was a practical kiss, given in answer to a desperate situation, and deliberately theatrical, to make a point. But underlying the theatrics was a serious intent that it would interesting to pursue later.

He released her slowly, muttered, ‘Play up,’ and immediately switched on a brilliant smile. ‘Darling, let me introduce you to Dagwood Baxter, his wife Margaret and his daughter Calypso.’

Helen mechanically made a suitable response, aware that she was being looked over by the Baxter family. Calypso greeted her sulkily, while her father seemed taken by surprise. Margaret Baxter’s manner was one of weary tolerance, as though her husband and daughter had become too much for her.

It was she who, seeing the storm on Calypso’s face, suggested that the five of them have dinner together that evening.

‘I’d have preferred to be alone with you,’ Lorenzo confessed as they escaped afterwards, ‘but at least it’s better than being alone with that budding vampire.’

‘You’re scared,’ Helen chuckled.

‘You bet I am. I’m just a sweet old-fashioned boy. Mamma never taught me about girls like that.’

‘I’ll bet you found out for yourself, though.’

‘I’m going to rely on your protection,’ he said, sidestepping this.

‘She won’t be impressed by me.’

‘She will if you do it right. At dinner tonight, can you manage “clinging and possessive”?’

‘With an effort.’

‘Don’t take your eyes off me except to look daggers at your rival. Act like I’m a lord of creation.’

‘You’re pushing your luck,’ she told him frostily. ‘I’ll try, but frankly you don’t convince me as a lord of creation.’

‘That’s right. Kick a man when he’s down.’

‘Don’t tempt me. Anything else?’

‘Yes. Dress sexy.’

‘What kind of sexy?’

‘Sexy sexy. So that she’ll get the message and realise it’s hopeless.’

‘You conceited jerk,’ she exploded. ‘You impossible, self-centred, big-headed, puffed up, full of yourself-’

‘Will you do it?’

‘Yes!’

She had a lot of fun picking out her dress from the hotel’s boutique. Her taste was excellent but tonight taste was out, and ‘blatant’ was in, so she chose a neckline that plunged in a deep V between her breasts and made a bra impossible.

It was cream silk with a skirt that came to just above her knees, showing her long, elegant legs. Gold belt, gold earrings and matching gilt sandals completed the ensemble. She knew a brief qualm as she saw herself in the mirror, but what the heck!

Lorenzo wanted sexy. She’d give him sexy.

She was braced for his reaction when he saw her, but not for her own reaction at the sight of him in casual evening gear. Lorenzo liked to live well and dress well, and he too had been exploring the hotel boutiques. Now he wore a beautiful white silk, embroidered evening shirt, open at the throat, just far enough to reveal a hint of smooth brown chest. It wouldn’t be hard to see him as a lord of creation, she thought. But hell would freeze over before she let him suspect that.

‘Will I do?’ she asked lightly.

He drew a deep breath. ‘I think-you’ll do.’

She was glad now that she’d taken the chance. It was worth anything to see the awed look in his eyes as he