For His Little Girl

your own life and passed on. But suddenly love was there, awkward, inconvenient, getting in the way of your plans, and unwanted, since he was a man who wouldn't be tied down, and love equaled strings. Right?

But he was asleep now, so she could whisper, 'Sorry, darling. I went back on the deal. I wish I could tell you, but you'd be scared stiff. Never mind. My problem, not yours. It's all a laugh, isn't it? Oh Luke, Luke!'

Among other things Pippa adored Luke for his sweet temper. The only time she could recall seeing him disgruntled was when she was dressing to go out one Saturday, without inviting him, or even telling him where she was going.

'The first Saturday we've both had off for ages and you vanish,' he grumbled. 'And you're dressing up, as if it's somewhere special.' He looked suspiciously at the clinging jersey dress in a brilliant cerise, that only she could have carried off. 'It's not like you to keep secrets.'

'It's only a little secret.'

'So what's the big deal about telling me?' He scowled suddenly. 'Who is he?'

'His name's Frank, and he's my uncle, and I'm going to his wedding.'

'Great!' he sulked. 'I'm not good enough to meet your family!'

'Don't be silly, darling. I just thought it would bore you. A wedding, solid family gathering, men in formal suits, women in hats. I know that sort of thing gives you nightmares.''

'I'd rather put up with it than not see you all day.'

'Luke, are you sure? You know what'll happen if we go together-'

'People will simper and ask when you're going to make an honest man of me. Don't worry, we'll tell them you're keeping me as a pet. Will your father and Clarice be there?'

'No, they moved away a few months ago.'

'So, let's be on our way.' He kissed her. 'If you think I'm letting you go anywhere, looking so pretty, without me, you're crazy.'

From somewhere he produced a suit, borrowed his friend's old car and they were soon on their way. Her heart was singing with joy. She hadn't invited him, determined not to repeat the mistake that had frightened him off other girlfriends. But he was coming, anyway, because he was jealous. He was actually jealous! It was too good to be true.

They reached Frank's house just before noon and found him calm and well prepared. He owned a small corner shop that was modestly prosperous. Gravity had settled on him early in life, and he looked ten years older than his actual age, which was thirty.

Pippa gave him an exuberant hug, and he kissed her with quiet affection. When the introductions were over she demanded, 'Why aren't you pacing the floor with nerves, like a normal bridegroom?''

'What is there to be nervous about?' he asked, mildly surprised. 'Elly's organized everything down to the last detail. She's wonderful at that.'

'Is that the best he can say about the woman he's marrying?' Luke muttered in her ear.

'Frank doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve,' she muttered back. But aloud she couldn't resist saying, 'Honestly, Frank, it's not decent to be so cool and composed. You might at least be gnawing your fingers about whether Elly will show up at the church, or fretting that you aren't good enough for her.'

He looked bewildered for a moment, then smiled and gave her shoulders a squeeze. 'You will have your little joke,' he said tolerantly. 'I'm so glad you're here, my dear.'

Elly was a plump, comfortable widow, a couple of years his senior. Pippa had met her before and liked her, thinking how perfectly she suited him.

They reminded her of a couple of dormice, not exciting, but cosy and content together.

Near the end of the reception Elly took Pippa aside and said, archly, 'Such a very handsome young man! When will we hear wedding bells for you?'

'You won't,' Pippa said. To her relief Luke was on the other side of the room swapping funny stories with the best man.

'But anyone can see you two are crazy about each other,' Elly protested.

Pippa discovered that she didn't have her heart under such perfect control as she'd hoped, otherwise the suggestion that Luke was crazy about her wouldn't have made it leap like that. But she assumed a worldly-wise air.

'I'm eighteen. I've got a lot of road to travel before I'm ready to settle down.'

'You mean he hasn't asked you?'

'I mean that every little fling doesn't have to end in marriage these days. Neither Luke or I care about doing the conventional thing. Elly, honestly, I'm really happy for you and Frank. I think you're perfect together. But things are different for my generation.'

To which Elly simply replied, 'Hmm!' with a look of disconcerting shrewdness in her baby-blue eyes.

Frank and Luke talked for a conscientious ten minutes, but both were relieved when it was over. Frank was kind and well-meaning, but he was also pompous and narrow-minded, and before she left he said firmly to Pippa, 'That young man isn't at all suitable for you, my dear. I'm afraid I'd have to call him rackety.'

'He's twenty-three,' Pippa said incensed. 'Weren't you rackety when you were his age?'

He was shocked. 'Certainly not!'

'Well, you should have been! Everyone should be rackety at twenty-three. He's got years and years to be responsible.'

'You sound as though you're quoting him,' Frank said, scoring a bull's-eye and momentarily throwing her off balance. 'Don't give him your heart, Pippa. He'll only break it.'

She tried to sound nonchalant. 'Maybe I'll break his.'

'I hope so. But I'm afraid the world doesn't work that way.'

'Oh, Frank, don't be so stuffy! I'm having a wonderful time with Luke. Who cares about tomorrow?' She flitted away before he could say any more. She couldn't cope with Frank's disconcerting insights.

As they lay in each other's arms that night, Luke kissed her and said, 'I'm afraid Frank and I bring out the worst in each other.'

'I know. He said you were rackety. I told him he should have been rackety at your age.'

Luke shouted with laughter. 'I wish I could have seen his face. It's not his way, any more than pipe and slippers are mine.'

'Who wants pipe and slippers?' she murmured, beginning to nibble him. 'There are other things

'Mmm?' He lay back and stretched luxuriously one arm behind his head, one leg carelessly raised giving her the slow, significant smile she loved. 'Why don't you tell me about these other things?'

'Aren't you going to give me any help?'

'Nope. I'm just going to lie here and let you have your wicked way with me.' He yawned provocatively. 'I may even fall asleep.'

'Over my dead body! Or yours!'

He grinned. 'Woman, are you going to seduce me, or are you going to sit there and yak all night?''

'I'm going to seduce you,' she whispered. 'But first I'm going to enjoy just looking at you.'

She drew back and feasted her eyes on him. Luke's shoulders weren't broad or heavy with muscles, and his strength was of the whipcord variety, so apart from his height he wasn't physically splendid: not if you were only looking. But Pippa wasn't only looking. She was remembering, too, and her memories were delicious.

'You're a shameless woman,' he murmured.

'I know,' she said as she trailed her hand over his smooth chest. 'It's more fun that way. Don't you think?'

'If you put it like that,' he said, speaking with difficulty, 'then yes.'

She chuckled and began to kiss him, his mouth first, then his neck, little tickling kisses that drew a growl from his throat. His hands began to go into action, but she stopped them.

'I'm supposed to be seducing you, remember?'

'Well, you've seduced me now,' he said, grinning. 'Let's get on to the next bit.'

'Wait,' she said, fending him off. 'Learn to be patient.'

'To hell with that. If it's worth waiting for, I want it now.'' He began touching her with little tickling movements that sent sensation flowing over her skin. He was a devil who knew she couldn't hold out when she did that.