He didn't want to be loved the way she loved him. He liked his women cynical and detached. He liked his secretaries cool and collected. And she was his secretary, so, if that was what he wanted, that was what she would be. Luke must never guess how she felt.
When he rapped at her door she jumped. Be businesslike, she chided herself, wrapping her robe more closely around her as if in protection. Let him think you're as brisk and professional as ever.
`You look terrible,' Luke said after one look at her. `I knew you were going to suffer this morning!'
`I haven't got a hangover,' Kate lied with dignity. `I just feel a little fragile.'
`Serves you right for wearing a dress like that,' Luke said unsympathetically, but his eyes travelled over her bare face and sleep-tousled hair with some amusement. `I must say, it makes a change to see you looking less than immaculate!'
He was wearing a grey suit and was clearly ready to start work.
Kate wondered how he managed to look so revoltingly awake and energetic. `I'm not used to drinking so much wine,' she explained.
`Believe me, nobody would have guessed from your performance last night!' He reached into his inside pocket and produced a packet of aspirin. `Here, take two of these,' he said gruffly. `There's no need to rush. I'm going out, but I'll be back later and we'll go to see Robard together.'
By the time he returned Kate was dressed in the same skirt as the day before, but with a thin olive-green jumper, which made her look businesslike, even if she didn't feel the part.
They had to wait in Philippe Robard's office for nearly forty minutes. Luke was on edge and prowled around the room, trying to convince himself that they would get the contract. Kate longed to put her arms round him reassuringly, but his nervousness was catching, and she sat primly on a chair, hoping desperately that she hadn't ruined all his chances by her behaviour last night.
`Where is Robard?' Luke glanced at his watch yet again. `It can't take them that long to come to a decision.'
'Philippe did tell us that some of the directors are keen on giving the contract to a French firm.'
`I'm offering them a better deal,' Luke countered, as if trying to convince her. `They have to give it to us. We've got the experience and the expertise.'
`You haven't had experience dealing with Frenchmen, though,' Kate said, playing devil's advocate.
`No, but you have,' Luke said nastily, `judging by how you dealt with Xavier last night!'
The door opened before Kate had a chance to point out that there was no need for him to take out his nervousness on her, and Philippe Robard came in.
`Please accept my apologies, Monsieur Hardman,' he said, shaking hands with them both. `I have kept you waiting, but the board has, at last, come to a decision. We will accept your proposal.'
Luke drew a deep breath of relief, and then smiled. `Thank you,' he said simply.
`I have to admit that there was opposition to using an untried English firm, but Xavier and I were able to persuade them that with the involvement of Mademoiselle Finch there would be no problems of communication.'
Delighted, Kate glanced at Luke, but after that first betraying smile he had his excitement well under control and was calmly agreeing to discuss details of the next stage of the contract at a later date, so she maintained a businesslike front as well while Philippe escorted them courteously downstairs and said goodbye to them on the steps.
Without saying a word, Luke and Kate began to walk sedately away, but, once out of sight of Philippe, Luke stopped.
`He gave us the contract,' he said, as if he had only just realised.
`Yes, he did.' Kate smiled at his expression. `He must have liked my dress after all!'
At that, Luke swung her into his arms with an exuberant laugh. `We did it!' he exulted, and Kate laughed delightedly, caught up in the excitement.
They both became aware at the same time how close he was holding her, but Luke didn't release her immediately. Instead he looked down into her bright face, and his own smile faded while a much more disturbing light began to burn in his eyes.
For a long moment they just stared at each other, then Luke's hands tightened against her.
He's going to kiss me, Kate thought in panic, knowing that she would not be able to resist and terrified of how revealing her response would be.
But he didn't kiss her. He released her slowly, almost reluctantly. `I nearly forgot,' he said.
`What?' asked Kate, horrified at how husky her voice sounded.
`Strictly business. That's how you wanted to keep things, wasn't it?'
He looked at her closely, almost as if he was waiting for her to disagree, but Kate nodded. It was better this way. `Yes,' she said.
`You said it was more sensible.'
It was. Hard, but sensible. `Yes,' she said again.
There was a tiny pause. Luke folded the collar of her jacket down and patted it in place. `We'd better celebrate,' he said after a moment.
He took her to a cafe in a small cobbled courtyard near the hotel, where they drank a bottle of Sauvignon and ate goat's cheese with a rye bread that was hard and dry and delicious. The momentary awkwardness had passed and they talked easily, planning how the contract would work and what changes would need to be made in the office.
It was too cold to sit outside, so they chose a small round table in the window. Kate moved her glass around on the plastic top, leaving interlocking damp circles until Luke told her not to make such a mess and wiped it up with a paper napkin.
Kate was happy, she realised with a small shock of surprise. Luke was more likely to break her heart than ever return her love, but here in this warm cafe, with Paris passing by outside and the brusque difficult man absorbed in his work on the other side of the table, she was content.
Resting her crossed arms on the table, she leant forward and gazed out of the window. Two old ladies, identically dressed in black, stood and gossiped on the cobbles. One had a tartan shopping trolley, and a long loaf of French bread stuck out at a jaunty angle. The other seemed to be complaining with much gesticulating and shrugging and grimacing.
Kate's autumn-coloured eyes were soft, and a faint smile lifted the corners of her mouth as she watched the scene.
`What's so funny?' Luke asked.
`I'm just happy,' she said simply.
'Hmmnn.' Luke gave her a look of mock suspicion. `I never thought any secretary of mine would describe herself as happy. Most of them seemed to spend half their time in tears, complaining that I bullied them,' he remembered morosely.
Laughter danced in her eyes. `You probably did.'
`I bully you, but you don't cry.'
`Perhaps I should!'
`Please don't. I never had the patience to deal with the watering-pots. As far as I was concerned, if they couldn't put up with a little shouting. they shouldn't have been working for me.' He paused and studied Kate's face thought fully. `I've been through no less than twelve secretaries in the last two years alone. You're the only one who's ever stood up to me.'
`Well, you're not so bad,' Kate teased. She felt absurdly happy. Careful, she warned herself. Keep things light. It would be easy to blurt out how much she loved him and spoil everything. At least this way she could be near him during the day. `I get to sit in a Paris cafe every now and then. I'm easily pleased.'
Luke hesitated, then reached into his jacket pocket to pull out a small, beautifully wrapped box. `Since you're so easy to keep happy, I suppose I don't need to give you this, but I'd like you to have it.' He put it on the table in front of her and Kate stared down at it in astonishment. `I was going to give it to you when we got back to London,' he explained a little awkwardly. `It's to thank you for helping me to get the contract. I know I wouldn't have been able to do it without you.' '
`But Luke…' Kate didn't know what to say. She picked up the little box as if it were very fragile. `You really
