No Mistaking Love

doubts as she surrendered herself to all-eclipsing joy of the night.

CHAPTER TEN

LUKE woke Kate with kisses early the next morning, but, though his eyes kindled at her stretch of sleepy, luxurious contentment, he wouldn't allow her to linger.

`Wake up!' he said, pulling back the duvet and grinning at her protests. `We've got a contract to sign, and we're going to be late if we don't hurry!’

He showed Kate his watch and she sat up in horror, all traces of sleep gone as she realised the time. There was no time for breakfast as they dressed quickly and raced across to Philippe Robard's office, but Kate glowed with an inner happiness that no amount of cosmetics and careful dressing could achieve.

Xavier took one look at her and smiled ruefully. `Luke is a very lucky man,' he said quietly, lifting her hand to his lips in an old-fashioned gesture.

Luke treated her with scrupulous professionalism during the signing, and if Kate had not caught his eye once and seen the light there she might have wondered if this was the same man who had made love to her with such passion last night. But when the contract was signed and they had left the offices he pulled her into his arms in the middle of the street and kissed her as if he had been away for a month.

She had never seen him so elated. Paris was trembling on the edge of spring, and the sun was shining. Kate felt happiness bubbling along her veins like champagne. Everything seemed to have acquired a sharp new focus overnight.

They sat in a cafe and had a late breakfast, warm buttery croissants and great cups of coffee with steam curling languidly into the sunshine pouring through the windows. Kate rested her elbows, cupping her hands around her cup, and smiled at Luke.

It was wonderful to be able to watch him without restraint, to let her eyes rest on the strong, decisive lines of his face and remember how his skin had felt to her touch last night.

`Don't look like that, Kate,' he grinned, reading her expression easily. `Or, at least, not when we're in public! I might forget that we have work to do today!'

`You're right.' Kate assumed a demure look. `We wouldn't want to forget that friendly business relationship we agreed to have, would we?'

Luke reached out and touched her hair gently. `Not during the day, no, but nights are a different matter! We can forget business then.'

There had been no mention of love, but, as they sat in the sun on that spring morning in Paris, it was enough for Kate. _

It was surprisingly easy to slip back into the businesslike role and they worked comfortably together on the plane back to London.

`I'd better go and have a word with Miles,' Luke said when they got back to the office. `As finance director, he'll need to know the final details we agreed today.'

Kate nodded. She was looking quickly through the day's post, and it was only when the silence lengthened that she looked up in some surprise to see Luke watching her with amusement.

`You look so absorbed,' he said. `I don't know that I like the way you seem to be able to concentrate on work after what happened last night! Don't say you've forgotten already?'

Kate dropped the letters on to the desk and her clear gaze met his. `I'll never forget,' she said quietly. `You know I won't.'

Luke took her hands and pulled her towards him. `We shouldn't do this,' he muttered.

`I'm not doing anything,' Kate pointed out, but she didn't resist as he kissed her.

`You're standing there, looking the way you do. That's enough.'

`This is very unprofessional.' Kate tried to sound severe, but spoiled the effect by sliding her arms round his neck and kissing him back.

`It is. It is.' Luke disentangled himself reluctantly. `From tomorrow, it's strictly business in the office!'

'Strictly,' Kate agreed with a smile.

`Now I really am going to see Miles.' Luke laid his hand against her cheek for a brief moment. `Then we'll get down to some work, and then we'll go home-together!'

Kate was still standing by her desk, holding a hand to her cheek where he had touched her, when the door opened suddenly.

She had forgotten Helen.

At the sight of her eclipsing beauty, a cold finger of fear touched Kate's heart and clouded her happiness. What chance did she stand next to Helen? No matter how good she looked, she would always look dim and drab next to the glamorous blonde.

Kate pulled herself together. `I'm afraid Luke's not here,' she said courteously. `He's just gone down to have a word with the finance director.' She prayed that Helen wouldn't stay. She didn't think she could bear to see them together.

`Really?' Helen's green eyes were icy. `Judging by the touching farewell I just witnessed, I expected he'd gone away for at least a week!'

'I'm sorry?'

'Don't give me that innocent look! I saw you through that glass panel in the door. I saw Luke kissing you and that silly besotted look on your face,' Helen sneered. Seeing the flush stain Kate cheeks, she pursued her advantage. `And I thought you were supposed to be the ultimate professional secretary! I could have told Luke that you'd turn out like all the others!'

Kate went still. `What others?’

'What others?' Helen mimicked spitefully `Did you really think you were special? Why do you think he's had so many secretaries?’

'He's a difficult man.' Kate had herself well under control now. `They couldn't cope with him.'

`Is that what he told you? And you believe it?' Helen strolled insolently over to the window and lit a cigarette with sinuous grace. `You little fool!' she jeered, blowing out a cloud of smoke. `All his secretaries start off being efficient little madams like you, and they all fall for him in the end. It's just a question of time before they start throwing themselves at him; you must have lasted longer than most.'

She turned round and inspected Kate with contempt. `Luke, as you have no doubt discovered, is not a man to resist a woman offered to him on a plate, but after a while he gets bored and it all gets rather embarrassing. When it comes down to it he only loves this wretched firm, and the last thing he wants is some secretary getting involved and emotional. They always leave in tears, and he comes back to me. We understand each other.'

`Good for you,' Kate said evenly, but her eyes flashed with dislike as she turned deliberately away. Helen's words had hit her like sharp little stones, but she would have died rather than admit how much they hurt.

As she turned her back Helen drew a sudden breath. `Catherine Haddington-Finch,' she said slowly. `That's who you are! I knew I'd seen you somewhere before!'

Kate froze. `I don't know what you're talking about.'

`Oh, yes, you do!' Helen stubbed out her cigarette and came back from the window. `I thought you looked familiar, but as soon as I saw that look of disgust I knew where I'd seen you. You were Anne's ugly little friend at Chittingdene. I always thought it was a joke that you-you!- dared to disapprove of me. You were always so quiet, but you had a special little contemptuous look you kept for me.'

She walked round to face Kate. `Yes, it's obvious now. You've filled out, of course, but get rid of that rather smart hairstyle and put those terrible bottle-bottom glasses back on and you'd look just the same!' Her smile was cold, malicious, as she circled Kate speculatively. `Well, well. Catherine Haddington-Finch! Who would have thought it? Does Luke know?’

'No,' said Kate quietly. It was useless to deny it all now.

`I always thought you had rather a crush on him,' Helen went on. `Anne told me you actually went down to tell him I wasn't coming that day. Rather touching.'