‘You are the most egotistical, insufferable, objectionable man it has ever been my misfortune to meet,’ she got out through clenched teeth, and went to swing away from him.
But his strong hand reached out, fingers clasping her arm to stay her, and Keira raised her furious gaze to his.
‘Please don’t do that,’ she whispered tersely, barely controlling her temper, but also aware just how close she and Eden were to making a scene.
‘Do what?’
‘That,’ Keira repeated, and tried to ease her arm from his touch, but his fingers tightened. ‘You’re embarrassing me.’
‘By talking to you?’ he said infuriatingly. ‘Surely as your boss I’d be expected to have things to discuss with you.’
‘Talking to me? Your topics of conversation leave a lot to be desired. Now, I suggest you let me go.’ Her eyes went expressively to the place where his fingers held her arm. And she made herself ignore the fact that her so- reponsive nerve-endings where he touched her bare skin had set up a wild tattoo which was spreading like a fireball. ‘Let me go, Eden,’ she repeated. ‘Everyone will begin to wonder about-well…’ Keira paused, colour washing her face again.
‘Ah!’ he exclaimed, his tone infuriatingly placating. ‘Everyone will begin to wonder. And if someone sees me touching your arm they’ll expect me to give you a television station of your own.’
With prolonged deliberation he slowly released her, only to trail one strong finger down the length of her arm to her wrist, settling momentarily on the soft flesh where her pulse raced, before eventually breaking the contact. ‘Heaven only knows what might happen if that someone saw me put my arm around you,’ he added drily and Keira’s eyes flashed angrily.
‘Someone? Good grief! There are hundreds of people here and you can’t really imagine you aren’t the focus of most of their attention.’
‘If I went around thinking that I’d be accused of being an egomaniac.’
Keira raised her chin eloquently and he gave a softly sensual laugh. ‘Such flattery, my dear Keira. Must I add that to your list of my failings?’
‘Perhaps your biggest failing is that you’ve spent so much time in your ivory tower you’ve forgotten, if you ever knew, about the intrigues of the lower rank and file. You’re perfectly safe in your penthouse, Mr Cassidy, but I have to live and work down here.’
‘The casting couch again?’ he said with that same dangerous quietness, all humour washed from his expression.
Keira’s gaze met his in trepidation but she stood her ground. ‘You know exactly what I mean.’
‘I still think you’re over-reacting.’
‘And I’ve already had to defend myself once tonight. I don’t need any more drama to fuel the flame.’
His dark head rose as he frowned. ‘Be specific, Keira. Who and what?’
‘I don’t choose to tell you.’
‘If you’re talking about Denver Clarkson, then let me just say he has a very sick wife so I’m sure he’s got more to worry about than my sex-life. Or lack of it,’ he added incitingly, and Keira felt her mouth tighten in exasperation.
‘I think I can safely say this particular person was simply speaking for the majority and and leave it at that,’ Keira said bitterly, and he shoved his hands in his pockets.
‘Then perhaps I should make a public announcement and settle this once and for all. Keira Strong got this job because she was the best person to fill it. No sexual favours have been exchanged.’
Keira flushed and glanced quickly around to see if anyone had heard his outrageous words. ‘Do you have to be so offensive? We’re attracting more than enough attention as it is.’
His blue eyes glittered dangerously. ‘We could attract a hell of a lot more,’ he said and stepped closer, his eyes burning into hers, his suit-clad chest just millimetres from her suddenly taut and throbbing breasts.
‘Eden, please…’
‘Please?’ he repeated shortly. ‘Please.’ His deep tone fell intoxicatingly. ‘That’s what I’d like to do. Please you. And I promise you, I would.’
Keira’s heartbeats drummed at his sensual tone, his arousing words, and she shook her head desperately. ‘Eden, don’t. I can’t take this any more.’
‘You can’t take it? Don’t you know you’re driving me crazy? Come with me after the launch. We’ll have some supper.’
Her heartbeats caught painfully in her throat and she felt decidedly light-headed. ‘You know I can’t do that,’ she got out through her dry lips.
‘Do I? I don’t, you know. And neither do you. Forget everyone else. Think about yourself. Do it for yourself. You know you want to.’ His low, erotic intonation played over her and she felt her quivering, insidious senses clamour for her surrender. And she knew she was rapidly forgetting the reasons why she was denying herself the electrifying pleasure of submission. Why not let him take her anywhere he chose, satisfy the spreading fire within her?
Desperately she shook her head and the wisps of fair hair escaping from her chignon teased her neck, again reminding her of the touch of his lips.
‘Come with me,’ he repeated urgently, the words flowing over her like warm oil, tantalising, enticing her.
CHAPTER NINE
‘NO!’ THE word broke softly from her. ‘I…I can’t,’ she said again with a little more composure.
‘For God’s sake, Keira,’ he ground out, running his hand impassionedly through his hair. His gaze held hers, and for immeasurable seconds pierced her with his controlled fury. ‘I think I need some air,’ he said at last, and strode away from her without a backward glance or the slightest concern about how his abrupt departure would appear to those nearby.
‘What was that all about?’ Roxie asked as she joined Keira, her eyes on Eden’s retreating figure.
Keira took a careful sip of her wine before replying. ‘I guess he has other people to see. He’s a very busy man.’
‘And not a happy one, it would seem.’ Roxie turned back to Keira. ‘So the question is, did he leave or was he asked to go?’
‘I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about, Roxie.’
‘Ah, she knows nothing. Look, Keira, one piece of advice. Don’t go missing the flowers for the trees.’
Keira raised her eyebrows and Roxie shrugged«
‘Or something like that Eden Cassidy’s not a man to be manipulated. Plain as Aunt Aggie’s down-to-earth advice.’
‘I’m not trying to manipulate anyone, Rox. And you know I don’t mix business with pleasure.’
‘I’d be surprised if you remembered what that sort of pleasure was,’ remarked the other girl outrageously.
‘Roxie! Enough.’
‘OK. OK. But I, and the rest of the female population of Australia for that matter, can’t see what you’ve got against the man.’
‘Against him? Well, for a start, he’s a playboy. Only masochists get involved with known playboys. I’m not a masochist. And I don’t want to become one of his harem.’
‘Harem? Aren’t you being a little over the top? I mean, he just doesn’t seem that type to me. I know I rave about him being good-looking. He’s surely that. But quite seriously, Keira, he couldn’t run a corporation this big so successfully if he persisted in love-’em-and-leave-’em dalliances. He has to put in the time, if you get what I mean.’
‘There’s such a thing as delegation, Roxie. And anyway, you’re forgetting Megan Donnelly.’
‘He’d be a fool to tamper with her. And he’s not a fool,’ Roxie dismissed. ‘Good secretaries, and from what I hear she’s the best, aren’t that thick on the ground. Apart from that, I’ve heard she’s almost a couple with a friend of Eden’s in the States.’
