He looked sheepish. ‘More or less,’ he admitted. ‘I just found myself asking her to marry me.’
She hugged him, realising just how easy it was to be swept away by your own emotions. But as far as she was concerned it had been a case of physical attraction, nothing as dramatic as love. In a way she wished it had been, at least then she could have excused her reaction to Damien, could have accepted it even. As it was she was utterly confused.
‘You’d better get yourself ready if you’re going to the airport,’ she suggested easily. ‘I’m just going to my room to change.’
‘Okay. But, Kate …’ he paused, ‘you didn’t mean it about moving out, did you?’
She felt almost guilty at the hurt she could see in his eyes. ‘I did mean it, James. It isn’t that I don’t love you, I just feel I should live my own life, stand on my own two feet.’
‘Who’s been putting these ideas into your head?’ he asked shrewdly.
‘No one,’ she denied. ‘It was just something someone said to me.’
‘What did they say to you?’
She moved uncomfortably. ‘What does it matter what was actually said, they were right.’
‘They?’ he prompted.
Kate ignored the question. ‘I’m just vegetating here. I don’t work, I have nothing to occupy me at all. I could—well, I could become a model like Sheri,’ she said excitedly. ‘Or I could try acting, like you. Damien said—’ she broke off guiltily.
‘Yes?’ James queried mildly. ‘Just what did Damien say? I take it he’s the one who’s been handing out unwelcome advice?’
Her brown eyes flashed. ‘You take it right. And it wasn’t exactly advice.’
‘I can imagine,’ he said dryly.
‘But he is right, you have to admit that.
‘Maybe. And what were you about to say he said?’
‘He thinks I may be very photogenic,’ she admitted. ‘He asked me to go for a screen test tomorrow.’
‘Oh yes?’ He looked sceptical.
Kate grinned at the look on his face. ‘I reacted the same way you are, but he really was serious. He thinks I could be a big star.’
James frowned worriedly. ‘I don’t want that for you, Kate. It isn’t as easy for women in this business as it is for men. I don’t think our father would appreciate my allowing you to enter this disreputable profession either—his words not mine. Did you agree to go?’
She shook her head, her long hair swinging about her shoulders. ‘No, I’m of the same opinion as you. That sort of life isn’t for me, one actor in the family is enough. Actually, he seemed quite pleased that I had refused.’
‘Did he indeed?’ James bit his lip thoughtfully. ‘I wonder why that was, after he’d gone to the trouble of offering it to you. Believe me, if he said you would be good then you would be. He knows what he’s talking about. I can’t say I approve of the idea myself, but you may be a fool to turn him down.’
‘I already have.’ She stopped on her way to her room. ‘By the way, Damien said he’d be over later tonight. Something to do with the film, I think.’
James’ face brightened. ‘He’s given me the part?’
She nodded, giving him a mischievous grin. ‘But that isn’t what he wants to talk to you about. I think he probably wants to discuss your co-star with you.’
‘My co-star?’ His brow cleared. ‘For the part of Rogers, I suppose. Who has he chosen?’
‘Oh, I couldn’t tell you that, it would be breaking a confidence,’ she laughed at the consternation on his face. ‘Damien wouldn’t like it, he’s the director after all.’
‘Damn Damien! Tell me.’
‘I’m not sure I should,’ she teased. ‘Anyway, you won’t like it.’
He caught up with her at the door and swung her round to face him, smiling unwillingly at the mischief in her face. ‘It has to be someone pretty bad for you to find it so amusing.’ The smile faded from his face. ‘Oh no, I’ve just realised … It’s Matt Strange, isn’t it? The rotten sneaking bast—swine!’ he amended. ‘Damien deliberately let me think—God, he’s devious! I even let you go out with him yesterday on the strength of it and all the time he had us picked out as a partnership. I should have realised, Matt’s brash overbearing nature is perfect for the part of Rogers. It just never occurred to me. And that’s what he’s coming here to talk about?’
Kate turned away. ‘I think so.’
‘He isn’t usually so considerate of people’s feelings.’ His steel-grey eyes narrowed. ‘Are you sure he isn’t coming to see you?’
‘He—’ She licked her lips and then blushed as she remembered Damien’s comment about this unconscious habit of hers. ‘Well, he may be,’ she said at last.
‘Which means he is,’ said James with finality. ‘How did your evening with the great man go? Did he make any passes at you?’
She wouldn’t exactly call them passes. He hadn’t been making a pass at her this morning when he had carried her naked from her bath; his intent had been clearly defined as sexual, nothing so insipid as a mere pass. But she couldn’t tell James about that, he would be furious. He might even refuse to star in the film, and she couldn’t let that happen.
‘Not a single one,’ she denied. ‘Quite a let-down for Damien Savage.’
‘You’re sure he isn’t coming back tonight to try again?’
She tried her best to look nonchalant. ‘Do his type usually try twice?’
‘If they want something badly enough I would say yes. And he made no secret of his attraction to you. Not even one pass?’ he persisted.
‘Well … maybe a little one.’ James would become suspicious if she denied it completely. ‘But I rebuffed him. I told you before I went, I don’t like the man.’ That wasn’t strictly true now. She was frightened of him now rather than felt dislike, frightened of the feelings he could arouse in her. ‘The airport, James,’ she reminded him. ‘You mustn’t let Sheri miss her plane.’
‘She
