‘Lover,’ he supplied harshly.
‘Man,’ she finished, ignoring his interruption. ‘I’m not going to give that up to pander to another man’s whims and demands. James was unbearably bossy and I’m sure you would be even worse than him.’ Much worse, because she would want him as her lover, and once that happened she would be his slave for life.
Damien gave her an impatient look. ‘We’ll discuss that later.’
‘I’m not going to your apartment again,’ she stated adamantly.
‘I know you’re not,’ he agreed instantly. ‘We’re going to yours. I want to know where you’re living. As the only other person who seems to have that information James is singularly unco-operative. He refused point blank to tell me where you were when I asked him.’
‘Probably because he realises, as I do, that your only interest in me is sexual. You’ve made no secret of that.’
‘So what? James can’t be allowed to keep you and have Sheri as his wife. Does he really pay you an allowance?’ he threw the question at her, reminding her of his behaviour the first time they had met.
‘Yes,’ she answered truthfully.
‘And pay for your apartment?’
‘Yes.’
His face darkened. ‘That will have to stop. I’m not having you kept by anyone but me. Oh, hell!’ He began to scowl again. ‘Here comes Diana Hall. Try not to get bitchy with each other this time.’
Diana Hall was indeed approaching them, her blue eyes set very determinedly on Damien. Kate held her head high. ‘I wouldn’t give you the satisfaction.’
‘That isn’t the sort of satisfaction I want from you.’ He gave a husky laugh at her flaming cheeks. ‘Now, now, behave yourself,’ he taunted as her anger grew.
Kate clamped her lips together to stop her angry retort. She wouldn’t let him see how easily he could annoy her. Diana Hall had reached them by now, threading her hand through the crook of Damien’s arm and leaning intimately against his side. The sight of the other girl drooling all over him only sickened Kate and she knew she had to get away before she made a fool of herself and said something she would regret.
‘I’m just going to see Sheri and James,’ she interrupted Damien’s throaty chuckle at something the other girl had whispered in his ear.
Diana stopped giggling long enough to give her a scathing glance. ‘Can’t you even leave them alone on their wedding day?’ she scorned. ‘Really, Kate, couldn’t you at least wait until they get back from their honeymoon?’
Kate held on to her temper with difficulty. This girl’s taunts had come too soon after Louise St Just’s vitriolic tongue. ‘I said James and Sheri, Diana,’ she said in a controlled voice. ‘If you’ll both excuse me …’
She didn’t get very far before she felt a firm grip on her arm, and she turned resignedly to face Damien. Diana Hall was watching them curiously and she could see several other people looking their way.
‘Just where do you think you’re going?’ he asked grimly, concerned only with her.
She sighed. ‘I already told you that, I’m going to see James and Sheri.’
‘Do you have to? Everyone’s already commenting on you being here at all without that.’
She wrenched out of his grasp, her brown eyes glaring at him angrily. ‘I’m not answerable to you or anyone else for my actions. I shall see who I want when I want.’
‘Okay, okay, maybe I don’t have any say in that—yet. But I’m still taking you home, so don’t try a disappearing act on me. I can be quite brutal when thwarted,’ he warned her, his eyes narrowed.
‘I can imagine!’
‘Just remember it.’
‘Oh, I will. Have fun with your little—friend,’ she scorned. ‘I’m sure she’ll keep you well entertained until I get back.’
‘Jealous, Kate?’ he taunted.
Very, but she wasn’t going to tell him that. ‘Not in the least. I wouldn’t waste my time on such a useless emotion. Look, I have to see James and Sheri, they’ll be leaving in a moment.’
‘All right.’ His green eyes were grim. ‘But don’t try and leave without me.’
With a defiant flick of her head she left him to go up to the room her brother and Sheri were using to change. It had been provided by the hotel as part of the service and Kate wanted to go up and say a private goodbye there. She couldn’t wish them the luck she wanted to in front of all the other guests.
She went to knock on the door, hesitating slightly as she heard Sheri giggling. All sound was cut off at the sound of her knock and she blushed at her stupidity. This was the first time the happy couple had been alone since they became man and wife, and they certainly wouldn’t want her bursting in on their privacy.
She was just turning away when a red-faced James opened the door. ‘Kate!’ he grinned his relief at its being here. ‘I thought it was one of the hotel staff. Come on in.’
She shied away from actually going into the room; she had obviously picked the wrong time to come up here. ‘I can see you later, James, when you get downstairs.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous! Get in here.’
‘No, I—’
Sheri came to the door. ‘Will you come in, Kate, and stop trying to be polite.’ She smiled. ‘James has waited this long for me, I’m sure he can wait until we reach Venice. Come on, Kate.’
She did as she was told, admiring Sheri’s clinging scarlet dress that she had chosen to wear for her flight. ‘You look beautiful, Sheri,’ she blinked away the tears that seemed to have gathered in her eyes again. ‘You looked lovely at the wedding too.’
‘Thank you. You’re looking exceptionally beautiful yourself today.’
James scowled at the two of them as he fastened the buttons to his navy shirt, the jacket to his white suit the only thing he needed to put on now to complete his change of clothing. ‘It’s no good the two of you carrying on like this, I haven’t forgotten about Damien Savage and
