They hadn’t seen each other for two days and she had missed him too, missed his companionship more than anything. ‘James’ car has broken down and I told him we’d give him a lift home. He’s in the lounge.’
Alan took a step back. ‘Oops, I didn’t realise you had company.’
‘It’s only James,’ she dismissed. ‘I think we should leave now if you’re ready. I should think he would like to shower and change before the rest of his guests arrive.’
‘Yes, sure.’
‘Come in and meet him,’ Kate invited. ‘I’ll just get my fur jacket.’
She introduced the two men before disappearing into her bedroom. She couldn’t help but feel relieved when she found them deep in conversation when she came back into the room. There could be no doubt that James approved of Alan, which was just as well, as she wasn’t going to give him up. Alan was exactly what she needed to help her forget Damien, and she felt sure she would need his support this evening when she had to face Damien again.
She and Alan had been dating for about a month now, and while his kisses might not fire her as Damien’s had she knew she was safe with him. He would never ask for more out of their friendship than she was prepared to give. She felt secure with him, happy and relaxed, something she had never felt with Damien.
She sat in the back of the car on the drive to the house, listening with interest to the conversation between the two men.
It was still only nine o’clock when they arrived, but already the house was full of people, the overflow gathered around the pool area. It was among one of these groups that they found Sheri.
‘Darling!’ she reached up to kiss her husband, moving away from her guests to be with him. ‘I was beginning to get worried. I know you said you were coming with Kate, but I couldn’t help wondering what had happened to you.’
He grimaced. ‘Damien again! He’s working the pants off everyone. He was still at it when I left.’
She smiled. ‘He probably still is, he hasn’t arrived here yet.’
‘Maybe he won’t bother. He hasn’t been very sociable lately.’
That was probably the reason Kate hadn’t met him at any of the other parties she had attended. She hadn’t deliberately set out not to see him again, he just hadn’t been around. Not that she for one moment thought he was carrying out his threat to avoid her. He probably had a new conquest and wanted to keep her to himself, and that was the reason for his unsociable behaviour. Whatever his reasons she hoped he didn’t turn up tonight.
Sheri hugged James’ arm to her side. ‘Would you like me to get you something to eat?’
‘I had something at the studio, thanks. But you can come along to the bedroom and help me change if you like.’
The glow in his grey eyes was wickedly inviting.
She giggled. ‘Our guests, James!’
He looked around at the chattering, laughing people. ‘They won’t even notice we’ve gone.’
‘Oh, James …’
‘Come on.’ He took a firm hold of her arm. ‘No more arguments.’
Kate chuckled as the two disappeared into the house, smiling at Alan as he managed to get a couple of drinks for them from a passing waiter. ‘You’ll have to excuse them, they haven’t been married very long.’
‘They make a nice couple.’ He looked curiously at the other guests. ‘I would say James has quite an impressive guest list. So far I think we’re the only two here whom I haven’t either seen on the television or at the cinema. How come you got mixed up with this crowd?’
‘Don’t you like them?’ She looked amused.
‘I haven’t spoken to any of them yet.’
She put her hand companionably through the crook of his arm. ‘I’ll take you round and introduce you to some of them.’
They were soon caught up in the laughing crowd, the place simply overflowing with people. They finally ended up in the largest room of the house where about fifty of the guests were attempting to dance. Kate and Alan finally gave up trying, simply swaying together to the music.
Alan grinned down at her. ‘Like I said, how did you get mixed up with a mad crowd of people like this?’
‘James is an old family friend,’ she evaded. ‘They’re not so bad once you get to know them. They just work and play very hard.’
‘Oh, I’m not complaining,’ his smile was teasing. ‘I’m enjoying the dancing immensely.’
She laughed up at him. ‘Impossible, isn’t it? Shall we—’
‘Excuse me,’ cut in a familiarly icy voice. ‘Can I borrow the lady for a dance or two?’ drawled Damien Savage.
Kate’s brown eyes flew open in alarm, the gold flecks more pronounced in her distress. ‘I don’t—’
Damien ignored her, pinpointing the other man with his inflexible green eyes. ‘Do you have any objections?’
Alan looked taken aback by this arrogant man’s persistence. ‘I don’t have any. But—’
‘Good.’ Damien effectively cut in front of him, pulling Kate roughly into his arms.
To be suddenly this close to him after not seeing him for so long made her tremble in his arms. He looked so attractive, dressed in white trousers and shirt, a royal blue velvet jacket fitting tautly across his shoulders. The shirt was opened casually at the throat, allowing her to see the beginning of the dark hairs that she knew ran across his chest and down past his navel. The thought of it made her tremble more than ever.
‘Cold?’ he murmured against her temple.
He knew very well she wasn’t! ‘A little,’ she lied.
His answer was to pull her even closer, the firm outline of his thighs digging into her soft flesh. ‘Better?’ he asked softly.
She couldn’t answer him, her emotions were running so high. He had no right to do this to her, no right to play on her senses like this. She cleared her throat before
