‘I can’t be too late home,’ Kate said. ‘Alan’s coming over about eight-thirty.’
‘James promised he would get home early, and I’m sure he will because I told him I was going to try and persuade you to stay for dinner. He misses you, you know.’
‘I miss him too,’ Kate admitted.
‘We would like you to move back here with us.’
Kate was touched by the sincerity of her words, but she shook her head firmly. ‘I couldn’t let James take over my life again. You know what he used to be like.’
‘Mm, I—’ Sheri broke off. ‘I think that’s him now. Go and meet him,’ she encouraged.
‘Wouldn’t you like to go?’
‘I’ll see him in a minute. I know he’s been looking forward to seeing you. You found each other so late in life that I’m afraid he’ll always be this protective of you. He loves you, Kate. Try to understand him.’
Kate swallowed an emotional lump in her throat, standing up to go and meet her brother. ‘I wonder if he realises how well you know him.’
‘I think so,’ Sheri said softly.
‘Well, I hope he realises how lucky he is.’
She laughed. ‘Go and meet him.’
Kate hurried to the door, hearing the faint murmur of voices in the entrance-hall. ‘Now then, James,’ she laughed, ‘Sheri and I have decided that we don’t want any talk about your demonic director this evening,’ she laughed lightly. ‘We all know what a bully and a tyrant he—’
She broke off in dismay, a dark colour staining her cheeks as she saw who was with her brother. Damien Savage! And look at the way she had just spoken about him!
James gave a throaty chuckle at her confusion. ‘As you can see, I brought Damien with me.’
‘The demonic director,’ Damien drawled mockingly.
The colour stayed in her cheeks. ‘I didn’t realise you were with James.’
‘Would it have made any difference if you had?’
She held her head high. ‘Probably not.’
He gave a half smile. ‘I didn’t think so.’
Sheri had left the lounge to see what was going on, moving over to kiss her husband before greeting her guest. It gave Kate the chance to study Damien without being observed.
He was still as attractive as ever, but he looked different. The lines of cynicism about his mouth and nose had deepened and there were lines of strain about his eyes. His hair was still as thick and vital, but she could see a few strands of grey among its blackness. And he looked leaner too, his muscles more pronounced. As Sheri had already said, he looked as if he was working and playing too hard, mainly playing, she would hazard.
‘It’s lovely to see you again, Damien,’ Sheri said with a smile.
‘Even if I am the demonic director?’ he taunted.
She laughed. ‘Don’t be cruel and remind Kate of her mistake,’ she rebuked him.
‘She seems to make a lot of them where I’m concerned,’ he drawled.
Kate blushed, her embarrassment momentarily covered by James’ bear-like hug and the firm kiss he planted on her cheek. He stood back, surveying her censoriously. ‘You don’t look well,’ he stated abruptly.
She put up a hand to her pale cheeks, the surprise of seeing Damien beginning to fade. ‘I’m fine, James.’
‘No, you’re not. Are you working too hard?’
She could sense Damien watching the two of them and it took a strong effort of will not to meet that challenging look. ‘I’m not working at all, I’m only learning at the moment.’
‘Well, it doesn’t agree with you. With your allowance you have no need to work. By the time you’ve finished this course you’ll probably decide to get married, then you won’t need it.’
‘I have no intention of getting married.’
‘That’s what I said,’ he scoffed, ‘and look what happened to me!’
‘What course are you taking?’ Damien interrupted harshly.
‘A secretarial course,’ she supplied unwillingly.
The mockery increased in his green eyes. ‘I don’t think you’re the secretary type.’ The look in his eyes told her he pictured her in quite another role.
‘I’d better go and change for dinner,’ James said ruefully.
‘That reminds me,’ Damien voiced softly, ‘I still have a pair of your trousers.’
James frowned. ‘A pair of my— How on earth did you get a pair of my trousers?’
Damien quirked an eyebrow. ‘I should ask Kate that.’
So it was to be that way, was it! Well, she was far from admitting defeat. She threw back her head defiantly. ‘I let Damien borrow a pair of your trousers when he got his own wet at your apartment.’
Sheri looked puzzled. ‘How did he do that? Or is that an embarrassing question?’
Damien gave a soft laugh. ‘I believe it is.’
‘I see.’ James bit his lip, obviously remembering the occasion alluded to. ‘I’ll go and change.’
‘I’ll come with you,’ his wife said hurriedly, feeling an unwanted third.
‘Does James always try and ignore your little discrepancies?’ Damien rasped once they were alone.
‘I’ve already explained to him about that night and morning.’
‘And he believed you?’
‘He had no reason not to,’ she said softly.
‘I would have thought there were two very good reasons—I’m a man and you’re a woman.’
‘I’ve told you before, that doesn’t necessarily mean what smutty little minds take it to mean. Shall we go into the lounge and wait for the others?’
He followed her, sitting down as she did the same. ‘I’ll never understand this set-up.’
‘I wouldn’t even try,’ she derided.
‘Are you still seeing—what’s his name, Alan, was it?’
‘Yes, it was, and yes, I am.’
‘And you haven’t missed me at all?’ he asked softly, watching her intently.
‘Was I supposed to?’ Kate couldn’t help her surprise.
Each time they parted Damien made his intention of never seeing her again perfectly clear.
‘Maybe,’ he said nonchalantly. ‘Did you?’
‘No,’ she lied.
Sheri came back into the room at that moment. ‘Jennings says dinner is ready. Shall we all go through to the dining-room?’
Kate ate hardly anything of the beautifully prepared meal, all too much aware of Damien sitting just across the
