Lady Surrender
Carole Mortimer

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MILLS & BOON

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Table of Contents

Cover

Title Page

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

CHARLY barely had time to click back the lock on the apartment door before it was pushed forcibly open, knocking her off-balance as she grabbed at the towel she had quickly draped about herself when the doorbell rang seconds ago, having to get out of the shower to answer it.

The man who had pushed his way in towered over her five foot frame, but there was still challenge in her wide grey eyes as she looked up at him, successfully hiding her nervousness at this intrusion. ‘I don’t know who you are—–’

‘No,’ he acknowledged harshly. ‘But I know who you are!’ His aggressive accent was definitely American.

‘Obviously,’ she drawled. ‘If you’re after money or jewellery I think I should tell you I don’t have any here.’

His green-eyed gaze raked over her contemptuously. ‘Women like you only have one jewel, lady, and even that gets tarnished after a while.’

Charly gasped at the crude insult, all nervousness fading. ‘If you want to take what valuables there are then do so and leave,’ she instructed haughtily.

His mouth twisted. ‘You’re pretty free with what doesn’t belong to you, aren’t you?’ he scorned derisively. ‘But then you have no idea of morality, do you?’

‘I beg your pardon!’ She raised light brown brows indignantly, their indistinctive colour making it difficult to tell whether the hair beneath the second towel she had draped around her wet hair was blonde, brunette, or auburn, or a mixture of all three.

‘I’m not the one you should be apologising to—–’

‘Are you some sort of political fanatic?’ Charly frowned suspiciously.

‘Hell, no!’

‘Then what do you want? If it’s me, I ought to tell you I’ve been taught self-defence.’

‘Lady, I wouldn’t care if you were a judo and Kung Fu expert rolled into one,’ he dismissed harshly. ‘I’m not about to let a five foot nothing woman defeat me in achieving what I came here to do!’

As he must have stood about six foot four, was deeply muscled beneath the pale green shirt and leather jacket, his legs lean and strong beneath black trousers, and her self-defence classes had been nowhere near as expert as judo or Kung Fu, he could be right! But she wasn’t about to let him know that. ‘My husband is in the bedroom,’ she told him firmly, hoping the classical lie in a situation like this sounded more convincing to him than it did to her.

The green eyes became contemptuous. ‘You don’t have a husband of your own, only someone else’s—and I happen to know he’s out of town!’

Charly gave an irritated frown. ‘Are you sure you have the right apartment?’ Maybe they could laugh together about this once he realised his mistake—but she doubted it. This man was beyond a joke, and the situation wasn’t at all funny!

In other circumstances she might even have thought him attractive. He had a certain rakish appearance, casually styled black hair, a reckless light in those deep green eyes, his mouth firmly sculptured, his jaw square, his lean body obviously kept in physical health, although the cynicism in his expression wasn’t quite as attractive, or the derision for her he didn’t try to hide behind politeness.

‘This is Matt Parker’s apartment, isn’t it?’ he rasped.

‘Yes,’ she frowned.

‘And you are Charly, aren’t you?’

She stiffened. ‘Only my friends are allowed to call me that.’

He gave her a contemptuous look. ‘And I’m sure there are a lot of them, honey—all male!’

She drew in an angry breath. ‘I don’t know if you mean to be insulting—–’

‘Oh, I do,’ he drawled. ‘Believe me, I do!’

‘You don’t know the first thing about me—–’

‘I know the only thing I want to know about you,’ he scoffed. ‘Matt must have been insane to get mixed up with a woman like you.’ He looked at her critically. ‘Admittedly, you’re beautiful—–’

‘Thank you!’ she said with sarcasm.

‘In an earthy sort of way.’ His gaze lingered on the pert fullness of her breasts and the generous curve of her hips. ‘But you certainly don’t look worth throwing away eight years of marriage, a lovely wife, and two kids for!’ he added scathingly.

‘I’m sure you’re right—–’

‘You bet I am. And when Matt gets back from this damned trip he’s going to thank me for finishing things between you—after I’ve killed him,’ he muttered grimly. ‘I did enough bailing out for him at university; I don’t expect to still have to do it!’

Charly was more puzzled than ever. ‘You were at university with Matt?’

‘Yes. Now when Molly gets here I want you to—–’

‘Matt’s wife is coming here?’ She frowned her confusion. ‘Whatever for?’

‘Don’t act dumb,’ he scowled. ‘Or maybe you are,’ he derided. ‘A mistress doesn’t usually answer the telephone in her lover’s apartment and speak to his wife! Unless you’re trying to break them up?’ he grated. ‘You don’t fancy being the next Mrs Matt Parker, do you?’ he scorned. ‘Believe me, it will never happen. Matt may be infatuated with you at the moment, but he’ll listen to me when I tell him you’re nothing but a mercenary little tramp.’

Charly had a feeling much like it must be to be run over by a steam-roller! ‘I’m sure he will,’ she answered dazedly.

He nodded, as if there were no doubting the fact. ‘In the meantime we have to convince Molly that she’s all wrong about the two of you.’

‘And just how do you propose to do that?’ she asked dryly.

‘With the only language women like you understand—money,’ he told her derisively.

Charly stiffened, resentment in every bone of her body. ‘Is that so?’ she drawled.

He nodded, his expression contemptuous. ‘And a little acting on your part too—but I’m sure that won’t be difficult for you either,’ he dismissed with disgust.

In other circumstances she would have put this man firmly in his place, and friend of Matt’s or not, it would not have been this apartment! But at the moment she was too bemused—certainly not amused!—by the assumption he seemed to have made about her and Matt. She was even more interested in hearing how he intended dealing with the situation.

‘Go on,’ she invited.

‘I’ve told Molly that you’re my girlfriend.’ The man looked at her with dislike.

Charly returned that dislike—with interest. ‘Couldn’t you have thought of something better than that?’

‘In the thinking time I had, no,’ he glared at her. ‘I got in to the country yesterday—–’

‘I guessed you weren’t English,’ she scorned.

‘Not gentlemanly enough for you, hmm?’ he derided. ‘Well I don’t know where you got that plummy accent from,’ he dismissed harshly, ‘but I can assure you I don’t think of you as a lady either!’

Insulting man! Her parents had paid a small fortune for her to acquire this ‘plummy accent’. And she didn’t think it was ‘plummy’ at all, just correct English. Ignorant lout!

‘You were telling me about this marvellous plan you had devised to convince Molly that Matt and I aren’t lovers,’ she prompted in a bored voice. ‘And perhaps it would be better if you introduced yourself.’

Green eyes glittered dangerously. ‘The name is Aaron Grantley. And I’d advise you not to irritate me, lady; I’m angry enough already!’

The threat passed unheeded. Aaron Grantley! She had had no idea what he looked like and so hadn’t recognised him, although he was much more well-known in his native America. But she had heard of him, knew that when it came to business there was none better, that the man had amassed a fortune and a hotel empire in America using his business acumen, that he was now interested in advancing into England. Charly hadn’t realised he was in the country. Perhaps she ought to put an end to this right now, before—–

‘Women like you are a dime a dozen,’ he told her coldly. ‘Damn parasites, living off the vulnerability of married men—–’

‘Mr Grantley—–’

‘Believe me, the thought of having to pretend to be your lover makes my skin crawl,’ he added disgustedly. ‘You would have to get me so damned drunk I wouldn’t know what I was doing before I could make love to you!’ he bit out insultingly. ‘But I’m sure there are lots of men who aren’t averse to paying for your services, one way or another.’

Charly was very pale by the time he had finished, all idea of denying a relationship with Matt completely forgotten. Even if she were the sort of woman this man thought she was he had no right to talk to her in this way. People who knew her well would have recognised and understood the anger in silver eyes that were usually a calm grey, and they would have very wisely not pushed her any further.

‘I believe you mentioned something about money yourself,’ she prompted hardly.

The firmly sculptured mouth twisted derisively. ‘I didn’t think you would have missed that.’

She gave a haughty inclination of her head. ‘I never ignore the mention of money, Mr Grantley.’

He nodded. ‘I already guessed that,’ he drawled. ‘I’m prepared to pay you well to pretend to be my girlfriend while Molly is here.’

‘How much?’

‘I see the thought of money puts colour in your cheeks,’ he scorned harshly.

If there were any colour in her cheeks it was anger at this man. How dare he come here making assumptions, throwing out accusations and insults! She might regret her silence later, but for the moment she relished the time she would tell this man how wrong he was.

‘I said how much, Mr Grantley?’ she repeated coldly.

He gave a disgusted snort. ‘I bet Matt has never seen you like this; I’m sure you’re always sweet and lovable with him!’

Charly looked at him steadily. ‘I have no reason not to be,’ she stated truthfully.

‘I suppose he bought you those little rocks.’ Aaron Grantley glared at the diamond studs in her earlobes.

‘Actually, no,’ she told him smoothly.

‘Then some other poor besotted idiot did,’ he accused disgustedly.

James had never been poor, and certainly not a besotted idiot, she thought bitterly. ‘What sort of payment did you have in mind, Mr Grantley?’ she asked him hardly.

‘How about a bracelet to match the earrings?’

Her brows rose; whatever this man was he wasn’t miserly! ‘Your friendship with Matt must be a very close one,’ she frowned.

‘Not close enough, obviously.’ His gaze raked over her contemptuously. ‘He certainly didn’t tell me about you.’ He made the statement an insult.

Charly shrugged. ‘Probably because he knew you would disapprove.’

‘Any real friend would,’ he rasped. ‘The damned fool is married!’

‘Are you married?’ She didn’t remember ever hearing about any marriage, but it was always a possibility.

His mouth twisted. ‘My marital state is none of your business!’

‘I just thought, with Molly being a friend, you might find—this—awkward, if you have a wife too.’

Aaron Grantley sighed. ‘I don’t have a wife, a live-in girlfriend, or indeed any serious relationship at the moment. Which is just as well with Matt in this mess,’ he ground out.

She nodded. ‘You had better tell me exactly what you’ve told Molly about us.’

‘Not a lot,’ he grated forcefully. ‘How could I when I knew nothing about you? Matt had mentioned to me that this apartment wouldn’t be available for my stay because he was letting Charly stay here for a while; I assumed it was one of his colleagues from the hospital that he lets use it when it isn’t convenient for them to travel out of town to their homes. He also told Molly that someone was using the apartment before he left yesterday but he didn’t say who, and like me she assumed it was one of his colleagues from the hospital. Then she realised Matt had left an address book here that she needed, and telephoned to see if this colleague could send it on to her. You answered the telephone,’ he accused.

Charly vaguely remembered the hastily ended conversation with a woman caller earlier, the other woman ringing off once she was told Charly wasn’t the doctor on duty at the hospital that evening. Charly hadn’t thought anything of it at the time, now she realised that must have been Molly.

‘The poor woman is worried out of her mind,’ Aaron Grantley told her harshly. ‘She’s left the kids with her mother and is driving up here immediately.’

Charly frowned. ‘And where do you come in to it, besides being Matt’s friend?’

‘Molly telephoned me after talking to you, to invite me down to dinner tomorrow, and also to ask me if I knew anything about you—casually. Too casually,’ he added pointedly.

‘You’re having dinner with Matt’s wife while he’s away?’ she taunted.

His mouth tightened formidably. ‘He’ll be back tomorrow afternoon; don’t credit everyone else with your alley-cat morals!’

She drew in an angry breath. ‘If you’re so damned pure why does Molly believe you’re capable of keeping a woman at your best friend’s apartment?’ she accused coldly.

‘Doesn’t the fact that she’s driving up here anyway tell you that she doesn’t believe it?’ His eyes glittered. ‘She knows damn well I would do anything to protect Matt, and that includes lying for him. So you had better give the performance of your life, lady!’

‘How do you know I don’t work at the hospital?’ she frowned. ‘They have allowed women to enter professions for some years now, you know,’ she added scornfully.

‘Molly knows the names of the people Matt lets stay here, and none of them are called Charly! Besides,’ he looked at her derisively, ‘you don’t look as if you have the brains to do more than entertain a man!’

A chauvinist as well as everything else! ‘I’m not surprised you don’t have a woman in your life at the moment, Mr Grantley,’ she bit out coldly. ‘In fact, I’m surprised you’ve ever had one with your opinion of us!’

‘How do you think I came by this opinion?’ he scorned.

She looked him over coolly. ‘By choosing the wrong sort of woman, obviously. But they were probably the only sort you could get! Certainly no intelligent woman would want to be involved with such a male chauvinist.’

‘Pig,’ he finished derisively. ‘That is the colloquialism of today, isn’t it?’ he drawled at her questioning look.

‘Male chauvinistic pig,’ she tested the statement for sound. ‘Yes, I believe that applies to you quite nicely.’

‘And we both know my opinion of you,’ he rasped. ‘So my acting had better be good too!’

‘Just when are you expecting Molly to arrive?’

‘It takes just over an hour from the house, so any time now, I would think,’ he scowled. ‘So you had better get yourself dressed.’

‘Wouldn’t it look more convincing if I stayed as I am?’ she mocked.

Cold green eyes looked her over critically. ‘Get dressed,’ he instructed abruptly. ‘There’s no reason for us to look as if we’ve just been to bed together.’

‘Heaven forbid it should look as if you had actually made love to me!’ Her eyes flashed.

‘How old are you?’ he rasped.

‘Twenty-six,’ she was surprised into answering the question. ‘What does that have to do with anything?’

His mouth twisted. ‘I would have thought that by now you would have been used to the knocks.’

Her expression became unreadable. ‘I am,’ she answered abruptly. ‘I just don’t expect insults from a man I don’t even know—and who certainly doesn’t know me,’ she added hardly.

‘What I do know I don’t like,’ he bit out. ‘But you had better tell me a little about yourself so that this act at least stands a chance of succeeding.’

‘My name is Charly—Allenby, I’m unmarried, and as I’ve already told you, I’m twenty-six.’

Aaron Grantley frowned darkly. ‘That’s all?’

‘The prisoner is only required to give name, rank, and number,’ she drawled derisively.

‘Stop being so damned blasé,’ he rasped grimly. ‘I’m trying to save the marriage of my two dearest friends—and you’re being paid to help me!’

‘Maybe if you didn’t make assumptions—–’

‘The next thing I know you’ll be claiming that your being here is perfectly innocent,’ he scorned.

‘It is. Look, why would Matt tell you or his wife I were here if I were his mistress?’

‘He told Molly because he didn’t want her to come here and find you in residence, and he told me for the same reason. Charly, go and get some clothes on,’ he said wearily. ‘You’re just wasting time.’

She had never met anyone like him, even James hadn’t been this arrogant! ‘If you’ll just let me explain—–’

‘I don’t want to hear all the details,’ he snapped, settling himself down in an armchair. ‘After tonight I don’t even want to see you again.’

She sighed. ‘I don’t suppose it’s of any interest to you that I was going out this evening?’

‘None at all,’ he confirmed flatly. ‘And remember, as far as you’re concerned Molly is merely coming here to collect an address book; don’t embarrass her by letting her know you’re aware of the real reason.’

She left the room after giving him an indignant glare. Living with James’ arrogance had been frustrating enough, accepting a far deeper arrogance from a complete stranger was unacceptable to her.

But he wasn’t a complete stranger. She had heard all too much of Aaron Grantley in the business world during recent weeks, his latest business venture even intruding into her life. And now the man himself had come bursting into her life with the same intrusive determination to get what he wanted. Well he was going to get far more than he had bargained for from her tonight!

She was putting the finishing touches to her hair when she heard the doorbell ring, turning off the dryer to hear the murmur of voices in the lounge, a breathless female one, and Aaron Grantley’s softer soothing one. She hoped his acting ability was as good as he seemed confident it was, because he was going to need it during the next few seconds!

The couple in the lounge weren’t initially aware of her presence, and she took the opportunity to watch Molly unobserved. She was a tall, pretty woman, about Charly’s own age, with short black hair, darkly lashed blue eyes, talking worriedly to Aaron Grantley. They both seemed to become aware of Charly’s presence at the same moment, turning simultaneously.

It was lucky for Aaron Grantley that the other woman did turn to look at her too, because his mouth literally fell open as he gazed at Charly in dazed surprise. She had been well aware of the impact she would make, had dressed with just that idea in mind. The black and gold dress was Japanese in style, high-necked, short-sleeved, completely figure-hugging, her legs long and shapely beneath its knee length, her gold sandals adding to her height with three-inch heels. Her hair was a straight golden swathe to her waist, her make-up dark and dramatic, far heavier than she normally wore it. Aaron Grantley could now see exactly why a man, married or otherwise, could lose his head over her!

‘I hope I wasn’t too long, darling.’ She swayed gracefully into the room, putting her arms about his neck to kiss him lingeringly on the mouth as he stood perfectly still, rigid with shock. ‘And you must be Molly.’ She turned to the other woman, smiling warmly. ‘Matt has told me so much about you.’

Molly looked taken aback. ‘I—He has?’

‘Oh yes. And your two adorable children. It was so kind of him to let me use his apartment like this.’ She glared hardly at Aaron Grantley before moving out of his arms. ‘Did you find your address book?’ she smiled at the other woman once again.

‘Er—yes.’ Molly looked uncomfortable.

‘Oh good,’ she nodded. ‘I hope it doesn’t inconvenience you that I’m staying here; the fire just about gutted my lounge, although the decorators hope to be finished soon. Shall we sit down?’ she invited smoothly.

Molly plopped down on to the sofa while Charly sank down more gracefully, the length of the slit up the skirt of her dress revealing most of her thigh as she crossed one knee over the other.

‘Fire?’ Molly prompted.

‘Mm,’ Charly nodded, turning curiously to Aaron Grantley as he stood across the room still staring at her. ‘Darling, why don’t you sit down,’ her voice lowered throatily. ‘I’m sure Molly doesn’t have to rush off.’

‘I—I think I’ll have a drink first,’ he spoke decisively. ‘Ladies?’ he added abruptly, as if he had just remembered his manners.

They both declined, and Charly turned to Molly as she guessed the other woman was still waiting for an answer to her question. ‘I detest smoking at the best of times,’ she confided, having to choke back a laugh as she saw the gold cigarette case Aaron Grantley had been reaching for drop back unopened into the breast-pocket of the pale green shirt. ‘But now I refuse to have it anywhere near me,’ she added firmly, all humour gone. ‘A guest at my apartment the other evening forgot about a cigarette she had been smoking and it fell beneath the coffee-table. It smouldered there until I’d gone to bed and then the carpet caught fire.’

‘Oh how awful,’ Molly was genuinely disturbed. ‘Were you hurt?’

‘I inhaled a lot of smoke before a neighbour broke down the door,’ she revealed abruptly, very aware of how intently Aaron Grantley was listening now. ‘They kept me in hospital for observation but I was fine.’

Molly looked accusingly at Aaron Grantley. ‘You didn’t tell me any of this.’

‘Actually, I didn’t tell him,’ Charly explained truthfully. ‘I knew he wouldn’t have liked my having the dinner party while he wasn’t here; he can be so jealous,’ she confided indulgently, studiously avoiding his furious gaze.

‘Aaron can?’ Molly looked stunned.

‘Oh yes,’ Charly nodded. ‘Besides, there was nothing he could do in America.’

‘Then Matt should have told me about it,’ Molly muttered uncomfortably.

‘It only happened at the weekend,’ Charly excused. ‘And now that Aaron is here I can forget all about it,’ she added mockingly, looking up at him challengingly.

Molly shook her head. ‘The two of you seem so close, and yet Aaron hasn’t breathed a word about you to us.’

‘Aaron’s not used to our relationship himself yet,’ she confided. ‘I’m afraid he’s still a little wary of the speed with which we fell in love.’

Molly’s eyes widened at this information. ‘Are the two of you engaged?’ she gasped.

‘I—–’

‘Aaron is a little too old for an engagement,’ Charly dismissed lightly, meeting his furious gaze innocently. ‘So we’ve just decided to get married.’ She kept her face straight as Aaron almost choked on his whisky, his face going red with anger.

‘When?’ Molly squeaked.

‘Well we haven’t actually decided on a date yet, but—–’

‘But you can be sure you and Matt will be the first to know when we do decide on one,’ Aaron put in forcefully. ‘I thought that was going to remain our secret for a while?’ he added gratingly to Charly.

She raised innocent brows. ‘Surely not from such good friends as Molly and Matt?’

‘From anybody.’ He sounded as if he were spitting nails!

‘Well, you didn’t tell me that, darling,’ she drawled, relaxing back in her chair, her grey eyes meeting his calmly. ‘I’m sorry if I’ve ruined your surprise.’

He looked as if that ‘surprise’ might have pushed him to breaking point, although somehow he maintained his control. ‘It doesn’t matter,’ he dismissed abruptly.

‘I’m so glad you told me.’ Molly smiled, all doubts obviously laid to rest with this announcement. ‘Matt is going to be pleased too.’ She turned to Charly. ‘I invited Aaron down to dinner tomorrow evening before I realised how seriously involved the two of you are; please come too, Charly.’

‘Fine,’ Aaron Grantley accepted abruptly. ‘We’ll look forward to it, won’t we, honey?’

He was getting his revenge now! ‘Yes,’ she agreed curtly. ‘We will.’

‘Good.’ Molly seemed relieved that the meeting had turned out so differently from what she had been expecting.

‘Would you like some coffee before you leave?’ Charly offered warmly, liking the other woman and her courage to want to fight for her husband if she had to.

‘That would be nice, thank you,’ Molly nodded acceptance.

‘I’ll help you, Charly,’ Aaron Grantley put in hardly, following her from the room, swinging her round to face him once they reached the privacy of the kitchen. ‘What game do you think you’re playing?’ he demanded furiously.

She glared up at him, shaking off his hand on her arm. ‘I’m not playing at all, Mr Grantley,’ she snapped. ‘Your manners since you arrived here this evening have been highly insulting, to say the least. You prejudged Matt and I—–’

‘Molly may have fallen for that fire and smoke inhalation story, Miss Allenby,’ he ground out, ‘but don’t expect me to be as gullible!’

‘What would it take to convince you?’ she demanded angrily. ‘Third degree burns?’

His mouth twisted. ‘I already know there aren’t any; I’ve seen sixty per cent of you, remember?’

‘You’re right, Mr Grantley,’ she told him flatly. ‘There are no burns.’ She couldn’t tell this man of the way she woke in the night, her body bathed in perspiration as she imagined that choking smoke filled her bedroom once more and she couldn’t get out.

It had only been the quick action of her neighbour that had saved her from death. She had taken a sleeping tablet as usual before she went to bed that night, hadn’t been aware of any danger until Jeff Pearce dragged her through the smoke-filled apartment to safety.

‘I know that,’ Aaron Grantley scorned. ‘But it was a good story. Molly certainly believed it. It’s this idea of marriage between us that you’ve given Molly that I don’t like,’ he scowled, the green eyes dark.

Charily looked up at him unblinkingly. ‘I thought it was a nice touch,’ she drawled.

‘You realise you’ve put us both in an awkward position?’ he rasped.

‘Us?’ she raised her brows, shaking her head. ‘I’ve put you in an awkward position; I have no intention of going to Matt’s for dinner tomorrow. You’ll have to make my excuses to them.’

He gave her a contemptuous look. ‘You’re right; I doubt Matt has the nerve to carry out an evening with his wife and his mistress.’

Charly gave him a pitying look. ‘I’m sure you would have more bravado,’ she scorned. ‘Now shouldn’t you go and keep your guest company; the coffee is almost ready.’

He nodded impatiently. ‘But no more wisecracks about us getting married,’ he warned.

‘Or?’ she drawled.

‘Wait and see.’ He gave a humourless smile, challenge in the narrowed green eyes. ‘You look like a woman who would like surprises,’ he taunted before rejoining Molly in the lounge.

There hadn’t been many surprises in her life, even fewer of them pleasant ones, while the shocks she had received in recent years had been even less pleasant. It seemed, from Aaron Grantley’s viewpoint at least, that the outer shell had faired far better than the inner Charly; he certainly didn’t believe there had been a fire in her apartment. He would be even more sceptical about the rest of her life!

Molly was very relaxed as she drank her coffee, her mind obviously at rest now about her husband’s involvement with Charly. For all that she disliked Aaron Grantley Charly was glad they had managed to do that; it had been the only reason she had agreed to go along with Aaron Grantley’s plan. No woman should have to go through the torture of believing her husband had another woman when it wasn’t true; it was hard enough to bear when it was true!

‘You will let us know when you decide about the wedding, won’t you?’ Molly prompted eagerly. ‘I know Matt wouldn’t want to miss the great event; for years he’s been saying he doubted Aaron would ever marry,’ the other woman teasingly explained to Charly. ‘I’m sure he has no idea how serious your relationship is.’

‘It came as a surprise to us all,’ Aaron Grantley drawled derisively.

‘Oh yes.’ Charly put her hand in the crook of his arm, leaning into him as they sat on the sofa together. ‘But now that I’ve managed to get a commitment from him I’m going to hang on to him.’ She looked at him challengingly as she felt him stiffen.

‘There’s no rush,’ he muttered, giving her a fierce glare.

‘Neither of us is getting any younger, Aaron,’ she lightly mocked.

‘Thirty-five isn’t old,’ he grated.

‘It is for a first marriage,’ she drawled. ‘Not so long ago people would have thought there was something wrong with you,’ she added tauntingly.

His hand covered hers as it rested on his arm, crushing down on her fingers in a gesture that, to an observer, must look loving. ‘We both know how wrong that assumption would be about me,’ he ground out between clenched teeth, his eyes blazing with anger. ‘Don’t we?’ His hand was even more painful on her fingers.

‘Well, of course we do, darling,’ she gave him a coy smile, triumph in her eyes that she had managed to unnerve him once again. ‘I was merely pointing out that we shouldn’t delay the wedding too much longer.’

His mouth tightened ominously. ‘I don’t believe in rushing into these things.’

She gave a light laugh. ‘We wouldn’t be rushing into anything. I don’t—–’ her next taunt was cut off by angrily firm lips descending roughly on to hers, the brief contact of Aaron Grantley’s mouth showing her just how furious he was. It was the first time she had known such intimacy from a man since—–

‘I think it’s time I left,’ Molly gently teased, standing up. ‘I hope you didn’t mind my collecting the address book.’ Once again she avoided Charly’s gaze. ‘I—I’ll see you both tomorrow.’

‘I—–’

‘Yes, we’ll be there,’ Aaron cut in firmly, not wanting to give her the chance to say anything that might be even more damning, standing up to join Molly at the door. ‘Tell Matt I’ll call him tomorrow.’

‘So will I,’ Charly put in determinedly, making no effort to join them as Aaron saw the other woman to the lift.

She was standing in front of the window trying to decide how she felt about that kiss when she sensed he had come back into the room. She didn’t actually have a lot to compare his kiss with, certainly hadn’t been expecting it, or he could have been deeply embarrassed by her violent recoil from the caress. She finally decided she didn’t know how she felt about the kiss.

‘You will not call Matt tomorrow or at any other time,’ Aaron ground out icily.

She straightened her shoulders, her expression cold as she turned to face him. ‘I won’t?’ she drawled.

‘No,’ he rasped. ‘You’ve had your fun here tonight, but now it’s over. I want you to pack your things and move out of here right now.’

‘And where would I go?’

‘Find some other fool to support you in the life to which you’ve become accustomed,’ he scorned. ‘I really don’t care where you go—just do it.’

She shrugged. ‘Matt isn’t going to be too pleased about this.’

Aaron Grantley scowled. ‘Matt will soon realise what an idiot he’s been!’

‘You think so?’ she frowned thoughtfully.

‘I know so,’ he said contemptuously.

‘You probably know him better than I do,’ she nodded consideringly. ‘But I have no intention of moving out of here tonight.’

‘Now look, lady—–’

‘Will you stop calling me “lady” in that contemptuous tone,’ she snapped coldly. ‘We both know you consider me to be the opposite!’

He looked at her with narrowed eyes, his lashes a sooty black against the green depths. ‘With that damned haughty manner of yours you could find yourself an earl or something, why pick on Matt?’

‘He’s a very eminent doctor—–’

‘But hardly jet-set material.’

Her mouth twisted scornfully. ‘I’m not interested in the so-called jet-set,’ she dismissed. ‘I like my men intelligent as well as interesting; Matt is both of those things,’ she added pointedly.

‘Implying I’m not?’

Her brows rose coolly. ‘I thought the idea was for me not to find you attractive?’ she mocked.

He drew in a ragged breath. ‘It is!’

She looked at him with derision. ‘And I can assure you I don’t.’

‘I’ll make your excuses to Molly and Matt tomorrow,’ he ground out. ‘You just make sure you’re gone from here before Matt comes up to town again.’

‘And if I’m not?’

‘You don’t have the diamond bracelet yet, Charly,’ he reminded harshly. ‘Something Matt, for all his ability as a doctor, isn’t able to buy for you.’

Something snapped inside her, a rage towards him and other arrogant men like him. ‘I don’t want your bracelet, Mr Grantley,’ she bit out tautly. ‘I helped you out tonight because—because I know how Molly must be feeling at this moment.’

‘Been replaced a few times yourself, have you?’ he derided contemptuously.

She flushed fiery red in her anger. ‘As a matter of fact, yes!’

He nodded. ‘Small, chubby blondes aren’t exactly in fashion at the moment, are they?’

‘I may be small and blonde, but I am certainly not chubby,’ Charly snapped.

‘Well-endowed?’ he taunted.

‘Curvaceous,’ she bit out, thinking how ridiculous this conversation had become. ‘I don’t have the time for this,’ she claimed grimly. ‘I had an appointment half an hour ago; I’d like to get there soon.’

‘I don’t have the time to waste either,’ he rasped. ‘Some rich bitch is trying to buy my deal from under me, and I consider that a hell of a lot more important than arguing with you!’

She raised light brown brows with practised calm. ‘Aren’t you rich yourself, Mr Grantley?’ she drawled mockingly.

‘I worked for what I have,’ he said harshly. ‘I didn’t have it handed to me with my gold spoon.’

‘I believe the saying is “silver spoon”,’ she corrected softly.

‘Not in this case,’ he scorned grimly. ‘It’s been gold for Rocharlle Hart from day one. She was born into money, married money, and now she’s trying to use some of that money to ruin a property deal I badly want.’

‘Maybe Mrs Hart wants it as badly,’ Charly derided his arrogance.

‘Women like her don’t have wants or needs,’ he dismissed roughly. ‘Only a quest for power.’

‘You don’t sound as if you’ve ever met her, so how can you know—–’

‘I know,’ he cut in firmly. ‘Just as I know you aren’t going to see Matt again.’

‘That might be a little difficult—–’

‘I could make things very unpleasant for you if you don’t agree to this.’

His threat only angered her more. ‘Mr Grantley, perhaps there’s something you should know—–’

‘About you?’ he scorned. ‘I don’t think so.’

‘You might regret not listening to me,’ she suggested with soft emphasis.

‘I doubt that.’

She shrugged. ‘It’s important.’

‘Just as making sure you have varnish on your toenails is important to you, no doubt!’ he looked contemptuously at the offending toenails, the varnish the same deep shade as her fingernails. ‘You look like a damned slave-girl!’

‘Is it a crime to want to look nice?’ she snapped defensively, sick of his criticism.

‘I suppose not, when it’s all you have to do all day,’ he dismissed harshly.

‘It isn’t!’

‘I’m sure it isn’t,’ he derided with a humourless smile. ‘Now let’s get this over with,’ he added decisively. ‘I’ll throw in a necklace to match the bracelet, arrange for you to stay at a hotel until you can find—somewhere else to live,’ his mouth twisted. ‘As long as you move out tomorrow and don’t bother Matt again.’

‘And if I don’t?’ she challenged.

His mouth thinned. ‘As I said, I could make things very unpleasant for you.’

She smiled, confident that this man could do nothing to hurt her. ‘You’re going to feel extremely foolish when you realise what a mistake you’ve made,’ she assured him.

His eyes narrowed. ‘You’re staying in Matt’s apartment, there’s no mistake about that.’

Charly could sense he was becoming uneasy about her cool control, her smile widening. ‘No, there’s no mistake about that,’ she agreed.

‘And that story about the fire is pure fiction,’ he accused.

‘Is it?’

‘Oh to hell with this!’ he moved restlessly. ‘The jewellery will be delivered to you here tomorrow morning, make sure you leave then.’

‘Don’t you think you should talk to Matt before doing this?’ she reasoned.

‘No, I don’t!’ He slammed out of the apartment.

Charly’s breath was expelled in a tense sigh, shaking her head to suddenly look down at her watch; she was going to be over an hour late for her dinner date.

But she couldn’t help wondering, as she drove to the restaurant, what Aaron Grantley’s reaction was going to be once he had spoken to Matt tomorrow.

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