Infamous by Irene Preston Page A

sliding her foot up his calf. Morgan’s eyes widened and Jessica smiled at him as her foot continued its upward journey.
    “Jessica … .” His voice was a low growl.
    She blinked artlessly.
    “Morgan?”
    He opened his mouth, but just then her foot finished its climb and made its way over the edge of the chair and into his lap. There was an unmistakable bulge in his trousers. She stroked delicately.
    He jumped and a hand clamped over her foot. Trapped, she wiggled her toes against him, pressing down until she felt him press back involuntarily. His mouth was a grim line, but his pupils had dilated until there was only a thin band of brown around the edges.
    “Cut that out,” he said.
    Jessica gave another wiggle with her toes. His hand tightened around her foot.
    “Are you sure, Morgan?” she said. “I want to make sure to give good value.”
    Teach him to be careful what he wished for. The tablecloth wasn’t long enough to hide what she was doing. Anyone who happened to glance this way was going to get an eyeful. She smiled. If there was one thing Jessica Sinclair was known for, it was living right down to everyone’s worst expectations.
    There was no telling what Morgan might have said after that little bombshell. His eyes left hers and focused behind her. He eased her foot away from him and a polite mask slipped over his face.
    “Well, well, children,” a familiar voice crowed. “Playing footsies under the table?”
    She jerked her foot out of Morgan’s hand and tried to discreetly jam it back into her pump as she turned to greet Mason and Susan.
    “Jessica had a cramp,” Morgan lied.
    Mason winked. “Sure, I love a good, um … cramp.” He grinned. “Hullo, luv,” he leaned in for a lip-lock, but she averted her head at the last minute, turning it into a respectable kiss on the cheek. He gave in gracefully, but kept his hand on the back of her chair when he straightened.
    “Mason, I didn’t see you here.” Jessica peered around him. “Hello, Susan, we haven’t had a chance to talk in a while. Do you want to join us?”
    Morgan looked like he wanted to object, but Susan forestalled him. “No, we just wanted to stop by and say how glad we are that you two have patched things up. We’re already seated with some friends. ”
    “Oh? Anyone I know?”
    “In this place?” Mason sneered. “Not likely.”
    In his off-white suit and striped burgundy shirt, Mason stood out like a parrot among sparrows. His blond hair was artfully tousled. In lieu of a tie, a silk scarf was looped around his neck.
    Susan, always the diplomat, swatted him on the arm. “Now Mace, the food here is fantastic and it’s so nice to be someplace where people aren’t staring at us all the time.”
    “Speak for yourself, darling,” Mason said. “Although I will admit the food is exceptional.”
    “We’re here wrapping up a little staff meeting for a committee I’m on,” Susan said. “Mason may have mentioned the new charity I’m sponsoring.”
    “For the underprivileged children, wasn’t it? Something to do with medical assistance?” Jessica smiled up at her. “Mason did say something about it. I believe he mentioned a doctor that founded it?”
    “Yes, that’s who we’re here with tonight.” Susan’s usually serene eyes were sparkling and her face flushed. “He’s quite brilliant, a real humanitarian. The program sponsors low-cost clinics and mobile aid units for inner-city children as well as helping to pick up hospital and drug expenses.”
    So. No wonder Mason was antsy. It must be the doctor he thought was interested in Susan.
    Morgan was listening to Susan’s speech with an expression of polite interest, but his gaze kept going back to Mason’s hand at the back of her chair. It was resting against her back. As Mason raised it to stroke a strand of her hair, Morgan broke into the conversation.
    “Susan is here for a committee meeting. What are you doing here, Knight? As you said, not really your