The Blackmailed Bride by Kim Lawrence Page A

should point out I am quite prepared to accept the fact you were suffering from a twenty-four hour bug and concussion. Your mother—’ he shook his dark head slowly from side to side. ‘Now that might be a different story. I suspect she won’t be satisfied by anything less than a medical certificate and a week’s quarantine…and your sister, I got the impression earlier that she was quite happy to have you stay here.’
    Kate’s face fell as she was struck by the accuracy of his observation. Her mother was not the sort of person to expose herself to the risk of infection, no matter how minuscule that risk might be.
    â€˜You saw Susie?’
    Javier had seen many Susies and this one had made as little lasting impression as the others. For his money, this sister was much more memorable. The sort of woman his grandfather would consider had fire; he was pleased to see that, true to her word, she didn’t try and hide those insignificant scars, which to his mind only emphasised the creamy perfection of the rest of her smooth skin.
    At a moment when Kate had rarely felt less composed, she would have been astonished to learn that he was admiring her confidence.
    He inclined his head. ‘A temperature of one hundred and two didn’t keep you in bed, so I doubted if doctor’s orders or myself would have better luck today. I thought you might like to wear your own things this morning. I must say, you look quite charming…’
    Kate was dismayed to find herself shifting awkwardly from foot to foot and colouring up hotly like a schoolgirl at the unexpected but slick compliment.
    â€˜If it wasn’t for the bruise…’
    Kate forced herself not to retreat as he moved unexpectedly forwards and, lifting up her fringe, ran a fingertip gently over the discolorated area on her temple.
    â€˜You wouldn’t know anything had happened. Sorry,’ he apologised as she caught her breath sharply.
    Kate nodded her head and smoothed her hair back down as his hand fell away. She wasn’t about to reveal, not even if her life depended on it, that pain had had nothing to do with her response. The stab of sharp sexual awareness that had jolted through her body at his touch made further self-deception on her part futile.
    She ran the tip of her tongue over her dry lips. ‘It’s bit tender, but don’t worry—I’m not contemplating litigation.’
    â€˜Probably wise in the circumstances,’ he observed drily. ‘The truth would do your career more harm than mine.’
    â€˜I wasn’t doing anything wrong!’ she protested.
    â€˜Ah, but someone in your position not only needs to be above suspicion, but to appear to be above suspicion.’
    â€˜That’s a horribly cynical thing to say.’
    â€˜But true…’
    â€˜We’ll have to agree to differ.’ She accompanied her words with a tight smile that didn’t reach her wary eyes. ‘Don’t worry yourself about my accommodation arrangements, but,’ she added casually, as if the idea had just occurred to her, ‘before I leave, I might as well take those photos and be out of your hair…’ Some perverse mentalprocess immediately made her visualise sliding her fingers deep into that dark, glossy thatch.
    â€˜I’m sure we can come to a mutually agreeable arrangement…’
    â€˜I don’t want to be agreeable!’ she bellowed, stamping her foot. There was absolutely no point playing it softly, softly with someone like him. ‘I want the photos— now! ’
    Shock flickered across Javier’s face. He was not accustomed to receiving peremptory orders from anyone, least of all from a slip of girl like this!
    â€˜ Dios Mio, what a temper you have!’ he exclaimed. ‘Calm yourself. I’m sure we can negotiate something.’
    â€˜Negotiate?’ she parroted, brushing a section of damp hair impatiently behind her