They’d parted on good terms. He’d even thought he’d seen a hint of tears glistening in her eyes as she’d boarded the shuttle bus in Port Douglas. They’d both been aware that having mutual friends would mean they’d bump into each other at some stage. She must have known he would be here tonight—he was part of the proceedings.
He strode towards her, determined to find out what was going on. Dismissing him, she turned back to face the journalist. Jake paused mid-stride, astounded at her abruptness. Then it twigged. Eliza didn’t want this particular newshound sniffing around for an exclusive featuring the billionaire bachelor and the party planner.
Jake changed direction to head over to the bar.
He kept a subtle eye on Eliza. As soon as she was free he headed towards her, wanting to get her attention before anyone else beat him to it.
‘Hello,’ he said, for all the world as if they weren’t anything other than acquaintances with mutual friends. He dropped a kiss on her cool, politely offered cheek.
‘Jake,’ Eliza said.
This was Eliza the Business Director of Party Queens speaking. Not Eliza the lover, who had been so wonderfully responsive in his arms. Not Eliza his golfing buddy from Port Douglas, nor Eliza his bikini-clad companion frolicking in the pool.
‘So good that you could make it down from Brisbane,’ the Business Director said. ‘This is a momentous occasion.’
‘Indeed,’ he said.
Momentous because it was the first time they’d seen each other after their four-day fling? More likely she meant it was momentous because it was to mark the occasion not only of the first major deal of Dominic’s joint venture with the American billionaire philanthropist Walter Burton, but also the setting up the Sydney branch of Dominic’s charity, The Underground Help Centre, for homeless young people.
‘Walter Burton is here from Minnesota,’ Eliza said. ‘I believe you visited with him recently.’
‘He flew in this morning,’ he said.
Jake had every right to be talking to Eliza. He was one of the principals of the deal they were celebrating tonight. Party Queens was actually in his employ.
However, when that pushy journalist’s eyes narrowed with interest and her steps slowed as she walked by him and Eliza, Jake remembered she’d been in Montovia to report on the royal wedding. As best man and bridesmaid, he and Eliza had featured in a number of photo shoots and articles. If it was rumoured they’d had an affair—and that was all it had been—it would be big tabloid news.
He gritted his teeth. There was something odd here. Something else. Eliza’s reticence could not be put down just to the journalist’s presence.
Jake leaned down to murmur in her ear, breathed in her now familiar scent, sweet and intoxicating. ‘It’s good to see you. I’d like to catch up while I’m in Sydney.’
Eliza took a step back from him. ‘Sorry—not possible,’ she said. She gave an ineffectual wave to indicate the room, now starting to fill up with people. The action seemed extraordinarily lacking in Eliza’s usual energy. ‘This party is one of several that are taking up all my time.’
So what had changed? Work had always seemed to come first with Eliza. Whereas he was beginning to see it shouldn’t. That there should be a better balance to life.
‘I understand,’ he said. But he didn’t. ‘What about after the party? Catch up for coffee at my apartment at the wharf?’ He owned a penthouse apartment in a prestigious warehouse conversion right on the harbour in inner eastern Sydney.
Eliza’s lashes fluttered and she couldn’t meet his eyes. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said again. ‘I... I’m not in the mood for company.’
Jake was too flabbergasted to say anything. He eventually found the words. ‘You mean not in the mood for me ?’
She lifted her chin, looked up at him. For once he couldn’t read the expression in those incredible blue eyes. Defiance? Regret? Fear? It both
He strode towards her, determined to find out what was going on. Dismissing him, she turned back to face the journalist. Jake paused mid-stride, astounded at her abruptness. Then it twigged. Eliza didn’t want this particular newshound sniffing around for an exclusive featuring the billionaire bachelor and the party planner.
Jake changed direction to head over to the bar.
He kept a subtle eye on Eliza. As soon as she was free he headed towards her, wanting to get her attention before anyone else beat him to it.
‘Hello,’ he said, for all the world as if they weren’t anything other than acquaintances with mutual friends. He dropped a kiss on her cool, politely offered cheek.
‘Jake,’ Eliza said.
This was Eliza the Business Director of Party Queens speaking. Not Eliza the lover, who had been so wonderfully responsive in his arms. Not Eliza his golfing buddy from Port Douglas, nor Eliza his bikini-clad companion frolicking in the pool.
‘So good that you could make it down from Brisbane,’ the Business Director said. ‘This is a momentous occasion.’
‘Indeed,’ he said.
Momentous because it was the first time they’d seen each other after their four-day fling? More likely she meant it was momentous because it was to mark the occasion not only of the first major deal of Dominic’s joint venture with the American billionaire philanthropist Walter Burton, but also the setting up the Sydney branch of Dominic’s charity, The Underground Help Centre, for homeless young people.
‘Walter Burton is here from Minnesota,’ Eliza said. ‘I believe you visited with him recently.’
‘He flew in this morning,’ he said.
Jake had every right to be talking to Eliza. He was one of the principals of the deal they were celebrating tonight. Party Queens was actually in his employ.
However, when that pushy journalist’s eyes narrowed with interest and her steps slowed as she walked by him and Eliza, Jake remembered she’d been in Montovia to report on the royal wedding. As best man and bridesmaid, he and Eliza had featured in a number of photo shoots and articles. If it was rumoured they’d had an affair—and that was all it had been—it would be big tabloid news.
He gritted his teeth. There was something odd here. Something else. Eliza’s reticence could not be put down just to the journalist’s presence.
Jake leaned down to murmur in her ear, breathed in her now familiar scent, sweet and intoxicating. ‘It’s good to see you. I’d like to catch up while I’m in Sydney.’
Eliza took a step back from him. ‘Sorry—not possible,’ she said. She gave an ineffectual wave to indicate the room, now starting to fill up with people. The action seemed extraordinarily lacking in Eliza’s usual energy. ‘This party is one of several that are taking up all my time.’
So what had changed? Work had always seemed to come first with Eliza. Whereas he was beginning to see it shouldn’t. That there should be a better balance to life.
‘I understand,’ he said. But he didn’t. ‘What about after the party? Catch up for coffee at my apartment at the wharf?’ He owned a penthouse apartment in a prestigious warehouse conversion right on the harbour in inner eastern Sydney.
Eliza’s lashes fluttered and she couldn’t meet his eyes. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said again. ‘I... I’m not in the mood for company.’
Jake was too flabbergasted to say anything. He eventually found the words. ‘You mean not in the mood for me ?’
She lifted her chin, looked up at him. For once he couldn’t read the expression in those incredible blue eyes. Defiance? Regret? Fear? It both
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