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‘Trading favours? But you do it so well…’ he taunted, lifting a hand to rub his jaw.
Regan caught her breath as the gold and jade winked mockingly in the light.
‘What’s the matter?’ He tilted his strong wrist, looking down at it in mock surprise. ‘Ahh, you’re admiring my cufflinks—attractive, aren’t they? And, as far as my investigations show, definitely a one-off.’
The hair rose on the back of Regan’s neck. Investigations?
‘Also unique is the fact that they were given to me by a woman,’ he murmured. ‘Except for my sisters, women rarely give me gifts, and never expensive jewellery. As a wealthy man it’s considered my prerogative to give rather than to receive.’
Had he no shame?
‘How you can have the gall to wear them around Carolyn, I don’t know,’ she whispered raggedly.
He shrugged, seemingly unconcerned at their proximity to his fiancée. ‘But then you don’t know me at all, do you? I didn’t keep my family together against all the odds, and fight off the wolves that almost tore my father’s corporation to pieces by being sweet-natured, mild and forgiving. As it happens, I was running late tonight and in a hurry to dress. I just scooped up the first things that came to hand…’
In spite of his logic she still didn’t entirely believe him. ‘You knew I might be here tonight,’ she accused him.
His cynical eyes hooded. ‘Let’s say I thought it too much of a coincidence that you should be sneaking around the property, spying on me, if you didn’t intend to make some kind of contact.’
Shades of Ryan and his James Bond!
‘I wasn’t spying on you. I was just taking an innocent stroll in the gardens! If you think I was pleased to see you, you must be crazy!’ she choked.
His mouth thinned. ‘If it was so innocent why did you run? That’s the second time you’ve disappeared on me, but now that I know who and what you are, you won’t find it so easy to elude me in future. I’m sure Frank will prove even more informative if I flatter him about his charming protégée. A distant relative, I think he said…?’
‘Yes, and when you marry Carolyn that means you and I will also be relations,’ she pointed out with sweet relish.
But he turned even that point against her. ‘You and I have already established our relations. You obviously think that entitles you to special consideration.’
‘Do I?’ Regan fenced, uncertain of his meaning.
He flicked at finger at her glass. ‘You’re running on empty again. Shall we revisit the bar together?’ He cupped her elbow in his hand and turned his sleek head. ‘Regan and I are going to get another drink. Shall I get you a glass of something, Carolyn?’
‘Preferably water or punch,’ Chris tacked on sharply.
Carolyn paused to give him a fierce look before she tossed Joshua a glittering smile. ‘I’d rather have a glass of champagne.’
‘That is so typical! Go ahead, then. Put your own selfish desires first, just as you always do—’
‘I think you really should have something non-alcoholic,’ interrupted Joshua, with a gentleness that sent tingles up and down Regan’s spine.
On this subject at least the two men seemed united in their opinion. She looked curiously at Carolyn, wondering if that high-strung air indicated an addictive personality.
‘Oh, all right,’ she was saying, with a pretty pout in his direction. ‘If you say I should, Jay Darling…’
‘No need to overdo it,’ sniped Chris, and they were off again, arguing the point.
The clamp on Regan’s elbow tightened and she found herself thrust reluctantly into motion.
‘But I don’t want anything else to drink,’ she protested, dragging her steps as he manoeuvred through the crowd.
‘You can keep me company.’
She tried to look back over her shoulder. ‘Aren’t you afraid to leave them alone together without someone to play referee—they might kill each other or something?’
A whimsical smile touched his lips. ‘Or something.’
He didn’t seem very worried. Stupid to think that anyone would be allowed to steal anything from this man.
