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They were carrying on as if she were a lamb being led off to slaughter, and having seen Naomi into the waiting car he marched back up the steps to where his brother and sister-in-law stood.
‘Do you insist that your staff be back at a certain time?’ Abe demanded.
‘Of course not,’ Merida gritted. ‘But Naomi’s a friend.’
‘And yet you give her one night off in seven and then dictate how she spends it.’
Yes, he was still a bastard.
‘Abe,’ Ethan warned. ‘Don’t take it out on Merida. With your reputation, she has every right to be concerned.’
‘And yours is so lily white?’ Abe checked, and he looked at them both. Hell, he loved them but he would be dictated to by no one, especially in this. ‘Butt out!’
He turned and walked briskly down the steps and he could see Naomi’s anxious face peering out of the car, making sure that everything, everyone was all right.
And she just stopped him in his tracks, for how could he be angry at two people who were looking out for Naomi?
Abe knew his own reputation after all.
He turned on the steps and, swallowing his pride, he walked back up them.
‘You have nothing to worry about,’ he told them. ‘I’ll take perfect care of her.’
Abe fully intended to.
CHAPTER TEN
ITSHOULDHAVEbeen a gorgeous drive to the hotel.
The snow was falling lightly over a snow-capped Central Park and had he held her hand it would have been utterly perfect, except he silent drummed his fingers on a long, suited thigh.
‘Do you have to greet everyone?’ Naomi asked.
‘God, I hope not,’ Abe said. ‘Don’t worry, there’ll just be loads of air-kissing for you. You don’t have to remember anyone’s name.’
He was trying to put her at ease, but she could feel his tension.
Perhaps, now they were near, he was rueing the fact he’d agreed to take her, Naomi thought, because while he’d been lovely at the house, he was on edge now.
Naomi went into her bag and prised open her tin of mints, more for something to do than because she wanted one.
Except they weren’t mints!
It took a second to register they were mint-flavoured condoms.
Oh, God, Naomi thought, stuffing them back in her bag, terribly glad she hadn’t offered him one!
And then, as she stepped out of the car, she suddenly thought how she’d, oh, so casually added them to her purchase, explaining how they’d fit in her purse. Maybe it was nerves but she suddenly stifled a laugh and arrived smiling on the red carpet.
It was Abe who was tense.
She felt as if she had stepped into Christmas when they entered the hotel.
There was a huge scarlet Christmas tree centrepiece in the main foyer that looked as if it were made of velvet. But as her cape was removed and she was handed a single red rose, Naomi saw that the tree itself was made entirely of the most exquisite red roses, each bloom perfect.
‘It’s beautiful.’ Naomi would have loved to linger and just take it all in, but there wasn’t time to as Abe was quietly informed her that they were to go straight through.
She held onto Abe’s arm as lightly as she could, and tried to slow down her heart rate as they entered the ballroom. It was stunning. The chandeliers dripped Icelandic-looking crystals and despite the warm air she felt as if her breath should blow white. It was so breath-taking that for a moment Naomi simply drank it all in and tried to forgot her nerves.
