Reluctant Deception - Cambria Smyth Page 0,18
wasn’t it, to have her immersed in the mansion before he laid waste to it? And if she didn't eventually admit to her identity, he would find a way to let her know he'd already discovered her secret. That, and tearing the house down, was the perfect retaliation for her masquerade. He'd waited this long to seek revenge. What were another few weeks?
And the attraction he felt? That was easily enough dismissed, he decided. His ability to focus on one goal to the exclusion of all else had earned him a fortune and a reputation. She meant nothing to him.
Chris was about to pick up the check and head for the cashier, when a noisy group of people sat down a few tables away from him. He looked over at the boisterous assemblage of young men and women, only to find himself staring at Libby. She was happily discussing something with a good looking man seated next to her. Chris dryly observed how cheerful she was, laughing now and then, a beautiful smile lighting up her flushed face. Suddenly he felt an unwanted pang of jealousy that her attention was concentrated so completely on her companion. He clamped the feeling down, hard, remembering who she really was and what he had to do.
Libby chuckled at Ted's slightly off-color joke, glad she agreed to join Connie and her friends for the evening. She was feeling better than she had in weeks, and tonight's light-hearted fun was just the cure for her blues.
She turned to say something to Patty, Ted's girlfriend sitting across from them, when she found herself locked in Chris's heated gaze. Her heart raced under the intensity of his stare and all memory of what she was going to say to Patty was forgotten in a fluster of distraction.
Chris raised an eyebrow and nodded coolly at her with affected disinterest.
Libby felt the room melt away, leaving just the two of them in awkward, unspoken communication. She nodded back with equal indifference even as she tried to deny the strong current of emotion passing between them. Damnation, she thought, this night out was an attempt to get away from him and the devastating effect he had on her. What was he doing here, of all places?
She forced herself to look away and rejoin the conversation continuing around her. She would ignore him, that's what she would do, and she half-heartedly contributed to the banter, trying not to glance in his direction. It was hard not to notice, however, the statuesque brunette who stopped at Chris's table several minutes later.
The woman was tall and gorgeous, wearing a dress that left none of her generous curves to the imagination. Libby watched in fascination as the brunette exchanged a few words with Chris then sat down at his table, crossing her legs suggestively and leaning slightly forward at the waist to give him a better view of her amply endowed bosom. Libby tried to read Chris's reaction to this obvious display of sensuality, but could fathom nothing in his shielded gaze.
Who was she? Libby wondered with growing irritation at the brunette's blatant attempt at seduction. And why should it matter? Libby snapped inwardly. Abruptly, she turned away to focus on the party at hand. The man was maddening and she wasn't going to let him, or his lady-friend, ruin her night out.
"Are you alright, Lib?" Connie asked, noticing her friend had dropped out of the conversation to rudely stare at another table. "You look like you've seen a ghost!"
"I'm fine, Connie. Just thinking about work, I guess," Libby replied hastily, picking up the menu in front of her. With great concentration, she studied the entree selections before choosing the stuffed flounder. When she looked up, Chris and the brunette were gone.
She quickly looked behind her, only to find Chris headed toward the door. He had an arm wrapped protectively around the brunette's waist and he flashed her a big smile at something she said. Before he opened the door, he glanced over his shoulder and gazed past the crowded room until he found Libby. Giving Libby a polite nod, he turned back to the brunette and ushered her through the door.
Libby blushed hotly at his mute recognition, embarrassed to be discovered watching his departure. Thoroughly flustered, she rejoined the lively conversation at her table, determined to have a good time tonight. A flirtatious encounter on his part was not going to affect her fun.
Chapter Eight
The health club was almost empty Sunday afternoon when