Web of Deception - By Nina Blake Page 0,14

texture, on anything but the suggestiveness of his words. She felt a warmth deep in her belly that had nothing to do with her meal.

She glanced across at him. “You shouldn’t want what you can’t have.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Where’s the fun in that?”

“You must be able to take your pick. You’ve said as much yourself. Surely it’s easier that way. Then you know where you stand.”

“I always know where I stand, one way or another. But I also like a challenge.”

He brushed his arm against hers and this time it was no accident. Another sensual shiver shot up her spine. It was as though he’d read her the first time and knew now he could get the same effect at will.

Pulling her hand back, Kate placed it in her lap as she ate. She wasn’t going to give up control so easily.

“Sometimes you can’t have everything you want,” she said.

“But you’re sitting next to me. Talking to me.”

“I’m sitting next to Mark.”

“And he’s ignoring you.”

“That might be true but it doesn’t worry me. I’m quite happy with things the way they are.”

“He should be taking better care of you.”

She looked him in the eye. “I can take care of myself.”

Daniel’s lips curled to a sultry smile. “I’m sure you can. I’m just saying Mark’s not acting very wisely. I certainly wouldn’t leave you to fend for yourself against a man like me. Not if you were my partner.”

“I’m not your partner so you don’t need to worry.”

But she was worried.

Very much so.

She didn’t like this little charade of pretending she and Mark were engaged, even though she was the one who’d started it. It hadn’t seemed so far from the truth when they’d been together.

She should tell Daniel the truth, that she and Mark had broken up, and get it over with.

But she didn’t want to do that and lay herself wide open. Not because of Mark’s career aspirations because she knew he’d recover one way or the other.

The problem was that if she told Daniel she was single, there would be nothing standing between them, no barriers.

Kate was anything but a pushover. Many of her friends would have a few drinks and let themselves get sweet-talked by a man they thought looked good at the time. Not her. She knew what she wanted, knew how to stand up for herself and say no to a man.

These days, she entered relationships with her eyes open. Sure, she’d made a few bad decisions in the past but they were her decisions. Now, she weighed up the facts, worked out what she wanted and acted accordingly. Above all, she always had control.

So why maintain the farce that she was unavailable when she was perfectly capable of turning down Daniel Webb if that was what she wanted?

That was the problem.

She didn’t want to say no.

Chapter Four

Daniel watched Kate spoon another mouthful of chocolate tart into her mouth. She looked despondent as a raspberry fell off the spoon and onto her plate so she scooped it up, staring at it as though the feat was a major success.

It was only dessert but she was taking it so seriously that it made him smile. Concentrating hard on her food, her expression earnest, there was a certain naivety about her which Daniel found appealing. It made an interesting balance to the Kate Henry who argued with him, refusing to let him get away with anything.

She looked gorgeous in that dress though he had to wonder if she knew just how alluring she was. He’d guessed the first time he saw her that she wasn’t the type to flaunt herself and with a body like that she didn’t need to.

The dress wasn’t exactly revealing. In fact, he wished it were more so. It was simply that the fabric and cut meant it clung to her every curve, highlighting her shapely figure without showing off any flesh.

And that only made him want to see more.

When she’d first entered the room and strutted towards him in those strappy satin heels, he’d enjoyed every step of the way. Every stride made the skirt of her dress skim her slender thighs, her hips swaying just enough for the fabric to slide against her waist. It had felt like she’d been walking straight towards him.

And if she hadn’t been? He didn’t care.

She might think she was taken but she wasn’t. Not as far as Daniel was concerned.

It’d be tricky but he’d have to make sure he saw her again, and next