Bride for Hire. Jessica Hart

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СКАЧАТЬ steady yet, but with every moment she was getting a better grip on herself. ‘Why else would I have kissed you?’

      ‘Why, indeed?’ Seth got up from the sofa, his grey eyes sardonic. ‘I just hope poor old Robert is as understanding as you say he is. Does he know just how well you “act”, Daisy?’

      ‘Does Astra Bentingger know how thoroughly you audition?’

      Seth’s expression was flinty as he took Daisy’s chin in one strong brown hand. ‘I’ve warned you before about that tongue of yours, Daisy,’ he said and, although she met his eyes bravely, inwardly Daisy quailed at his tone. ‘Do you want to learn what I’m like when I’m pushed too far?’

      One look into his eyes was enough to give her the answer to that. Daisy moistened her lips. ‘No.’

      ‘In that case. I suggest that you learn to keep your tongue firmly between your teeth.’ He released her face and Daisy stepped back, resisting the urge to rub her chin where he had held her. It was impossible to imagine that only minutes ago she had twined her arms around this formidable man’s neck and quivered with excitement at his kisses. ‘Astra is none of your business,’ Seth went on coldly. ‘As far as I’m concerned, you’re going to be working for me just like any other employee. That means you get paid to do as you’re told, not to be smart. Is that understood?’

      ‘Perfectly.’

      He gave her a hard look then moved away, suddenly brisk. ‘All right, let’s get down to business. The deal is that you agree to act as my girlfriend until Astra’s divorce comes through or until such time as I decide that there’s no need to keep up the pretence any longer. It means you’ll have to spend at least the next few weeks with me, but in return I’m prepared to pay you a considerable sum of money—in cash—to ensure your discretion.’

      Daisy’s jaw dropped when Seth told her just how much he would pay her. ‘Is that acceptable?’ he asked, turning to frown at her gaping expression.

      Acceptable? Daisy had never even contemplated having such a large sum of money before! It would at least take the immediate burden of financial worries off her mother’s shoulders, she calculated quickly. ‘I think so,’ she said, pursing up her lips and trying to look as if she discussed sums like that every day of the week. ‘That sounds fine.’

      ‘You’ll get paid at the end,’ Seth warned her, ‘when you’ve shown me that you can behave.’

      Daisy was still trembling inside from the effect of his kiss, but she managed to move away quite coolly. ‘We will go to the Caribbean?’

      ‘Yes, I’ve invited a number of guests to my island as a cover for meeting Astra there.’

      ‘Your island?’

      He raised an eyebrow. ‘Is there a problem?’

      ‘I thought you might have a house there,’ said Daisy. ‘I didn’t think you’d have a whole island!’

      One of those unsettling gleams of amusement sprang to the grey eyes. ‘It’s only a small island, if that makes you feel any better.’

      ‘Does that mean we’ll be stuck out on our own, or will we be able to get to the other islands?’ Daisy asked anxiously, and his brows lifted.

      ‘Being “stuck out on our own” is generally the idea behind having your own island,’ he pointed out with some acidity. ‘But if you’re desperate for crowds we can take the seaplane or one of the boats. Where did you want to go?’

      Mike had recommended that Daisy started looking in the Windward Islands, but it had only been one of the places Tom had mentioned. ‘I was just wondering,’ she said vaguely. She had no idea how she was going to start looking for Tom, but there was no point in worrying about it until she got there. Anyway, with the kind of money Seth was offering, she would be able to afford to travel around if necessary, Daisy reminded herself buoyantly. ‘When are we going?’ she asked Seth, who glanced at her suspiciously.

      ‘You seem very keen to get to the Caribbean, Daisy.’

      ‘I’ve always wanted to go there, that’s all.’ For some reason, Daisy was reluctant to tell Seth about Tom and her stepfather’s illness. He was too ruthless, too calculating—the kind of man who would be impatient of sentiment and messy emotions—and if he thought that Daisy’s mind wasn’t going to be entirely on the job she knew that he would have no compunction in calling off the whole deal. There would be no point in appealing to Seth’s better nature. Daisy doubted very much that he even had one.

      Look at the chilly way he was approaching his marriage with Astra Bentingger, and any man who could kiss like that and remain totally unmoved had to be utterly heartless. No, better by far to let him think that she was an impoverished actress, desperate for a palm-fringed beach.

      ‘Well, if you’re planning on island-hopping you’re going to have to wait until I’ve finished with you,’ said Seth, unwittingly demonstrating his overbearing image. ‘I’m not having you jaunting off when I need you on hand to look suitably adoring.’

      ‘How long do you think that’ll be?’

      ‘A month? Six weeks? Maybe longer.’ He quirked a sardonic eyebrow at her. ‘Think Robert will be able to manage without you that long?’

      ‘I expect so,’ said Daisy with a frosty look. She didn’t like the sneer in Seth’s voice whenever he mentioned Robert. Robert might not be very exciting, but at least he had a kind heart.

      ‘He’d better start getting used to it right away,’ said Seth callously. ‘I’ve got a number of social engagements over the next couple of weeks and, if we’re going to establish you as my girlfriend, we may as well start tonight. I’ll take you out to dinner.’

      He walked over to the door, as if to indicate that the interview was now over, while Daisy eyed him resentfully. She had been planning to visit Jim in hospital that evening. The brusque way Seth gave orders and arrogantly assumed that everyone else would fall in with them without question riled her. She stayed stubbornly where she was.

      ‘What if I’ve got other plans for this evening?’

      ‘Cancel them,’ said Seth with insulting indifference and opened the door. ‘If you give Maria your address I’ll come and pick you up at eight o’clock.’

      Daisy tried to imagine Seth turning up at her front door. He would look completely alien in their quiet south London street and, quite apart from anything else, it wouldn’t take him long to work out that her address was too close to Dee Pearce’s for coincidence. “There’s no need for you to collect me,’ she said quickly. ‘I’ll come here.’

      ‘What’s the matter, Daisy?’ mocked Seth. ‘Don’t you want Robert to meet your new boss?’

      ‘I’d rather keep my private life entirely separate,’ said Daisy, trying—and failing—to sound quelling. Seth certainly didn’t appear noticeably quelled.

      ‘Just make sure you’re looking a bit smarter than you do now,’ was all he said, and nodded unmistakably at the door. ‘Now beat it,’ he said. ‘I’ve got work to do.’

      Daisy bridled at his dismissal all the way home. He was insufferably rude, infuriatingly overbearing, unbelievably arrogant! СКАЧАТЬ