Strategy For Marriage. Margaret Way

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СКАЧАТЬ could be when a man had humiliated her. She hadn’t written Ashe McKinnon into the scenario at all. A huge mistake. She had the shivery feeling he could catch up with her very soon. Christy made her way into the opulent living room, impressed despite herself at the decor and the magnificent artworks on the walls.

      “A friend of the groom?” an attractive voice queried at her ear. She spun on her high heels relieved beyond words to see a tall red-haired young man beaming down at her, his bright blue eyes filled with the sort of admiring look she was used to.

      She was safe for a while. She intended to stay until she had her little moment of revenge on Josh, and Ashe McKinnon, the big cattle baron, could go to hell.

      Of course she had no difficulty easing herself in. Not with that intoxicating image. From the open glass doorway leading into the plant-filled solarium Ashe watched her, openly marvelling at her audacity. He saw all the bachelors in sight make their moves on her. He couldn’t believe his response. It angered him. He wanted to tell Jake Reid, a guy he’d known all his life, to take his big hands off her. Even the muscles in his shoulders tensed. This was so unlike him.

      The solarium had been turned into a ballroom. Lots of couples had taken the floor to a plethora of styles that ranged from old-fashioned elegance to near gallops. He waited his moment, subtly keeping an eye on her, then he excused himself from the group around him.

      “Pardon me.” He tapped his friend, Tim Westbury, on the shoulder. “I really ought to introduce myself to your partner.”

      “Heck, Ashe, we were having such a good time.”

      For a moment it looked like Tim was going to hang in there until he saw his expression.

      “So I noticed. Goodbye, Tim.”

      “Catch you later, Christy,” Tim called before he was swept away by his current girlfriend who eyed “Christy” balefully.

      “Wonderful party.” He put his arm around her, a strange pleasure, and inhaled her fragrance, freesias spiked with something citrus.

      “Wonderful,” she agreed, turning her face away, all poise when her heart was thumping with fright.

      “Beautiful wedding ceremony.”

      “It brought tears to my eyes.”

      “Truly?”

      “I never lie.”

      “Perhaps you have on this occasion. I had the notion you weren’t at the church at all. Ashe McKinnon, by the way. I’m Callista’s cousin.”

      She frowned slightly, her eyes as green as peridots. “You don’t look in the least alike.” It was hard not to be impressed by him. Aesthetically anyway. How best to describe him? All commanding male. A touch severe. Yet the kind of man women went wild over. Not her. She already knew he was too tough for her, but he did look wonderful in his formal morning suit, traditional grey with a very dashing burgundy silk cravat.

      She knew from her partner, Tim, he had given the bride away. Head of the family and all that. He certainly looked the part. His height alone made him stand out. He was well over six feet, but lean, powerful. He made her feel small and at five-eight she was tall for a woman. She could feel the whipcord musculature in his arms and along his back. He was very strong.

      Christy continued her abstract inspection. A deep permanent tan, not Josh’s beach boy stuff, Ashe’s was trademark Outback. He had lustrous black hair with a natural wave. If he let it grow a centimetre longer it would spring into curls. His eyes were really beautiful, brilliant like glittering whirlpools. She couldn’t see into them but he seemed to be looking right through her.

      He wasn’t a sweet man. Or a man who would make a woman feel safe. He looked dangerous enough to be treated with caution. There was so much tension there. A hard impatience that was communicating itself to her. Then again he possessed a stand-apart elegance, very much in keeping with a glamorous member of the landed elite. No question about his pedigree. And he just knew about her. So what was he going to do, throw her out? For all he knew she could put up a struggle. Or maybe he had taken her measure. There was only one person she intended to embarrass and that was Josh.

      He received her long scrutiny, totally unfazed. “I’m dying to know your name,” he prompted, dark voice sardonic.

      “You have only to ask me. Christine Parker. My friends call me Christy.”

      Her answer was gentle and low. Music. Another ace up her sleeve.

      “Then I’ll call you Miss Parker. Are you a friend of the bridegroom, may I ask?” He slid his hand along her back with the surety she had a beautiful supple body.

      “Now why does that sound like you’ve thrown out a challenge?” she parried.

      “Possibly because you’re the sort of woman who responds to one.”

      “I mean no harm, Mr. McKinnon. I want you to understand that.”

      “I’m pleased to hear it.” He gave her a sardonic glance. “I can’t have you spoiling my cousin’s day.”

      “I have no intention of doing anything like that,” she protested. “There’s no spite in my nature.”

      “But you’re looking to upset Deakin?”

      “Now you sound like you don’t care.” It was wonderful to be able to challenge him. There was something very dangerous about being close to this man. It gave her quite a jolt. In her altered state she compared it to shock therapy. Something was happening to her. She didn’t know what.

      “My only concern is this reception goes off beautifully,” he said in a warning voice that left her flushed. “I’m devoted to my aunt and cousin.”

      “Really?” All of a sudden Christy needed to lash out, her anger and humiliation festering. “From the look of you I wouldn’t have thought you had a tender bone in your body.”

      “Play it cool, Miss Parker,” he said.

      There was considerable heat between them. Christy realised with a sense of astonishment a lot of it was sexual. She wondered how that could possibly be when she still considered herself jilted by Josh. She could feel the imprint of this man’s hand right through the chiffon of her dress. It might have been pressed against her naked flesh. Her perceptions so long blunted by acute dismay were now razor-sharp. But then he was a striking, powerful, physical man, she reasoned, quite without the easy-going gentleness with which Josh had surrounded her.

      Looking down at her telltale face, his expression tautened. “Let’s go,” he said abruptly. The tips of her breasts were giving him little shocks as they brushed up against him.

      “Where?” She threw up her head, startled. His face was quite unreadable.

      “Out into the garden,” he suggested curtly. “All the time we’ve been dancing Deakin has been staring over here. Even with his bride on his arm.”

      “Pay no attention,” she said. But she hoped Josh was staring. He looked so deeply familiar she thought she couldn’t bear the whole situation. Callista looked so nice. She deserved to be happy. Christy’s instinct told her it wouldn’t be for long. Not with Josh. Josh wasn’t good enough. Josh’s СКАЧАТЬ