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Rick forced himself to move, to smile, to breathe. His attention drifted to her face.
Tara’s eyes were shining with a steadfast calm and serene assurance. ‘Hello.’
‘Nice to meet you, Tara,’ Kasey said, running her gaze over the woman, then glancing at Rick.
‘Likewise,’ Tara offered, her voice warm, moving her attention from Kasey to him casually.
Rick swallowed. ‘Pleased to meet you, Tara.’
Tara lifted an eyebrow, feeling the rise of heat in her cheeks, her name on his lips coursing through her veins like molten lava.
She took his hand, grasping it, forcing a smile. He felt good…and strong…and warm…and his touch made her skin tingle.
Patrick gripped her hand more tightly. ‘Have you and Thomas known each other long?’
‘Oh…ages,’ Mr Steel injected. ‘I’ll leave you two to look after our newest guest.’ And he winked at her.
She extricated her hand from Patrick’s, stroking her palm against her hip as though she was smoothing her dress, trying to dispel the buzz of sensation on her skin.
This was crazy. She shouldn’t have come. She liked being in her office and offering advice, not being dragged into the field.
And what a field. This place was incredible. With tall columns through the enormous rooms.
The ceilings inside had to be at least three metres high, the cornice elaborate, the walls painted a rich lemon colour and adorned with golden-framed paintings and mirrors.
Tara stepped a little further away from the couple, closer to the marble statue of a naked woman carrying a jug. She feigned an interest in the unusual sofas, with sculpted edges that resembled wings and a deep blue upholstery dotted with gold and edged with a matching brocade.
Everything was decorated lavishly, including Miss Steel.
Tara forced herself to face the woman who had captured Patrick Keene’s heart. She could have been a model—her chestnut hair was swept up to the top of her head, diamond encrusted earrings dangled from her ears and she wore a black dress that was to die for. And the emerald green silk wrap was exquisite. As she was.
She had everything. A father devoted to her, and a man like Patrick Keene in love with her, about to ask her to share his life with him.
Tara swallowed hard, trying to still the needs stirring deep inside her. She couldn’t begrudge Kasey having the perfect life, and she couldn’t let this singe her hard-won control.
‘How do you know my father?’
She looked across the room to where Thomas Steel was merrily chatting to a group of people. She hadn’t expected this. She’d thought she’d be observing the loving couple from afar, not thrown amongst them like fresh meat to the wolves.
‘How do I know your father?’ Tara repeated, her mind scrambling for an answer. ‘Business.’
‘What sort of business?’ Kasey asked.
Tara shot Patrick a look. ‘You could say I’m a problem solver.’
Patrick crossed his arms in front of his chest. ‘And if people don’t want their problems solved?’
His words impaled her. He must think she was stalking him! ‘Then they’re not going to call me,’ she said as calmly as she could.
‘And if someone else does?’ Patrick asked, his voice deep and velvet smooth.
‘Then the person that called me must care a lot,’ Tara said easily. ‘But I can’t help if the client doesn’t want any help.’
‘Well, this is all fascinating and terribly obvious.’ Kasey fanned herself with her hand. ‘But I think I need a drink. Are you coming, Rick?’
‘In one minute,’ Rick offered, smiling at his girlfriend and then turning to Tara, as though he was dealing with nothing more significant than tying a loose shoe-lace, or swatting a fly or squashing a bug.
Kasey shrugged and sauntered towards the bar.
A tense silence enveloped them.
She stared at Patrick’s mouth, pressed thin, her breath solidifying in her throat. She didn’t want to be the bug! No matter how tall, dark or rich he was.
CHAPTER FOUR
PATRICK closed the space between them. ‘What are you doing here?’ he whispered harshly.
Tara dragged in a deep breath, her mind scrambling, his spicy scent invading her senses, the power he was exuding dangerously intense. ‘I was invited.’
‘Why?’
Tara sighed. ‘Mr Steel insisted that I give you one more chance. I think he was hoping that maybe you’d thought about what I said earlier and have changed your mind.’
Rick shook his head. ‘You could have warned me you’d be popping up all over the place.’
‘I’m sorry, I didn’t—’ She looked at the ceiling. ‘I didn’t get a lot of notice myself. I’m sorry.’
‘Another one of the old man’s great ideas?’
‘Yes…I’m sorry to intrude, Mr Keene. There was no intention to put you on the spot with Miss Steel.’ She tried to keep her voice as impartial as she wanted to feel. ‘I didn’t expect—’
‘Call me Rick.’
She stiffened. ‘Pardon?’
‘I said call me Rick. I can’t stand all this Mr Keene stuff. You make me feel like my father.’
‘Fine, Rick,’ she said, trying it out. It felt great. It suited him. ‘Rick’ suited his wild ties and colourful shirts like the one he wore now. A silver tie against a royal purple shirt with a black dinner suit. ‘I wouldn’t want to make you feel old.’
‘That reminds me, you said I was old when we first met.’ His voice was deep and low, his green eyes intent on her.
She couldn’t help but smile. At least something she’d said had registered. ‘Yes, I did. Sorry.’
He moved closer to her. ‘Are you going to explain yourself or are you going to drive me mad wondering what in hell you meant?’
She shrugged, standing her ground. ‘I meant just what I said. I hadn’t expected you to be so old.’
He rubbed his jaw, straightening to his full height. ‘You think I’m old?’
‘No. I don’t, in general.’ She hesitated, looking up into his handsome face. He seemed perfect. ‘It’s just that I hadn’t expected Miss Steel to be marrying someone like you, that’s all.’
Rick crossed his arms over his chest, looking down into her face, his eyes narrowed. ‘And why is that?’
‘There must be at least ten years between you two and, from what I’ve read of her, she doesn’t usually go for the mature, older type.’
Rick opened his mouth and closed it. ‘Well, she did.’
Tara nodded, her insides twisting. ‘Yes, she did.’ She lifted her chin and met his gaze. ‘There’s no point in asking you why you go for her…’
‘Really, because you know that I won’t answer you?’
‘No.’ She couldn’t help but smile. ‘Because she’s a beautiful young rich heiress.’
He frowned. ‘And which part do you think I’m particularly interested in?’
She bit her lip. Damn. What had possessed her to just blurt out what was on her mind? Her mind fluttered. ‘Kasey as a beautiful person?’
Rick’s eyes glittered.
She swallowed hard. Would he accept her diplomatic save or push her on the matter? The last thing she wanted to do was admit she was jealous of the girl.
‘What are you two talking about?’ Kasey shoved a drink towards Rick. ‘You two look so cosy—you’d better be careful or someone will think you two came together.’ Kasey shot Rick an accusing glare.
Tara lifted her chin, her blood cooling. ‘Not at all. Just passing the time with small talk.’ Damn, she’d totally forgotten where she was and what she was meant to be doing!
She stepped backwards.
Kasey draped herself around Rick and laughed softly. ‘Of course, Rick only has eyes for me. Don’t you, honey?’
He looked down at her, sighing deeply. ‘Absolutely.’
Tara turned away. Her solitary existence ripped through her, leaving a deep and hollow ache in her chest.
She watched the other guests in the room happily chatting, her hands clenched tightly in front of her. Should she escape now, or see this through?
What did Kasey think of her being so chummy with her boyfriend? She was meant to be a professional after all. She glanced at the heiress.
The woman seemed oblivious to the situation, cooing over Rick as though nothing had happened. Either she was too clever to challenge what she’d seen, or too blinded by love.
Tara prayed for the latter. The last thing she wanted was a rich and influential socialite assassinating Came-lot’s reputation because she couldn’t keep her eyes off her boyfriend and her mind on work.
Thomas Steel tapped Tara on the shoulder. ‘Would you do me the honour of allowing me to introduce you around?’
‘Of course,’ she blurted. Saved. She’d pretend Rick Keene didn’t exist and concentrate on Thomas Steel. Then Kasey would have no concerns about her and Rick, and Camelot would live happily ever after.
Tara looped her arm through Mr Steel’s. ‘Nice meeting you both,’ she offered the couple.
Mr Steel led her into the crowd, leaning close to her. ‘What do you think?’
Tara looked at the man. ‘About what?’
‘About Patrick Keene…and my daughter.’
She swallowed, resisting the urge to look back at them and take one last look at Rick Keene. ‘A lovely couple.’
‘Right.’ He stroked his chin as though he’d once had a beard. ‘He’s…he’s a…fine man.’
‘Yes. Seems to be.’ If not a little too arrogant, handsome and self assured for her liking. ‘He knows his mind.’
Mr Steel grimaced. ‘I’m not so sure.’
Tara turned to the man, trying to keep a straight face, acutely aware of his scrutiny. How could he delude himself into thinking a man in charge of such a large and successful company didn’t know his own mind?
‘Mr Steel, if you think I’m going to chase after the man, trying to convince him to use my services, I’m going to have to disappoint you,’ she said evenly. ‘He doesn’t want or need my assistance.’
Mr Steel’s eyes glinted. ‘That’s a pity. You’re so suited…’ He glanced backwards.
Tara refused to take the bait. As far as she was concerned her business here was done. ‘Take this.’ She handed him one of her business cards. ‘If he does decide to go ahead with a proposal and is thinking of getting some assistance, tell him to give me a call.’
She glanced at her watch, her attention wandering annoyingly back to the couple, who were in close conversation. Rick was leaning close to Kasey, his arm around her waist. A soft smile was on her face. ‘Good luck with your charity event,’ Tara blurted.
‘You’re not staying?’
Tara shook her head. She’d had enough for one night. There was no point hanging around, torturing herself with dreams of clients that weren’t to be, soul-mates who never appeared or fantasies that never could come to pass.
She looked at the doorway.
If Rick Keene wanted her help, he’d have to come to her…and the chances of that were a billion to one against. And, for the first time in her life, she was happy with the odds.
He was too perfect for her own good.
Rick watched old man Steel steer Tara into the throng of people, his head bent close to hers in quiet conversation. What was he cooking up now?
Rick glanced at Kasey, his neck stiff and his hands clenched by his sides. He’d protect her no matter what her father came up with next.
Kasey put her hands on her hips, turning to him, her eyes narrowed and her lips pouting. ‘So who is she? You two nearly ruined everything with Father.’
‘I didn’t think.’ Rick rubbed his jaw. ‘But you don’t have to worry about your father getting the wrong idea about Tara and me.’
‘Why?’ Kasey swung around and stared after her father and Tara, who were standing in a corner on the other side of the room, looking for all the world like conspirators.
His neck muscles tensed.
‘Are you ready for this?’ He crossed his arms over his chest. ‘I know her.’
Kasey grinned. ‘Don’t tell me she’s an ex-girlfriend who gave you the flick?’
He stiffened. ‘Why do you say that?’
