The day proved every bit as arduous as Wolf had suspected, but by late afternoon the onerous hours of hard labour had paid off. The contract was saved, albeit with a few concessions.
"I didn't think you'd pull it off, Wolf." Doug Webb ran a weary hand over his face as he spoke, his eyes red-rimmed. Wolf on the other hand looked every bit as fresh and razor-sharp as when he had stridden into the office first thing that morning, barking orders and setting the place scuttling.
"Piece of cake." Wolf grinned at the other man with sardonically raised eyebrows, and Lydia felt an emotion _shoot through her that caused her breath to stop in her throat. Just physical attraction, she told herself sharply as she tidied the last of the papers on her desk. The fact that he had just looked like a proud schoolboy receiving a hard-won accolade had not stirred her heart an iota. She did not feel tenderness or warmth towards this man, she did not.
"Hell!" Doug suddenly clapped his hand to the side of his head.
"I was supposed to ask you this morning--' He stopped abruptly.
"She’ll kill me."
"She will?" If Lydia had been looking she would have seen Wolfs easy expression stiffen somewhat.
"What's wrong?"
"I was to let her know before lunchtime if you couldn't make it for dinner tonight," Doug admitted shamefacedly.
"You and Lydia, that is.
Otherwise she was going to go ahead with a dinner for four. You know how Sue loves entertaining. "
"Yes." This time a certain inflexion in Wolf’s voice caught Lydia's ear and she glanced up to see the habitual expression of cool remoteness had settled over the hard features.
"Well, we were going to enjoy a quiet meal at the hotel, but you'd better ring Sue and let her know what time to expect us," Wolf said with neutral politeness.
As soon as they drew up at Doug Webb's smart, detached house the door opened, and a tall elegant woman positioned herself in the lighted doorway, arms stretched out in dramatic welcome.
"Wolf, how lovely.
And you must be Lydia. “As they reached her side the slim brunette arched pencil-slim eyebrows as she let her wide, green-flecked eyes wander over
Wolfs bland face.
"You look wonderful. Wolf, it's just not fair that men improve with the years, is it...?"
_Lydia found her mouth had fallen open as she preceded Wolf into the house, his hand in the small of her back. Doug's wife was not at all what she had expected and seemed very familiar with Wolf for one of his employees' wives.
She glanced at the other woman in the bright artificial light in the hall and felt her heart sink as she noticed the tall, model-slim figure and expensive immaculate dress that draped over the beautiful frame beneath it as though it had been sewn on. Her own skirt and blouse were fine for the office, smart and prudently formal, but hopelessly inadequate for an evening out, besides which, after the sort of day they had been engaged in, she felt sticky and crumpled and drab.
"Do come through." Sue took her arm as Doug divested them of their coats, and Lydia saw that the lovely face was expertly made-up, her long thick dark hair arranged in an up swept style that lent emphasis to the slender long neck and graceful shoulders.
"You must be absolutely dying for a drink," she said languidly.
"Lydia doesn't drink." Wolfs voice cut in behind her before she could reply, and she felt herself stiffen at the expressionless tone. Was he being sarcastic, mocking, after last night, or merely trying to be helpful? She couldn't see his face, and turned as they entered the lounge, but the bland cool features were giving nothing away, his eyes remote and distant as she searched his face.
"Don't you?" Sue's voice expressed utter amazement, with a subtle hint of disapproval at her crassness.
"Well, we've got tonic or bitter-lemon or things like that." She smiled at
Lydia with her mouth as her eyes swept coldly over her face and figure with exacting thoroughness.
"There's some freshly squeezed orange in the fridge." Doug indicated for them to be seated as he spoke.
_"That would be lovely." Lydia forced a smile at his cheerful face gratefully.
"Well, you see to that and I'll look after Wolf," Sue smiled sweetly.
"Whisky on the rocks, as usual?"