On his way to another engagement if his dark evening suit was anything to go by, his rakishly good looks as attractive as before, his hair looking more golden than ever tonight, as if he had spent his time between Saturday night and now just lazing in the sunshine. The fitness of his wide shoulders, flatness of his tapered waist, and his muscled thighs contradicted that impression as something he did often.
Remembering his blunt criticism of her the other evening, Eve could only hope his visit was to be a short one, although it didn’t look as if it would be too short, as Patrick offered him a drink and he accepted. Sophy took the opportunity to excuse herself to go and check on dinner.
Eve felt only dismay as Adam Gardener crossed the room, lowering his six-feet-two-inch frame down on to the sofa beside her, very close beside her.
‘So we meet again, Eve Eden,’ he drawled, the laughter very much back in dark brown eyes.
‘So we do—Adam Gardener,’ she returned caustically, determined not to be disconcerted by this man as she had been the last time they met.
He glanced across the room, to where Sophy had disappeared through a doorway into the kitchen. ‘I see our hostess had been busy talking to you, too,’ he mocked, dark, compelling eyes returning to her face. ‘But I think there’s something else you should know about me,’ he added conspiratorially.
‘Oh, yes?’ she prompted disinterestedly.
‘Hm.’ He nodded, bending closer to her. ‘I think you should know right now that I didn’t “just happen to be passing” anywhere,’ he told her softly. ‘I was specifically invited here tonight by Sophy.’ He sat back slightly, his eyes narrowed. ‘It looks as if our hostess may be up to a little matchmaking between the two of us,’ he informed her drily.
CHAPTER THREE
SO MUCH for her determination not to let him disconcert her a second time!
It took her a couple of seconds to recover from it this time. But only a couple of seconds!
‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ she snapped indignantly. ‘Sophy knows I’m shortly to be married.’
Adam nodded, not in the least perturbed by her show of anger. ‘I’m sure she does—but her opinion of your boyfriend appears to be about as high as mine,’ he said dismissively.
‘Sophy has been talking,’ Eve bit out tautly, eyes blazing.
He shook his head. ‘In this case, Sophy didn’t need to say a thing; I could tell how she felt about your Paul by her attitude towards him. A very forthright lady, is Sophy O’Donnell,’ he added, with obvious admiration.
‘Too forthright and honest to be involved in what you’re implying,’ she agreed agitatedly. ‘Besides, Paul was supposed to be here with me tonight,’ she reminded triumphantly.
Dark blond brows rose as Adam looked about the room pointedly. ‘Then why isn’t he?’ he finally drawled.
Colour darkened her cheeks. ‘He’s been held up unexpectedly at his office with a client,’ she explained defensively.
‘Of course.’ Adam nodded mockingly. ‘He’s a lawyer, isn’t he?’
‘As opposed to being an artist, yes,’ Eve told him challengingly.
His mouth twisted. ‘I’m glad that particular nightmare didn’t come true.’
She drew in a ragged breath. ‘Mr Gardener——’
‘Adam,’ he put in softly. ‘Please call me Adam—Eve.’
Adam and Eve. Certainly, they were nothing like that other Adam and Eve; a more unsuited pair than Adam Gardener and herself was unlikely to be seen for a long time to come!
‘Very well—Adam,’ she conceded stiltedly. ‘But I really don’t think you have any reason to be abusive about Paul in this way.’
His darkly intense gaze didn’t waver for a second. ‘You don’t?’
Her mouth firmed at his arrogance. Damn the man, he had no right! ‘You——’
‘Dinner is served,’ Sophy announced in a lightly teasing voice.
Eve looked up at the other woman dazedly as she interrupted the heated conversation, her cheeks feeling as if they were aflame as she realised the reason for Sophy’s mockery; Patrick had been standing idly by for the last few minutes with the whisky and ice Adam had requested, completely unnoticed by either of them. A fact that Sophy viewed with speculative amusement.
Eve stood up determinedly. ‘I’ll help you carry things through.’ Her steady gaze dared Sophy to refuse that help.