Lauri straightened her own clothing, her face pale with the shock of what she had done. But Alex didn’t induce any half-hearted emotions within her, he evoked either love or hate, both as strong as each other, and at that moment she had hated him.
But love! Her face paled even more. She couldn’t love this man! How could she have used such a term towards him even in her thoughts? What she felt for Jane and Steve was love, and that was nothing like the destructive emotions she felt towards Alex. He angered her, aroused her, but that couldn’t be called love. Could it …?
‘… and so you see, Robin, I’ll just have to cancel this weekend.’ Jane and Robin entered the lounge, neither of them seeming to notice the rapid rise and fall of Lauri’s breasts as she tried to bring some order to her chaotic thoughts, or to notice the way Alex turned away, pulling his jacket over the unmistakable streaks of blood on his shirt.
‘But what do I tell my parents?’ Robin complained, his good-looking face creased into a frown.
At thirty-eight Robin was a very successful lawyer, tall and handsome, with a taste for subdued clothing, usually dark grey or navy blue suits, and a way of assessing everyone by their bank account. A look of respect entered his eyes as he looked at Alexander Blair, quickly replaced by irritation as his gaze passed on to Lauri.
Jane sighed. ‘I’ve already explained that I can’t possibly go away and leave Lauri now.’
‘And I’ve already said that I can’t understand why you should concern yourself with whom your niece chooses to go out with,’ he returned impatiently. ‘I’m sure Mr Blair is respectable.’
‘Thank you,’ Alex bowed mockingly.
Lauri was amazed at how quickly he had managed to get himself under control, no evidence now of his burning anger of a few minutes ago, while she still felt emotionally shattered, her hands shaking as she pushed back her cloud of red-gold hair.
‘I didn’t mean any offence,’ Robin said hastily, making Lauri cringe at his fawning attitude. How Jane could stand such a man she had no idea. He might be as she described, steady and reliable, but he was also boring, and his deferential manner towards Alex made her feel sick.
‘None taken,’ Alex replied smoothly. ‘And there’s really no need for you to cancel your weekend away because of Lauren and myself. We’ve just decided we aren’t going out after all.’
‘You have?’ Jane sounded relieved.
‘Mm,’ he nodded. ‘We’ve decided to stay here instead.’
Lauri gave him a sharp look, wondering if anyone else could see that dangerous glitter in his eyes. The retribution that look promised made her determined not to stay here. ‘I’ve decided I would like to go out after all,’ she said shakily. ‘If you have no objections?’
‘None.’ Revenge would be his wherever they were, his eyes told her. ‘Unless you and your boy-friend intend coming with us,’ he spoke to Jane. ‘I suggest you carry on with your plans to meet Robin’s parents.’
‘Yes, darling,’ Robin encouraged. ‘It’s too late to call them now and say we aren’t going.’
‘But I—’
‘I’m only taking Lauren to dinner,’ Alex soothed, ‘and then I’ll bring her straight back. I’m sure Steve will be a very good chaperone.’
‘Well …’
‘Oh, do hurry, Jane,’ Robin looked impatiently at his wrist-watch. ‘I told them we’d be there by ten.’
Jane sighed. ‘I don’t know why we couldn’t have just gone down tomorrow. Ten o’clock is hardly a decent time to arrive.’
‘You know I had work to do today, and this way we’ll have all of tomorrow with my parents. You have to give them some time to get to know you. Now do hurry up,’ Robin ordered impatiently.
‘Will you be all right?’ Jane asked Lauri.
No, she wouldn’t, not by the looks Alex was giving her! But she couldn’t let her own fear interfere with Jane’s plans. ‘Of course I will,’ she smiled brightly. ‘Go and get your overnight case.’
The other couple finally left and Lauri turned apprehensively to face Alex. His expression told her nothing now, his features once again bland. Lauri’s hands twisted nervously together in front of her, a show of her inner agitation.
‘So that’s Robin,’ he mused softly.
His first remark was far from what she had expected.
‘You didn’t like him.’ It was a statement, not a question.
‘I hardly had the chance to make that sort of decision,’ he mocked. ‘I do know that if I had a girl like Jane interested enough to marry me I wouldn’t give a damn how my parents felt about her.’
‘You like Jane?’ She swallowed hard.