‘Well, she’s a definite improvement on Maggie,’ he dismissed scathingly.
‘As far as you’re concerned that isn’t a compliment, you would think Judas an improvement on Maggie!’ Her eyes flashed her resentment.
His mouth twisted. ‘How strange you should use that comparison.’
Her gaze sharpened. ‘What do you mean?’
Jordan shrugged. ‘It doesn’t matter.’
‘Now who’s evading answering the question?’ she taunted bravely.
Mockery was clearly visible in his expression. ‘You can give me the same treatment if you like.’
It was the first time he had referred to the afternoon he had nearly raped her, and Kelly’s face blushed fiery red. ‘I don’t think so,’ she swung her legs off the lounger. ‘What time are Ian and Laura expecting us?’
‘Seven-thirty.’
‘Then I’d better shower and dress.’
She made herself walk calmly across the garden and into the house, all the time knowing that Jordan was watching her every move. Oh, how she wished herself immune to him, didn’t care that he no longer wanted her.
She dressed with meticulous care, wanting to look her best. Anne Fellows was beautiful, but she wasn’t exactly plain herself, and she wasn’t going to look like a drudge even if she had lost Jordan to the other woman. Jordan would be made to see what he was missing.
Her dress was a deep petrol blue, fitting smoothly over her hips down to just below knee length, tied at the waist with a narrow belt and fitting tautly over her bare uptilted breasts. Her hair glowed darkly, her make-up was light and attractive. She looked cool and sophisticated, and Jordan’s eyes deepened to black as he turned to look at her, although his expression was rigidly controlled as he picked up her velvet jacket and placed it around her shoulders.
‘Thank you,’ she accepted coolly, moving away from him. ‘I haven’t seen my father this evening.’
‘He’s out to dinner. He called while you were changing.’
‘He didn’t say earlier,’ she frowned, shutting off from her mind how disturbingly attractive Jordan looked in an off-white suit and black silk shirt.
‘Last-minute plans, I think.’ He held the car door open for her, tucking the side of her dress in as he closed it again.
The sensuous smell of his aftershave reached out and touched her in the confines of the car, too strong for her to block that out too. It stirred the senses, as did the cheroot he was smoking.
Kelly usually liked the smell of these cheroots, only tonight was different. Tonight the aroma made her feel slightly sick. ‘Would you mind putting that out?’ she said sharply.
He looked surprised, but instantly stubbed out the cheroot in the ashtray. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t think you would mind.’
‘I don’t,’ she shook her head. ‘Not normally. It’s just—’
‘Just that tonight you feel differently about it,’ he derided.
‘Yes—I mean no. Oh, I don’t know,’ she licked her suddenly dry lips. ‘It’s so hot in here.’ Beads of perspiration were breaking out on her forhead.
Jordan gave a worried glance in her direction. ‘Would you like me to open a window?’
‘No. No, it doesn’t matter.’ She took a deep breath. ‘I’ll be all right in a minute.’
He slowed the car down almost to a stop. ‘Would you like me to turn back?’
‘No!’ her voice was shrill. ‘No, we’ll go on,’ she said more calmly. If she said yes, turn back, he would probably disappear for the evening with Anne Fellows. ‘Ian and Laura are expecting us.’
‘I suppose it is a little late to let them down, but if you aren’t feeling well…’
‘I’m all right now,’ she insisted.
The journey to the Smythes’ house seemed never-ending, and Kelly hastily got out of the car once they arrived, breathing in deep gulps of air to try and clear her head.