Lady Surrender

Charly was more puzzled than ever. ‘You were at university with Matt?’

‘Yes. Now when Molly gets here I want you to—–’

‘Matt’s wife is coming here?’ She frowned her confusion. ‘Whatever for?’

‘Don’t act dumb,’ he scowled. ‘Or maybe you are,’ he derided. ‘A mistress doesn’t usually answer the telephone in her lover’s apartment and speak to his wife! Unless you’re trying to break them up?’ he grated. ‘You don’t fancy being the next Mrs Matt Parker, do you?’ he scorned. ‘Believe me, it will never happen. Matt may be infatuated with you at the moment, but he’ll listen to me when I tell him you’re nothing but a mercenary little tramp.’

Charly had a feeling much like it must be to be run over by a steam-roller! ‘I’m sure he will,’ she answered dazedly.

He nodded, as if there were no doubting the fact. ‘In the meantime we have to convince Molly that she’s all wrong about the two of you.’

‘And just how do you propose to do that?’ she asked dryly.

‘With the only language women like you understand—money,’ he told her derisively.

Charly stiffened, resentment in every bone of her body. ‘Is that so?’ she drawled.

He nodded, his expression contemptuous. ‘And a little acting on your part too—but I’m sure that won’t be difficult for you either,’ he dismissed with disgust.

In other circumstances she would have put this man firmly in his place, and friend of Matt’s or not, it would not have been this apartment! But at the moment she was too bemused—certainly not amused!—by the assumption he seemed to have made about her and Matt. She was even more interested in hearing how he intended dealing with the situation.

‘Go on,’ she invited.

‘I’ve told Molly that you’re my girlfriend.’ The man looked at her with dislike.

Charly returned that dislike—with interest. ‘Couldn’t you have thought of something better than that?’

‘In the thinking time I had, no,’ he glared at her. ‘I got in to the country yesterday—–’

‘I guessed you weren’t English,’ she scorned.

‘Not gentlemanly enough for you, hmm?’ he derided. ‘Well I don’t know where you got that plummy accent from,’ he dismissed harshly, ‘but I can assure you I don’t think of you as a lady either!’

Insulting man! Her parents had paid a small fortune for her to acquire this ‘plummy accent’. And she didn’t think it was ‘plummy’ at all, just correct English. Ignorant lout!

‘You were telling me about this marvellous plan you had devised to convince Molly that Matt and I aren’t lovers,’ she prompted in a bored voice. ‘And perhaps it would be better if you introduced yourself.’

Green eyes glittered dangerously. ‘The name is Aaron Grantley. And I’d advise you not to irritate me, lady; I’m angry enough already!’

The threat passed unheeded. Aaron Grantley! She had had no idea what he looked like and so hadn’t recognised him, although he was much more well-known in his native America. But she had heard of him, knew that when it came to business there was none better, that the man had amassed a fortune and a hotel empire in America using his business acumen, that he was now interested in advancing into England. Charly hadn’t realised he was in the country. Perhaps she ought to put an end to this right now, before—–

‘Women like you are a dime a dozen,’ he told her coldly. ‘Damn parasites, living off the vulnerability of married men—–’

‘Mr Grantley—–’

‘Believe me, the thought of having to pretend to be your lover makes my skin crawl,’ he added disgustedly. ‘You would have to get me so damned drunk I wouldn’t know what I was doing before I could make love to you!’ he bit out insultingly. ‘But I’m sure there are lots of men who aren’t averse to paying for your services, one way or another.’

Charly was very pale by the time he had finished, all idea of denying a relationship with Matt completely forgotten. Even if she were the sort of woman this man thought she was he had no right to talk to her in this way. People who knew her well would have recognised and understood the anger in silver eyes that were usually a calm grey, and they would have very wisely not pushed her any further.

‘I believe you mentioned something about money yourself,’ she prompted hardly.

The firmly sculptured mouth twisted derisively. ‘I didn’t think you would have missed that.’

She gave a haughty inclination of her head. ‘I never ignore the mention of money, Mr Grantley.’

He nodded. ‘I already guessed that,’ he drawled. ‘I’m prepared to pay you well to pretend to be my girlfriend while Molly is here.’

‘How much?’

‘I see the thought of money puts colour in your cheeks,’ he scorned harshly.

If there were any colour in her cheeks it was anger at this man. How dare he come here making assumptions, throwing out accusations and insults! She might regret her silence later, but for the moment she relished the time she would tell this man how wrong he was.

‘I said how much, Mr Grantley?’ she repeated coldly.

He gave a disgusted snort. ‘I bet Matt has never seen you like this; I’m sure you’re always sweet and lovable with him!’

Charly looked at him steadily. ‘I have no reason not to be,’ she stated truthfully.

‘I suppose he bought you those little rocks.’ Aaron Grantley glared at the diamond studs in her earlobes.

‘Actually, no,’ she told him smoothly.

‘Then some other poor besotted idiot did,’ he accused disgustedly.

James had never been poor, and certainly not a besotted idiot, she thought bitterly. ‘What sort of payment did you have in mind, Mr Grantley?’ she asked him hardly.

‘How about a bracelet to match the earrings?’

Her brows rose; whatever this man was he wasn’t miserly! ‘Your friendship with Matt must be a very close one,’ she frowned.

‘Not close enough, obviously.’ His gaze raked over her contemptuously. ‘He certainly didn’t tell me about you.’ He made the statement an insult.

Charly shrugged. ‘Probably because he knew you would disapprove.’

‘Any real friend would,’ he rasped. ‘The damned fool is married!’

‘Are you married?’ She didn’t remember ever hearing about any marriage, but it was always a possibility.

His mouth twisted. ‘My marital state is none of your business!’

‘I just thought, with Molly being a friend, you might find—this—awkward, if you have a wife too.’

Aaron Grantley sighed. ‘I don’t have a wife, a live-in girlfriend, or indeed any serious relationship at the moment. Which is just as well with Matt in this mess,’ he ground out.

She nodded. ‘You had better tell me exactly what you’ve told Molly about us.’

‘Not a lot,’ he grated forcefully. ‘How could I when I knew nothing about you? Matt had mentioned to me that this apartment wouldn’t be available for my stay because he was letting Charly stay here for a while; I assumed it was one of his colleagues from the hospital that he lets use it when it isn’t convenient for them to travel out of town to their homes. He also told Molly that someone was using the apartment before he left yesterday but he didn’t say who, and like me she assumed it was one of his colleagues from the hospital. Then she realised Matt had left an address book here that she needed, and telephoned to see if this colleague could send it on to her. You answered the telephone,’ he accused.