The Redemption of Darius Sterne by Carole Mortimer

Author:Carole Mortimer [Mortimer, Carole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-01-10T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

‘NOT ONLY BEAUTIFUL, but you also know how to cook!’ Darius looked appreciatively across the table at Miranda once they had finished what had turned out to be a very enjoyable meal.

And not just because the food had been every bit as good as it smelt.

No, once they had got over that initial tension, and had begun to eat their meal, the conversation had actually flowed quite naturally between them, and whether Miranda realised it or not Darius now knew the answer to at least some of the things he had been curious about earlier. Miranda’s favourite colour was red, her favourite food Italian, and she liked to read murder mysteries. And as that was Darius’s preference too, they had then had quite a lively discussion on the merits of certain authors as opposed to others.

‘A multi-tasker—that’s me,’ Miranda lightly brushed off the compliment as she stood up with the obvious intention of clearing away the dishes.

Darius put a restraining hand on the bareness of her arm. ‘Sit and finish your wine, and I’ll tidy these things away,’ he instructed as he stood up.

‘Helpful as well as handsome?’ she came back dryly.

Darius gave a slow smile. ‘Well, I’ll settle for handsome certainly.’

Miranda frowned as she obviously realised her teasing had backfired on her. ‘Don’t you usually have an army of minions to do this sort of thing for you?’ she teased as she slowly sat down and watched him clear the table.

‘Now, now, Miranda, let’s not spoil the day by arguing again,’ Darius drawled, before slowly stilling as he looked down at her through narrowed lids. ‘Or maybe that was your intention?’

Was that what Andy was trying to do? Put the distance back between them, by deliberately challenging him?

Maybe she was being contentious. Because she was feeling so defensive, after the last few hours had passed more pleasurably than she could ever have imagined. Darius had relaxed in a way Andy hadn’t believed he ever could, as they’d discussed books and theatre and art as they ate. No doubt the delicious red wine had also contributed to their becoming so relaxed in each other’s company.

But it wasn’t real, Andy reminded herself firmly.

Darius was...who he was. And she was who she was.

Outside this apartment, this moment in time, their lives were totally different.

Too different for them to have any reason to see each other again after today.

Even if Darius suggested it. Which Andy had no reason to suppose that he would.

‘Obviously it was.’ Darius sighed his frustration with her silence. ‘What have I done to make you distrust me so much—other than using blackmail to get you to go to the charity dinner with me?’ He grimaced.

‘Isn’t that enough?’ Andy gazed up at him crossly. ‘Darius, normal people don’t use blackmail to force someone into going out with them!’ she added as he looked down at her questioningly.

His mouth thinned. ‘You were being intransigent.’

She gasped. ‘And that gives you the right to use my brother-in-law’s job to blackmail me?’

A nerve pulsed in his tightly clenched jaw.

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