The Business Arrangement by Natasha Oakley

Author:Natasha Oakley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

THE dress had cost a fortune.

For one night! It seemed criminal, particularly when Amy thought about the money she owed. But what the heck? Even Calantha wouldn’t have scorned to wear the soft caramel silk dress and for one night where was the harm in playing Cinderella?

Hovering near the surface, however, was an awareness that she was playing with fire. It made her feel euphoric and terrified at the same time. But it wouldn’t do.

Hugh wouldn’t risk letting anyone close and she wasn’t prepared to accept anything less. Even so, she’d chosen a dress she hoped would be as distracting as possible. She told herself there was no harm in it. Not for one night.

‘Ready?’ Hugh’s voice echoed up the stairs.

Amy shrugged at her image in the mirror. This was it. Tonight she was Hugh’s girlfriend. She picked up her evening bag and let herself out of her bedroom. He was standing, immaculate in a dinner-jacket, at the bottom of the stairs waiting for her. She had to remember this moment. As an awkward adolescent she could never have imagined there’d be a moment like this one.

‘Will I do?’ she asked, walking towards him, careful not to catch the hem of her dress on her heels. ‘Fine feathers…’

‘Make fine birds,’ he finished for her.

He seemed unusually nervous. She could understand that. Sonya in her own home would be more dangerous than anywhere else. It was lovely of him to want to protect Richard so much. She slipped her hand into his. ‘Do you think Sonya’s really expecting you to arrive with me?’

‘Why wouldn’t she?’

‘Well, it’s possible she might not have believed you’re really involved with me.’

He slipped his arm around her waist and kissed her lightly on her hair. ‘Then it’s up to us to convince her.’

She looked up at him, expecting to see a teasing glint in his mesmerising blue eyes, but he appeared quite serious. He was trying to remind her how important this evening was for him. She only hoped she didn’t let him down.

‘I’ll do my best.’

He led her out to the hallway. ‘I’ve parked the car at the front.’

The feel of his fingers at her waist was sending shivers down her spine. The movement of the silk between her skin and him made it feel more sensual, more erotic. Every impulse was prompting her to turn into him to tempt him into holding her close.

Dear God, what would it be like to kiss him? He had such a firm, sensual mouth. She had heard Imogen, one of his long-forgotten girlfriends, describe him as a fantastic kisser. It would be lovely to know what it felt like to be kissed by him. She’d said he was a great lover too. How would it feel…?

She pulled away and made a show of looking in the ornate hall mirror. ‘How long do you think we’ll need to stay?’

‘Who knows?’

He sounded almost irritated. She bit her lip nervously. ‘I hope no one asks where Calantha is.’

Hugh led the way down the steps and stood on the pavement.

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