Alexander blinked. He looked disturbed, and obviously hadn’t known the full story. Well, was that a surprise, really? Of course she wouldn’t have told him. Heath felt a twinge of guilt and hoped he hadn’t dropped her in it.
“Look,” said Alexander. “You have to understand—you can’t mess with her like this. She’s not used to it. You will end up hurting her.”
“No, I won’t,” said Heath patiently.
Alexander looked apoplectic. “You left her in bed in the middle of the night, how do you think that made her feel?”
Heath leaned against the wall and made himself relax. “If I’d waited until the morning, what do you think would have happened? Would she have been all warm and cuddly, talking about our next date? I don’t think so, do you? I left because taking the figurine would be the only way to make sure she’d see me again.”
Alexander stared at him. “It was all a ploy?”
“Of course it was!” Irritation flared inside him but he forced it down. Cat thought of Alexander as her father, and he was going to have to court the old man as well if he wanted to get close to her. “Alex, I’m sorry if I upset you with what I did, but I’m sure Cat wasn’t hurt—annoyed, yes, frustrated, yes, but not hurt. Not after what happened in Sweden. She likes me, I know she does.”
“I’m not arguing with that. But you don’t know her—you don’t know what’s happened in her past.”
“I know how she met you.”
Alexander studied him, startled. “She told you about that?”
“Yes. I know she ran away from her parents and lived on the streets for two years until you found her. She hasn’t yet told me why she ran away, but I’m hoping she will.” He stuck his hands in his pockets. “Look, cards on the table. I know Catherine thinks of you like a father. And you’ve obviously been good to her in the past, given her a new life, supported her, found her a job. She owes everything to you. But, and I’m sorry to say it sir, you’re not going to be around forever. Don’t you want her to have someone who loves her, someone who’ll look after her? Don’t you think she deserves to get married and have kids of her own?”
For a moment, he thought Alexander was going to put his age to one side and swing a punch anyway. He kept his weight on his toes, ready to step aside should the need arise. But Alexander didn’t move. He stared at Heath, a slight frown on his face. “And you think you can give her all that?”
Heath looked him in the eye. “Yes, I do. I haven’t known her very long. But I’m crazy about her, and I want to get to know her better. I know I walked out on her in Cairo, and I admit when I play the Silver Fox I’m sometimes less than scrupulous, but I’m not a bad guy, Alex, not when push comes to shove. I don’t want to fight you. I’d much rather have you on my side to help me out. I’m sure in the long run we both want the same thing for Catherine—that she be happy.”
They studied each other for a moment. In the background, Heath heard clapping. “The German’s done. It must be her turn.”
“Yes, we should go.” Alexander cleared his throat. “Two things. First of all, stop calling her Catherine.”
“Why?”
“She doesn’t go by that name.”
“But it is her name.”
Alexander gave him a steely look. “I’m not going to tell you why she doesn’t like it. But rest assured you’re putting a match to tinder by refusing to stop. Secondly…” He studied the younger man and for the first time his eyes sparkled with something other than anger. “She likes penguins.”
Had he heard right? “Penguins?”
“Penguins.”
For the first time, Alexander was warming toward him. Heath nodded, his heart swelling. “Thanks.”
Alexander turned toward the room. “Come on—she’ll never forgive us if we miss her big moment.” He glanced over his shoulder. “She’s going to whip your arse.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.” Heath followed him in, and they sat at the back. Cat was just taking her place at the podium.
Heath took the opportunity to study her. She’d lost a couple of pounds, and she’d had her hair trimmed—it was still longish, bouncing past her shoulders, but it looked neater, the natural wave ending in a straight line. In her trouser suit, she looked elegant and sophisticated, the boots giving her a sexy edge and a bit of height—not that she was short, as she’d told him herself. The thought made him smile.
The translator had finished introducing her and now Cat started to make her case for the British Museum having the first turn of the new Warriors. As he had expected, she was confident, knowledgeable, and informed – and also very warm, which surprised him. Not because he found her cold, but he’d imagined she could come across as slightly superior, maybe a little patronizing. But she wasn’t—she appeared genial and affable to the reserved Chinese businessmen, and Heath could see them warming to her even before they processed the information she was divulging.
As she began to round up, he knew he’d lost. He wasn’t disappointed particularly—he’d known it would be a hard sell against the British Museum, even if it hadn’t been Cat speaking, but he was surprised at the pleasure he felt that she’d beaten him, although they’d yet to see how the other speakers had got on. He always got what he wanted, and he didn’t usually enjoy losing.
Just before she started asking for questions, he made his way quietly to the door.
Chapter 19
Cat glanced around the room as she asked if there were any questions, wondering if Heath was going to trouble her as she’d troubled him, but Alexander sat alone and she realised Heath had left. Disappointment swept over her, but she quelled it as someone asked a question, and answered as knowledgeably as she could.
When everyone was done, she left the floor to a round of applause. The panel was going to have to discuss what they’d heard. It would be a while before they came to a decision.
Alexander was waiting for her at the other door when she walked down the corridor. “Well done,” he said, smiling. “You made a great case.”
“I don’t think I could have done any better.” She glanced past him. “Where did he go?”
“I don’t know.” He studied her thoughtfully. “We had a very interesting conversation.”
“Oh?”
They began to walk back to the foyer. “Yes. I believe you didn’t tell me the whole truth about Sweden.”
Cat looked down, letting her hair swing forward to hide her face. “I told you what you needed to know. Anything else is my business.”
Alexander caught her arm, turning her to face him. “My darling, I only want the best for you. I just want you to be happy.”
“I know.” Her throat tightened. He rarely spoke to her like this.
“He’s a tricky character, and there’s no doubt the Silver Fox is a fellow I don’t like you being mixed up with. But I think deep down, Heath is a good guy. And he seems to like you very much.”
Cat’s cheeks burned. “Oh crap. What did he say?”
Alexander smiled. “He didn’t have to say anything. He sent you roses, my love, that pretty much says it all.”
She blew a raspberry. “It says he wants to get in my knickers.”
Alexander sighed. “I think it’s a bit more than that. He hasn’t known you for very long, and I was doubtful of his motives, but I think he’s sincere.”
She felt flustered and breathless. “What are you saying?”
“I know you’re trying to brush him off. Pretend it’s nothing. But Cat, one day you’re going to want to settle down.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Just listen for a minute. You’re still young, but I’m not going to be around forever. I’d like there to be someone to look after you when I’m gone.”
She stared at him. “Good grief, what on earth did he say to you?”
“Nothing, nothing. He just made me think, that’s all.”
Speechless, she put her arms around Alexander’s neck and hugged him tightly. “Don’t t
alk like that. I love you, I love you so much, and I couldn’t bear for you not to be here.”
“I know, darling, I know.” He patted her back gently with his cane-free hand. “And I’m honoured to have been part of your life. But I think it might be time to hand you on.”
“Hand me on?” She pulled back. “I’m not a baton, Alex, you’re not in the four-by-four relay.”
“You think I don’t know that? With these feet?”
She was too upset to laugh. “I can cope on my own. I’m a grown woman now. I don’t need looking after.”
“I know, darling. But wouldn’t you like to have your own house? A man of your own to care for you? Don’t you want to have babies?”
“You sound like we’re still in the nineteen-fifties.” Her voice was steely. Alexander never talked to her about anything like this.
Clearly he realised he’d annoyed her and now tried to backtrack. “Don’t get upset. I’m only trying to think of you.”
“Well, don’t. I can think for myself, thank you very much. I don’t need you or Heath looking after me, Alex.”
“I know.”
“I don’t need a man, or a family, to make my life complete. I’m happy exactly how I am.”
His eyes met hers. “Of course you are.”
“Alex…” Tears filled her eyes. “Don’t.”
Normally, that would have been enough to make him back off, but this time he fixed her with a determined stare. “I’ve been too lenient with you, love. I’ve let you talk for years about how you don’t want a family and want to stay single forever. I’ve indulged you, because I know you had a difficult background, and, selfishly, I suppose I wanted to keep you for myself. But… I can’t do that any more. I can provide you with love and security, but there are lots of things I can’t provide. And you deserve them all. You’re a lovely woman, and you’d make a wonderful wife and mother. You shouldn’t back away from a relationship, love, especially one that makes you as happy as Heath seems to. You should take it with both hands and hold onto it. That’s what Melissa would have said.”
Cat felt equal parts angry and upset at his speech. She fingered the ring around her neck, trying to think what to say. “I know you mean well,” she settled for finally. “And I understand you don’t want me to be lonely or unhappy. But I’m not, Alex, really. I like my life.”
“You’re just saying that because you’re scared,” he said, his hand tightening on his cane. “I know you well enough to recognize that.”
“What the hell did Heath say to you?” She glared at Alexander. “Why are you suddenly coming out with all this?”
“He made me see I’ve been thinking about myself, and not about you. He only has your welfare in mind. I was thinking too much about myself.”
“Why won’t either of you understand I’m able to make my own decisions?” Irritation and anger threatened to overwhelm her, as well as worry about the unhappy look on Alex’s face. She didn’t want him to be concerned about her. “If I’m scared of having a relationship—so what? It’s my decision. I don’t have to change that for you or for him.”
“No, that’s true.” Alexander looked at the floor.
Sighing, she cupped his face in her hand. “Thank you for looking out for me. But really, I’m okay. You just worry about yourself.”
“All right, love. I won’t mention it again.” Alexander seemed resigned.
She’d planned to spend lunch looking around the Terracotta Warrior Museum, but after the conversation with Alexander, Cat felt distracted and edgy. Not hungry, she left him to eat lunch in the restaurant and went up to her room, deciding to do the one thing she knew would relax her—take a bath.
It did the job, kind of, and her irritation faded, but she still felt confused about their conversation. She lay on her bed in her bathrobe and thought about Alexander’s words. What had Heath said to him to make him come up with such shocking statements? Alexander had never pushed her to get a social life, or to meet people of her own age. And she wasn’t about to start now. She was happy with her life. Wasn’t she? The look in his eyes when she’d said that statement made her breath catch in her throat. Why did these men have the spectacular ability to unnerve her?
Relationships were hard work, and they needed commitment and compromise, two things she wasn’t sure she had the place for her in current lifestyle. She worked hard, her life was her own, and she liked the fact that she didn’t have to think about or rely on anyone else. Museum work filled her life from morning till night, and she couldn’t imagine how she would be able to fit in a family around it. Plus the thought of opening up to someone and letting them get close enough to hurt her filled her with horror. She wasn’t going down that road for anyone.
A knock at the door brought her out of her musings. She sighed. She wasn’t in the mood for talking to Alexander at that moment. But it wasn’t fair to leave him waiting. She went over to the door and opened it.
Heath stood there, leaning against the doorjamb, hands in his pockets. He hadn’t changed, and still wore his grey suit and glasses.
A rush of emotion shot through her, and she inhaled sharply. He didn’t seem to notice, though—he was too busy taking in the fact that she was wearing only a bathrobe.
“Hi,” she said. She wanted to berate him for upsetting Alexander, for making him worry that she was going to be alone and unhappy, but as his gentle, hazel eyes roamed over her, all her anger dissipated.
“Hi.” His gaze returned to her face, and he smiled. “Good job on the speech.”
“Thanks.” She clutched the robe together at her neck instinctively. His gaze dropped there, noticing her movement, then returned to hers. He looked amused.
She sighed. “What do you want?”
He pointed to his glasses. “Silver Fox mode.”
“Okay…”
“The Fox wants to say he’s sorry.”
“For…”
“Being an idiot. Making me run out on you. I’m very annoyed with him, and I’ve given him a very hard time for it.”
She couldn’t stop the smile creeping onto her face. “Okay.”
“He wanted to get you something.”
“Oh?”
He pulled one hand out of his pocket and held the object out to her. It was a small soft toy penguin, no bigger than his palm.
She stared at it, puzzled. “Thank you—it’s, um, just what I’ve always wanted.”
He twisted the penguin from side to side, making it dance. “It’s a penguin.”
“I can see that,” she said wryly.
“For you.”
She took it from him and looked at it. “It’s…lovely. But I don’t quite understand. Is there a hidden meaning here?”
He frowned. “No. Alex told me you like penguins.”
She stared at him. Then she burst out laughing. “Oh, Heath, really! He meant Penguins, you know, the biscuits?”
Heath’s eyes widened. “Biscuits?”
“Oh, maybe you’ve not heard of them? They’re English. Rectangular biscuits, covered in chocolate.”
“But you don’t like chocolate.”
“Yes, that’s true, sort of—I don’t like chocolate-flavoured things like milk or ice cream or mousse, but I do have a thing for Penguins. I could eat a whole pack in one sitting.” She subsided into giggles. “Oh, your face is a picture!”
He glared at her with exasperation. “He knew damn well I wouldn’t have heard of them. He set me up.”
She pressed her lips together and held up the penguin toy. “It’s delightful, Heath, really, very thoughtful.”
“I went all over China looking for a damn penguin.”
She started laughing again, covering her mouth with her hand as he heaved a sigh. He looked so boyishly indignant, so embarrassed, her heart swelled with affection.
She reached out and caught his hand. “Come in.” Pulling him into the room, she gave the penguin a kiss on the beak and put it on the bedside table, then came over to him and
put her hands on his chest. She reached up and tapped his glasses. “Do you wear these for effect?”
“No,” he said grumpily. “The jet lag made my eyes sore, and I couldn’t wear my lenses.” He heaved another sigh and glared at her as she giggled. “What?”
“Nothing.” Biting her lip, she removed the glasses carefully, placing them next to the penguin. “It was a very thoughtful gift, Mr Fox, and Ms Cat really appreciates it.”
He studied her sulkily. “I wanted to get you something you’d really like.”
She touched his cheek. “I love the penguin. And I didn’t throw the roses away, you know.”
He brightened visibly and then cast her a wary glance. “You’re just saying that to make me feel better.”
“No lies in the bedroom, Heath. I promise.” She pushed him gently until his back met the wall. Then she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him.
For a moment he resisted, still sulky like a six-year-old, but as she ran her tongue over his lips and parted her own he sighed and relented, wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her close. She slipped her hands into his beautiful hair, pressing against him, enjoying the smell of his aftershave, the taste of him.
Suddenly, however, she pulled back. “Oh. I just thought, do you have any…”
He met her gaze and smiled sheepishly. “Might have.” He fumbled in his pocket and produced the packet he’d bought in Cairo. “Eight left.”
She studied him, wondering whether to be amused or annoyed. “That was presumptuous.”
“Hopeful, more like.”
She tried not to smile. “You haven’t used any in the meantime?”
“As you observed previously, I don’t need them for a flute solo.”
“I meant—”
“I know what you meant,” he said gently. “And no, I haven’t been with anyone else.”
Smiling as joy flooded her, she parted his jacket, only then remembering he wore a three-piece suit. She pushed the jacket off his shoulders and let it fall to the floor. “Oh my…”
“What?”
“A waistcoat. Mmm.”
He laughed. “You like?”
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