‘Don’t think so. Mandy hasn’t mentioned it. Leonie would probably have just handed all the details over to her PA. It has been fixed, hasn’t it?’
‘Yep. Oh, well…do me a favour, Neil, and don’t tell Mandy about it.’
Neil looked a little embarrassed. ‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘I…Mandy, damn it—’ he swore ‘—there are times when I don’t know why I put up with Mandy Pearson. She’s a born gossip.’
Aurora looked amused. ‘But great in bed?’ she suggested.
Neil looked away and the back of his neck reddened.
‘Sorry,’ she said, and meant it for she liked Neil, ‘strike that! And getting back to these flowers…’ she looked at the colourful bouquet ‘…it’s fair to say they’ve made my day!’
‘It’s fair to say you’ve made mine too,’ Neil responded. ‘The feedback to yesterday’s programme has been excellent. I’ve even had a request from the local paper to interview you complete with pics. Which has put me in a cleft stick.’
‘Oh?’ Aurora frowned at him.
He drummed his fingers on the desk. ‘Only because you sound more mature than you look, Aurora. Which is not to say you look girlish but, well, you are young. Young and gorgeous. No problem with the gorgeous bit, but listeners could be surprised at how young you are.’
‘Do I have any say in the matter?’
‘Well—yes.’ He looked at her warily, however.
Aurora grinned. ‘I think I’d like to be known for my golden voice and maturity rather than my image at the moment. Let’s see if it wasn’t just a flash in the pan first and, anyway, a little bit of mystery goes a long way. It’s one of the things I’ve always found so fascinating about radio, trying to put a face to the voice.’
‘There, I told you you were mature, didn’t I?’ Neil said relievedly.
‘Thanks, pal,’ she laughed. ‘I just wish…’ She stopped and when he looked at her enquiringly, shook her head.
But later in the day, when she was home alone, she examined the thought again… I just wish Luke had the same, mature view of me…was what she’d been about to say.
Because it was impossible for her to know exactly how Luke saw her. Youthful and immature? she wondered. A girl with a core of inner loneliness—he’d got that right and he did appear to be holding back to an extent. Why?
Then it dawned on her why she was thinking these thoughts—because there was nothing immature about her feelings for Luke Kirwan. There was, instead, a conviction that she’d fallen in love with him, in fact. Why else would she love his company, and feel so lonely without it? Even when she hadn’t been at all sure what kind of man he was, she reminded herself. Why else would she be starting to confide more and more intimately to her diary about him? Why else would she worry about his kids not getting an insight into his own childhood or yearn to understand him completely?
Why else was she still concerned about the way he and Leonie had parted?
All in all, it was enough to make her feel edgy, tense and heartily wishing she hadn’t agreed, in a moment of madness, to the astrophysics conference. And it manifested itself when he picked her up for the drive down to the Gold Coast in the yellow Saab.
‘I’m really not sure I should be doing this,’ she said as she watched him place her bags in the boot.
He paused before closing the boot and looked at her searchingly.
It was four o’clock on a Friday afternoon, a clear, lovely afternoon, and the thought of a weekend with the wonderful beaches of the Gold Coast, not to mention the wonders of the Sheraton and Marina Mirage at her disposal, should have been enough to fill her with a pleasurable sense of anticipation.
Also, the hood of the Saab was down and Luke was enough to make any woman’s mouth water, she thought gloomily, in light grey jeans and a charcoal shirt.
She wore a straight pale jade linen dress with dark green suede shoes. She’d had her hair cut a bit shorter so that it curled to just below shoulder-length and she had a marvellous Paisley shawl with splashes of ruby and jade to wind around her. Her make-up was light but she was perfectly groomed and deliciously perfumed.
Luke Kirwan took all this in and smiled inwardly—her expression did not quite fit with this glossy, beautifully presented Aurora Templeton who looked good enough to eat. Her beautiful green eyes were distinctly troubled.
‘And here I was thinking you might be looking forward to this little break. Especially in light of all your hard work and very successful week on the airwaves! I know I am. I like your new hairstyle, by the way. Very much.’ His dark eyes lingered on her shorter hair.
Aurora blinked.
He closed the boot and took her hand. ‘If you don’t want to come to the dinner tonight, don’t—and I mean that. I can take care of myself.’ He looked at her humorously. ‘There’s no reason why we shouldn’t enjoy the weekend, though.’
She chewed her lip as she debated this with herself. ‘You know that garment bag you just put into the boot?’ she said at last.
‘Yes. Why?’
‘There’s a dress inside there that I would hate to tell you the cost of, but it’s the most perfect, peachy dress I think I’ve ever owned.’
Amusement started to gather again in his eyes. ‘Go on.’
‘I’ve never worn it, it’s new and its guaranteed to slay every last astrophysicist on the planet, not to mention the Sheraton Mirage. And last but not least anyone who might be…scouting on behalf of Leonie Murdoch.’
‘So?’
She gestured. ‘I just don’t think I’d have the willpower, once I got there, not to don that dress and…see what happens,’ she said sadly. ‘In other words, I need to make a decision here and now about whether to come or not.’
‘It’s too late,’ he said, and opened her door, still holding her hand.
‘No, Luke, it’s not! I—’
But he ignored her and picked her up to sit her on the bonnet of the Saab.
‘Luke,’ she protested, ‘this is becoming a habit and, anyway, you should ask first before you manhandle me.’
‘Manhandle you?’ His eyes were dark and wicked.
‘You know what I mean—’
‘No.’
Aurora sighed. ‘I’m not feeling playful, Professor,’ she warned severely.
‘Who said I was?’ He folded his arms and contemplated her troubled expression. ‘You shouldn’t have mentioned the dress,’ he added gravely.
Her lips parted and she narrowed her green eyes. ‘Why…not?’
‘I won’t be able to rest until I see you in it. Does it have a Spanish flavour, by any chance?’
‘No-o,’ she said slowly.
‘Ah. I only ask because we know all too well what happened with that outfit. Worse, this one, do you think? I just hope I’m able to concentrate on my speech, if that’s the case, because—’
‘Stop,’ she said, trying not to laugh.
‘Not until you say you’ll come, Aurora.’ He looked around innocently.
She did the same and saw her neighbour’s lace kitchen curtain suddenly twitch closed. ‘You…you’re impossible!’
‘I know,’ he agreed. ‘Especially once I’ve got the bit between my teeth, there’s just no stopping me. I checked the weather forecast, incidentally. It’s going to be a beautiful weekend on the beach. Did you pack any sensational, guaranteed-to-slay-all-the-astrophysicists-on-the-Coast bikinis, by any chance?’
‘No. I need a new one. I thought I might buy one down there—oh, what the hell? Let’s go, Luke.’ She looked long-suffering.
‘I need a bit more enthusiasm than that, I think,’ he temporised.
‘What you really need is not to be big enough to get your own way so frequently,’ she returned bitterly. ‘How did Leonie do it?’
‘Stop me from getting my own way?’
‘Yes!’
‘She—deliberately—used certain feminine wiles that you probably would not approve of, Aurora,’ he drawled.
Her lips parted and
she started to colour. ‘You mean…do you mean sex?’
‘They generally go together, feminine wiles and sex.’
‘Not—well…’ Several expressions chased through her eyes, which he observed with a sense of inward laughter as he waited for what was to come, knowing that, whatever it was, it would surprise him.
It did.
Aurora slid off the bonnet unaided. ‘As a matter of fact, I’m dying to go down to the Coast with you, Luke,’ she said, and slipped neatly into the passenger seat.
He had to bend almost double to see her. ‘I’m delighted, Aurora,’ he said wryly. ‘But what changed your mind?’
‘Any girl who operates that way deserves what’s coming to her, I guess,’ she said serenely. ‘I just hope you weren’t concocting that because it’s put me on my mettle, you see!’
‘I do see and there’s something irresistible about it, I must tell you.’
‘Will you get in and drive this car down to the Coast?’ she recommended tartly. ‘I’ve also been known to change my mind.’
He laughed and closed her door. ‘Yes, ma’am!’
The opening dinner was scheduled for eight o’clock.
That gave them plenty of time after they arrived for a lovely long walk down the beach, something they did in complete accord. Although Manly was a seaside suburb, the protected waters of Moreton Bay lapped its shores, whereas the surf beaches of the Gold Coast faced the might of the Pacific Ocean.
The air was salty as the surf pounded the beach, the sky was huge and it was all quite invigorating.
‘Right,’ Aurora commented as they wended their way through the beach gate, lovely gardens and around the huge pools of the Mirage resort, ‘that’s blown away any cobwebs and put me in the mood for the big production. Would you care to call for me at about a quarter to eight, Professor?’
‘Whatever you say, Aurora.’
She cast him a suspicious look from beneath her lashes.
‘What have I done now?’ he enquired as they strolled along side by side.
‘That meek and mild air never deceives me, Luke,’ she replied. ‘It generally means you’re laughing at me.’
‘Why would I do that?’ he countered, stopping and looking down at her.
She put her head on one side. ‘Because I’m a novelty?’
‘You certainly are.’
She wrinkled her nose. ‘Now I feel as if I should reside in a funfair.’
‘Not at all—but you said it. There is another scenario that comes to mind rather than a funfair,’ he added before she could respond. ‘I’m sure I’d enjoy being involved in all aspects of this big production.’
Aurora opened her mouth, then closed it a little uncertainly.
‘Yes,’ he murmured, surveying her comprehensively in the shorts and knit top she’d donned for their walk, from her riotous hair to her bare toes. ‘Were we together, we could shower together, then indulge in a glass of champagne together as we relaxed for a little while and—after that, I could help you to dress. Those kind of to-die-for dresses often need a man’s hand to zip you into them and I’m quite sure I’d love to be the one to do it.’
She stared up into his eyes, then blinked a couple of times at the images running through her mind—of herself dressing in front of this man, of his hands on her bare skin, of them showering together. And it took quite an effort to say, although huskily, ‘Not today, Luke.’
A shadow of a smile touched his mouth. ‘Maybe not. But think about it if you’re tempted to feel like a sideshow, not to mention the error of my ways. I know I will be…’
Her room had an ocean view, was beautifully appointed with wooden shutters at the windows and was spacious.
So spacious, she was able to roam around it, thinking deeply for quite a few minutes without feeling caged in. Strange sentiments, she mused. Did it mean he still thought of her as the error of his ways? Did she…? Why had she got this feeling things had come to some kind of a pass between them?
Because of the imminent confrontation with so many people who could compare her with Leonie Murdoch, she answered herself dryly.
Because she was deeply unsure in her heart of hearts of what she was doing here, and what the future held for her in relation to Luke Kirwan, she added to herself, and sat down rather suddenly on the bed, to wonder intensely—why now?
Yet it wasn’t such a poser, she discovered. She knew, even if he did not, that she was in love with him. She knew instinctively and always had that there were two sides to him, just as she knew she was engaging the lighter side of that hawk-amongst-the-sparrows persona she’d seen in him—lovely though it was for her. How long it would appeal to him was another matter, though.
She sighed, then shook out her hair and went to have a shower. It was while the water was streaming down her body that she decided she wouldn’t be making any statement tonight, to anyone. Yes, she’d be there, but it would be very restrained Aurora Australis, she thought, and closed her eyes…
An hour later she was almost ready.
All that remained was to step into her dress. Her hair and make-up were perfect—the new length was lighter and easier to handle besides being essentially chic, she felt. Her lashes were carefully darkened so that her eyes were even more stunning, her lips were a glossy berry-red with her nails painted to match, and her underwear was flesh-coloured; briefs, suspender belt and the sheerest of nylons. And her skin gleamed peachy pale and satiny, anointed with a light body lotion that matched her perfume.
She picked her dress up from the bed and stepped into it. As she reached for the zip, she slid her feet into glorious high strappy sandals.
Five minutes later, after a repeated knock at her door, she went to answer it with sheer frustration written all over her face.
Despite this, Luke Kirwan in a black tuxedo with a blinding white pleated shirt-front, a hand-tied tie and silver-rimmed onyx buttons down the front of his shirt, with his hair brushed back sleekly, caused her to catch her breath.
‘Aurora,’ he said, skimming a dark, quizzical gaze up and down her, ‘you’re right, that dress is something else—but what’s the matter?’
The dress was made of a very fine raspberry velvet, cut low at the back with the front gathered at the throat to a narrow neck band. From the hips, matching raspberry silk georgette was gathered to form a billowing skirt dotted with delicate gold roses. She loved the sleek, fitted feel of the bodice that also exposed her shoulders and back, then the extravagance of the skirt.
But as she held it up in front of her, she said exasperatedly, ‘What’s wrong? You’ve jinxed me once again, Luke! I can’t do up the neck band!’
‘Hey—’ he smiled crookedly and put a fingertip on the point of her chin ‘—no need to get into a state. I have some experience in these matters, as I mentioned.’
She let the dress go, then grabbed the front just before it fell down to reveal her bra-less breasts. ‘That’s another thing I object to—how very experienced you are, Luke! I…I…’ She couldn’t go on as no suitable explanation came to mind, then one did and she added, ‘I feel as if I’m standing in a long line of women you’ve…either dressed or undressed!’
‘Aurora—’ he was suddenly quite sober ‘—not a long line, but there have been some. Nor was I intimating anything of the kind—it’s just…’ he shrugged ‘…one of those humorous things. Turn around.’
She eyed him mutinously.
‘Look,’ he drawled, ‘surely you would feel more comfortable continuing this debate fully dressed rather than having to clutch at yourself to remain decent—if that’s how you see it? I wouldn’t see it as indecent, personally, but it’s up to you.’
She nearly bit her tongue as she snapped her teeth closed and swung on her heel.
He said nothing more, not even when she trembled at the feel of his cool fingers on the back of her neck. And finally the little hooks and eyes yielded to his ministrations and she was done up.
‘Thank you,’ she said express
ionlessly over her shoulder.
He merely nodded and walked away from her to the mini-bar where he drew a half-bottle of champagne from the fridge and dislodged the foil cap. He poured two glasses and brought them over to where she was still standing.
‘Take a deep breath, Aurora.’
‘Why?’ She reached out a hand for the glass but he withheld it from her.
‘Just do it,’ he ordered. ‘Square your shoulders and tilt your chin.’
She hesitated, then did it all.
‘Perfect,’ he said softly. ‘Small but regal. It is a peach of a dress, one of the nicest I’ve ever seen—and positively exquisite down to your fingertips. There.’ He put the glass into her hand. ‘Now you can tell me to go to hell if you want to.’
‘Luke…’ she clutched the glass, then took a sudden sip, and started to smile ‘…how could I after that? Thank you.’
He smiled back at her, then pushed a hand into the pocket of his trousers and studied her narrowly. ‘You could tell me if it was only the dress you were so worked up about?’
‘I…what else could it have been? It’s lovely here.’ She moved at last and went to the windows, but night had claimed the view, although she stared out at it for a moment before turning back to him.
‘Deep and philosophical thoughts on the nature of life and love?’ he suggested.
Her lashes fluttered, giving her away, but she wasn’t ready to admit anything in the spoken word. ‘Not an appropriate time to be having those, I—’
‘I was,’ he interrupted.
Her lips parted. ‘You were?’ she said barely audibly, with surprise written large in her expression. ‘But you’ve been so…so playful today.’
He smiled unamusedly. ‘All the same, it’s finally come home to me that perhaps I’m not being—quite fair to you.’
‘In what way?’
‘I’m actually starting to feel—less playful and more and more deeply attracted to you, Aurora. But I have no idea where it might lead.’
She swallowed a lump in her throat and sipped some champagne. ‘At least that’s honest. I might have preferred it if you’d told me this before you brought me down here, but at least it’s honest. Come to that, I don’t suppose you’ve ever been any different, and it’s something I guess I’ve always known…’
A Question of Marriage Page 13
