“Ms. Farris, I—”
“I think I’ll start on your trousseau. I’m sure Burke will want me to dress you for the wedding and the honeymoon.” Marilyn stepped back a couple of feet and inspected Callie again, more thoroughly this time. “Classic, but understated. Burke was right in his assessment. No frills and certainly nothing radical and funky.”
“Ms. Farris, I assure you that you’ve misunderstood—”
Burke sauntered beside Callie and draped his arm around her waist. “What is it that Marilyn has misunderstood?”
“Did you take out the trash, darling?” Marilyn’s Cheshire cat grin displayed a set of soft dimples in her cheeks.
“Leland took care of it,” Burke said, referring to his chauffeur-butler.
“Good. Good. And as for any misunderstanding—there is none. I was telling Ms. Severin how much I’d like to design some other clothes for her. She’s absolutely lovely, Burke. A real little gem.”
“Designing some more things for Callie sounds like an excellent idea,” Burke agreed.
Callie jerked free, said, “Pardon me,” and fled. She had no intention of standing there listening to Burke and Marilyn Farris discuss her as if she were Burke’s mistress. Was that what all these people thought? she wondered. That he had simply gone from Hayley Martin’s bed to hers?
Callie rushed upstairs, wanting to find her purse and her wrap so she could leave. She was hardly dressed to ride on the tube, but she had no intention of wasting money on a taxi. When Leland had picked her up earlier this evening, Burke had met her on the staircase and taken her purse and wrap to his bedroom.
Her hand hovered over the doorknob. She wasn’t sure she was prepared to go inside and face the past. She had spent several fantasy hours in Burke’s bedroom, hours she had never been able to forget. Garnering her courage, she opened the door and walked inside. Two bedside lamps burned brightly, illuminating the elegant room. There on the bed—the huge four-poster antique—lay her wrap and her purse. She stood staring at the bed as memories invaded her thoughts.
Hot, wanton kisses. Lingering touches that had brought her to the brink of ecstasy again and again. Earthy, erotic words whispered in the dark. Perspiration-dampened bodies coming together in unbearable pleasure.
A child conceived in the throes of passion.
“You’ll create more of a stir by leaving abruptly than you will if you stay,” Burke said from where he hovered in the doorway.
Simultaneously gasping and whirling, Callie gazed at Burke, praying that her expression didn’t reveal any of her thoughts. Delicious, sexual thoughts about him. “Everyone here thinks I’m your latest mistress.”
Burke grinned, and she wanted to slap that cocky smile off his face. What gave a man that kind of self-confidence? she wondered. He was so damn sure of himself and his ability to get whatever he wanted.
“Who told you…ah, Marilyn Farris, the old busybody. Well, she was snooping, seeing if you’d reveal your innermost thoughts and feelings to her.”
“Do you know what she said to me?”
“No, but do tell me.”
“She said that she was going to start work on my trousseau. Have you ever heard anything so ridiculous?”
“Mm.” Burke rubbed his chin. “Then she assumes you’re my fiancée and not my mistress. And we know both assumptions are incorrect, don’t we?”
“Yes, we do. And I’d very much like all those people down there to know—”
“Would you like me to make an announcement? Ladies and gentleman, Callie Severin is not my fiancée and she’s not my mistress, despite my desire for us to become lovers. How does that sound?”
“It sounds ridiculous!”
“Hm, I suppose you’re right.” Burke entered the room, sashaying leisurely toward Callie. “Come back downstairs and follow through with your duties as my hostess. You don’t really care what these people think. You’re upset with me for putting you in this position. And for that I do apologize. I must admit that I knew certain guests would speculate about our relationship.”
“And you don’t care, do you?” Callie debated whether to leave or stay. Burke was right. If she left people were bound to think the worst. A lovers’ quarrel. A jealous rage over Hayley Martin’s appearance at the party.
Before Callie could reply, Burke’s cellular phone rang. He retrieved the small, compact telephone from his inside coat pocket, flipped the lid and placed the receiver to his ear.
“Lonigan here.”
Callie noticed Burke’s frown and his hushed tone as he spoke. Who had called him? she wondered. Some woman? Or an unsavory business associate?
Burke held the phone away from his ear as he spoke to her. “Callie, please go back downstairs and see to my guests. This is a very important call and I need to take it in private.”
She nodded and headed for the door. He called her name. She stopped and glanced over her shoulder.
“When the party is over, I’ll personally see you home.”
“That isn’t necessary. You can get me a cab or just have Leland drive me to Kensington.”
“No arguments. I’ll see you home myself.”
She slipped out of the room, closing the door behind her. But instead of going downstairs immediately, she leaned her head against the door and listened, hoping she could overhear Burke’s part of the conversation. If Burke Lonigan was involved in the illegal arms trade, she had a right to know, didn’t she? She needed to find out everything she could about her child’s father before she made a decision that would affect Seamus for the rest of his life.
The music, laughter and conversations from below drifted up to the second story, creating a distraction. She pressed her ear closer to the door. She heard the muffled sound of Burke’s voice, but couldn’t make out what he was saying.
Then she heard Burke say “Jonah” and a few minutes later she thought he said something about “Russian-made” and “waiting for him to contact me.” If only the door wasn’t so thick. If only the noise from downstairs wasn’t so loud.
“May I help you, Ms. Severin?” a male voice asked.
Callie gasped and jumped away from the door. Leland Perkins looked down his sharp nose at her, an expression of suspicion on his craggy face. How had such a big man crept up on her so silently? Burke’s chauffeur-butler stood at least six-two and had the build of a wrestler. Quite often she had wondered if Leland’s job description shouldn’t be amended to chauffeur, butler and bodyguard.
“No, thank you, Leland.” Callie tried to keep her nervousness out of her voice. “Mr. Lonigan is on the telephone—his cellular phone—and I was just going back downstairs.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Leland almost clicked his heels as he stood at attention.
Callie would bet money that Leland Perkins had some type of military background. His stance, appearance and demeanor screamed soldier. She wished she knew more about Leland and his relationship with Burke. If Burke really was involved in illegal dealings, that would explain why he needed a bodyguard.
Stop assuming the worst, that irritating inner voice scolded. As a multimillionaire businessman, Burke has every reason to need a bodyguard. Wealthy people were routinely kidnapped, weren’t they? And Burke Lonigan was a well-known figure in and around London.
Callie resumed her duties as hostess, but deliberately avoided Marilyn Farris during the next half-hour. She’d begun worrying about Burke when he finally put in an appearance. Their gazes met and locked as he smiled at her from across the room.
You could ask him about the rumors, she told herself. Tell him that you’ve heard his import and export business is just a front for his illegal arms deals. Oh, yes, by all means ask the man if he’s a criminal. He’ll either laugh in your face or fire you on the spot. Don’t do anything stupid. Bide your time and sooner or later you’ll discover the truth about Seamus’s father. But in the meantime, you have to protect yourself and your son. Burke mustn’t learn the truth. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
; Burke asked Leland to wait, so Callie assumed Burke would walk her to the door, say good-night and leave. A fine for parking on a prohibited street, which meant almost every street in central London, was the equivalent of forty-five U.S. dollars. But to a man as wealthy as Burke that would be pocket change.
When they reached the front door, Callie turned, smiled and said, “Thank you for seeing me home.”
“Aren’t you going to invite me in for a drink?” Burke asked teasingly.
“It’s quite late and I’m sure Enid is already asleep and—”
The door swung open. There stood Enid in jeans and an oversize shirt, with her waist-length sable hair hanging over her shoulder in a loose ponytail. “Come on in. It’s freezing out there.”
At that precise moment, Callie could have strangled her cousin. She knew exactly what Enid was doing—getting a closer look at Burke Lonigan. She wanted to check him out.
When the three of them entered, Burke closed the door behind them and quickly scanned the interior.
“Here, let me have your coat, Mr. Lonigan.” Enid practically ripped the wool overcoat off his back. “I’ve put on the kettle, so we can have tea. Please, go on into the living room and make yourself at home.”
“Thank you, Ms….”
“Ludlow, but you must call me Enid. I’m Callie’s cousin.”
After Burke bestowed his most devastating smile on Enid and wandered into the living room, Callie grabbed Enid and dragged her into the corner.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Callie demanded.
“My God, you didn’t tell me he was that handsome,” Enid said. “How can you keep your hands off him? If I’d ever had him in my bed, I’d never have let him out.”
“Will you please lower your voice!”
“Why are you so nervous? Seamus has been sleeping for the past three hours. He’s well hidden upstairs in his bed, so—”
“I didn’t want Burke to come inside with me. And he wouldn’t have if you hadn’t opened the door on us.”
“I couldn’t get a proper look at him through the window,” Enid admitted. “You didn’t exaggerate when you said how much Seamus resembles his father. If he ever sees Seamus, he’ll know the truth immediately.”
“He’s not going to see Seamus unless I decide to tell him that he’s Seamus’s father.”
“And how long is it going to take you to decide what to do?”
“I’m not sure. As long as it takes for me to be certain that Burke will be a good father to his son. And whether or not he’s some sort of criminal—”
“Ladies, is there a problem?” Burke called from the living room.
Callie shed her coat, flung it at Enid and said, “Sorry. Enid had a bit of news about a friend.” She glowered at her cousin and whispered, “Get that tea ready, and as soon as Burke’s had a cup, he’s leaving. And don’t you dare try to prolong his visit!”
The moment Callie entered the living room she noticed Seamus’s framed picture atop the mantel. Her heartbeat accelerated. Oh, no! Please don’t let Burke see that photograph. Callie waltzed in, a wide smile on her face. “Won’t you sit down?”
Burke sat on the sofa and glanced around the room. “This is a very nice place. Rather expensive, isn’t it?”
“Oh, yes, quite. Actually, it’s Enid’s house. She inherited a rather sizable trust fund.” Callie maneuvered her way behind the sofa and to the mantel. She ran her hand across the smooth wooden surface and in the process eased the framed photograph facedown. “I want to thank you again. Despite our little disagreement, I enjoyed acting as your hostess. And the dress and jewelry—oh, my.” Callie’s hand covered the heart-shaped pendant. “I should have removed these and given them back to you before we left your house. I simply forgot.”
“Keep them,” Burke said.
Callie gasped and shook her head.
“Keep them until Monday.” He revised his statement. “You can bring them with you when you come to work.”
“Oh, but what if I were to lose them or what if they were stolen or—”
“They’re insured,” he told her. “Good lord, woman, will you sit down? You’re fluttering around like a crazed butterfly. What ever is the matter with you?”
A nervous smile curved her mouth in an upward slant. Nervously, she licked her bottom lip, then realized Burke was watching her intensely. The desire in his eyes was unmistakable.
“Tea’s ready.” Enid entered the living room, a silver serving tray in her hands.
At that precise moment a loud, piercing wail alerted one and all that Seamus was awake and quite unhappy. Callie froze to the spot. No, please, God, no!
“I’ll get him,” Enid said.
“No!”
Both Enid and Burke stared quizzically at Callie.
“I’ll see about him. You two go ahead and have your tea.” Callie halted as she exited the room, looked directly at Enid and said, “Don’t bore Mr. Lonigan with any family stories.”
Enid smiled wickedly. Callie’s heart sank. Seamus’s sweet little voice called to her. “Mama…Mama…”
The moment Callie disappeared up the stairs, her cousin set the silver tray on the antique serving cart by the window. “Milk? Sugar? Lemon?”
“No, thank you,” Burke replied.
He studied Callie’s tall, rawboned cousin. The girl looked as if she belonged in the country. Riding horses. Frolicking with the dogs. She was a big, hard-looking female. Not unattractive, but definitely no beauty. Her dark brown eyes studied him as she handed him his cup of tea.
“I’ve been accused of being blunt, Mr. Lonigan,” Enid said. “And with good cause. So let me get right to it.”
“By all means.” Burke sipped the tea, which was quite good.
“Callie has had her heart broken twice and I don’t want to see it happen again.” Enid poured herself a cup of tea, added sugar and then sat in the chair directly across from the sofa. “There have been only two men in her life, her fiancé and Se—her son’s father. She isn’t the type for affairs. If that’s all you’re planning to offer her, then my advice to you is to bug off.”
“Callie’s a grown woman,” Burke said. “Don’t you think she’s capable of making her own decisions?”
“As a general rule.” Enid nodded. “But with you, Mr. Rich and Sophisticated, she’s out of her league. You know it and I know it. There are other pretty little fish in the sea, so why bother reeling in a sweet mermaid who deserves marriage and a happily ever after?”
“You care about Callie a great deal, don’t you?”
“She’s the closest thing I have to a sister. She was an only child and so was I.” Enid set her cup on the arm of her chair, leaned forward and focused her gaze on Burke. “What Callie needs is a good man—for herself and for her child. You really aren’t husband and father material, are you, Mr. Lonigan?”
Burke smiled sadly. Cousin Enid had him dead to right. What could he say? He couldn’t deny her accusation. “Quite right. I’d probably make a lousy husband and I don’t know the first thing about children.”
But I could learn, the loneliness in his soul cried. With the right woman, I could be faithful. And even though I’ve never been around children, I’d be willing to try my best to get along with Callie’s son.
“If you have any real feelings for Callie, do the right thing and don’t pursue her. You must know how easily you could break her heart.”
“I would never force—”
Enid’s laugher was like the woman herself—large, robust and earthy. “Seduction is just a gentle form of force. And you could easily seduce her. I’m asking you—no, I’m telling you to leave—” Enid paused when she and Burke heard Callie’s footsteps coming down the staircase.
“I changed his nappy and sang him a song and he went back to sleep instantly,” Callie said.
Burke rose to his feet. “I should be going.”
“Oh?” Callie glanced from Burke to Enid.
“It’s late and Lel
and is waiting and… Thank you, Callie, for your assistance tonight.” He walked over to meet her where she stood in the foyer.
She went with him, opened the front door and waited in the doorway when he crossed the threshold. He looked into her expressive gray eyes and saw confusion.
He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. “I’ll see you at the office Monday.”
“Yes. Of course.”
“Thank you again.”
“You’re welcome.”
Damn! He knew that Enid was right. Despite the fact that she was a twenty-seven-year-old unwed mother, Callie was an innocent. And as a general rule, he didn’t dally with innocents. He’d been wrong to pursue a personal relationship with a girl who wanted a husband for herself and a father for her son. He knew better than to seduce women who confused sex with love. Those types, despite what they said, always expected more—a rose-covered cottage and a picket fence. Burke Lonigan really wasn’t the home and hearth type and he, better than anyone, knew that fact. At least he should.
But God, how he wanted Callie! Without thought of the consequences, he reached out and pulled her into his arms. Before she had time to protest, he covered her lips with his. He quickly deepened and intensified the kiss, consuming her with his desire. When he finally ended the sensuous plundering and lifted his lips from hers, Callie was breathless. She stared at him, adoration in her eyes. Don’t look at me that way, he wanted to tell her, but remained silent. She didn’t realize it, but this had been their goodbye kiss.
“Good night, Callie.”
“Good night.”
She stood in the doorway and watched him until he reached the Rolls. Leland opened the back door for him. When Burke got in, he glanced at the house. Callie waved and smiled. He nodded.
When Leland slid behind the wheel, Burke said, “Drive over to Notting Hill.”
“Sir?”
“You know where Ms. Martin’s flat is.”
“Are you sure you want to—”
“What I want and what I’m going to do are two different things, Leland. Now shut the hell up and drive!”
Her Secret Weapon Page 6
