Subtle Revenge

by Carole Mortimer

  Lori felt better when she rang off; she knew that she had to get her life back into some sort of order. After all, she couldn’t let revenge on Luke Randell take over. Seeing that photograph of Nigel and his bride had knocked her for six, but she had a purpose now, a revenge she intended seeing through to the bitter end.

  She had lunch with Sally as usual, in fact this was starting to be the only time she saw her flatmate. The other girl hardly seemed to spend time at the flat now, and she still couldn’t dispel her feelings of apprehension for her friend. Not that Sally looked as if she needed worrying about; she was positively glowing, and her conversation was animated as they ate their sandwiches in the staff room.

  ‘What’s it like working for the human dynamo?’ Sally wanted to know.

  ‘He’s very—capable,’ she evaded.

  ‘Very handsome too,’ Sally grinned. ‘Has he asked you out yet?’

  ‘No…!’

  ‘Don’t look like that,’ Sally laughed lightly. ‘After the way his eyes were devouring you at the wedding I’d be a fool if I didn’t know he fancied you. I was sure he would have asked you out by now.’

  ‘Well… Maybe he has,’ Lori admitted as she sipped her tea.

  ‘And you turned him down!’ Her friend was incredulous. ‘How could you refuse someone as gorgeous as him?’

  Lori’s mouth twisted as she remembered Luke’s method of persuasion. No doubt his practised charm and lethal kisses had felled hardier women than her; she just had reason to know she would never find Luke Randell in the least attractive.

  ‘It wasn’t difficult,’ she replied truthfully.

  ‘You’re mad!’ Sally groaned.

  Lori quirked one brow. ‘You’re saying that if he asked you out you would accept?’

  ‘Well, no, I wouldn’t—It’s different,’ she protested. ‘Yes, it is, Lori,’ she added at her knowing look. ‘I have Dave, but you—Well, you don’t have a steady boy-friend,’ she finished awkwardly.

  ‘Just how “steady” is Dave?’ Lori queried lightly.

  Sally blushed. ‘He’s asked me to move in with him,’ she revealed reluctantly.

  Lori deliberately kept her face devoid of expression, something she had learnt to do quite easily while her father was on trial, when the press were always eager for any break in her façade of calmness. She had been nicknamed Little Miss Cool in those days, and except for her weakness where Nigel was concerned she had remained that way.

  ‘Yes?’ her reply to Sally was noncommittal.

  ‘Do you think I should?’ her friend asked in a rush, chewing on her bottom lip, looking very young and vulnerable in that moment.

  Lori shrugged. ‘It’s your decision, and one only you can make. Does Dave want to marry you?’

  ‘Eventually,’ Sally blushed again.

  ‘He’s not sure?’

  ‘He feels we should live together for a while first,’ Sally rushed on to embarrassed speech. ‘You know, a sort of trial marriage.’

  ‘I see. And what do you think of that?’

  ‘I—I haven’t made my mind up yet,’ her friend said vaguely. ‘It’s a big decision to make.’

  Lori longed to tell Sally what she really thought of the idea, longed to tell her that she would be a fool to make such a commitment to Dave when he obviously had no intention of making any sort of commitment himself. But if she told Sally that, and Dave finished with her because of it, then her friend would probably partly blame her. Only Sally could decide what to do about this.

  ‘You’re looking pensive,’ Luke drawled as she entered the office, sitting on the edge of her desk as if he had been waiting for her return, his jacket back on now.

  Lori sat down with unhurried movements. She knew that this time Luke was very much aware of how little she had on under the thin woollen dress. His eyes narrowed appreciatively, a dark smoky grey. ‘Which do you prefer?’ she said dryly. ‘Cheerful or pensive?’

  ‘Actually, neither,’ he taunted.

  ‘No?’ she met his gaze steadily.

  ‘No,’ he smiled, his earlier coldness complete gone. ‘I’d prefer to see you willing and aroused in my arms—preferably in my bed too.’

  He had wanted to unnerve her, and he had succeeded. There was no way she could stop the blush in her cheeks, although the look she gave him from steady brown eyes had daunted better men. Luke Randell remained unmoved, his eyes warm as he blatantly looked down the vee of her dress at the gentle swell of her breasts. ‘I’m afraid that isn’t possible,’ she told him softly.

  ‘Afraid, Lori?’ he echoed throatily. ‘That’s a step forward.’

  ‘Is it?’ She forced herself to meet the probe of those steely grey eyes.

  His mouth twisted. ‘The shield’s gone up again, Lori,’ he derided.

  She knew that, knew that if he could really see what she was thinking he would recoil in shock. She hated his gaze on her, felt as if he touched her with the sensuality burning in his eyes, hated his closeness, and knew he only had to move slightly to actually touch her. And she couldn’t bear that, not at the moment.

  ‘What’s going on under those lashes?’ he taunted her lowered lids, standing up.

  Lori breathed an inward sigh of relief at the removal of his physical closeness, and her confidence ebbed slowly back, raising controlled lids. ‘Nothing at all, Mr Randell,’ her voice was cool. ‘What possibly could be?’

  He laughed softly, a predatory male who would make any man quake if they came up against him, in any capacity. His method of dealing with women was much more subtle, but he was still the hunter, and the woman would be his captive. This man would always be the aggressor, and she would have to let him think he was in control of their relationship too. But not too much; half of her attraction for him at the moment was her elusiveness.

  ‘I couldn’t even hazard a guess,’ he shook his head. ‘Since that first week I haven’t been able to read a single thought.’

  She flashed him what she hoped was a mischievous smile, although she had a feeling it looked more triumphant. ‘Maybe I have more to hide now?’ Her voice was brittle.

  ‘Maybe you do at that,’ he mused. ‘Well, I’m off to lunch now myself. Oh, and, Lori—’ he paused at the door, his hand resting on its handle, a long strong hand, the fingers thin and tapered, unnadorned by any rings.

  ‘Yes?’ She was instantly tense.

  ‘The hospital called.’

  Her expression brightened. It had to be good news, Luke couldn’t possibly have flirted with her as he had done if Claude were in any danger. Claude’s wellbeing would also explain Luke’s lightning change of mood from before lunch. He was obviously fond of the older man, and had been worried about him.

  ‘He’s all right,’ she sighed her own relief.

  ‘Yes,’ Luke grinned. ‘He’s going to be in intensive care for a while, but they aren’t expecting any complications.’

  ‘Thank God,’ she said shakily.

  ‘My sentiments exactly.’ Luke sobered. ‘I’m going in to see him tomorrow evening, when he’s feeling a little less groggy, I don’t suppose you would care to come with me?’

  Once again he expected a refusal, and she deliberately allowed herself time to think before she turned down this one. She wanted to visit Claude, dearly wanted to see him, and by accepting this invitation she would be raising Luke’s hopes that she might accept others.

  He could think it anyway!

  She nodded her head. ‘Yes, I would. Thank you for asking me.’

  He might be a supremely self-confident man, a man assured of his own attraction, but her acceptance had completely taken him aback. ‘Did you say yes?’ he queried softly, disbelievingly.

  Her mouth quirked at his stunned expression. ‘I did.’

  ‘Dinner afterwards?’

  He was pushing his luck, and he knew it. ‘I don’t think so,’ she laughed softly.

  Luke sighed. ‘I suppose one yes in a day is a breakthrough! Okay, Lori, we’ll go and see Claude togeth
er tomorrow evening. Mm—together, I think I like the sound of that word when it’s applied to you and me. With a little luck—and that persuasion Marilou assures me I have in a lethal amount—we’ll be having a lot of togetherness, you and I.’ There was a look of promise in his eyes as he left the room.

  Togetherness. Yes, they would have a lot of togetherness—and each moment of it would be torture for Luke Randell!

  CHAPTER SIX

  ONCE again Lori dressed with special care on Wednesday evening, allowing herself the luxury of wearing something really sexy. After all, it was out of working hours.

  The pale tan dress, knee-length, was styled like a Japanese kimono, very tight-fitting, defying the severity of the high neck. It was a dress she usually saved for special occasions, but then tonight was in the nature of a special occasion—her first evening with Luke Randell.

  Her hair was newly washed, a blazing red cloud, her make-up slightly heavier than usual, emphasising the liquid seduction of her deep brown eyes, the deep plum-coloured lip-gloss adding a moist promise to her lips. High-heeled black sandals showed off the long length of her legs, giving her a height that added to her simple elegance. She looked provocative, but subtly so.

  Although she wasn’t so sure about the latter when she received Sally’s reaction to her appearance; the other girl was having one of her rare evenings at home!

  ‘Goodness!’ she gasped as Lori came through from the bedroom, her head bent to attach the gold bangle to her slender wrist, her only piece of jewellery.

  Lori looked up at her friend’s spontaneous exclaimation. ‘Too much?’ she grimaced.

  Sally considered her appearance for a moment. ‘No, I don’t think so,’ she said slowly. ‘If you were just going to visit Mr Hammond, maybe. But as you’re going with Luke Randell—no,’ she shook her head.

  Lori hadn’t wanted to look too obvious, had wanted to attract without appearing to be conscious of it. ‘Maybe I should change…’ she said uncertainly.

  ‘You’ll do no such thing,’ Sally told her firmly.

  ‘But if the dress is overdone—’

  ‘No dress could be overdone with a man like Luke Randell—and if it were I’m sure he would soon have it undone,’ Sally grinned. ‘No, I think you look perfect. You could hardly wear denims and a top to see Mr Hammond—’

  ‘You aren’t supposed to know I am going to see Mr Hammond,’ Lori reminded her, having told Sally about Claude’s operation in confidence. ‘He’s supposed to be on holiday, remember?’

  ‘I’ve heard it from two other sources today that he’s really in hospital,’ Sally dismissed. ‘You just can’t keep things like that quiet. And I think you’ll do just perfectly as you are. Mr Hammond could probably do with a bit of cheering up.’

  ‘As long as I don’t raise his temperature!’

  ‘There is that,’ Sally chuckled.

  Luke seemed to approve of her appearance too when he arrived a few minutes later, for his eyes gleamed down at her in open admiration. ‘Changed your mind about dinner?’ he drawled. ‘Or can I eat you here?’

  ‘Come in and be reintroduced to my flatmate,’ she said loudly, opening the door wider for him to enter.

  ‘Whoops!’ he murmured as he strolled confidently inside.

  Lori took a few seconds to take in his own appearance. There was no business suit this evening, instead a pale green high-necked silk shirt, brown fitted trousers, and a brown and green checked sports jacket. There wasn’t a hair out of place, the grey at his temples was very distinctive. Yes, he looked very handsome, and Sally was already scrambling to her feet, looking selfconscious in her casual denims and tee-shirt.

  ‘The other bridesmaid,’ Luke smiled, shaking her hand warmly. ‘And Kenneth Mitchell’s secretary.’

  ‘That’s right!’ Sally gave a delighted laugh at his knowing her.

  He glanced round at Lori. ‘I had no idea the two of you shared a flat.’

  ‘For a couple of years now,’ Sally supplied, obviously enjoying talking to him.

  Lori watched as Luke charmed the other girl for several more minutes, a contemptuous twist to her mouth, although the emotion was quickly masked as Luke turned to her and suggested it was time to leave.

  She wasn’t in the least surprised by the car he drove, a silver Jaguar, the sporty model; the atmosphere in the confined front of the car was very intimate.

  ‘Nice girl,’ he remarked on the drive to the hospital.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Still seeing the man she was with at the wedding?’ he frowned.

  Her eyes widened in surprise. ‘Yes.’

  ‘Hm,’ he looked thoughtful. ‘Is he always that—neglectful of her?’

  Heavens, he was perceptive, more so than she had realised! She would have to be careful tonight, more careful than she had planned on being. Dave was neglectful of Sally, unless he wanted something, and this man had known that just through that one meeting with him.

  ‘I have no idea.’ She wasn’t going to discuss Sally’s personal business with him. He was, after all, the new boss.

  ‘You do,’ he drawled. ‘But you think I should mind my own business. I liked her,’ he shrugged. ‘I wouldn’t like to see her get hurt.’

  ‘She’s a big girl,’ Lori told him stiffly. ‘And big girls have to make their own mistakes.’

  ‘As you did?’ he questioned softly.

  Her breath caught in her throat. ‘Sorry?’ she managed in a casual voice.

  ‘Well, as you seem to have plenty of friends, and you get on well with older people such as Ruth and Claude, I have to assume it’s only men you’re wary of, relatively young men. Is that it, Lori?’ His voice gentled. ‘Did you get hurt in the past?’

  ‘You forget, I have Jonathan,’ she said woodenly, again knowing the extent of his perception.

  ‘I have it from your own lips that he isn’t a boy-friend.’

  Her eyes glittered. ‘He’s a male friend.’

  ‘Not the same thing at all,’ Luke derided. ‘When was the last time you had a boy-friend, one who kissed you goodnight and who you didn’t want to stop?’

  ‘Mind your own damned business!’ she snapped.

  ‘Did you ever have a boy-friend like that?’

  ‘Of course I did!’

  ‘When?’

  Lori drew in a steadying breath, realising he had her on the run. She wouldn’t let him unnerve her, although she had never met anyone who spoke as bluntly as this man. He wanted her, he told her so, and he wanted to know about the other men in her life, so he asked her about them. Blunt to the point of rudeness! Even if her interest in him had been genuine she wouldn’t ask him such personal questions. Not that she really needed to; this man oozed experience, a confidence in his power over women.

  ‘I was engaged once,’ she revealed coldly.

  His interest quickened, a dark frown to his brow. ‘Why didn’t you marry him?’

  ‘Because I changed my mind,’ she lied. ‘It’s a woman’s prerogative, you know.’

  Luke turned the car into the hospital gates, slowing it down drastically as he drove through the neat and pretty grounds to Claude’s ward. ‘I wouldn’t have let you change your mind,’ he told her grimly as he backed the car into a parking space, looking directly at her once he had turned off the ignition. ‘How long ago was this?’ His eyes were narrowed, his arm along the back of her seat, his aftershave smelling faintly herbal, his male warmth reaching out to her. His fingers moved to idly play with the hair at her nape, caressing the silky curls. ‘How long, Lori?’ he prompted hardly.

  She shrugged, bending forward to retrieve her handbag from the floor, effectively moving away from his touch without being too obvious. Nevertheless, she saw anger flare briefly in the icy grey eyes. ‘A couple of years,’ she replied lightly, and opened her car door, the slit up the side of her dress giving him a momentary glimpse of her silky thighs as she swung out of the car, something she seemed unaware of as she turned back to look at him. ‘Should
n’t we be going in now? Visiting time is limited, isn’t it?’

  He got out to join her, locking the doors by the central locking system on his door. ‘For the moment,’ he nodded. ‘Although Ruth’s been with him most of the time.’ He held her elbow as they followed the signs to Claude’s ward, their footsteps echoing eerily in the deserted corridor. ‘How many years, Lori?’ he persisted softly.

  She couldn’t hold back her start of surprise. She had thought the subject of her engagement forgotten—she should have realised that Luke’s razor-sharp mind wouldn’t accept such an evasive reply. ‘Four or five,’ she dismissed easily. ‘I really can’t remember.’

  He looked down at her, his mouth grim. ‘Can’t you?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘You didn’t love him, then?’ he bit out.

  She was perfectly in control now, her cool expression gave nothing away. ‘I suppose at the time I must have done.’

  ‘You can’t remember that either, hmm?’ he quirked a derisive brow. ‘What a shocking memory you have, Lori!’

  ‘Isn’t it?’ she said sweetly, pushing open the door to the room Claude had been moved to only that morning. At once all antagonism left her. Claude looked so different from when she had last seen him, his skin drawn tautly across his cheeks, and he was very pale, although the smile he directed at them was familiar enough.

  ‘My dear!’ he held out a hand to Lori, the warmth deepening in his eyes as she went to his side.

  ‘And Luke!’ Ruth stood up, bearing the strain of the last few days with only the increased lines about her eyes visible, her smile as warm as her husband’s in her relief that the danger was at last over.

  Luke kissed the other woman on the cheek, bending down to shake Claude’s hand, more gentleness in his face than Lori had ever thought to see. ‘We won’t stay long,’ he said softly. ‘Just long enough to assure you that Lori and I are getting along just fine. And that she hasn’t thrown anything at me yet!’ He straightened with a mocking smile in her direction.