by Sharon Kleve
“I’ll sit in the back, thank you.” Gwen waited for the rear door to be opened before she made a move toward the car. His was an older model, unlike hers which was new that year, but the Audi was clean, respectable and big enough to make an entrance. It would do, although next time, they were taking hers. People expected it of her. She had a certain reputation to maintain and no bigheaded driver who didn’t know his place would damage her standing in the public eye.
The seats were comfy, the scent of real leather was always reassuring and Gwen eased back to enjoy the ride.
“Seatbelt.” Denning slid into the driver’s seat, the rear view mirror reflecting the vivid intensity of his eyes.
“I beg your pardon?” Gwen found herself locked into a battle of staring with the man she should have been issuing orders to. Why didn’t he know his place?
“I’m not going anywhere until you’ve fastened your seatbelt.”
“This suit may look like a rag to you.” Gwen spelt her words out slowly since the man didn’t seem to understand anything about her. “But it cost in the region of $4,000 and I have no intention of creasing it unnecessarily by wearing a seatbelt just to please you.”
“Listen Ms. Lancaster,” Denning swiveled in his seat to her. “I don’t care if you’re dressed up in rainbows and cotton candy, or if you’re going to see the Queen butt naked, you will put on a seatbelt or we’re not moving an inch. Would you like me to do it for you?”
“I’m quite capable,” Gwen stuttered, unable to believe the man’s rudeness. Sam never dared to speak to her like that, and he’d never forced her to wear a seatbelt.
“There’s a good girl.” Denning returned his attention to the road as he switched on the ignition. “Sit back and relax. I’ll have you there in no time.”
Gwen stared out of the window, ignoring the impudent man and his remarks as the mellow notes of a classical melody floated out of the car speakers. She couldn’t say which what it was but she’d heard it before and liked it. She felt a little surprised to find the piece in Denning’s CD collection. She closed her eyes, and allowed each note to caress her senses. She always felt nervous before an interview, let alone one so important and it didn’t help that the only member of staff present was an arrogant imbecile.
The journey was uneventful, just as Denning promised although nothing could calm Gwen’s nerves until she was back in her own house later that afternoon. She patted her perfect hair, touched up her lipstick in the tiny mirror she always carried and stepped out of the car as Denning handed his keys to the parking attendant on the door.
“The interview is in room 239 on the second floor. We’ll take the lift from the lobby,” Denning whispered into her ear as they entered the prestigious hotel, almost as though whispering sweet nothings to a lover. “The press is here, but they’ve been warned to stay back until we return. Are you okay with that?”
Gwen nodded, a teasing smile growing on her lips as she moved into character. She was seen as a girl about town, a prime catch in any man’s world and she knew the presence of a daringly handsome man like Denning would invite all kinds of conjecture as to her love life. No one would guess he was just her driver and she began to see the benefits of having such a man around, especially in the absence of Jeremy Winters, the man the press assumed would soon become Mr. Lancaster.
The crowd gathered in the rear end of the foyer called Gwen’s name, the flashes on their cameras lighting the room like lightning on a stormy night.
“Ms. Lancaster...”
“Gwendolyn, a moment of your time…”
“Gwen, just a word…”
“Later, guys.” Denning held his hand up as they passed the posse of paparazzi’s. “You can catch a chat with the lady later. Will you all still be here?”
Gwen laughed sweetly as every reporter promised that they wouldn’t move from the spot until she returned.
“You have a way with them,” she said once the doors of the lift closed on the faces of the grateful reporters.
“They’re just doing a job, like the rest of us. Promise them something at the end and they turn into pussycats.” Denning’s grin matched Gwen’s as he stepped out of the lift first with a hand held out to ensure she remained within the cabin’s protection until he was assured nothing threatened her safety. Denning’s led her out into the plush carpeted corridor to room 239. He led the way, all the time keeping a firm hand on her arm. Gwen didn’t know whether to feel insulted or cherished but decided to let it go since he seemed to know what he was doing and she couldn’t really begin to berate him in public. She would have stern words with him back at the house and make him understand just how far he could go. Oh yes, she was looking forward to it.
“Ms. Lancaster, may I call you Gwendolyn?” Sally Mackenzie, the anchor of ‘Books Today’ rushed over with her hand extended and excitement painted over her handsome features. Sally, a brunette with her hair cut severely short, was too old to be considered pretty and too masculine to be beautiful but she made the best of whatever she’d been given. Her make-up was perfect and designed to soften her angular face but it was widely agreed that Ms. Mackenzie was the best female journalist on TV and richly deserved the honor of interviewing the delectable Ms. Lancaster.
“Please call me Gwen, all my friends do.” Gwen flashed an awesome smile, all thoughts of the irritating Denning gone from her mind as she slipped into the perfect model of a modern-day author of passionate romances.
“Gwen, please come and make yourself comfortable. Is there anything we can get you? Coffee or maybe a drop of champagne?” Sally grinned as she guided her guest to a sumptuous chair near the window. The lighting would be best there.
“Oh, Sally, you’re spoiling me,” Gwen enthused, following her hostess’s lead to sit as the camera men fixed their lenses and the make-up girls fussed over both women’s faces.
****
Robert took a chair in the corner where he could watch everything whilst keeping an eye on the door and anyone who might happen through. A muted crowd of people stood close together at the rear of the room, their attention reserved solely for Gwen. He noted where they all stood and kept them within his peripheral vision as he casually rested his left ankle on his right knee, his hands lying on the beautifully upholstered arms, looking calm and relaxed but the truth was very far from it.
The serene, almost sleepy expression written on his handsome face belied the strained tension that filtered through his body. He didn’t like the situation and regretted taking the job. Gwendolyn Lancaster proved to be more of a challenge than he’d anticipated and although she was very easy on the eye, that goodness didn’t extend out in any other way. He regretted his promise to Janis to see out the weekend. Damn, he could last that long, couldn’t he? He’d had worst assignments, and one little mouthy writer shouldn’t be so hard to handle.
The tenor of Gwen’s voice changed as the television interview started and he could detect a tremor of fear beneath her seemingly jovial tone. He locked his eyes onto her pretty face. Although her disquiet wasn’t apparent in the warm smile she bathed the anchor woman in or the words she offered freely, there was something there, something hidden deep inside, and he wanted to find out what.
He took his mind back to the thin folder Janis gave to him to read. Ms. Gwendolyn Lancaster started life as Gwen Baker, the only child of a local farmer and housewife. Orphaned in a car crash at the age of nine, she lived with a maiden aunt who shaped Gwen’s love of romance novels. The farm and all its acreage was sold and put into trust for her twenty-first birthday, although there was no evidence that any of this money remained. Had she spent it all on her lavish lifestyle?
At twenty-seven, she hadn’t married or been engaged although her name had been linked to several successful, well-known men, the latest being a Jeremy Winters, a soap actor, determined to put his name on the walk of Fame in
Hollywood. Unfortunately, so far, very little fame had fallen into Mr. Winters’s lap, but being connected to a well-liked, well-known writer like Gwen couldn’t have done his career any harm.
“Oh my goodness, Sally, you can’t expect me to answer that.” The tone of Gwen’s voice brought Denning’s attention back to his charge. Her cheeks reddened enough to be fetching without removing any of her ornate prettiness. He imagined she might have the same glow during sex.
“Come on, Gwen, you can tell us.” Sally gazed into the camera with a hopeful smile and raised eyebrows. “We won’t tell anyone…” she paused for effect, “… especially your fiancé, Jeremy Winters.”
“Sally, you’re terrible,” Gwen gasped. “Jeremy is not my fiancé and Robert is just a good friend.”
Denning gasped at the audacious lie although Sally laughed. She had created a mystery where there was none. How would she explain his disappearance in a few days’ time?
“Just a good friend. Where have we heard that one before?” Sally leaned forward, her hand touching the exquisite cream silk just above Gwen’s knee. “Should we ask the very handsome Robert?”
“You’re determined to ruin my love life, Sally.” Gwen giggled nervously, her eyes darting across to Denning’s impassive face. Whatever she was up to, it wasn’t presenting her driver as a potential love interest to titillate her fans.
“I’m sorry,” Sally mused although her tone of voice declared the opposite. “Gwen, after the fantastic success of ‘The Latin Lover,’ are you working on a new romance to delight us all?”
“I’m thrilled I wasn’t the only woman to fall in love with Eduardo’s charms.” Gwen glanced away from the brooding man in the chair back to her host. “And, yes, I’ve started a new book. It’s due out at the end of November.”
“Can you tell us anything about it?”
“Oh, I daren’t or my publisher will have my guts for garters.”
Both women laughed at the naughty expression but Denning read the unease in Gwen’s face. What was wrong with her?
“Can you give just a little snippet for your fans?” Sally urged.
“Okay , you’ve twisted my arm. Annabella is a surgeon threatened by an unknown assailant. She is assigned a detective bodyguard by the police—”
“And she falls in love with him?” Sally interrupted, forgetting to allow the interviewee enough time to speak.
“Well, it is a romance.” Gwen grinned. “No more, I’ve already said too much.”
Denning leaned forward, and rested both elbows on his long thighs. His astute eyes caressed Gwen’s shapely body in a way he’d not yet had the opportunity. She was slim but not scrawny. She obviously took a lot of care with her appearance, but he wondered what she’d look like in a pair of tight, faded jeans and T-shirt or a bikini—or nothing at all.
Another sweet laugh tore Rob out of his reverie, and he realized he was staring at Gwen. This time, however, she glared back with a quizzical look on her face and a question brewing on those delicious lips. The interview was over and the two women applauded themselves and offered gratitude and suggestions to meet up on a more personal nature.
“I’ll let you know.” Gwen brushed her lips against Sally’s cheek so lightly not a touch of lipstick stained the woman’s skin.
“I’ll phone you,” Sally gushed, and held a small napkin with Gwen’s number on it to her chest as though she’d won an Olympic medal.
Denning stood, and his eyes danced about the room as people rushed to congratulate Gwen. She looked a little panicked with the rush of background staff to her side as she stood to rejoin him.
“That’s enough. Ms. Lancaster has somewhere else to be.” Denning pushed through the excited crowd. His hard hand reached to pull Gwen close to his chest as he urged her to the door and the open corridor.
“Did you have to be so rough?” Gwen snapped, and pulled away from him once out in the seclusion of the empty passage. “They were just pleased for me and wanted a word, that’s all. What’s the matter with you?”
“My bad,” Denning growled, his hand reaching for her arm once more and urging her back to the safety of the lift as the door behind them opened and her ‘fans’ blossomed out into the corridor. “And there was me thinking you weren’t enjoying the attention.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Gwen stepped away to the rear of the lift. “Why wouldn’t I love the adoring attention of my fans? They are very important to me.”
Denning shrugged, reading the lie all wrapped up in Gwen’s infuriated words. Was she lying to herself as well?
“Get ready, your audience waits,” he warned as the doors opened and the paparazzi warmed up to a feeding frenzy. “You’ve got five minutes.” Denning bent low to whisper into her dainty ear, his lips lifted into a sexy smile as he too, stepped into the role required of him.
“Oh, you waited,” Gwen gasped sexily, as though surprised anyone would wait for her.
“I’d wait forever for you, darling,” one of the hacks shouted over the top of the other remarks thrown Gwen’s way.
“How about posing with your new boyfriend?” Another suggested as Denning stepped back to give Gwen space to wow her audience.
“Oooh, he’s not my boyfriend,” she flashed a naughty smile, negating her words with one lift of her long lashes. “You won’t tell anyone, will you?”
Denning watched as Gwen charmed the hard-bitten press. Her face lit up with humor, and she seemed to enjoy the attention. But something wasn’t right. The warmth of her smile didn’t reach her eyes and her posture told him she wanted to run, to flee. But her iron will held her still so he silently promised he would rescue her from all this.
“Time’s up.” He moved to her side, a hand on her arm, bringing her eyes to his eyes. He read the flash of relief written there until she hid it once again.
“Just one more shot,” a hack cried loudly.
“Yeah, get closer. You look great together,” another suggested.
“Are you up for this?” Gwen asked. Her blue eyes appealed for him to behave.
“As long as you don’t mind being photographed with the hired help,” Denning whispered as he moved closer, his arm snaking around the sweetly-scented woman. Damn, she smelled good. He couldn’t decide if it was the scent of gardenias or roses or maybe both. “I didn’t bring my hat.”
“Don’t be silly,” Gwen patted his chest with a tiny hand and Denning could have sworn his heart jumped a little at the contact. “Now, smile for the cameras.”
“Your wish, as ever, is my command,” Denning crooned low, reveling in the sound of Gwen’s sweet chuckle. His arm held her to him and to his surprise, she felt so right in his embrace as her blonde head nestled against his chest. The warmth of her body made him want to never let her go.
This was a mistake. Cold panic flashed through Rob’s body as he realized how much he enjoyed the touch of the woman. He’d let his guard down in public and that was one of the worst things he could do. He hadn’t paid enough attention to what was really important.
“Enough!” Denning hissed, urging Gwen away although he hid his feeling behind a smile. “Thanks, guys,” he lifted his face to the flashing cameras. “I think I’ve shared Ms. Lancaster enough today.”
Denning propelled Gwen out of the lobby and back to the waiting car. Once inside, he sped away back to Gwen’s house and didn’t look back.
Chapter Four
Gwen sat mystified in the back of the car. She no longer cared about the seatbelt or whether it crumpled her expensive outfit as she stared coldly at the back of the man’s head. What the hell happened? One minute she’d been cosseted in his warm embrace, posing for photographs like he’d been born to it and the next he’d thrust her away as though she had an incurable disease and he’d been scared of catching it. What was his problem?
“What is wrong with you?” she asked in a cold acidic tone although she didn’t think he would answer.
“You got what you wanted, didn’t you?” he snapped back, with his eyes on the traffic and trying not to mind her words.
“One thing you need to learn about me, Denning, is that I always get what I want,” she snarled, not expecting the rumble of laughter from the driver’s seat.
“Rob,” he corrected her.
“I beg your pardon?”
“You may call me Rob.”
“I would prefer to keep this relationship on a last name basis,” she said. “You are Denning and you will call me Ms. Lancaster.”
“Okay, darling,” Rob grinned.
“I am not your darling!” Gwen shrieked. “Just drive me home and don’t talk. I prefer silence.”
“Whatever you want.” Rob got the last word in, and although Gwen wanted to correct him, she guessed he would reply to whatever she said and the silence she craved wouldn’t happen.
She didn’t wait for him to open the door, although she should have, she reasoned. With a flash of her shapely legs, Gwen stalked to her front door, and slammed it behind her in his face. A rattle and a breeze flowing after her, explained that Sam must have given Denning a key.
“What time do you want to eat?” Denning called after her as she raced up the stairs to her dressing room.
“Don’t bother, I’m going out,” she called back just before she slammed the door behind her. .
“Not without me, you’re not,” Rob replied.
Damn the man. This was too much, Gwen decided, snatched up her phone and speed dialed Janis’s number. It rang and rang before it switched to voice mail but Gwen was too annoyed to leave a message. The next person she called answered.
“What the hell is the deal with this man?” she snarled before the other person had time to speak.
