Читать книгу Taggarts Woman - Кэрол Мортимер, Carole Mortimer - Страница 6

‘CAN I come in?’ Phillip prompted softly, as Heather continued to stare at him in astonishment.

‘I——Of course,’ she invited abruptly. After the way he had walked out earlier she hadn’t expected to see him again at all, let alone now!

She led the way to the small sitting-room, facing him awkwardly. ‘It’s late,’ she said unnecessarily; they were both aware of the fact that it was one o’clock in the morning. ‘Daniel just left,’ she added uncomfortably, as she saw his gaze linger on the two empty coffee cups.

‘I know.’ His hair was golden in the glow of the overhead chandelier. ‘I saw him leave. In fact, I deliberately waited until he’d gone before ringing the bell.’

She frowned at this disclosure. ‘You did?’

‘Hm,’ Phillip nodded, his expression rueful. ‘I wanted to apologise for my behaviour earlier, and I didn’t particularly want to have to do it in front of Taggart.’ His deep blue eyes had hardened a little as he spoke of the other man, his good looks in no doubt, his features almost too perfect for a man, his body lithe and attractive in the dark evening suit.

‘I understood earlier why you felt you had to leave,’ she sighed. ‘All this has been very awkward for you.’

‘Worse than that,’ he groaned. ‘Heather, I love you, and it’s killing me to see you preparing to marry another man!’

They had been close the last year, good friends, occasionally a little more than that, but only a little more; she liked to be kissed and held as much as the next person. But she had never expected a declaration of love from him, it just hadn’t been that sort of a relationship. At least, not as far as she was concerned.

‘I’m sorry, Phillip,’ she sounded breathless, ‘your friendship has meant a lot to me——’

‘Friendship!’ he repeated scornfully. ‘You had to realise I was falling in love with you!’

Had she? They had seen each other a couple of times a week, enjoyed each other’s company, occasionally shared a few pleasant kisses, but did that mean a man was falling in love with her. She hadn’t thought so, had imagined being swept away in a maelstrom of wild emotions—much like she had known in Daniel’s arms such a short time ago!—when she loved, not feel the warmth of friendship.

‘I didn’t, Phillip,’ she told him truthfully. ‘I just thought we liked each other.’

He looked angry. ‘But you can’t be in love with a man like Taggart!’

She stiffened at the condescension he obviously felt for the man who employed him. ‘Why can’t I?’

‘Because you’re soft, and beautiful, totally lovable—and he’s a callous bastard!’ Phillip rasped harshly. ‘He isn’t capable of loving anyone!’

Maybe Phillip was right about the latter, but she didn’t believe Daniel was callous. He was hard, afraid to love in case he got hurt, but he only hit out at others to protect himself, not for the sake of it. She was an expert on callous men, had lived with one for twenty years, and Daniel wasn’t one of them.

‘You’re talking about the man I intend to marry,’ she reminded her coolly.

‘You can’t marry him!’

‘Daniel and I intend being married in four weeks——’

‘Four weeks?’ Phillip echoed incredulously. ‘My God, he isn’t taking any chances on you changing your mind, is he?’ he scorned.

Heather shook her head, her gaze flinty. ‘I won’t change my mind, no matter how many weeks it is until we get married.’

His eyes narrowed disbelievingly. ‘You love him?’