Read Trophy for Free Online Page A

scared off.”
    “Mark, you can be very terrifying to someone who doesn’t know you.” She smiled, leaning forward to say, “Goodnight. See you in the morning, or whenever you get up. Coffee will be made.”
    “‘night.”
    Affectionately he watched her go. After the death of their father when she was nine, Selby had virtually been a second father to her. Now twenty-two, she had grown into a stunning young woman and, like any father, he felt protective towards her.
    At the ball, Kim Mannon was talking to a youngish man whose bow tie was undone, and who looked seriously the worse for wear. He could barely stand.
    “Have you seen Angela Ward?” she demanded.
    “An … Angela?” He looked vaguely around.
    “She … she was being groped by Reggie the Smooth some … somewhere over there a while ago. Probably has her under a table by now. Oops. Oh dear, Kim. Shouldn’t have said that. Reggie and you are …”
    “No we’re not,” she snapped. “Pull yourself together, Jeremy. Be more specific.”
    “Speci … spec … specific? Who wants to be specific? This is a ball, not a board meeting, for God’s sake. Relax. Take off your iron knickers. Get under a table yourself.” He giggled fatuously. “Oh dear. Done it again. Shouldn’t talk to the boss’s daughter like that.”
    She looked at him pityingly. “Captains of industry.” She turned away to continue her search.
    “I’d be better for you than … than Reggie the Smooth, you know?” he called after her. “I mean that. Any time, any place. Jeremy’s the name….”
    She ignored him. She was looking for Angela. And if she could embarrass Reggie at the same time, so much the better.
    Loud knocking brought Mark Selby out of a deep sleep. Despite the suddenness of his awakening, he felt refreshed. There had been no nightmares to disturb his dreams. He yawned through the continuing knocks, picked up his watch. Ten thirty. Morven must have forgotten to take her key when she’d left.
    “Coming, Mo!” he called. “Hang on!” He picked up the previous night’s dress pants from a chair,pulled them on and hurried out on bare feet. “Coming!” he called again.
    He reached the door, and opened it.
    “Good God,” he said.
    “That’s one way to greet me,” Kim Mannon murmured as she slid in past him. “I will come in, thanks.”
    He turned dazedly, to stare after her.
    “Do close the door, Mark,” she said, smiling at his utter confusion. “You’re letting in a positively Siberian gale.”
    He pushed it shut. “What are you doing here? How the hell did you find this place?”
    “That’s not a nice welcome, considering the trouble I went to.” Mockingly her eyes surveyed his bare upper body. “Mmm. Nothing like being prepared.”
    Completely taken off guard, he said weakly, “My sister will be here soon.”
    “Hiding behind sister’s skirts? A big warrior like you? Morven won’t be here till midday, perhaps a little later. We’ve got nearly two hours.”
    “How do you know …?” His voice faded.
    “You should congratulate me as a tracker. All I had to do was check the seating arrangements, find out whose guests you two were and the rest was easy. Angela Ward, who’s with the company’s legal department, had a quota of six guests. She invited Tricia Balcombe, who included your sister and escort on the list. Lucky for me, the escort turned out to beyou. This morning, I called Tricia who very nicely told me where you two were staying, and that she was meeting Morven for a late breakfast and some shopping.”
    Selby ran a hand through his stiff dark hair, unsure of how to handle the situation. “Would you like some coffee?” He needed time to think.
    “Can I sit down first?”
    “Oh. Yes, yes. Please do.” He gestured towards the sitting room. “Er … I’ll take your coat.”
    She removed the full-length sable with a flourish, and handed it to him. He swallowed hard. She was wearing the shortest of skirts, and a plain T-shirt. Her