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and tell him that a member of his staff is annoying you — something you should have done hours ago. He ’ ll then be removed, and probably fired. Following that, you proceed on your way.

    Always supposing Liam decided to go quietly, she amended unwillingly, which was by no means certain. After all, she had agreed to have dinner with him, and she could hardly deny that without telling a downright lie. And lying — even childish fibs — had always made her thoroughly uncomfortable.

    And if, as well, it meant him getting the sack…

    I don ’ t want him on my conscience, she thought with an inward grimace. Just out of my life.

    But then she didn ’ t want him smiling at her across the dinner table either. Her stomach gave an odd little lurch at the idea. And exactly what colour were his eyes, anyway — grey or green? And how did he manage that trick of laughing with them when the rest of his face was completely straight?

    Don ’ t even go there, she advised herself tersely, as she retrieved the compressed powder from her cosmetic purse and attempted to tone down the flaring colour in her cheeks.

    Maybe the best idea was just to have dinner with him. To treat him with faintly amused indifference, as a passing irritation to be dealt with and then discarded. A matter of no importance. Three courses and no coffee before she made her excuses and finally headed back to London. Alone.

    She certainly didn ’ t want him to think he had got to her in any way, so she would have to play it cool.

    She ran a comb through her hair, straightened her skirt, then walked with pretended composure to the door.

    She paused, drawing a deep breath. Let the game begin, she instructed herself silently, then turned the handle.

    Liam was leaning against the wall opposite, but he straightened instantly when he saw her, a lightning glance sweeping her from head to toe.

    ‘ There ’ s really no need to be nervous, ’ he mentioned softly as he fell into step beside her. ‘ After all, everyone has to eat. ’

    ‘ I ’ m not nervous, ’ Cat snapped. ‘ Simply annoyed at your — unwarranted persistence. ’

    His slow grin was unperturbed. ‘ Oh, you were out of sorts long before I showed up. You ’ ve had a trying day. What you need is some rest and recreation. ’

    She stared straight ahead of her. ‘ I already had that planned — at home. ’

    ‘ Where, of course, you live alone. ’

    ‘ Yes, ’ she acknowledged curtly. ‘ If it ’ s any concern of yours. ’

    ‘ Naturally I ’ m interested, ’ he drawled. ‘ Or I wouldn ’ t be here now. ’

    Fool, she castigated herself silently. You should have claimed you lived with a boyfriend — or shared a house with three other girls. The last thing you need is to sound vulnerable — or available.

    But the truth was she didn ’ t seem able to think straight. Merely walking down this wide staircase beside him was taking a strange kind of toll on her. He wasn ’ t touching her — there was actual space between them — but all the same she was trembling inside, her senses tuned to a kind of scared anticipation she had never experienced before.

    And just when she needed to be most in control, Cat thought, biting her lip.

    They were clearly expected in the dining room, where the head waiter conducted them to a corner table in an alcove without a flicker of surprise. And even, she realised, puzzled, with a modicum of deference.

    They must consider he can pay the bill, and that ’ s what matters, she thought with a mental shrug as menus were brought, napkins spread, the inevitable candles lit and aperitifs offered. Which she swiftly declined, asking for mineral water only.

    ‘ Very circumspect. ’ Liam ’ s lips twisted as he ordered a whisky for himself.

    ‘ I ’ m driving, ’ she said. ‘ Or had you forgotten? ’

    ‘ Not at all. But I still think it ’ s a pity you changed your mind about staying the night, ’ he added meditatively.

    Why does that