Be My Baby (11 page)

‘Yes, it was, but—'

‘Well, mission accomplished.'

They danced in silence for a few seconds. ‘Luke? You don't have to, you know.'

A little crease appeared between his brows. ‘Don't have to what?'

‘You don't have to stay here and bail me out. They're my family and I ought to be able to handle them on my own.'

‘Are you cross I came?'

She shook her head. ‘I just don't want you to feel you have to—'

‘Gaby, I'm here because I want to be here. I wanted to do something for you. You've been such a big help to me and Heather.'

Oh. It was just tit for tat, then? I help you with your family, you help with mine?

‘Luke, you
pay
me to help you with Heather.'

‘I know. Look, I didn't mean…You've helped me change too, Gaby, not just Heather. We're more than employer and employee, aren't we? I thought we were friends too?'

She nodded, then laid her head on his shoulder. So that was how it was. Friends—playing a game to fool the world into thinking she was all right. Well, she might as well play along. Otherwise the irony of the fact that the man who was breaking her heart was trying to mend it for her might just get to her.

She forced herself to sound brighter. ‘Come on, then. I'm thirsty. What's a girl got to do to get a drink around here?'

Luke manoeuvred them to the edge of the dance floor and they wandered over to the bar. ‘What are you having?' he asked.

‘Champagne, of course.' If they were going to play charades, they might as well do it in style.

‘Of course.'

It was just a game, she reminded herself as they sipped their drinks. Luke was only helping her out. It was just that, for a moment there earlier on, she really had thought he was going to…Oh, never mind.

This is no time for fantasies, girl. Remember that. Now, stop slouching, smile, sparkle and pretend you're having the time of your life.

And, as the evening wore on, she realised they were doing a really good job. She and Luke danced and talked and laughed, and not once did she get anything but a look of approval as she saw their reflection in other people's eyes.

That was what she'd wanted, wasn't it? To avoid the Poor Gaby looks. Well, it had worked. Then why did the ache in her chest keep growing? Why did her smile feel as if it were contorting her face?

Because you want it for real. And that makes you Poor, Stupid Gaby.

And all of a sudden she needed to get away from him, needed some air. ‘I'm just going to…powder my nose,' she said, with a smile that was far too wide.

Luke didn't smile back. ‘Okay. I'll see you in a minute.'

She walked away and realised that feeling the distance between them stretch no longer made her ache, but gave her a sense of freedom. She bypassed the ladies room and slipped though a door that led on to the long terrace that flanked the rear of the hotel.

It was practically empty. The night air was chilly enough to deter most people in thin party clothes. She rested her hands on the stone balustrade and stared out over the gardens.

‘What are you doing lurking about here?'

She'd know that voice anywhere. She didn't bother looking round. ‘Go away, David.'

‘You're looking a bit low, Gabs.' He sidled up to her.

‘I'm fine,' she said, finally looking at him. ‘And it's none of your business, is it? You gave up the right to stick your nose into my life the moment you slept with Cara.' Thank goodness.

‘Just because we're divorced, it doesn't mean I don't still care about you.'

Pur-lease!

‘I'm fine, David. I'm just tired. It was a long journey up from Devon and my shoes are killing me.'

‘Is that where he's from? Devon?'

‘Yes.'

‘So how do you know each other?'

‘What part of “none of your damn business” do you not understand, David?'

‘You didn't say “damn” business.'

‘Well, I'm saying it now.' She pulled herself up to her full height, ignoring the fact that she only just reached his chin. ‘If it will make you go away, I'll tell you. I met him through work.'

‘Work? As a nanny? I bet you don't get to meet too many eligible—' David started to laugh, then covered his mouth with his hand. ‘Oh, that's too sad, Gabs!'

She narrowed her eyes and suddenly wished she had Heather's laser vision so she could evaporate him and leave Cara with a puff of smoke for a fiancé.

‘Tell me it's not true! You work for him, don't you?'

‘I—'

‘Don't bother denying it. It's written all over your face. It's becoming a pattern, isn't it?'

She was getting really tired of this! ‘What is?'

‘Falling for men who are way out of your league.'

She leant back on the balustrade. Her voice was totally expressionless. ‘I said, “Go away, David.”'

‘Whatever you say, Gabs.'

That man made her want to scream! She could practically feel the smugness emanating from him as he disappeared back inside. Well, let him go back to his pregnant fiancée! She hoped he went prematurely bald and Cara got stretch marks.

She shook her head. What was wrong with her? She wasn't normally plagued with vindictive thoughts like that. It was all to do with Luke. She wanted him so badly it was actually starting to hurt to be around him. Tonight was like a very cruel joke in that respect.

It was time to move on—move out of the Old Boathouse and find another job. She couldn't keep doing this to herself.

The sound of footsteps on the paving stones behind her made her jump, but she refused to let David have the satisfaction of seeing her rattled. ‘I thought I told you to clear off,' she said, without turning round.

The footsteps stopped. ‘I'm sorry, I didn't realise—'

She swung round. ‘Luke! I didn't mean…'

He folded his arms in front of his chest and looked at her. ‘What's up, Gaby?'

‘Nothing. Just tired. I'm fine, really.'

‘Crap!'

That almost made her crack a smile. She was rather relieved to have the old Luke back. ‘Okay, you're right.'

‘You seemed to be fine at first this evening, but for the last hour or so you've been a bit…I don't know. Is it me? Have I done something to upset you?'

‘No, Luke. You've done your bit beautifully.'

‘Is it anything to do with your ex? I just passed him on the way out here. Did he say something?'

She studied a spiky plant in a pot. ‘No, not really.'

‘Are you sure? I could go and mess him up a little for you.'

She met his gaze. ‘Tempting, but no.' The twinkle in his eye was more than she could resist and she let out a reluctant chuckle that ended with a little shiver.

‘You must be freezing!' He stepped forwards and gently rubbed the skin of her upper arms. In her already tense state, it was more than she could handle.

‘Don't, Luke. Please?'

It was too much. On top of everything else, it was too much. She couldn't take him being caring and sweet—and touching her.

He dropped his hands and just stood there looking at her. His head was tilted slightly to one side, his hazel eyes warm and searching. And if anything the look was worse than the touching had been. She couldn't bear it, so she closed her eyes.

She heard rustling. He was taking his jacket off. And then she felt the warm satin of its lining around her shoulders and a tug on the lapels as he pulled it tight around her. It was like being surrounded with him, his warmth, his scent, his touch.

Opening her eyes was not an option. He was so close now, their bodies only inches apart, and his fingers were smoothing the lapels of the jacket across her collarbone. Any second now he'd move away and she'd be able to breathe again.

But he didn't move away, and she didn't know what to do. Her eyelids fluttered open.

To hell with breathing.

Luke was looking at her with unmasked longing in his eyes. No man had ever looked at her like that before, not even David. The way Luke was looking at her was more than just plain old physical attraction.

It was as if he could see through all the layers she'd painted on to the real woman underneath. And, much to her surprise, he liked what he saw.

When he tugged the front of the jacket to pull her just that little bit closer, her breathing kick-started again. Then he bent his head and brushed his lips softly across hers.

This was what she'd been waiting for. All these weeks since they'd had that screaming row, and now it was happening she couldn't hold back any longer. Her upper arms were still pinned against her sides by his jacket, but she managed to free them enough to circle her arms round his waist and pull herself to him.

And then she kissed him back, pouring all the love and longing she'd been bottling up into every second of it. This was Luke, her Luke. And she wasn't going to waste one moment by being hesitant or frightened or shy. For once in her life she was going to do what she felt like doing, and to hell with the consequences.

Luke's hands moved to explore the contours of her face and every touch, every stroke seemed to be filled with the same exquisite mixture of adoration and craving that was torturing her. Finally, he pulled away, his hands still cradling her face.

She looked up at him in wide-eyed wonder as the tiniest of smiles flickered on his lips.

‘I've been wanting to do that all night.'

‘Really? All night?' Her voice was barely registering.

His smile grew. ‘Oh, yes.'

‘I thought you said it was just pretend.'

The smile dimmed. ‘I never said that. Why would you think I was just playing with you, Gaby?'

‘It was supposed to be a game, wasn't it?'

He shook his head. ‘Back in there, I thought we were giving them what they wanted to see—what
you
wanted them to see—but out here it's just us. No more pretending. I just can't do it any more.'

Me neither, she wanted to shout, but the words were lodged in her throat.

‘This one definitely isn't pretend,' he said, planting the sweetest, softest kiss on her lips. ‘Nor this one.' The next was on her jaw. ‘Or this one.' Now his lips were on her neck. Oh, yes, it was all feeling pretty real to her, no doubt about it.

‘For heaven's sake!'

They froze. She could hear her mother's sling-backs clopping on the flagstones.

‘The woman must have some kind of radar,' Luke muttered in her ear, still hugging her close to him as they turned to face her mother.

‘Is it true?' She was nearly upon them now and she was definitely in a stew about something.

‘Is what true, Mum?'

‘That…that…man…is your boss?'

Gaby swallowed. ‘I don't see it's any of your business—'

‘My daughter is cavorting around with a married man and you think it's none of my business?'

Gaby's teeth began to squeeze together as she held back her anger. ‘Mum, how dare you? I don't know who's been…'

Oh, yes, she did. David, that was who.

‘Sylvia—'

One look from her mother told them that, without a shadow of a doubt, Luke had been demoted to using
Mrs Michaels
again.

‘My wife is dead.' At least her mother had the decency to drop her jaw at Luke's announcement. ‘And has been for more than five years.'

‘Well, how was I supposed to know that? For all I knew, Gaby was working for a normal family—'

‘Mum! I don't know how you can be so rude. Just because Luke's wife died, it doesn't mean he hasn't got a normal…' She was so cross she could hardly see straight. ‘You know what, Mum? At this very moment, I'm thinking Luke's family is a hell of a lot more normal than mine is.'

‘Well, I'm sorry you feel that way, Gabrielle.'

Gaby pulled away from Luke slightly, unable to stay still any longer, but he gripped on to her waist and wouldn't let her go. ‘How do you expect me to feel, Mum? You accuse me of having an affair, when you know nothing about it. In fact, I'd say you don't know anything about me either, if you think I'm capable of such a thing.'

‘Well, of course I didn't…'

‘Yes, you did! Otherwise you wouldn't have marched out here, all guns blazing. I think you owe Luke an apology.'

Her mother blinked and Gaby watched her shoulder muscles tighten. Then she swallowed and took a deep breath. ‘I'm sorry if I may have given the impression that I thought you were up to no good, Mr Armstrong.'