Knight's Mistress (18 page)

‘They’re
my
tits.’

He smiled. ‘We’ll have to see about that. Five minutes ago, you promised me anything. Those might be on my list.’ His eyes took on a quixotic, edgy look for a moment. ‘Button up,’ he said curtly, disturbed on so many levels by Miss Hart’s capacity to fuck up his life and schedule. Then he walked away.

Kate’s fingers were shaking as she buttoned the front of her dress, and it wasn’t from fear.

A moment later, Dominic opened the suite door and stepped aside to let in three servers pushing large silver-domed carts. ‘Put everything on the table,’ he said in a colloquial Chinese, his accent pure Hong Kong. ‘We’ll manage after that. The lady’s not feeling well, so if you’d work quickly, I’d appreciate it.’

Following them in, he stood like a stern sentry at the back of Kate’s chair while they laid out the food. Then accompanying them back to the door, he tipped them generously and returned to the table. Taking his seat, he reached for the coffee pot, nodded at Kate’s buttons and smiled. ‘Thank you. Very modest.’ He picked up the chased silver coffee pot. ‘Coffee, right? Black?’

‘Yes, please. You intimidated those men.’

‘I doubt it. I just told them I was in a hurry.’ He poured them both a cup of coffee, slid Kate’s towards her, added
milk and sugar to his, and waved at the array of food. ‘Bacon sandwiches, as ordered, Miss Hart. And the fruit in Asia is excellent.’

‘I don’t need instructions. I eat fruit.’

‘Good.’ He passed the plate of sandwiches to Kate. ‘Did you take your pill?’

She set down the plate. ‘I beg your pardon?’

‘Your birth control pill.’ He was piling herbed scrambled eggs on his plate. ‘Did you take it? It’s a simple question.’

‘You’re over-stepping. That’s my simple answer. It’s none of your business.’

‘Actually, it is at the moment.’ He set down the platter of eggs and reached for a colourful aspic of salmon that could have passed for artwork.

‘I see. Would you like to take charge of them for me? Is that one of your countless rules and directives? Would you like to know when I take a pill for a headache too or what kind of shampoo I use in the shower or whether I put my shoes on my left foot or my right foot first?’

He looked up, his hand momentarily arrested mid-air, as he calmly waited for her to finish. ‘You forgot to take it, I gather.’ Dropping his hand, he drew the plate of salmon closer.

‘I might have taken it.’

‘Then we wouldn’t be having this conversation.’ He shot her a look. ‘I came in you a dozen times last night. It might be a good idea not to skip one.’ He sliced off a portion of salmon with a fish fork.

‘A good idea for you, you mean,’ she muttered.

The fish fork hit the platter with a clang and he turned to her, his expression incredulous. ‘You’re not actually telling me you want a child, are you?’

‘No.’

He softly exhaled, bit back the vulgarity on his tongue and kept his voice level. ‘Then I don’t see why we’re fighting. I want you to take it, you want to take it. Simple.’

‘I just don’t like orders.’

‘No shit.’ He gave her a vicious look. ‘Keep it up, Miss Hart, and you might get the spanking you deserve.’

‘Promises, promises,’ she purred, derisive and mocking.

She could practically see the switch click on in his brain.

‘I didn’t mean it,’ she quickly said. ‘I didn’t. Don’t even think it.’

‘Then don’t tempt me.’ He stood so abruptly she flinched. ‘Relax. I haven’t spanked a woman in a long time. I’m just going to get your birth control pills.’

‘You don’t know where they are.’

‘I’ll find them,’ he said, flatly. ‘Eat your breakfast.’

He came back five minutes later with the case in hand. Returning to his seat, he opened the container, took out a pill, handed it to her and slipped the blue plastic pod into his trouser pocket.

‘I didn’t say you could do that.’

‘Trust me. I’m more responsible.’ He jabbed his finger at the pill in her hand. ‘Take it.’

‘That sounds like an “or else”.’

‘You’re catching on, Miss Hart. Now take the fucking pill.’

There were fights you could win and those you couldn’t. She took the pill.

‘Thank you. I appreciate your understanding.’

His voice was well-mannered and gracious, his smile couldn’t be improved on for boyish charm and when he softly added, ‘I don’t want you anxious about anything afterwards, that’s all.’

‘You’re right.’
He was, of course. And truthfully, she
had
forgotten.
‘I shouldn’t be so temperamental,’ she murmured. ‘But I’m having trouble with all your orders.’

He wasn’t about to plunge into another argument about how she responded to his orders last night with a wild intensity that was pure anarchy and incredibly beautiful. How she knocked him for a loop and fucked with his head in ways he’d never felt before. Instead, he cleared his throat, a muscle at the back of his jaw jumped, then he spoke in a voice that was quiet and cool. ‘I know my shortcomings. As you’ve mentioned, control freak, is one of them. Why don’t I try to be better. Would that help?’

Jesus, he could melt her heart with that polished charm. She wasn’t foolish enough to accept it completely at face value. But it was nice of him to try. ‘I’ll be less confrontational as well. Nana always said I should mind my manners. As you see, I haven’t listened very well.’

‘It’s one of your many charms. Don’t worry about it. I can hold my own in a fight.’

She rolled her eyes. ‘The understatement of the century. I’ll never forget those two grown men collapsing in their chairs in Singapore.’

‘Speaking of Nana, have you called your grandmother lately?’ he asked, preferring some other subject, grateful to be beyond personal issues he’d rather not think about.

‘I already texted her this morning.’

‘You should talk to her.’ He checked his watch. ‘It’s two o’clock her time.’

‘And say what? I’m sleeping with the boss? I’d rather not.’

‘Tell her you’re busy working. Tell her you went for dinner with some business colleagues in Hong Kong. Tell her you have a nice view from your hotel room.’ He lifted one brow. ‘Do you want me to write it down? You haven’t talked to her for two days.’

‘How do you know?’

Since he didn’t want to start another fight, he said, ‘Just a guess.’

Kate sighed. ‘Fine, I’ll call her.’

‘There, that wasn’t so hard.’

‘Jesus, you can be troublesome.’

‘Speaking of troublesome, I recall a young lady who had to come even though we were really pressed for time.’

She threw her hands up. ‘You win.’ She grinned. ‘And I thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming to my assistance.’

His smile was genuine this time, all roguish grace and
charm. ‘Anytime, Miss Hart. We’re here to please. Now be a good girl and eat your breakfast because we have to be at the house by ten thirty. I have an appointment.’ There was no point in telling her with whom. Time enough for that at ten twenty-nine when she had less opportunity to throw a tantrum.

Ten-foot-high ornate wrought iron gates with the original escutcheons still in place slowly rolled open as their car approached and what could only be called an estate was unveiled. Manicured lawns left and right, the occasional border garden, ancient trees lining the drive, in the distance a huge Victorian mansion cum palace in grey stone.

Kate’s eyes were wide. ‘Wow. I’m impressed.’ The mansion stood at the end of a long drive, three storeys of bays, wings, loggias, miles of windows and, as advertised, a soaring turret complete with a crenellated battlement.

‘It’s typical Victorian overkill,’ Dominic said of the eclectic mishmash of architectural styles. ‘But I like it.’ He could have been saying ‘hold the mayo’, so unaffected was his tone.

‘Palo Alto and this. You don’t like modern, do you?’

‘I prefer a house with a past. It reminds me of all those who lived before me. That life’s short. And overweening
hubris is for fools.’ He turned to her with a smile. ‘So that makes me pretty conservative when it comes to business decisions.’

She snorted. ‘Like your space rocket? Your pet project takes up five pages in the Knight Enterprises’ prospectus.’

He shrugged. ‘Someone has to pay for exploration. And there’s always financial rewards eventually.’ He gave her a teasing look. ‘You’ve heard of Columbus?’

‘And your rocket’s just as dicey a gamble.’

‘Perhaps. Or a gamble I might win. Are you interested in rockets?’

‘I should say yes, with that gleam of excitement in your eyes, but I know next to nothing about rockets.’

Her honesty always surprised him. Most women would have feigned interest.
‘If you like I could run through the fundamentals for you some time.’

‘You’d have to keep it simple.’

‘You’re too modest. Anyone who can infiltrate impenetrable firewalls can grasp some simple laws of physics. Maybe over drinks some night in the turret room?’

My God, he could be sweet. How easy it would be to fall under his spell and forget who and what he was.
‘That sounds very nice,’ she said, determined not to lose sight of the ruthless man behind the cultivated grace.

He was about to question the coolness in her voice when he caught sight of the car parked outside the main door and the hairs on the back of his neck began to rise. It was too early for Mrs Hawthorne. And there were very few
people who felt free to use his home, none of whom he cared to see right now.

But he politely helped Kate from the car a few moments later and ushered her up the stairs, preparing himself for whatever trouble lay inside. As they approached the entrance door, Kate stopped short and exclaimed. ‘What a beautiful stained glass window!’

Hers wasn’t an unusual reaction. ‘I’m told it’s one of Rossetti’s few. His wife, Elizabeth Siddal, I believe.’

The door suddenly opened and a young, brawny man in a black suit stood on the threshold. ‘Good morning, Nick.’

‘Morning Leo.’ Grateful that Kate was studying the stained glass window and standing slightly apart, Dominic quietly asked, ‘Who’s here?’

Leo took a step closer and lowered his voice. ‘Your mother.’

Dominic groaned. ‘When did she come?’

‘A week ago.’

A subtle alleviation of his frown. ‘Then she’s leaving soon.’

‘Tomorrow.’

‘The car’s waiting to take her shopping, I suppose. Oh, Christ,’ Dominic muttered as he saw his mother come down the grand staircase. ‘Have her out of here by ten,’ he said under his breath. ‘I don’t care how you do it, just do it. I have a visitor coming at ten thirty.’ He nodded towards a pile of packages on the console table. ‘From Cheun?’ At his major domo’s affirmative nod, he crisply
added, ‘Send those to the Garden House and make sure the place is cleaned.’ He gave Leo a telling look. ‘I mean sanitized. And I want flowers,’ he quickly added before his gaze veered to one of the major liabilities in his life closing in on him. ‘Hello, Mother,’ he said in a conversational tone. ‘What a surprise.’

‘You should answer your phone.’

‘I’m sorry, I thought I did. I don’t remember you mentioning anything about Hong Kong.’

‘You never listen to me, dear. You’re just like your father. Who’s your little friend?’

Kate had spun around at the word ‘mother’, gone pale and found herself literally shocked speechless. A petite, trim blonde in pink Chanel, nipped and tucked to look not a day over forty was staring at her with a derisive half smile.

‘She’s a colleague, Mother.’ Dominic put out his hand and drew Kate forward. ‘Mother, may I introduce Miss Hart. She just saved Knight Enterprises twenty million. We’re extremely grateful for her expertise.’

‘How clever of you, Miss Hart. I can see you’ve impressed my son. Is that one of Greta’s?’ A huge diamond caught the light as she flicked a manicured finger towards Kate.

‘No, Mother. Miss Hart is from the Midwest. As is her wardrobe, I believe,’ he added.

‘Will we be seeing you at dinner, Miss Hart?’ The question was expressed with soft artifice, as if to say, ‘colleague indeed’.

‘Unfortunately, no,’ Dominic interposed, fencing with his mother a familiar sport. ‘We’re leaving Hong Kong this afternoon. We just stopped by for some papers Max sent over. Miss Hart is going to decipher all the numbers for me. She’s one of the best forensic accountants we have.’

‘Commendable, I’m sure,’ Letitia Knight coolly murmured. ‘We’ll do lunch then. Two-ish. I’ll be back from shopping by then. Talk to your chef, will you? Something French, I think. You said Max is here?’

‘Yes, he’s visiting his family.’

‘I don’t know why you can’t meet some nice young woman like Max’s wife, Olivia. British, upper class, her family has been in government in Hong Kong for centuries.’

‘Not any more, Mother,’ Dominic drily noted.

‘Nonetheless, the point is you should find yourself a wife from a
good
family this time.’

A muscle twitched along Dominic’s jaw. ‘I’m not looking for a wife.’

‘That’s what you said last time and look what happened.’

‘That’s enough, Mother.’ His voice was pure ice.

‘Remember your manners, dear. What will Miss Hart think?’

Dominic’s nostrils flared. ‘If you’ll excuse us, Mother. We have work to do.’

‘Until two then.’ Her smile was model-perfect and just as artificial.

Looking grim, Dominic nodded and touched Kate’s arm. ‘This way, Miss Hart,’ he politely said. ‘My office is in back.’

As they moved away down the long corridor Kate wanted to say, ‘I’m sorry’, or better yet, take him in her arms and comfort him. No wonder he was hard as nails. He’d had to have been to survive a mother like that. ‘You don’t have to speak for me,’ she said. ‘I could have answered your mother.’

He shot her a look. ‘What’s the point? She’d just ask you another question.’

‘Maybe she’s really interested in your friends.’

‘Is that what you are?’ he said with a wicked grin. ‘My friend?’

‘I could have been.’

‘No you couldn’t have. Not with my mother. You saw her look at you – calculating how rude she could be. Best to let me deal with her.’