Read Online All the Rage by Spencer Coleman - Free Book Online Page B

pasta.
    â€˜Nope. Should I? ’
    Kara pondered. ‘No. But I feel I should. And yet…’
    â€˜Do I need to fear him? ’
    She was startled. ‘ Pardon ? ’
    â€˜For your affections. I need to know the enemy. ’
    â€˜Don’t be silly. You have nothing to worry about on that score.’ She laughed generously. ‘Apparently, he has disappeared abroad with his mistress after dumping the wife. I’m intrigued, that’s all. He is a prolific painter and I’ve never actually heard of him. Neither has Michael. ’
    â€˜Ah, the other man in your life,’ Marcus joked, gulping his wine and giving her the hard stare over the lip of his glass.
    â€˜You can be so immature,’ she replied in a dismissive tone.
    He grinned, arrogantly. ‘Touched on a raw nerve, have I? ’
    Kara took a deep breath. ‘Marcus, let’s establish the ground rules, OK? ’She bristled with her words, forcing him to sit back from the table in a defensive mode. ‘First,’ she said, ‘you have done all the chasing and I regard your juvenile banter as mildly amusing and, at best, a somewhat happy diversion from the daily grind of what we all laughingly call life ’. Second, if you persist in this line of interrogation every time the name of my boss is mentioned I’ll have no choice but to sabotage your forthcoming exhibition. ’
    The penny dropped. She rejoiced in wiping the grin from his smug face.
    â€˜I have the power, believe me. ’ She produced one of her superior smiles. Then she added, ‘And third, just because you have the arrogance to think you will succeed in getting me into bed, I should remind you that juvenile, spotty, coarse and vulgar youths do not – do not – get me wet between the legs in the same way as a mature, thoughtful, handsome and debonair art dealer would, with the minimum of effort. Does that give you any idea of how far off the mark you are, or do you need further examples of discouragement? ’
    â€˜Ouch! I suppose I should leave right now? ’
    â€˜Possibly…’
    â€˜So,’ he said, ‘do I take it that all my courageous efforts are in vain? ’
    â€˜Yep. ’
    â€˜Am I as stupid as I look right now? ’
    â€˜As stupid as you look. ’
    â€˜So,’ he said, pondering once again. ‘On a scale of one to ten, where do I rate? ’
    â€˜In terms of what ? ’ she enquired, mystified.
    â€˜Well, how shall I put it,’ Marcus said, weighing up his chances, ‘in terms of getting to shag your brains out. Sorry about the crudity. I would hate to offend your sensitivity. ’
    â€˜No offence taken. ’ She thought for a moment, bringing her finger to her lips. ‘Hmm, two out of ten, max. Sorry. I hate to further humiliate the humiliated. ’
    â€˜Feel free. It’s a kind of control you feel you need to exercise for fear of being put down. You get the rejection in first. It’s quite endearing, actually. ’
    Kara suddenly saw Marcus in a new light, impressed by his progressive insight. For the first time, she felt embarrassed. ’Wow,’ she said. ‘Am I that transparent? ’
    â€˜Completely see-through,’ he replied.
    There was silence and awkwardness.
    â€˜I suppose,’ she countered, ‘I should revaluate your rating to…four out of ten. ’ Her eyes dropped to her folded arms. The body language was crystal clear.
    â€˜Only four? ’
    Kara lifted her eyes to meet his. ‘You should be honoured with that score. ’
    â€˜I am, believe me. I’m frantically searching for other pearls of wisdom. ’
    Kara reached out and took his hands in hers, smiling warmly. ‘Stop searching, Marcus. Start with the simple things. We’ll handle the complications later. ’
    Marcus returned the embrace of hands and squeezed reassuringly, although more for his comfort than hers. ‘Show