Read Online Constantinou's Mistress by Cathy Williams - Free Book Online Page A

fresh-faced young boy next to Nick.
    â€˜Is that what she tells you?’ Nick looked at her with a lazy smile.
    â€˜Are you here with anyone?’ Lucy asked politely by way of response and he shrugged vaguely in the direction of the opposite side of the room, which was so crowded that it was impossible for her to follow the direction of his gaze.
    â€˜You are not dancing,’ he pointed out.
    â€˜Blame me.’ Robert laughed and looked affectionately at Lucy. ‘Luce wanted to dance but I told her that I was born with two left feet. If we went on the dance floor, I think Management would be forced to chuck us out for being a health hazard to the other dancers.’ He laughed and Lucy smiled nervously back at him. Her feeling of relaxation had disappeared. First had been Robert’s astounding marriage proposal and now this, Nick Constantinou showing up here, obviously with the intention of seeing the man who had had the temerity to have a date with her on a night when she had been asked to work overtime. Maybe he thought that she had been lying about her movements and he had decided to check it out himself, like a headmaster phoning a pupil’s house just to make sure that he wasn’t playing truant.
    Or maybe he was just curious to see what sort of man she could get.
    â€˜You’re far too modest, Robert,’ she said, half turning away from the dark figure towering over them and linking her fingers through Robert’s.
    â€˜At any rate,’ Nick said smoothly, ‘this music is not to be ignored. May I?’ He held his hand out to her, requesting her to dance with him.
    â€˜I’d rather not, actually. I’ve only…um…just finishedeating and I’d really rather sit and let my food digest before I go anywhere near a dance floor. Anyway, won’t your…party be missing you?’
    â€˜Oh, I’m sure my party can do without my scintillating company for a few minutes.’ His eyes did a leisurely appraisal of her, managing to eliminate Robert totally from his line of vision. ‘Would you ,’ he said, finally turning his attention to the other man, ‘be able to do without your…girlfriend for the duration of a dance? I promise I will take very good care of her, make sure that I return her to you in one piece.’
    â€˜I think I might be able to spare her for a little while,’ Robert said, following Nick’s lead.
    â€˜Oh, for goodness’ sake! Will both of you please stop talking over my head? I can make my own decisions!’
    Nick raised his eyebrows in apparent offended surprise.
    â€˜Oh, go on, Luce. You know you want to dance, and we both know that there’s no way you’re going to get me anywhere near that dance floor. We can carry on our conversation later.’
    Lord, the conversation! Lucy had almost managed to forget all about that. Torn between her natural instinct to firmly but politely ignore the man looming above her, who had now seen fit to lean forward, supporting himself with his two hands on the small circular table, and her dread that Robert had not yet accepted her statement that she was far from ready to commit to any proposal of marriage, Lucy stood up with a forced smile.
    At least the jazz band was having the decency to be playing fast, upbeat numbers. She would have a quick dance, without even the need to make any conversation, and hopefully when she returned to the table Robertwould have put her reply to his question into some kind of perspective.
    With that in mind, she allowed herself to be led to the dance floor.

CHAPTER FOUR
    T HE pressure of Nick’s hand on her elbow as he led her away from the table sent a shiver of dreaded excitement shooting through her and she half glanced over her shoulder to remind herself that Robert was her date and the sort of man she should be with.
    â€˜He will be fine,’ Nick murmured, noting the direction of her gaze.
    The promise of a quick,