Part 25 (1/2)

'Good.' His smile was unusually intimate; a smile that set Lucy's heart racing.

'The problem is, I need to wash and change, and then it's quickly off to my first meeting. I suspect that could run on a bit. Then it's straight on to the next and most important meeting of the day.'

Lucy was disappointed. 'Don't worry if you're too busy,' she said regretfully. 'Your work must come first.'

'Oh, no! I definitely mean to see you tonight if that's all right with you? But I don't think I'll surface until quite late. So, I was wondering, how about I take you to dinner this evening?'

Lucy was thrilled. She had never in her whole life been formally invited to 'dinner'. 'Oh, that sounds wonderful!' she said. 'But only if it doesn't put you out, because you're bound to be tired after your heavy day.'

Dave shook his head. 'I would never be too tired to take you out.'

Blus.h.i.+ng once more, Lucy said she would look forward to it, and then she wished him well. 'I hope you can swing the deal for Nancy's sake,' she said with genuine feeling.

'Thank you, Lucy,' Dave replied. 'It won't be easy, but you can bet I'll do my d.a.m.nedest! There is still a way to go, though, before we get right down to the nitty-gritty. These people are good. They know what they want and they don't easily back down.'

'They might be good, but not as good as you, I'll bet!' Lucy a.s.sured him.

He laughed softly. 'Well, thank you, and I'll tell you something else.'

'What's that, then?'

'I think that beneath Lucy Lovejoy's soft and lovely exterior, there's a feisty, ambitious woman waiting to get out. Am I right?'

'Of course! And don't you forget it!' she warned with a cheeky smile.

It occurred to her that the more confidence he instilled in her, the more she believed she could tackle anything.

In the hotel foyer, Lucy apologised for having to hurry away, but, 'I really do need a hot bath.'

'Need any help?' he asked with a cheeky grin.

Softly blus.h.i.+ng, she gave a genuine tut-tut. 'I thought you were a gentleman!'

'Shame on me!' he teased. 'Don't forget we're meeting up for dinner.'

'Oh, I won't forget.' She was so excited at the idea of a gentleman taking her to dinner, she could hardly breathe. 'I'm really looking forward to it ... as long as you don't want to run across the beach with me on your shoulder.'

'I wouldn't mind,' he quipped. 'Somehow, though, I reckon I've done my Tarzan thing for today. Unless you'd prefer to find a fancy restaurant somewhere close, we could have dinner here. I understand the menu offers much more than ice cream with nuts and choc flakes. So, Lucy ... what do you say?'

'Well, if it's all right with you, I'd rather stay in the hotel. I'm not used to fancy restaurants.' In truth, she had never even set foot in one.

'That's settled then!' Lucy's decision pleased him. 'I took a quick peek into the restaurant earlier while I was waiting for the receptionist to deal with another guest, and I thought it looked very pleasant. Moreover, we won't even have to get our feet wet.'

His casual comment made Lucy think back over the past few hours, and her heart was warmed by the memory. 'So, what time shall we meet,' she asked 'and where?' She was starting to feel nervous.

'There is just one thing, Lucy. I'm really worried about tonight.'

'Why?'

'Because the lady I am taking to dinner has a bad habit of running away, just when you think you're getting to know her.'

'Oh, no! I won't do that ... I promise.'

'That's good enough for me, then. So, I'll book a table for what ... nine thirty? That'll give me time to get back, have a quick bath and change, then make my way down to meet you at ... say nine-fifteen. All right?'

'OK, yes. I'll be here waiting ... and I'm not planning on running anywhere.'

'Good!' He touched her gently on the hand. 'We could be up till the early hours. Does that worry you?'

'Why should it worry me?'

He lowered his voice. 'Well, now, let me see ...' He took a long look at her, and when she looked up with those nutmeg-brown eyes, he was taken aback, and for a moment he lost his train of thought.

Amused, Lucy jogged his memory. 'Excuse me, you were about to tell me why we might be up until the early hours?'

'Oh, yes! First, I think we have so much more we need to say to each other, and secondly, I was half hoping I might be able to lure you to take a stroll under the stars.'

Placing his hands on her shoulders, he held her there. 'For now, I'd best make tracks, or they'll have a head start on me, and that would not be good for my purpose.'

'You forgot to say where we should meet?' Lucy reminded him.

'Ah, yes! Down here in the lobby. I'll book the table now.'

'I'll be ready,' Lucy promised.

Suddenly, almost without her meaning to, she went up on her tiptoes and kissed him very swiftly on the cheek. 'Thank you.' The last time she had enjoyed herself so much was when the children were small.

Before he could recover from the tender and much appreciated surprise, Lucy was gone, pink-faced and embarra.s.sed, leaving him tenderly stroking his face where she had kissed it.

For the longest moment, he stood there, his gaze resting on the place from where she had got into the lift. 'Lucy Lovejoy ...' He thought back on the wonderful time they had just spent together. 'You're like a welcome breath of fresh air,' he murmured.

As he walked towards the reception, he took another lingering glance towards the lift.

To his great surprise, he was already missing her.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

PAULA WAS CLEARING away the ironing board when she heard the back door creak open.

'It's only me!' Martin's voice rang through her house.

Rus.h.i.+ng through the kitchen, Martin grabbed hold of her and swung her round. 'h.e.l.lo, beautiful! Oh, I thought I would never get that d.a.m.ned job finished. I fixed the water problem, then I found the plaster crumbling from behind the wall. The whole lot needs stripping out. On top of that, the new boiler wouldn't start up. I had to take the useless thing back, and oh, I tell you, it's been one setback after another.'

'Oh, that's a shame.' Folding the ironing board into the cupboard, Paula half turned to give him a fleeting kiss. 'I wondered where you were. But never mind, you're here now. I don't expect you've had time to eat, so why don't I make you a sandwich or something?'

Martin shook his head. 'Thanks, but I'm not hungry. I'm just that pleased the work is finished! I've been itching to get it over with, so I could come and see you.' Turning back the collar of her blouse, he drew her close and ran the tip of his tongue along her neck. 'I really hate it when I'm not with you.'