Page 55 of Modern Romance Collection February 2025, 1-4

Faye felt more than a frisson this time. She had a sense that he wasn’t just talking about professional discretion. Right now, Primo Holt was managing to eclipse even royalty.

His hand went to his bow-tie and he made a small face as he said, ‘Do you mind? These infernal things always make me feel like I’m being strangled.’

Faye shook her head and watched wordlessly as long fingers undid his tie and he opened a top button, revealing the strong, bronzed column of his throat. It jogged her memory. Hadn’t his mother been a Brazilian supermodel?

He lifted his glass and said, ‘Cheers.’

Faye looked around. Her drink was on the table on an embossed coaster. She hadn’t even noticed the waiter’s return. Too busy ogling Primo Holt.

She lifted her glass and let it touch his. She echoed hischeers, then took a sip, relishing the slight burn of the alcohol. It gave her the courage to say, ‘I’m surprised you didn’t have a date with you.’

He put his own glass down and shook his head. ‘I was there alone. I’m not seeing anyone at the moment. Are you?’

The bluntness of his question took her by surprise. But she found she liked it. She shook her head. ‘No, I’m not with anyone right now.’

Hadn’t been for ages. But he didn’t need to know that. She struggled to remember the last time he’d been linked with someone. He always seemed to choose women who were intimidatingly beautiful and accomplished. Something Faye had obviously absorbed subliminally over the years.

‘It’s strange that we’ve never met face to face before,’ he noted. ‘When we’ve been present at many of the same events over the years.’

Faye bit back a wry smile. ‘That might be the case, but I don’t think we’re quite on the same...level.’

‘Your family name is about as old as mine.’

Faye shrugged. ‘Nevertheless, MacKenzie Enterprises is a minnow compared to Holt Industries.’

‘Smaller, maybe, but no less successful in its own right. How is your father, by the way? I’ve always had a lot of respect for him. He’s straight-talking.’

Faye pushed aside her niggling anxieties. ‘He’s fine. Slower now, but no less able.’

Her father had been involved in a car accident some years previously and had damaged his legs, so he was now confined to a wheelchair, or walking frame.

‘It’s just you and him?’

Faye nodded, wondering where this was going. ‘Yes. I’m an only child, and my mother passed away when I was still a teenager.’

‘I’m sorry...you were young to lose her.’

Faye shrugged minutely. ‘My father and I had each other.’

‘He never remarried?’

Faye shook her head. ‘No, he adored her. They were an urban legend...a love-match.’

‘You were lucky to have that. My parents were most definitely not a love-match, and my father has never been the paternal type.’

‘They divorced, didn’t they?’

Primo nodded. ‘When I was much younger. Our mother walked out the door one day and never came back. I’ve only seen her sporadically since then.’

Faye sucked in a breath at the easy way he’d revealed an undoubtedly traumatic incident in his life. ‘That’s tough.’

Primo seemed unconcerned. ‘It was a long time ago. I don’t like to dwell on the past. It holds us back.’

Faye took the hint.

Move on.

Emboldened by this frank exchange, she said, ‘I read that you have full control of your family business now.’

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