Page 45 of No Mistress Of Mine

“No, everything seems quite in order. I have lots of questions, of course, but I think we can save them for another day. Today, there is something else I would like to discuss. I feel it’s important.”

“Certainly.” He settled back against the arm of the settee, and for the first time since she’d reentered his life, he seemed receptive to hearing what she had to say. She couldn’t predict how long this new cooperation would last, of course, but she knew this might be her only chance to demonstrate her worth as a partner.

She took a deep breath. “You asked me the other day what of value I could possibly bring to a partnership between us. I’d like to use this meeting to answer that question.”

A hint of regret crossed his face. “I would ask that you forget what I said. I was frustrated, and I spoke in anger.”

“But you meant what you said. It’s all right,” she added before he could reply. “Your question was a fair one. I realize that in the normal course of events, you would never have considered going into business with me, and your father certainly wouldn’t. But though I don’t have Henry’s experience, or connections, and I know I have a lot to learn about business, I do have one of the things you asked me about.”

She reached into the portfolio beside her, pulled out the proposal she’d spent the past two days working on, and handed it to him.

“What’s this?” he asked as he took it.

“A way to make the Imperial more profitable.”

Using his thumb, he flipped through the thick sheaf of carefully compiled documents. “You’ve gone to a great deal of work,” he said slowly, and there was something in his voice she couldn’t quite define. Chagrin, perhaps, or surprise. But when he looked up, his gaze was thoughtful, assessing, and she could only hope that meant he was beginning to see her in a different light. “I hadn’t expected this. I’m...” He paused and laughed a little, as if confounded. “I’m impressed, Lola, I admit.”

Pride and a sweet sense of gratification rose within her, but she didn’t have long to enjoy it. “Unfortunately,” he said as he turned and set the sheaf of papers on the table beside the tea tray, “we don’t have time today for a discussion of anything complicated. I only allotted an hour for this meeting, you see, because, like you, I am going to the opera. Unlike you, however, I have to return to the other side of town in order to change to evening clothes.”

She felt a jolt of dismay. “You are going to Covent Garden, too?”

“Yes. I’m sorry now that I didn’t allow more time for our meeting, but all decisions for the current season have already been made, and I did not anticipate that you would wish to discuss new business, particularly something as complex as this seems to be.”

“I see.”

He must have sensed her disappointment, for he stirred in his seat and glanced at the clock.

“I still have a bit of time before I have to return to the West End, I suppose. Why don’t you tell me the gist of what you are proposing? I’ll read the details later, and we can discuss it at our next meeting.”

“Of course.” She sucked in a deep breath and took the plunge. “If we truly want to increase profits, we should expand the acting company, extend the season, and make the Imperial into a repertory theater.”

He blinked, seeming startled, and she feared he was going to tell her she was out of her mind. But he didn’t. Instead, he was silent so long, she couldn’t imagine what he was thinking. “For heaven’s sake, Denys, say something.”

He shook his head, looking as if she’d just poleaxed him. “I don’t know what to say. You’ve just presented me with a very creditable idea.”

She was so relieved he hadn’t scoffed at her and dismissed the idea as ridiculous that she couldn’t help chaffing him. “You needn’t sound so surprised,” she said, making a face. “I do occasionally have good ideas.”

He tilted his head, studying her. “You truly took my doubts about you to heart, didn’t you?”

“I took them as a challenge.”

“I keep forgetting challenges don’t deter you. They just spur you on.”

He sounded rueful, and she grinned. “I am ornery that way. So my idea could work?”

“It could. It’s an idea I’ve considered myself, as a matter of fact. But there are difficulties...” He paused and leaned forward as if eager to discuss it further, but as he rested his forearms on his knees, his clasped hands brushed her thigh. She jerked at the contact, an involuntary move that sent her plate with its slice of cake tumbling off her lap. It hit the floor carpet by her feet with a thud—icing side down, of course.

She grimaced. “I’m so sorry. How clumsy of me.”

She leaned down, but as she reached for the plate and its contents, he leaned down as well, his hand closing over hers to stop her. “It’s all right,” he said, a strange, fierce undercurrent in his voice. “Leave it.”

Lola looked into his eyes, paralyzed as the touch of his hand spread warmth through her body, sending it along her spine and down to her toes, to every fingertip and the top of her head. She stared at him helplessly as that warmth pooled in her midsection and deepened into desire. He felt it, too. She could see that in his eyes.

Oh, no,she thought.No, no, no. Pull away, Lola. Pull away now.

She didn’t move.

His thumb brushed back and forth over the back of her wrist, and she recalled their kiss the other day and all the ones before it, of what being his woman had been like. A month ago, she’d feared this partnership wouldn’t work because Denys hated her, but now, she feared it wouldn’t work because he didn’t hate her at all. She couldn’t decide, suddenly, which prospect was worse.

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