For Services Rendered by Patricia Kay Read Free Book Online Page A

her. His breath caught as he got a good look at her. She looked beautiful. She was wearing a long, black velvet skirt, and as she moved aside to allow him entry into the apartment, Nick saw that the right side of the skirt was slit up past her knee, allowing a glimpse of silk-stockinged leg. With the skirt, she wore a cream-colored lace blouse with a low, rounded neckline. Around her neck was a narrow velvet ribbon from which hung a small cameo. Her butter-yellow hair had been swept up, and Nick had a sudden urge to touch the little hollow at the back of her neck, to slide his fingers up under her hair and bury his face in her soft, scented skin.
    His hands itched as she moved to pick up her coat from the back of a chair and he caught another peek of long leg. How could a woman look both cool and as sexy as hell? As he helped her into a short fox coat, he wondered how she had managed to buy it. With her financial burden there couldn't be anything left for luxuries.
    He wondered what her reaction would be if she knew he was aware of her situation. He suspected she was proud, that she wouldn't like him knowing. He liked that. He was the same way.
    Yes, he thought as he assisted Claire down the steep outside stairs toward the waiting limousine that looked so incongruous in the parking lot of the apartment complex, he was fairly certain he'd made the right choice with this woman, and the way things went in New Orleans should be the deciding factor.
    The reception wasn't as bad as Claire had thought it would be. She'd expected to feel nervous, but her only nervous moment came when she was introduced to the British consul general and his wife. But once those few minutes passed, Claire actually started to enjoy herself.
    The country club was magnificent, she thought, as she looked around at the sumptuous furnishings and the beautifully gowned and bejeweled women. The colors of their dresses were a feast for the eyes: vivid emerald and royal blue and purple and scarlet as well as black and white. The chandeliers glittered, the music was soft and tasteful, the laughter and conversation floated around her.
    Nick seemed to know everyone, and Claire watched intently as he played the part of the perfect guest, complimenting each woman he talked with and sharing some anecdote or observation with the men. It amused her to watch him in action. He was like an actor with each movement or speech carefully rehearsed before it was shown to his audience. She wondered how he'd feel if she were to write that about him in the article. She suppressed a grin at the thought. He'd probably pin her with those bright, knowing eyes and tell her to get her Ph.D. if she wanted to practice the art of analysis.
    Tim Sutherland interested her, too. Tonight he actually seemed human and, although he still wasn't exactly friendly, at least he wasn't throwing his usual verbal darts.
    The only bad moment came after the three of them were at the reception for about an hour. A couple strolled up to Nick, and the woman—a beautiful redhead with a lush figure—said silkily, "Why, Nick! I didn't expect to see you here tonight. I thought, you'd be too
busy."
    Nick turned toward the couple. "Hello, Heather." He nodded at her escort, a handsome, dark-haired man with black eyes. "Armand." He turned back to the woman. "Didn't you? I left a message for you with your secretary."
    "Did you?" Her tawny eyes blazed.
    Claire could sense the tension in the air, and she wondered who the woman was and what she meant to Nick. An unexpected pang of envy pricked her.
    Nick's smile was slow and knowing. "Loretta's not up to her usual standards if she forgot to tell you."
    The redhead gave her escort a secretive, full-of-promise smile. "I
must
speak to her, then. An
important
message could go astray."
    It was obvious to Claire, and she was sure to everyone else standing within earshot, what Heather was inferring. Claire tensed, preparing for Nick's reaction to the insult.
    He surprised