Mistress Of Deception. Miranda Lee
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from those awards to the office again. Or was it the factory this time?’
‘Neither.’
‘Neither? Then where, in heaven’s name, did you get to?’
‘Need I spell it out for you? I spent the night with a woman.’ Something inside Alan twisted as he said that last word, yet he could not deny that Ebony would be a woman in everyone else’s eyes. Though maybe not his mother’s. God, but she’d be appalled if she knew whom he’d spent the night with.
‘Oh,’ was all she said, ever the tactful parent.
‘No more questions?’ Alan mocked.
‘Would you tell me if I asked?’
‘No.’
‘So I won’t. But I feel sorry for whoever she is.’
Alan bristled. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘It means I hope she isn’t in love with you, because you and I both know you’re not in love with her. Or are you?’
Alan was startled, then annoyed. Ebony, in love with him? That was a laugh. As for himself…to even think about what he felt for her in terms of love was preposterous. Love was what his mother and father had shared, what Adrianna felt for Bryce McLean. Maybe even what Vicki felt for that excuse for a man she was living with. Love was not this black torture that wrung his soul every time he thought of Ebony, especially when he thought of what she might be getting up to when he wasn’t around.
Had she lied to him about Stevenson this morning? he began worrying. Was she, at this very moment, in bed with her ex-lover? If she was, and he found out, he wasn’t sure what he’d do, but it wouldn’t be pleasant.
‘I hate to disillusion you, Mother,’ he bit out. ‘But these days, women are as capable of staying the night with a man without love as vice versa.’
‘My, my, you are out of sorts this morning. Maybe you’re not as capable of staying the night with a woman without love as you think. But as you say, that’s your private business. You don’t have to answer to me. The reason I rang is because I’m worried about Ebony.’
Everything inside Alan tightened. ‘Ebony?’
‘Truly, Alan, you are the limit! Are you trying to pretend now you don’t know who Ebony is?’
‘I wish I didn’t,’ he muttered under his breath.
Deirdre Carstairs sighed. ‘You saw her last night, didn’t you?’
A few ghastly seconds passed before Alan realised his mother was talking about the fashion show, not later. ‘Not to talk to,’ he hedged.
‘Did you think she looked all right? She seemed very pale and thin on television.’
‘Ebony has always been pale and thin.’
‘Well, she looked extra pale and thin to me. You don’t think she’s getting that dieting disease, do you?’
‘Anorexia? No, I’m sure she isn’t. Black always makes women look slimmer, Mother, as you very well know. And the make-up she wore was that stark white look. Ebony’s just fine.’ More than fine, he added in vicious silence, thinking of those long slender thighs wrapped around him, and those firm white breasts with their long pink nipples arching up towards his mouth.
He shuddered.
‘I’m still worried,’ his mother persisted. ‘It’s been ages since she came to see me and I know why. It’s because of you, Alan. You and your rudeness. I won’t stand for it any more, I tell you. I’m going to invite her over for dinner and you’re going to be there. Not only are you going to be there, but you’re going to be nice to her.’
‘Mother, if Ebony knows I’m going to be there, she won’t come.’
‘Then we won’t tell her, will we? We’ll let her think you’ll be away on business that night.’
Yes, Alan thought. There would be a certain sadistic pleasure in having her sitting at the table next to him, forced to be polite, unable to deliver any of those cutting little barbs of hers.
A malicious smile tugged at his lips. It would be an excellent revenge for that pathetic lie of hers that she was going to marry Gary Stevenson. For one ghastly moment, he’d thought she meant it, till he’d realised it was just another of those taunting, goading things she liked to say. It was another of her ploys to worry him, to make him jealous, to make him explode into the violent passion that turned her on so. Playing such games was part of her dark side, the side she kept hidden from everyone else.
Yes, he would enjoy making her squirm in front of his mother, enjoy it immensely.
‘You’re right, Mother,’ he said expansively. ‘Our feud has gone on long enough, but I do think we will have to surprise Ebony with my presence, otherwise she will find some excuse not to come.’
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