She felt a pulse of anger beneath her skin. Maybe it was time to disabuse him of that belief.
Eyes narrowing, she stared at him coldly. ‘Sorry to disillusion you, Mr Walker, but I don’t have any “romantic sensibilities”. I don’t crave a white wedding. Nor am I hunting for a husband to make my life complete. So if I actually had an opinion on how you live your life it would be that I have no problem with it at all.’
His watched—no—inspected her in silence, so that the air seemed to swell painfully in her lungs.
‘But you do have a problem...’ He paused, and the intent expression on his face made her insides tighten and her throat grow dry and scratchy. ‘You think I say something different in private to the women you refer to as my “girlfriends”.’
He shook his head slowly. ‘Then it’s my turn to disillusion you. I don’t make false promises. Why would I? It’s not as if I need to. I always get exactly what I want in the end.’
She shook her head. ‘You’re so arrogant.’
‘I’m being honest. Isn’t that what you wanted from me?’
‘I don’t want anything from you,’ she said hoarsely, trying to ignore the heat scalding her skin, ‘except a salary and a reference. I certainly have no interest in being some accessory to your louche lifestyle.’
Watching his mouth curl into a slow, sexy smile, she felt her stomach drop as though the legs of her chair had snapped.
‘So why are you blushing?’ he asked softly. ‘Surely not because of my “louche lifestyle”. I thought you were more open-minded than that.’
She glowered at him.
‘I’m as open-minded as the next woman. But not if it means being a part of your harem. That’s never been one of my fantasies.’
‘Sadly, I’m going to have to put your fantasies on hold,’ he said softly, raising his hand in a gesture of greeting to the two tall blond men who were weaving their way towards them. ‘Our guests are here. But maybe we could discuss them after dinner?’
* * *
‘I think that’s the first time I’ve seen you relax since you arrived.’
Glancing up at Ram, Nola frowned.
Dinner was over, and his limo had dropped them back at the RWI building. Now they were standing in the lift.
Like many of his remarks, it could be read in so many ways. But she was too tired to do anything but take it at face value.
‘It was fun,’ she said simply. ‘I enjoyed the food and the company.’
He did a mock stagger. ‘I’m flattered.’
Glancing up, she saw that he was smiling, and she felt a panicky rush of nerves. In daylight, Ram Walker was flawless but unattainable. Now it was night-time, and beneath the low lighting, with his top button undone and a shadow of stubble grazing his face, he looked like the perfect after-dark female fantasy.
But the point about fantasies was that they were never supposed to become reality, she told herself quickly.
Shaking her head, she gave him a small, careful smile. ‘I suppose it hasn’t occurred to you that I might be talking about Craig and Will?’
His eyes gleamed. ‘Nope.’
She swallowed. ‘They’re nice people.’
‘And I’m not?’
Her throat felt as though it was closing up. And, was it her imagination, or was the lift getting smaller and hotter?
‘You can be,’ she said cautiously. She felt her pulse twitch beneath his gaze. ‘But I don’t know you very well. We don’t know each other very well.’
Suddenly she was struggling to breathe, and her heart was beating very fast.
He smiled. ‘Oh, I think we know each other very well, Nola!’