„We‟re both adults,‟ he said flatly, determined to knock through her defences, „and we‟re both attracted to one another. And there‟s no point denying it.‟

„All right, then! I won‟t deny it! But it still isn‟t going to happen!‟

„Why the hell not?‟

„Because I‟m living with someone. Because I happen to have a boyfriend!‟

CHAPTER FOUR

NOW that her final project was done and dusted, Mattie had a sinking feeling that the hard work had only just begun.

That she would pass with flying colours, she had no doubt. She had been committed to the course from day one, had managed to hand almost all her work in on time, had been ahead of the rest for the past few months. But the course co-ordinator, a snappy-looking woman with a brisk attitude towards her students that bordered on the terrifying, had been blunt. Marketing was a competitive field and, marks or no marks, Mattie lacked experience. That she was brimming over with enthusiasm and talent unfortunately took second place to someone who had been working in the field for years. She would do her best but anything she came up with might involve disappointing pay and an ability to grapple with the bottom rung of the ladder without resentment.

The two employment agencies she had visited over the past week had more or less said the same thing but packaged a bit more attractively.

Mattie consoled herself with the thought that one week was not very long in terms of finding a job.

On another, less reasonable level, she was relying on the anxiety involved in a job hunt to keep her mind from swerving dangerously back to Dominic Drecos and the precipice she had almost succeeded in stepping off.

But at least she could relax a bit more now. No nightclub tonight and no Frankie.

He had been peculiarly silent on the topic of her completed course but had compensated for the temporary break in hostilities by spending most of his time out of the house.

When she had questioned him two days previously on his whereabouts, he had responded in his typically aggressive manner.

Mattie kicked off her shoes, let the undisturbed peace of the house settle over her, contemplated switching on the television but wondered whether she really needed to be bombarded by a choice of desultory eight-thirty Sunday-evening viewing, and decided against it.

Easier just to slouch in the chair, eyes closed, and let her mind roam.

It was a little disturbing to find that it was roaming an awful lot more on Dominic Drecos than it was on Frankie, even though there were a million and one things she knew she needed to sort out with her boyfriend, things that could no longer wait for a convenient moment.

What was Dominic thinking of her?

She had walked out of his apartment, left with the snapshot image of his dark, stunned face at her revelation.

Her imagination had been more than willing to fill in the remaining details. The revulsion he would have felt for her, for thinking that she had responded to him, led him on perhaps, when she had not been in a position to lead anyone on. She would have lived down to his worst expectations, would have confirmed his thoughts that she was nothing but a waitress in a nightclub, huffing and puffing and playing hard to get when in fact her morals were of a decidedly shady nature.

Maybe he had even considered the possibility that her behaviour had been nothing more than an act to try and hook him. The minute she started thinking along those lines, a whole host of other, nasty little thoughts sprang out from their dark corners and she was reaching for the remote control as a last-ditch effort at distraction, when she heard the peal of the doorbell.

Mattie hesitated. It took a few split-seconds to register that it couldn‟t possibly be Frankie because he had his own key, at which she caught herself heaving a sigh of relief and heading for the front door.

Her relief lasted precisely the precious few moments it took her to swing open the door and comprehend the fact that the person lounging against the doorframe in front of her was the last person she had expected to lay eyes on again. Ever.

„What are you doing here?‟ Antagonism laced her question but her heart had leapt treacherously inside her at the sight of him. This time in casual clothes and all the more impressive for it. Cream trousers, a cream shirt collar peeping out above the rugby-style jumper.

The colours accentuated his swarthy colouring in a way his dark work clothes hadn‟t and she had to fight not to let any expression show in her eyes.

„I thought I‟d drop by and size up the competition,‟ Dominic answered, getting to the point immediately and taking advantage of her momentary speechlessness to nudge his way through the door and into the house.

„You did what? Are you mad? And how did you find out where I live? No, let me guess, Harry told you!‟

He had strolled towards the poky sitting room, glancing up the narrow staircase en route, and now proceeded to look around him with unabashed interest.

„Hm. Interesting method of colour co-ordination. Somehow I had associated you with a lot more flair.‟ He finally turned to look at her. How did she manage to look so damn good in a pair of baggy jogging bottoms and a T-shirt that went a long way to hiding every feminine curve of her body? „So where is the boyfriend?‟

His tone was light but his eyes weren‟t. She could read the message there and it sent a shiver down her spine. He had come to confront her over her duplicity because he was a man who would not walk away from a liar without first making his feelings known. Never mind that rubbish about coming by to check out the competition.

„Out. And his name is Frankie. You can‟t stay here. If Frankie came home now, he‟d…‟

„He‟d…what?‟

„Look, if you want me to apologise for…for not telling you sooner, then OK. I apologise.

I should have told you from the very beginning.‟

„So why didn‟t you?‟

„Why didn‟t I what?‟ Mattie demanded. Even standing feet away from her, he still seemed to dominate the small room and drain her lungs of oxygen. And against him the room faded into ugly shabbiness that seemed to point accusingly in her direction. No wonder he had made that sniping little remark about being disappointed with the lack of flair.

„A cup of coffee would be nice. Black, no sugar.‟

„You can‟t stay for a cup of coffee! You shouldn‟t even be here! Harry isn‟t going to get away with this! Giving my private address to any and everyone!‟

„I‟m not any and everyone,‟ Dominic contradicted coolly.