Between Friends by Jenny Harper Page B

still beautiful. Always had been.
    But now she was older. Mature. She knew how to handle a man like Tom Vallely. If she could handle Jury Service she could handle anyone. She slapped her gin down on the bar and stood up purposefully. Beside her gin, a half-empty pint glass appeared. She watched the hand as it placed it on the granite surface, the hairs on the wrist dark and smooth.
    Leave. Now.
    The hand moved. It was round her wrist.
    Tom was standing close to her, so close that she could actually feel the heat of his body, like a furnace, a calling card from the devil.
    She reacted automatically, pulling her arm away, trying to release her wrist from his grip.
    He lowered his head towards her, his hair falling across his brow with picturesque grace. His eyes were like a hawk’s, as grey as the sky before snow, mesmeric. His lips were moving, he was whispering something. At the bar, the businessmen, abandoning their spreadsheets, were ordering more beer. Tom’s words hung by her ear, floating on the cloud of her disbelief.
    ‘I think, D.A. Delight, that it’s me you’re waiting for.’
    The coolness of his eyes was as enticing as an icy lake on a hot summer’s day and just as dangerous.
    ‘Sorry?’
    ‘I’ve been looking forward to this. Really looking forward to it.’
    ‘I don’t know what—’
    ‘Oh come now. You didn’t guess I was Star Turn? You’re slipping, Carrie darling, you really are. I thought you were cleverer than that.’
    He released her wrist and she sat down abruptly on the stool, her mouth open, her eyes wide with shock.
    ‘How did you—?’
    ‘Guess? Darling.’ His voice was dry, amused. ‘It didn’t take a genius. As I recall, you always were fascinated with the American legal system.’
    D.A. District Attorney. It was true. She had always wished she could have trained in the States, ever since she’d watched Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird .
    ‘You remembered that?’
    A long finger slid down her cheek. She met his gaze reluctantly.
    ‘I remember everything, Carrie.’
    He released her face, dropped his hand fleetingly to the soft curve of her breast, brushed his fingers across it. It was designed to look accidental, if noticed, but the intent was quite different and the touch did its work. The blaze that had earlier lit her cheeks licked through her body and ran along her nerves like a flame along touchpaper.
    ‘We can’t.’ She was trembling now. ‘We mustn’t.’
    ‘No? Why ever not?’
    His mouth was still pliant, deliciously curved, deeply sensual. She looked at it, riveted, fighting her instincts as valiantly as she could.
    ‘Janie ... dangerous ...’
    He laughed. ‘Janie? But Carrie darling, that was over many years ago.’
    ‘If she finds out—’
    ‘Why would she find out? It’s a story long ended.’
    ‘Tom. I—’
    He leaned closer again.
    ‘You’re not frightened of falling in love are you, Carrie darling?’
    ‘Certainly not.’
    She spoke the words loudly, defiantly. Further along the bar, the businessmen turned their heads in her direction. She cleared her throat and said more softly, ‘With you?’ She tried a laugh and was more or less successful. ‘Don’t flatter yourself, Tom Vallely.’
    ‘Then what are you so afraid of?’
    He laid his hand on her thigh. She felt the touch like a brand on her skin.
    ‘Bed Buddies. That’s what you’re into, darling, isn’t it? “Safe sex without commitment”. That’s what you like. You’ve always liked sex, Carrie, don’t forget I know that. I’m no threat to you. I’ll be gone in a few days. No pressure. You need never see me again. But for tonight—’
    Carrie was melting, her insides had turned into an unfamiliar kind of mush. She no longer had any control over this. None. She made one last attempt to think. He was right – he would be gone soon. What harm could it do? Just this once, just tonight. Below the level of the bar, masked from public gaze, his hand slid between her thighs,