“No.” She kept on walking. Clay stepped in front of her, and she collided with his chest.
“All right.” He tried for a smile. “So now I know something else about you. You’re easily insulted, and you don’t want to make love—at least not tonight.”
Ellie wanted to kill him. She ground her teeth and tried to brush past him. “Leave me alone. I don’t trust you. I don’t believe you—and I don’t like you.”
Clay held her immobile. “You kissed me like you liked me.”
“Damn you!” She drew back her hand to slap him, but he caught her arm.
“Not this time. I let you get away with before because I deserved it. Don’t try it again. I said I’ll take you back and I will. I just forgot for a moment howuntouchableyou really are.”
Ellie watched him closely, trying to read his expression. The lines of his face were set, his jaw clamped tight. With a sigh of resignation, she relaxed in his grip. “I guess for a moment, I forgot that, too.”
Clay released her arm and together they walked back to the car. They rode along in silence. The wind on her face cooled her temper but did nothing for the nerves in her stomach. When they reached the house party, Clay parked the Ferrari beside her Toyota, helped her out, and waited while she unlocked her car door.
“Thanks for an interesting evening,” he said dryly as he settled her inside the car. She could tell he was still angry. Not trusting her voice and the knot that lodged in her throat, she only nodded.
Clay left his car where it was parked and headed for the house. She watched him till he disappeared inside, then started the engine and drove away.
She hated that she suddenly felt so alone.
CHAPTER FIVE
“Where have you been, you naughty boy?” Virginia Burbage, the hostess, walked toward him, a full-hipped woman who looked ten years younger than her fifty something years. “Don’t you know it isn’t nice for the guest of honor to abandon the party?”
“Have I ever led you to believe I was nice?” Clay teased.
Virginia smiled up at him. “I’ll tell you what. It’ll just be our little secret. I wouldn’t want to spoil your image.”
Clay returned the smile. He admired Virginia Burbage. She’d been smart enough to marry Cecil Burbage, a wealthy steel magnate, keep him happy, sexually sated, and on a very short leash. She was also chairwoman of the Children’s Home Society, Clay’s favorite charity, and a very good friend.
“I just stepped out for a little fresh air.” Clay kissed her unlined cheek. “Lead me to the bar—I could use another drink.”God could I,he thought.
Another round lost to the fiery little redhead. Her riding breeches showed off her figure far better than the yellow sundress, but he had never seen her hair down, a rich, glorious auburn, hadn’t expected her to look so deliciously feminine.
He shook his head. The lady was really something. He hadn’t been turned down by a woman in years, at least not one who returned his kisses the way she did. Ellie was a challenge—and there was nothing Clay loved more.
Skirting the ornate living room, Virginia led him to the crowded library. A black-haired woman laughed at something her escort said and leaned over the billiard table to complete her shot, giving Clay a magnificent view of her gold-lame backside. He smiled and kept on walking.
“What’d you do, slip off for a quickie?” The voice belonged to Felix McGrath, “Flex” to his friends, a member of the team. Standing in front of the bar, Flex sipped his usual Bacardi and Coke.
“Clay just went for a little fresh air.” Virginia winked and patted his arm, still entwined with hers. Clay’s mind flashed to a pair of shapely legs and the feel of soft breasts against his chest.
“Not a quickie?” Flex prodded.
“Not even close,” Clay said with a scowl. He accepted a scotch and soda, took a welcome drink. “You riding Sebastian tomorrow?”
“Sure am. He’s really in top form.”
“I’ll say. He’s been consistently in the money for the last four months.”
Virginia took a sip of champagne. “Before I forget, Clay, I got your check for the Society. The board of directors loved the idea of a party for children on the fourth of July.”
Clay frowned. “I told you I wanted my involvement kept anonymous.”
Virginia rolled her eyes. “If I live to be a hundred, Clay Whitfield, I swear I’ll never understand you.”
Flex sipped his drink. “What’s the matter, Clay? Afraid someone’ll discover your secret stash of illegitimate children?”
