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'Fine. So do I. Coffee and toast for two, then.' He walked back to the open
connecting door and Farrah had a brief glimpse of green and white decor.
'By the way, Farrah, you have lovely legs.'
'Ooh, you swine! Get out of here!'
He did so with unhurried movements and she could hear his mocking
laughter as he moved about in the next bedroom, and wondered how she was
ever supposed to sleep with him so near.
CHAPTER FIVE
FARRAH woke to see daylight shining through the window where she had
forgotten to pull the curtains the evening before. Some birds were singing
happily outside and she wondered what the time could be. Before she had
time to sit up and look at her wrist-watch, which was on the side table, Joel
Falcone walked into the room, dressed only in a navy blue towelling robe.
He came over to the side of the bed and Farrah could see droplets of water in
his hair where he must have just taken a shower. 'Good morning,' he greeted
her easily. 'I wondered if you would be awake yet.'
Farrah bridled angrily, all too much aware of how vitally attractive he
looked in the short dark robe. 'Well, as you can see, I am. I supposed you're
used to walking into women's bedrooms unannounced, but let me assure
you, I'm not used to it at all.'
'I've only entered the bedroom, Farrah, not your bed. Does it disturb you, my
being here?'
'Of course it disturbs me. I've never had a man in my bedroom before.'
'Then you've never been told how good you look in the morning?' He shook
his head. 'Now that's a shame. I've never seen a woman look this good first
thing in the morning.'
'And you've seen plenty, I'm sure,' she said sharply.
'A few,' he admitted. 'Enough to know that mostof them need a good half an
hour and plenty of make-up to make them look anything like presentable.'
He smiled at her. 'I trust you slept well?'
'Yes, thanks. What do you want in here, Mr Falcone? Not just a casual
conversation, I'm sure.' Farrah was completely unnerved by his attire, or
lack of it. She felt sure he was wearing nothing beneath the bathrobe, and the
knowledge did nothing for her nervousness.
'True. George should be bringing up the breakfast in a moment, and I think I
should be in here with you when he comes in.'
Farrah's face suffused with colour. 'Do you have to? Isn't it enough that he
knows we're here together? You surely don't have to look as if you slept with
me.'
His eyes taunted her. 'If George looked at you too closely he would know I
haven't anyway. No man has ever made love to you, have they, Farrah? My
insults to you the first day we met were completely wrong. No man, rich or
otherwise, has ever taken you, have they?'
'I already told you that.'
'So you did. It's those unawakened eyes, there's no knowledge of love there
at all.'
'Is that a bad thing?'
'Sound insulting again, did I?' He smiled his amusement. 'It wasn't meant to.
Although it could prove rather embarrassing if anyone else notices it. My
women usually look as though they've been made love to. And you certainly
don't.'
'I'm sorry!' .
'Don't be, I could soon remedy that.' He made a threatening move towards
her.
'Don't you dare!' Farrah backed further up the bed.
Instead of making any further move towards her he gave a throaty chuckle.
'Do you know, Farrah, I don't think anyone else has ever made me laugh as
much as you have.'
'I would rather you laughed with me and not at me.'
'I'm not really laughing at you, honey, you're too refreshing for that. You
intrigue me,' he admitted.
Farrah blushed. 'I don't see why. I'm just ordinary.'
Joel shook his head. 'Never ordinary." He turned. 'Ican hear George coming
up the stairs. Do you want me to go back to my own room?'
'Yes! No! Oh, what does it matter? My reputation is in shreds anyway.
Daddy thinks I'm something like a scarlet woman.'
A smile appeared on Joel's lips and unwillingly Farrah smiled as well, until
both of them burst out laughing. When George entered Farrah's bedroom
after knocking politely it was to find his employer sitting on the side of Miss
Halliday's bed and both of them laughing uproariously.
'Your breakfast, sir, miss,' he said stiffly, leaving the tray on the side table
before leaving the room, his back rigid with disapproval.
Joel sobered slowly. 'Now we've shocked George,' he said lightly.
'Oh, dear!' Farrah was genuinely dismayed.
'He'll get over it. Like some coffee?'
'Yes, please.' She felt rather restricted with Joel in the room. Her nightdress
was cotton and perfectly respectable, but neverthless she wasn't going to get
out of bed until Joel left. 'White, one sugar. Does it bother you that George is
shocked?'
Joel brought her some buttered toast and a cup of coffee. 'Not really. He'll
get used to seeing you about. We'll probably be back here in a couple of
weeks' time.
Anyone can see you aren't you aren't--Well, what I mean is, George will
obviously blame me. He'll think I've taken to seducing teenagers.'
'He's supposed to think you're in love with me,' she pointed out.
'Mmm,! Joel said thoughtfully. 'That's proving more difficult than I thought.'
'You mean I'm not an easy person to pretend you're in love with?'
'As I've never been in love, I wouldn't know. But those trusting green eyes
are certainly disconcerting. Some poor man is going to have a terrible battle
with himself when he makes love to you lust over trust.'
'What rubbish!' she retorted, stirred into anger. 'It wouldn't be lust if I wanted
it too, it would be a mutual thing.'
'I guess so. But I don't envy him.'
Farrah felt curiously hurt by his words. 'You aren't a very nice person.'
'True. Can you ride a horse, Miss Farrah Halliday?'
'Can I what?'
'Forgive me, I thought my English was perfectly clear. Can you, or can you
not, ride a horse?' he said precisely.
'That's what I thought you said. And the answer is no. In fact they terrify me.'
'Now that does surprise me.'
'That I don't like horses? I don't see why.' Farrah brushed the breadcrumbs
off the bed. 'I was born in a town and have lived there all my life. I hardly
ever see a horse, let alone attempt to ride one.'
'That isn't what surprised me. It was the fact that you admitted it.'
Farrah blushed at his intended rebuke. 'It isn't a case of admitting anything.
As soon as I'd attempted to get on one you would have known. Do you
actually keep horses here?'
'Only two, unfortunately. One is far more spirited than the other, it depends
on my mood as to which one I ride.'
'But who looks after them? Not the accomplished George again?'
'The same,' Joel grinned. 'I told you he was adaptable.'
'He needs to be. How on earth does he cope?'
'Very easily. Most of the time he's here on his own, so he has plenty of time
to exercise the horses every day. If you get out of bed now I'll take you down
to the stable and introduce you to Sultan and Naomi.'
'I'm quite willing, if you'll just leave the room while I dress.'
Joel's eyes narrowed. 'And supposing I don't want to?'
'Then I won't get up,' she vowed stubbornly.
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