No Mistaking Love

CHAPTER FOUR

KATE went into work the following Monday to find Luke sitting on the edge of her desk, flicking through the diary.

`Good morning,' she said, hanging up her coat and wishing she could get Serena's ridiculous suggestion out of her mind. She felt cross at the very thought. She knew enough about Luke to be under no illusions about him, and there was no danger whatsoever of her falling for him. The whole idea was absurd! So absurd that it had kept her awake at nights. After two restless nights she felt grouchy and irritable and on edge.

Luke had merely grunted in response to her greeting as he compared the desk diary with the slim leather one he carried in his pocket.

`I said, good morning!' Kate reminded him, and he looked up with an exasperated sigh.

`Oh, very well… good morning, Kate.' He eyed her sardonically. `Is that sufficient, or do I need to say anything else?'

'You could ask me if I had a nice weekend,' Kate suggested, refusing to be intimidated by his sarcasm.

`Did you have a nice weekend?'

'Yes, thank you. And you?'

'Not particularly,' he snapped. `Now that we've 'one the social bit, can we get on with some work? We're going to Paris tomorrow.' He rushed the diary across the desk towards her.

Just for one night. Get on to the travel agents -and book a hotel and two flights-first class.'

`When you say "we", does that include me?' Kate asked carefully.

`As there are just two of us in the room, I'd have thought that was obvious. Why, is there a problem?'

`It's rather short notice.'

`So?'

'I might have something planned,' she pointed out, searching in her bag for her own diary.

`You'll just have to cancel it,' Luke said unsympathetically. `This is important. And that reminds me, don't book any appointments for this afternoon.'

`Are you going to be out?'

'We are going to be out,' he corrected her. `I'm taking you to get your hair cut.'

Kate had been making neat notes in the diary, but her head jerked up at that. `I don't need to have my hair cut!'

'Yes, you do. It's important to give our clients the right impression of LPM, and I don't want you turning up in Paris looking like that.'

`Looking like what?' Kate's voice was deceptively mild but her eyes held a glitter of frost.

Luke hunched his shoulders irritably. `You look so bloody prim and proper with your hair tied back like that and those sensible suits of yours. It's like having a governess instead of a secretary!'

`I suppose I should be flattered that you even notice what I wear,' Kate snapped back, angry and more than a little hurt. `I'd always thought that as long as I typed your letters and answered your phone I could be dressed in rags for all you would care!'

'There's no need to get hysterical,' Luke said. He stood up and tucked his diary back into the inside pocket of his jacket.

The lack of interest in the gesture infuriated Kate. `I am not hysterical!' she said through gritted teeth. `Why do men always say that as soon as women dare to answer back?'

`If that were the case I'd be permanently accusing you of being hysterical,' Luke pointed out. `Anyway, what are you getting so het up about? I only made a simple comment about your appearance.'

`Oh, it was a simple comment, was it? I don't suppose it occurred to you that I might not like being accused of being prim and proper, or looking like a governess? Does it even occur to you that I'm a human being and not just another piece of office machinery?'

Luke glowered. `For heaven's sake, stop overreacting!'

`No wonder your secretaries keep leaving you!' Kate was searching for a pen, banging papers up and down on her desk furiously. `You have no consideration for other people's feelings at all!'

`I'm not in the business of worrying about feelings,' Luke said coldly. `As far as I'm concerned, you're here to do a job, and part of that job involves projecting the right image of the company. Now, if you want to look like some uptight spinster when you're in London, that's fine, but this meeting tomorrow is my big chance to break into the European market, and I'm not going to blow it just because you can't be bothered to make the right impression!'

`What's wrong with what I've got on?' Kate demanded, gesturing down at her Prince of Wales check. `It's smart, and it's suitable. What more do you want?'

'I want some style!' Luke said, exasperated. `There's nothing wrong with that suit, but it doesn't do anything for you, and nor does your hairstyle. That's all I'm saying.'

`All you're saying is that you don't mind having an efficient secretary, but you'd really rather I looked completely different!'

Luke's mouth was set in an angry line. `If you're going to be unreasonable, Kate, I'm not going to bother arguing with you!'

`Me, unreasonable?' Kate pushed back her chair and leapt to her feet. Luke's comments had caught her on the raw and she was angrier than she had ever been, certainly too angry to consider what she was saying. `You're a fine one to talk! You've got a nerve, going on about the impression you're afraid I'll make in Paris when you're the one who hasn't the first idea of how to behave!'

The black look had descended on Luke's face. `I should be careful what you say to me, Kate,' he warned. `You're not the only girl in the world who can speak French.'

`I'm probably the only one who would put up with your rudeness!' Kate retorted. `You treat everyone here like your slaves. Do this, do that, dress like this, cut your hair like that! Well, I'm your secretary, not your slave, and I'm not going to change my image just to suit you!'

`Don't push me too far, Kate,' Luke ground out, `or you won't be my secretary much longer!'

`Fine!' Incandescent with rage, Kate snatched up her bag and marched over to the coatstand.

`Where do you think you're going?'

`Where do you think?' Kate said, dragging on her coat. `I'm going to find an employer who'll appreciate the skills I have to offer and who doesn't care if he has to put up with some grotesque frump sitting in the front office!'

Her hand was at the door and she had half opened it when Luke strode over and pushed it firmly shut. `I didn't say that!'

He was standing very close to her. Kate dropped her hand from the door-handle but stood her ground. `It sounded like that to me!' she said.

Luke stared down at her. Her face was bright with anger, her eyes glittering and her chin set defiantly.

`Oh, hell!' He raked his fingers through his dark hair and sighed. `Look, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that. I had rather a fraught weekend, and I was taking my bad temper out on you. I'm sorry.'

Kate was so surprised to hear him apologise that she could only look uncertainly up into his face.

`I do appreciate you,' he went on. `You're the best secretary I've ever had.' And then, unfairly, he smiled. `Honestly!'

Kate's defences were no proof against a smile like that. She took a step back. Really, it was just a smile, just a crease in his cheek, a glimpse of teeth, a rare glimmer of warmth in his eyes. It was nothing to get excited about. There was absolutely no reason for her anger to melt like butter in a hot pan.

She tried to cling on to the last remnants o: fury, but it was hopeless, and Luke must have read it in her face. `Come on,' he said. `Let's sit down and discuss this sensibly.'

Kate let him help her off with her coat and hang it back on the stand. She stood, remembering the way she had spoken to him and feeling foolish. What had got into her?

Luke propelled her into his office and sat her down on one of the soft leather chairs. `I'll get some coffee,' he said.

Taken aback by such unexpected treatment, Kate perched uncomfortably on the edge of the chair and accepted the proffered cup gingerly. She wasn't at all sure how to deal with Luke's being nice like this!

`Now,' said Luke, hitching up his trousers and sitting down opposite her, `can we start again?'

'I'm sorry. I was being stupid,' Kate muttered

`I think we were both being unreasonable. Your weekend obviously wasn't any better than mine!' Luke stirred his coffee thoughtfully. `I wasn't lying when I said you were the best secretary I'd ever had. It makes a real difference to me to have someone I can chuck work at and know it will get done properly. I don't need to tell you any, thing twice. I don't need to send letters back to be retyped. I don't need to worry in case I haven" got all the documents for a meeting. I can trust you. I appreciate all of that, believe me.' He paused. `Perhaps I should have told you this before, but… well, I get absorbed in what I'm doing. I'm not the easiest of men to work for, I know.'

`You did warn me.' Kate had managed to pull herself together and was making an effort to sound brisk and practical. `I really shouldn't complain.'

Luke looked up from his coffee with a swift smile of such dangerous charm that Kate, in spite of a valiant attempt not to succumb, smiled back.

He had always had a treacherous charm, she remembered, even as she smiled, all the more effective for being so rarely used. She wanted to resist, but there was a warm glow inside her, a tug of response to the light in his blue-grey eyes.

`Shall we just agree that you're the best of secretaries, and I'm the rudest man in the world, and not agonise about it any more?' Luke suggested, and when Kate nodded he leant forward and stretched out his hand. `Let's shake on it.'

Almost reluctantly Kate took his hand. Long, strong fingers closed around hers in a firm grip, and she felt something clench at the base of her spine.

`That just means that you can go back to being rude while I'll go back to being efficient,' she said as lightly as she could.

`I expect we will, but I promise to try harder, if you'll stay as my secretary.' He released her hand and sat back. `Will you?'

Kate relented. `Of course.'

`Good.' Luke eyed her speculatively. `And you'll let me buy you some new clothes?'

'I thought you wanted me to get a haircut!'

`That too.' Having seen how easily she succumbed to his devastating charm, Luke was losing no opportunity to make the most of it, Kate thought almost resentfully. `Look, you're important to this Paris trip. I'm relying on you to interpret, so they'll be concentrating on you. I just think it would help LPM's cause if you projected a different sort of image.'

Kate could see that she was being outmanoeuvred. `If you think it's that necessary I'll buy some new clothes myself,' she tried, but he shook his head.

`No, this is to be at my expense.'

`But I really can't let you buy clothes for me!' 'Why not?'

'Well… it's too personal.'

`If it bothers you that much, think of it as a kind of uniform,' Luke said, an edge of impatience creeping back into his voice, much to Kate's amusement. He had obviously been nice for long enough.

Realising that there was no point in arguing further at this stage, she stood up and gathered together the cups.

`I'll go shopping this afternoon,' she promised.

It was a busy morning, and Kate was glad of the hectic pace to keep her mind occupied. She didn't want to think about what Luke had said. Prim and proper. Uptight spinster. Was that how he saw her? Was that how she was?

She had spent all weekend telling herself how indifferent she was to Luke, only to lose control completely as soon as he criticised her. Some indifference! It would have been far more dignified to have reacted with cool unconcern, instead of shouting like that and then letting herself be won over by a simple smile. Really, it was pathetic!

Kate had resolved to go out and buy a token dress to keep Luke satisfied but she had reckoned without his insisting on accompanying her. He caught her trying to slip out of the office unnoticed, and took her arm in a firm grasp.

`There's really no need for you to go with me,' she protested, propelled despite herself along the pavement by his hand beneath her elbow. `You must have lots to do this afternoon.'

Luke's smile was almost malicious as he glanced down at her. `I'm a successful businessman, and that means finding time for the things that matter. I like to keep a close eye on expenditure and select my investments very carefully! Left to yourself, Kate, I have no doubt you would buy yourself some more neat, practical suits, and that's not what I have in mind at all!'

Five minutes' walk took them to the centre of Knightsbridge, crowded with shoppers in spite of the cold February day. Luke swept Kate through the throng and into a small shop tucked away in one of the back streets behind Harrods. It was discreetly lit, with thick carpets and an expensively perfumed air. Inside there were few clothes on display, but, when Luke had explained what he wanted to the alarmingly well-dressed sales staff, a seemingly inexhaustible supply was produced out of nowhere.

Luke sat on a spindly chair with his arms crossed as different outfits were held up against an uncomfortable Kate, nodding abruptly or dismissing them with a wave of his hand.

`She needs autumn colours,' he said as an assistant proffered a bright turquoise dress. `That's too hard for her.' Kate eyed it wistfully as it was whisked out of sight. `Look,' he went on, picking up a soft tan skirt that was draped over a sofa and holding it impersonally against her. `This is what she needs-soft lines, earthy colours that reflect her personality.'

Kate was scarlet with embarrassment, but neither Luke nor the saleswomen took any notice. They carried on talking over her as if she were no more than a dummy, matching shoes with bags and holding up scarves and belts that appeared out of bottomless drawers.

`Relax!' Luke ordered as Kate shifted uncomfortably yet again. `I thought you Frenchwomen were supposed to take an interest in clothes.'

`I think I must take after my father,' Kate said glumly. `My mother and sister can shop till they drop, but I've never been able to get that excited about it.'

`It shows,' Luke said caustically. `Now, go and try that lot on and look as if you're enjoying yourself!'

The pile was borne off to the fitting-room, while Luke took a mobile telephone out of his briefcase and dialled a number, jabbing at the buttons with characteristic aggression. Kate heard him booking a table for two for dinner that night, and wondered whom he was taking out. Helen Slayne? Or was she the reason for his fraught weekend?

The thought of Helen's vibrant beauty made her study her reflection in the fitting-room a little forlornly. No amount of expensive clothes would give her that kind of glamour.

`Come out and let me have a look,' Luke commanded from the other room.

With a sigh Kate tucked in the olive-green shirt and did up the zip on the skirt. The suede was soft and luxurious, and she smoothed it with her hands as she pulled aside the curtain and presented herself for Luke's inspection.

He walked round her, studying each outfit so dispassionately that Kate's tawny eyes began to snap with golden lights. It was humiliating, standing here, being inspected. She was burningly aware of Luke's eyes on her body-not that he seemed to notice it. She might as well have been made of plastic as he prowled around her, a dark, powerful presence, impossible to ignore.

By the time Kate emerged from the fitting room, laden with outfits and dressed in her own clothes once more, she was tight-lipped but determined not to get involved in another scene.

Luke was talking into his phone again. `Helen? It's Luke. Just to say that I won't be able to make it tonight after all… What's that? That's too bad,' he said curtly. `I've got an important business meeting tonight.' He switched off the phone and banged the aerial back with the flat of his hand as he turned to look at Kate. `Do they fit?'

`Yes, but-'

`We'll take them all.'

He handed a credit card to a beaming assistant, who hastened to relieve Kate of her burden. `Now for the hair.'

Kate maintained a frosty silence as Luke led her through what seemed an unnecessarily tortuous route to the hairdressers'. For someone who had a limousine and driver at his disposal, he was far too ready to walk, she thought as she struggled to keep up with his long, decisive stride.

It was a dull, cold day, and Kate wrapped her coat about her against the wind, thinking longingly of the warm, comfortable Mercedes which had been summoned to collect all the bags from the shop and deliver them to Kate's flat later. Luke had flatly refused to wait for it to give them a lift.

`There's no point in sitting around waiting for the car when it's just as quick to walk. Now, hurry up, Kate, or we'll be late.'

The Cadogan Salon was in a quiet street not far from the King's Road. Kate eyed its green awning uneasily, but once inside she was taken into friendly but capable hands.

`I want you to cut it short,' Luke instructed, holding his hand just below Kate's jawline. `About here. And do anything else you think necessary. I want her to look smart and stylish.' He turned back to Kate. `I'm going back to the office now. Take a taxi home when they've finished with you here, and be ready for me to pick you up at half-past seven.'

Kate let herself be helped into a gown to protect her suit. `But I thought you had an important business meeting?'

`I have. I'm taking you out to dinner.'

She stared at him as she tied the belt automatically. `Me? Why?'

'I want to discuss the Paris trip with you, since we haven't had an opportunity this afternoon,' Luke said briskly. `And don't try and pretend you're busy. You're the sensible sort of girl who would spend the evening before a trip getting herself organised and making sure you got to bed early, so if you had had any plans I'm quite sure you would have cancelled them. Or am I wrong? Is there more behind that demure exterior than meets the eye? Is there a queue of palpitating lovers waiting to take you out tonight?'

His mockery was obvious, and Kate's chin tilted with stiffened pride. `No, the palpitating lovers were last night.'

There was a brief flash of admiration in Luke's eyes. `Good,' he said. `In that case, I'll see you later.' He pulled his diary out of his inside pocket. `Remind me of your address.'

`It's all right,' Kate said quickly, remembering the photographs of her parents and of the manor in her sitting-room. She didn't want to run the risk of Luke's coming in and recognising them. `Why don't I just meet you at the restaurant?'

Luke hesitated, then nodded. `All right,' he said, giving her the name of the restaurant. `I'll see you there about eight. Wear that green dress I picked out, and don't be late!'

He turned and walked out without more ado, leaving Kate in a state of simmering exasperation at his abrupt orders. So much for his making an effort to be more polite!

Resigned to her fate, she let herself be led off to have her hair washed.

Two hours later she sat in front of the mirror and stared at her own reflection. She had been determined to dislike the way she was to be changed on Luke Hardman's instructions, but now she was taken aback by what she saw. Was that girl in the mirror really her?

The hair which had always been so soberly brown had been cunningly highlighted so that it gleamed as she turned her head-copper, bronze, gold. Then they had taken ruthless scissors to it and, released of its weight, it bounced exuberantly about her face in soft, natural waves, and threw into relief the fine cheekbones, the clear, luminous skin and the long, graceful line of her throat.

`It suits you,' Susan reassured her, mistaking Kate's silence for disappointment. She drew the brush through a wing of burnished hair and let it swing softly forward again.

It did more than suit her. It transformed her. Kate turned her head this way and that, watching her profile out of the corner of her eye, a little annoyed that Luke had been proved so right and almost alarmed at how different she looked. How would she ever be able to live up to such a glamorously vibrant image?

The bright new hair blew about her face as she stood on the King's Road and waved down a taxi. She wondered what Luke would think. It was just like him to bully her into a complete change of appearance! Now she was unsettled, unsure of herself and confused about Luke. Just when she had decided to like him, he was arrogant and unpleasant, and then, as if that weren't enough, he confused her further with a quite unexpected charm. Now she didn't know what she felt!