Good Girl or Gold-Digger? - Kate Hardy

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come on to her?

      ‘A working dinner,’ he clarified.

      She could feel the blush staining her cheeks; clearly he’d worked out what she was thinking. Well, of course he hadn’t been coming on to her. Men like Felix Gisbourne dated glamorous women who wore high heels and nail polish and earrings and expensive hairdos. He wouldn’t be interested in the likes of her.

      Besides, she wasn’t interested in him as anything more than an investor. Couldn’t be. The fairground was too important.

      ‘Sure. I think Bill’s free, too.’

      ‘Actually,’ he said, ‘I was thinking just you and me. If you’ve been working as his number two for as long as he says you have, then you’ll have the answers, and I won’t have to drag him away from his family.’

      Another assumption: that she didn’t have anyone in her life to be dragged away from. Then again, he was right, so there was no point in arguing; she had no plans to spend her evening with anyone other than Titan.

      ‘By the way,’ he added, ‘the hotel isn’t really a jeans and boiler suits place.’

      For a moment, she thought about telling him to get lost. In a truly pithy manner.

      But then she thought of Bill, and the people who depended on them for jobs, and forced her temper to simmer. ‘Just tell me where and when to meet you.’

      ‘Seven o’clock.’

      He named a hotel five miles away, on the coast, the poshest one in the area; its restaurant had two Michelin stars. And it wasn’t really within cycling distance—not with a skirt on, anyway—so she’d better organise a taxi. ‘That’s fine,’ she said coolly. ‘I’ll see you at seven.’

      His smile did weird things to her stomach. Oh, this was bad. She had to ignore the surge of attraction. Even if there hadn’t been a business deal in the way, they were too different for it to work, because she wasn’t suitable girlfriend-material.

      ‘I’ll look forward to it, Boots.’ He sketched a salute, following up with another of those devastating smiles. She’d bet he knew the effect it had on women. ‘I’ll find my own way over to Bill.’

      ‘I’ll take you.’

      ‘You’re busy. I wouldn’t want to disturb you.’

      Too late. He already had disturbed her.

      ‘À bientôt,’ he said softly. ‘Seven o’clock. Don’t be late.’

      Like she had been for their meeting this morning? That had been an aberration, she thought. As Felix Gisbourne was about to find out.

      Chapter Three

      DAISY headed back to the workshop and grabbed her mobile phone. She speed-dialled her sister-in-law, willing Alexis to be there; she almost sagged with relief when the line connected and the answering machine didn’t kick in.

      ‘Lexy? It’s Daisy. I need your help.’

      ‘Sure, hon. What’s up?’

      Before she’d had children, Alexis Bell had been a make-up artist—a seriously good one. If someone could make a silk purse out of the sow’s ear Daisy knew herself to be, it would be her sister-in-law. ‘I need a makeover. And I need it, um, right now.’

      ‘Excuse me? Am I hallucinating, or have you been drinking?’

      ‘Neither.’ Daisy explained the situation.

      ‘He said what?’ There was a dangerous edge to Alexis’s voice.

      Daisy repeated it.

      ‘When are you meeting him?’

      ‘Seven.’

      ‘Get over here by half-past five and we’ll sort it.’

      ‘Thanks, Lexy. I owe you.’

      Daisy just about managed to concentrate on her work for the rest of the day. At ten to five, she collected her bicycle from the back of the workshop, and Titan jumped gracefully into the wicker basket on the front, settling onto his cushion. She cycled home, fed the cat, picked up some fresh underwear, then called at the village shop just in time to pick up some flowers for Alexis before cycling over to Ben and Alexis’s house. She was grateful that her oldest and favourite brother had decided to settle in the next village; it made life much easier.

      Alexis greeted her with a hug. ‘They’re lovely, hon, but you didn’t need to buy me flowers. I’m going to enjoy glamming you up.’

      Not too much, Daisy hoped.

      ‘So where are you going?’

      Daisy named the hotel, and Alexis whistled. ‘Right. Go and have a shower and wash your hair. I,’ Alexis told her firmly, ‘will deal with the rest. Luckily, you’re the same size as me.’ She grinned.

      ‘I’m really grateful for this,’ Daisy said humbly.

      ‘If you’re that grateful,’ Alexis said, moisturising Daisy’s face and then drying her hair, ‘you’d let me do this more often.’

      ‘It’d be wasted on the fairground.’

      ‘When you’re in chief mechanic mode, yes, but not when you’re doing talks to schools. Though we’ll argue about that later. As well as the fact that you really hurt Ben last week. If you’d called him, you know he would’ve come straight over and helped you clear up.’

      Daisy shifted uncomfortably. ‘I’m sorry.’

      ‘You’re too proud. And I bet Annie told you to call him.’

      ‘Yes.’ Daisy sighed. ‘OK, take it as read that I’m a horrible woman and I don’t deserve your help. But, please, just make me look girly enough for tonight.’

      Alexis hugged her. ‘You’re not horrible. I love you and so does Ben. I know he doesn’t agree with your career choices, but he’s learning to lump it—and he really would’ve helped out if you’d given him the chance.’

      ‘And treated me like a baby.’ Daisy couldn’t help glowering.

      ‘Honey, you’re his little sister. And he’s a bloke—he’s hardwired to do the overprotective big brother thing, so you’re just wasting energy if you fight it. He’s not going to change. But, if it makes you feel better, he tells me you’re better at fixing things than he is—and yes, I know he doesn’t tell you that. That’s men for you. Now, sit still and close your eyes.’

      Given the array of cosmetics on the table, Daisy was feeling just a little nervous. But she sat still and let Alexis paint her face and finish her hair. Then she changed into the dress and low-heeled court shoes Alexis lent her, which was followed by a speedy lesson from her sister-in-law in how to walk like a model on a catwalk.

      ‘Right. You can look in the mirror now,’ Alexis said.

      Daisy barely recognised herself as the petite, curvy woman whose hair was a mass of shining waves.

      ‘This is really me?’ She blinked. ‘Blimey, Lexy. You’re even better than I thought you were. Thank you so much.’

      At that moment, the front door opened. Ben did a double-take. ‘Who are you and what have you done with my little sister?’

      ‘Ha, ha.’ Daisy scowled at him.

      ‘Daze, you look amazing. For you to wear a dress and let Lexy do your face, he must be special.’

      ‘I’m not going on a date,’ Daisy said through clenched teeth.

      ‘Dressed like that?’ He spread his hands. ‘No way. It has to be a man.’

      ‘Yes, and it’s business. So don’t you dare breathe a word to Mum, or I’ll tie you

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