Chapter 7 Accepting His Challenge

SIX YEARS HAD GONE BY, but it might have been yesterday when she last saw him. The black curly hair was as riotous as ever, lending its emphasis to the rakish arch of his eyebrows, and the thickly lashed eyes held the same wicked taunt, as if he knew everything and was amused by it all. Yet there was something different. It took Vivienne a moment to realise what it was.

The world-weariness that had been carved into the lines around his eyes and mouth was no longer so apparent. Not apparent at all. His face radiated an inner vitality, an excitement with life, and it made him more electrically handsome, Impossible to ignore.

He flashed her a dazzling white smile. 'You must forgive me. The temptation to reacquaint myself with your very beautiful daughter was simply too great to resist.'

Vivienne couldn't contain a slight flush of pleasure. He did remember her. And found her attractive. He even wished to renew their acquaintance. But Sir Gabriel Carter was annoyed. The sense of having been manipulated by Adrian Blackwood niggled at the edge of his mind. This meeting was not coincidental.

But what was Adrian aiming at? Why was he hedging over the deal Gabriel had offered him? There were few men whose minds Gabriel could not read, and Adrian Blackwood was one of them. Which made any negotiation with him a very tricky business. And he didn't like the way he was smiling at Vivienne, either!

'The bevy of beauty you brought in with you is surely enough distraction for one night, Adrian,' he mocked. 'Be satisfied with what you've got.'

'Ah, Gabriel ...' The black eyes glanced lazily at him and a light laugh rippled from his throat. 'You are jealous of this daughter! I thought as much.'

A sense of danger prickled along Gabriel's spine. He forced himself to smile.

'Vivienne is very much her own woman.''So she would have me believe,' Adrian said whimsically, then turned back to Vivienne. His body seemed to tighten like a spring that could suddenly and lethally uncoil, but his voice was lazy and remote.

'Six years ago. The Mandarin Hotel. Hong Kong. You were a very young, eighteen and determined on a career in medicine, as I recall.'

Very young indeed, she agreed privately, but a match for him even then, she thought with pride. And pride kept her face as smooth as alabaster, her eyes bland pools of indifference as she replied to the lightly flicking sting in his words.

'Yes. As a matter of fact, I'm a fully qualified doctor now,' she informed him coolly, then with more bite, 'What have you been doing with yourself, Adrian? If I remember correctly, your ideas on life were over-refined and positively ... sensual. Our aims and goals were totally opposed. Did you achieve what you set out to achieve?'

The smile lurked at the corners of his mouth as his lips formed a little movement which suggested consideration and a lot of other things besides. He was without a doubt the most compelling man that Vivienne had ever encountered. Despite the exertions of her considerable will-power, he could still make her pulse race as madly as it had raced when she was a teenager.

'No. But I approximate it more closely with every year, with every day. I will not fail,' he said, and for once there seemed to be a serious gleam in his eyes.

'So I see, by the company you keep tonight,' she mocked.

He laughed. 'Entrancing, aren't they? And so eager! It's the price one pays for success!' His eyes glittered between mockery and sheer devilry. 'But. I'm sure you will not be over-flattered when I say you would be ... at least as enchanting. To the right man.''

'To the right man, yes!' Sir Gabriel cut in, determined on spiking this particular by-play. His instincts were picking up the current running between Adrian and Vivienne and he didn't trust the man ... not with his daughter.

'But definitely not one who's fond of collecting pets for his amusement,' he drawled with a nod towards the table where Adrian's guests had been seated.

Sir Gabriel saw the slight stiffening of Vivienne's spine and hoped it was enough. Hate him she might, but it was safer for her if she hated Adrian Blackwood too.

'A very tactless statement, Gabriel. And untrue,' Adrian mocked, and the glitter in his black eyes gave warning of battle.

Gabriel silently applauded the light laugh Vivienne gave-an easy ripple of amusement.

'And who, in your opinion-would be the right man for me, Adrian?' she asked. Not him-her father was right about that-but still she could not resist challenging the man... holding his attention a little while longer.

He waved his hand dismissively. 'How much have you changed in the years since I first saw you?'

'Not at all!'

The eyebrows expressed scepticism. 'I would wish to judge for myself.'

'That would probably be extremely boring for me.' She gave him a slow, confident smile. 'I'm the one who is serious about life, Adrian. You are the one who plays at it. Remember? So take your chance now. You won't get another.'

'Why not? I'll be attending your father's masked ball on New Year's Eve.' His eyebrows lifted sardonically. 'Or are you still the frightened little girl who fears to go into her father's mansion ... because she might get hurt?'

'That's enough, Adrian!' Sir Gabriel grated, furious with the man's crude counter-stroke. 'I won't have you or anyone else insulting my daughter. I'd be obliged if you ...'

'Don't be ridiculous, Father!' Vivienne snapped, the words spitting from an upsurge of fiery pride. She didn't need him to stand up for her. She could do it herself. Particularly where Adrian Blackwood was concerned! 'He is merely trying to needle me... in a very amateurish fashion, I might add.' She raised a mocking eyebrow at Adrian.

'You seem to have lost all your subtlety. Definitely boring.'

He gave a soft throaty laugh. 'I guarantee you will not be bored, Vivienne. I'll make a point of keeping you on your toes. I shall also be fascinated to see what costume you wear.'

She almost said she was not going, but she held the words back, looking consideringly at Adrian. She didn't like the thought that people might be interpreting her decision to stay away from her father's home as weakness of character... even cowardice.

On the other hand, Adrian might be using the unpalatable suggestion to manipulate her... to stir her into accepting his challenge, as he had with the dancing in Hong Kong. This time she would act on her will, not react to his.

'And what costume would you wear, Adrian? Let me guess,' she drawled, her eyes telegraphing that he was all too predictable.

His mouth made that provocatively sensual movement again. 'That will be my first surprise. One among many.'

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