Chapter 22.1

Having washed and dried the plates and cutlery, she moved back to the stool on the other side of the kitchen counter while the coffee was brewing, putting some comfortable distance between herself and Mitch Tyler. It was difficult to ignore the sheer magnetism of his physical presence and silence made it even more nerve-tingling.

'Talking of winning, what was the victory you had today?' she blurted out, then instantly realised it was a tactless blunder, reminding him of Harriet's excuse for bringing champagne and strawberries to celebrate.

'The Barrington case.' He was preparing a tray with mugs and a plate of chocolate wafers and slanted her a sardonic look. 'If you could call squeezing a decent settlement out of a heart of stone a victory.'

Kathryn knew what he was talking about. The Barrington family dispute had been a rather scandalous case, widely reported in the media, the son having committed suicide, the daughter-in-law blaming the family and seeking compensation. 'I take it you were on the side of the underdog.'

He nodded. 'Harriet represented the family.'

'Oh!' Kathryn felt confused. Why would Harriet want to celebrate his victory if…? 'She didn't mind losing?'

He gave a short derisive laugh. 'Harriet hates losing anything. Even me.'

Especially you, Kathryn thought. Obviously the beautiful barrister had been bending over backwards to regain some foothold in his life tonight. Which begged the question… 'I realise you feel responsible for me, because of Ric, but if I hadn't been here…'

'It would have made no difference.' The blue eyes stabbed that point home. 'Stop worrying about it, Kathryn.'

She wasn't sure about that. After all, he hadn't asked Harriet to give his key back until tonight. Why the oversight if he was dead against resuming any relationship with her? Barging right in as she had, might well have worked for her if Mitch hadn't been otherwise occupied with what was basically Ric Donato's business—emergency measures in response to his friend's plea for help.

As though he was tuned into her line of logic, he said, 'She knew damned well using that key was an invasion, but it's typical of her. Harriet is a risk-taker. I would have demanded its return before this, except—' his grimace carried distaste '—we've been on opposing sides in this court case. I didn't want to get into personal issues with Harriet when we were in professional conflict. Being a stickler about returning my key seemed inappropriate.'

His curt tone and the steely pride on his face told Kathryn to back off this sensitive ground. Stupid of her to pursue it in the first place. He had to be still hurting over it and here she was, turning the knife in the wound, just to satisfy her own curiosity about his feelings for another woman.

For what purpose?

It wasn't as though she wanted him for herself. She had Jeremy.

The coffee was poured. Mitch carried the tray into the lounge room and Kathryn followed him, relieved they could now settle down and play chess without any need to make conversation. The silence would be natural, not awkward or tense. She could focus on the game. Relax. Stop questioning what should be…was…beyond questioning.

Mitch couldn't concentrate on chess. He felt totally hamstrung by the situation. He pondered telling Kathryn straight out that meeting her had told him unequivocally that his previous relationship with Harriet Lowell had lacked the more instinctive attraction he felt with her, had even lacked the power to stir him anywhere near as strongly as she did. Could he lay himself on the line that far? Would it hit a chord with Kathryn, or would it embarrass her?

His hands moved the chess pieces in automatic defensive moves to her attack. Before he even saw it coming she had him checkmated. 'I've been blindsided,' he muttered in self-deprecation as he conceded the game.

Her eyes twinkled both pleasure in the victory and challenge because it was too easy. 'I think you underestimated me.'

'I won't a second time,' he warned, his heart lifting as he felt the connection again. She had to feel it, too. It couldn't be one-sided.

But her lashes swept down as she set up the chess pieces for another game, clearly determined on blocking out anything of a personal nature. 'Would you like to play white this time?' she asked, intent on being fair.

'No. I'm fine with black. I like to come from behind.'

Her gaze lifted in a flash of amusement. 'Making victory all the sweeter?'

'I wish,' he said with feeling.

For one poignant moment she smiled full on and his heart leapt with triumphant pleasure at the instant tug of what had to be mutual attraction— strongly positive. Yet it was far too fleeting to make any capital out of it.

The next instant she was staring at the chessboard again, selecting a pawn to move forward, and the shut-out was warning enough not to push for anything beyond her current comfort zone.

He forced himself to focus on the game. He didn't win. He didn't lose, either. They reached stalemate and both of them conceded a draw. He insisted on a third game, just to keep her with him, though he knew it wouldn't change anything. Loyalty—fidelity—to her fiancé was firmly entrenched in her mind.

He won this time and she used his victory as an excuse to retire with equal honours, saying she was tired and thanking him for playing with her.

'We're a good match,' he couldn't resist saying.

'I enjoyed it,' she acknowledged, then rather nervously rushed on, 'About tomorrow, Mitch…'

'I'll be gone early in the morning,' he broke in, knowing she would avoid having breakfast with him, seeing him off. 'Just make yourself at home here. I'll call and let you know the outcome of my meeting with the Chappels.'

'If it's positive, I could go back to work, pick up my car…' She was anxious to be away from him and the intimacy of his home.

'No!' he cut in emphatically. 'Better not to be too confident and hasty, Kathryn. When do you expect your fiancé home?'

She frowned. 'About six-thirty tomorrow evening.'

'I'll feel happier delivering you safely to him myself.' And checking out what he was like. Mitch couldn't bring himself to let Kathryn Ledger go without satisfying himself it was right to do so. Right for her. It was never going to feel right to him.

'Surely that won't be necessary,' she argued, not liking that scenario.

If it made trouble with her fiancé, good! Mitch thought savagely. 'He should be told what's gone on, Kathryn. I'm not sure I can stop Gary Chappel from making a dangerous nuisance of himself outside your business hours. Especially where there are no witnesses. Your fiancé will have to be your watchdog and protector.'

She heaved a fretful sigh. 'All right. But I don't need you to tell him, Mitch. I can do that myself.'

'Okay.' They were fighting words and he had no authority over her life to override them. 'Just let me take you home and pass you over to him. That way I can assure Ric I let no harm come to you. Fair enough?'

The reminder of her work situation with Ric had to have impact on her resistance to his plan. Her boss had made her promise to go along with Mitch's advice and Mitch would report back to Ric. Besides, if her relationship with Jeremy Haynes was all it should be, there was no reason for her not to accept Mitch's escort home.

Her reluctance smacked of conflict.

Which gave Mitch a flicker of hope that she might change her mind about this marriage. Unlikely, he warned himself, yet the desire to have her for himself—at least explore what was possible between them—would not lie down and die.

'I'm sorry if I sound ungrateful…difficult…' She grimaced in apology. 'I guess I'm not used to any need for protection.'

'The need is real,' he gravely assured her. 'Don't dismiss it, Kathryn. In my opinion, Gary Chappel is psychopathic.'

She shuddered, possibly in memory of Chappel's behaviour at her office. 'Okay. I'll wait for you to take me home,' she conceded in a rush.

'The best course,' he said approvingly.

She managed a wry little smile. 'Thanks for looking after me, Mitch.

Good night.'

She was off, walking away from him, and all Mitch had from her was a toehold on tomorrow.

It was not a winning position.

But he would not accept defeat until it was staring him in the face. All these years he'd never met a woman who made him feel as Kathryn did.

Ironic that it should happen on the very day Ric had taken charge of Lara's life. Eighteen years…and still Ric cared about her. A one-woman man.

Might Kathryn Ledger be his one-in-a-lifetime woman?

Maybe it was just the wrong time for them. Ric and Lara had been separated. She'd married someone else. They'd connected again now. Lara had taken off her rings to go with Ric.

Kathryn had to take off that damned ring. Until she did…there was no future for them. There might never be a future for them.

Ships passing in the night…

Everything within Mitch revolted against that concept. Somewhere there had to be a twist that worked his way.