Chapter 22

IT GAVE Mitch no satisfaction to lock Harriet out of his home. The action was too similar to shutting the door after the horse had bolted. The damage was done. The rapport he'd established with Kathryn, the pleasant, relaxed mood…both were totally and irretrievably shattered by Harriet's arrogant presumption that she could seduce him into resuming their relationship.

Seeing Kathryn fiddling with her ring as he re-entered the lounge room telegraphed where her thoughts were—right back with Jeremy Haynes— and Mitch knew he had one hell of a battle on his hands to wrest back any ground he'd made with her. The caveman streak in him that had been tapped at their first meeting this afternoon, wanted to sweep her up and stamp himself back into her mind with a kiss that would knock his rival right out of it.

But she would fight him.

She would lose all trust in him.

It was a completely hopeless initiative that would damn him in her eyes and nullify any chance of moving forward with her. He knew this, yet it took enormous control to stop himself from taking some volatile action, to suppress the seething urge and force a reasonable response to what had just happened.

'I'm sorry you were trapped into witnessing what you shouldn't have had to, Kathryn,' he said, trying to keep his intense frustration out of his voice.

She took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders as she turned her gaze to his. There was no warm vitality in her eyes—a dull flat green that left him in no doubt about her inner withdrawal. 'I shouldn't have been here,' she stated, her mouth twisting into an ironic grimace.

'You're here for a good reason,' he countered emphatically. 'And I might add I didn't introduce you to Harriet Lowell for the same reason. Better that she doesn't know your name, nor your connection to Gary Chappel.'

'Of course,' she muttered, nodding as though he'd just confirmed her place in his life—strictly business.

He wanted to yell that it wasn't so.

Heat flooded her cheeks. 'I'm sorry if I was in the way of…of some possible reconciliation.'

Words exploded from him in sheer vexation that she could imagine he might want Harriet back in his life. 'Kathryn, if you discovered your fiancé had cheated on you to gain some perceived advantage in his career, would you still want to be with him?'

Too much anger. He could see her gathering herself to answer him, forced into it.

'No, I wouldn't.' She lifted pained eyes, sympathetic eyes that made his guts writhe. He didn't want sympathy from her. 'I don't think cheating is ever justifiable,' she added quietly.

He didn't want her to cheat on Jeremy. He wanted her to break with him, but he saw little chance of that now.

'Case closed,' he said decisively. 'And may I add, your company is infinitely preferable to hers.'

This claim evoked a wry little smile. 'You've been very kind and hospitable.'

Her guard was up, well and truly, and Mitch didn't know how to reach past it. 'Kindness doesn't enter into it,' he stated flatly. 'Being with you is a pleasure.'

She shook her head. 'I've talked too much about myself. I guess…being a barrister…you're very good at drawing people out.'

'I wanted to know…just as you wanted to know about me, Kathryn,' he shot at her, fighting the barrier she'd obviously decided to raise.

'Yes. Well, it did pass the time and it's unlikely we'll ever meet again, so I don't suppose it matters what we say.' She pushed her chair back and stood up. 'We'd better clear the table now. Do the dishes.'

She was in full retreat.

The half glass of wine she'd left would not be drunk.

Mitch gathered up the glasses and condiments while she took the plates and cutlery. 'I'll make us some coffee,' he said as they headed for the kitchen. The need to prolong the evening with her was imperative. 'I'm looking forward to our game of chess,' he quickly added as she looked about to refuse coffee.

'Oh!' She frowned as though she'd forgotten her offer and now felt cornered by it.

'What do you like to play? Black or white?' he pressed.

Kathryn recalled what Mitch had said about chess occupying what would otherwise be lonely hours. If she retired to the guest suite now, she'd be leaving him to churn over the bitter scene with Harriet…alone with miserable memories. Hardly a kind return for looking after her, caring about her safety.

The embarrassment she felt was her own doing. Mitch Tyler had made every effort to put her at ease in his home and in his company. It would be mean to turn her back on him now. And there was nothing terribly personal about playing chess. They'd be concentrating on the game.

Black or white, he'd asked.

'Let's make it completely fair and toss for the choice,' she suggested. 'You are my guest,' he demurred, his face breaking into a grin of relief at her agreement to play.

'I don't want to be given any advantage.'

His eyes twinkled teasingly. 'Confident of winning anyway?'

Her chin tilted up with pride. 'I should warn you I was chess champion at school.'

He laughed. 'So was I.'

She looked askance at him as she rinsed their plates in the sink. 'Don't tell me you're a Grand Master.'

'Okay. I won't tell you.'

He was still grinning as he prepared the coffee-pot. Kathryn decided it didn't matter if he was far more skilled than herself. Playing was simply a means of keeping their minds distracted from other issues. He probably needed to win, given that he'd lost in love, though why on earth the beautiful Harriet had found anyone else more tempting…

Mitch had put it down to ambition.

Would Jeremy put ambition ahead of fidelity to her?

Being successful in his career meant a lot to him and he certainly had a hard, competitive streak, but Jeremy had given her no reason to believe he'd ever cheat on her. She'd been unsettling herself by questioning their relationship. Best to stop it right now.