‘Danielle, it was Benson’s responsibility to take care of night security,’ he cut in grimly, his mouth tight. ‘As an ex-policeman he should have known better.’
‘Why do you do that?’ she asked curiously.
‘Benson is—–’
‘No, not that—although we’ll get back to him in a moment. No one else calls me Danielle.’
‘Danny makes you sound like a man.’ He scowled.
‘As you once thought me.’ She nodded. ‘Oh, don’t worry, I’m not complaining. It makes me feel special.’
Grey eyes looked at her probingly. ‘Why should you want that, Danielle?’ he asked softly.
‘Why not?’ She looked at him with candid brown eyes. ‘You don’t have a girl in every country like your cousin seems to, do you?’
The forbidding mouth quirked mockingly. ‘I don’t have a girl—or preferably, woman, in any country,’ Pierce derided.
‘No?’ She found that a little hard to believe, sensing that beneath the reserved coldness was a man of deep passion. Hadn’t she tasted a little of that passion the other night? Didn’t she want to taste it again!
‘No,’ he spoke harshly now.
‘Would you like one,’ she encouraged hopefully. ‘In England, that is?’
His mouth tightened even more. ‘Are you offering your services?’
Perhaps it was the way he said ‘services’, or maybe it was just his tone of voice, but she found the words slightly insulting. ‘I’d like to get to know you better,’ she answered with a frown. ‘I’d also like to go swimming again,’ she added lightly.
‘Another mercenary,’ Pierce taunted.
‘Not me.’ She shook her head. ‘I just felt that as you’re partly responsible for my late night jogging being curtailed you wouldn’t mind offering the use of the pool for my excercise instead.’
‘I told you before,’ he rasped, ‘you’re free to use it at any time.’
‘You’re sure it won’t disturb your uncle?’ She frowned.
‘Yes.’
‘Have you had your swim today yet?’
‘That isn’t very subtle, Danielle,’ he drawled, his eyes mocking.
‘Do I have to be?’ she complained. ‘I’ve never been one to indulge in those pointless guessing games. I’d like us to become friends, and as you don’t seem to be around too often I have to take advantage of the opportunities I do have.’
His brows rose in some surprise. ‘You’re certainly different from the women I usually meet.’
‘Have there been a lot of them?’
‘The mere fact that I consider you too young for me to answer that question tells me this conversation shouldn’t be taking place at all,’ he bit out.
‘But it is.’
He made an impatient sound in his throat. ‘Woman have never figured that strongly in my life,’ he answered distantly, as if he weren’t used to people delving so closely into his private life. ‘When I want one I take one, it’s as simple as that.’
Danny gave an inward wince at his candidness, as he had probably guessed that she would. But she freely acknowledged that he had been brought up in, and inhabited, a completely different world from her own, one where real emotions were hard to find, his very name making him a target for women and so increasing his cynicism where they were concerned. It couldn’t be easy being a Sutherland, even if he was just a nephew to Henry Sutherland.
‘And do you—take one—often?’ She looked at him with widely innocent eyes.
‘If you’re trying to ascertain how highly sexed I am let me assure you that my appetite is that of the average male. I am in no desperate need of a woman right now,’ he dismissed coldly. ‘And when I am I choose women who will not be a problem to me afterwards.’
She had only asked the question in the hope of repaying some of the shock-value he had given out; it had backfired on her! ‘Very sensible.’ She unbent her long legs to stand up. ‘Shall we have that swim now?’
‘Danielle—–’
‘Yes?’ She looked at him with calm brown eyes.
‘Nothing,’ he dismissed impatiently, also standing up, the small room suddenly seeming even smaller. ‘Please use the pool,’ he invited abruptly. ‘I don’t have the time to join you.’
‘Oh.’ She was too disappointed not to show it.
He gave a impatient sigh. ‘Danielle, has no one ever told you it’s dangerous to show this much—–’
‘Enthusiasm?’ she finished lightly. ‘I’ve always been the same, I don’t see any reason to change now.’
‘And where do you think it will get you?’ Pierce asked softly.
When she looked into those icy grey eyes she didn’t think it would get her anywhere, not with this man, at least. Her candidness was obviously not welcome. ‘At this moment? Into the pool, I hope.’ Her eyes gleamed with mischief as she saw his sudden expulsion of air.
Some of the tension seemed to leave the broad shoulders, too. ‘Then I won’t keep you from it any longer,’ he told her distantly.
‘Pierce …?’
‘Yes?’ He was wary again.
Danny wished she knew what made him act that way, it made her feel uncomfortable. ‘You said your uncle is at home tonight?’
His eyes narrowed. ‘Yes.’
‘Do you think I might be able to see him?’
‘Well certainly not this evening—–’
‘Tomorrow,’ she corrected laughingly. ‘Do you think I could see him then? I’ve been trying the last few days, but he’s been away.’
‘What’s it about?’
‘Dave Benson.’
Pierce’s mouth tightened. ‘I’ve already told you that he has to take responsibility for the lapse,’ he bit out harshly. ‘Appealing on his behalf won’t do any good.’
She shrugged. ‘Nevertheless, I’d still like to speak to your uncle.’
He nodded, as if he had never doubted her determination. ‘Come over to the house tomorrow afternoon.’
‘He won’t mind?’ She frowned at his freely given invitation after she had had so much trouble seeing him so far.
Pierce’s mouth twisted. ‘He never minds seeing a beautiful woman.’
Her eyes widened with surprise. ‘How old is your uncle?’ She had assumed he would be well into his fifties.
‘Not too old to appreciate a beautiful woman; no man is ever that old!’
‘Am I beautiful?’
He gave a husky chuckle, looking younger, lines etched beside his eyes and mouth. ‘You would make a very good businesswoman, Danielle; you don’t miss the slightest slip.’
She shook her head, answering seriously. ‘Shrubs and flowers are much easier to understand than people, especially the sharks of the business world.’
‘You don’t seem to have had too much trouble with me,’ he drawled.
‘Oh, I didn’t mean—–’
‘I know,’ he mocked. ‘I’ll