Terms Of Engagement. Kathryn Ross

Jon shrugged. He bent to pick up a briefcase that was sitting next to his feet. ‘I’ve got a few of the requirements here—sizes of rooms, etcetera.’

      She watched with a feeling of relief as he took out some printed sheets. The emotion was short-lived, however, because as she glanced up she saw Frazer heading across the room in their direction.

      ‘Hi.’ He stopped by their table and smiled, that lazy, attractive smile of his. ‘How’s it going?’

      ‘Fine.’ Her voice felt weak.

      Frazer looked over at Jon. ‘You must be Emma’s ex-husband,’ he said easily, holding out a hand. ‘I’m Frazer McClarran. Emma’s next-door neighbour.’

      Jon was clearly taken aback. Emma could see that he was weighing Frazer up.

      Emma debated saying something like, Oh, this isn’t the Frazer that I’ve been telling you about. Backtracking quickly seemed the only option.

      ‘And a bit more than that, from what I’ve been hearing.’ Jon preempted her and stood up politely to shake Frazer’s hand. ‘Congratulations.’

      Frazer looked puzzled, and Emma felt as if she desperately wanted someone to beam her up out of here. She opened her mouth to say something that would extricate herself from the embarrassing situation. No sound came out.

      ‘I thought you were at a stag night?’ Jon continued, his tone jovial.

      ‘I am.’ Frazer nodded towards the other room. ‘I’m just taking a breather. I’m supposed to be minding the groom, so I won’t intrude on you any longer.’

      Maybe she was going to get away with this, Emma thought hopefully. If Frazer just left now it would be perfect.

      ‘Don’t rush off,’ Jon said pleasantly. ‘Let me buy you a drink.’

      ‘No, really—’

      ‘I insist.’ Jon pulled out a spare chair. ‘What will you have?’

      Frazer hesitated, then sat down. ‘OK. That’s very kind of you. I’ll have a Coke.’

      ‘A Coke?’ Jon’s eyebrows rose. ‘Won’t you have something a bit stronger by way of a celebration drink?’

      ‘No, Coke will be fine. I’m driving tonight.’

      Frazer watched Jon as he walked away from them to the bar. ‘I thought I’d made it clear that it wasn’t my stag party. What is he talking about?’

      Emma didn’t answer him. Her heart was hammering fiercely against her chest.

      ‘Emma?’ He looked at her, noting the high colour in her cheeks. ‘Do you know what he means? Why is he buying me a celebratory drink?’

      Emma shrugged. ‘He might somehow have got the impression that…that you and I are engaged,’ she murmured, in a low, helpless tone.

      ‘What?’ Frazer stared at her. ‘How the hell did he get that idea?’

      She shrugged again. ‘I…I might have given it to him,’ she admitted.

      He looked incredulous. Then annoyed. ‘Why would you do that? We hardly know each other, for heaven’s sake.’

      ‘It was a mad, impulsive moment… I needed him to think I was involved with someone and you were the first available name that sprang to my lips.’

      ‘Thanks!’ Frazer raked a hand through the darkness of his hair. ‘I know I asked you to have dinner with me, Emma, but taking it as a proposal of marriage was going a bit far, don’t you think?’ he grated sarcastically.

      ‘You’ve every right to be annoyed,’ she said quietly. ‘I’m sorry.’

      ‘I shall have to put him straight—’

      ‘Don’t!’ She stared at him, her eyes wide, pleading. ‘Please.’ She caught hold of his hand as he put it back down on the table, covering it with hers in an automatic gesture. ‘Please do this for me, Frazer. Jon is only going to be here for two days. I’ve told him the engagement is secret, so he won’t tell anyone else.’

      ‘If he chooses your place as a location for his next film he’ll be here for more than two days.’

      ‘I didn’t consider that.’ She bit down on her lip. ‘I wasn’t thinking clearly.’

      ‘You can say that again.’ His voice was dry. ‘Look, I’m not one for playing emotional games. If you want to make the guy feel jealous then choose some other sucker for the task.’

      ‘I don’t want to make him jealous!’ She took her hand away from his sharply.

      ‘So what are you playing at?’

      She swallowed hard. Her eyes were wide and filled with feeling. For a moment she felt like a little girl, hurt, scared. ‘I just needed to erect some barriers. I don’t expect you to understand, but I had to keep him at a distance.’