The Older Man

CHAPTER ONE

Rennie ran her fingers lightly up Ethan Ryland's leg, under cover of the crowded table, only to have her hand firmly removed and clamped in his. Rennie laughed at him, her sea-green eyes calling him a prude, and he smiled back at her chidingly, muttering for her ears alone, "Behave yourself!"

"Just trying to help," she whispered into his ear. Risking a glance at the cool-looking blonde woman across the table from them, she found herself fielding a speculative and not exactly approving stare from the man sitting next to Celeste Ryland. Grant Someone, she remembered vaguely, Celeste's escort. Not bad looking for his age, which she guessed at fortyish. Slightly austere, with that aquiline nose and firm chin. His stylishly cut hair was greying at the temples, his blue eyes slightly chilly.

She turned as a hand touched her shoulder, bared by the strapless gold dress she wore. She'd been glad that Ethan had offered to bring her tonight--it meant her father hadn't had a chance to see the dress beforehand, since he'd come ahead with her mother. She'd been glad on several counts to join Grant Whatsisname and his friends at their table instead of searching the crowded ballroom for her parents.

Ethan turned to take a good look at the young man who was asking her to dance.

"It's all right," she assured him. She had known Kevin since schooldays, when he had called her Carrots and she had got into trouble for retaliating by kicking his shins. She had never particularly liked him, but smiled at him as she allowed him to fold her into his arms, because he had picked just the right time to remove her from Ethan's side, and childhood prejudices didn't count, anyway. She saw with satisfaction that Ethan had seized his chance and got Celeste up to dance.

"Who's he?" Kevin growled in her ear. "The old guy you're with?"

"Ethan isn't old," Rennie said. "He's a family friend." He had been a young honorary uncle to her and her brother ever since she could remember. Her parents' rambling old home in the heart of Auckland was open house to anyone who liked to drop in or needed a place to stay. Ethan had always been a favoured guest. And on this visit it had been obvious that he was troubled. A lot of the time he looked grim and almost haunted. They had put it down to the fact of having lost his beloved older step-brother about a year ago. They'd been delighted if a bit puzzled when he insisted on being invited to the Legal Society Ball, thinking he was making an effort to pull himself out of his depression. But Rennie had seen his face as he gave Grant's beautiful partner a seemingly casual greeting, and within seconds she had realised with stunning comprehension that the woman was Ethan's widowed sister-in-law. And how he felt about her.

Poor Ethan. Rennie set out to help.

And she thought, loosely hooking her arms about Kevin's neck so she could peer over his shoulder, that her strategy was working. It had been hard to tell if Celeste was worried by the boldly flirtatious glances Rennie had been throwing Ethan's way, her intimate whispering into his ear, or even the teasing caress that he had so smartly nipped in the bud. But now Rennie could see that her expression as she looked up at him was tense, her cheeks flushed, and there was something in her eyes...

Rennie looked away with a flash of compunction. If Ethan had been miserable, he wasn't the only one. She shivered a little, and Kevin's arms tightened. She hardly noticed. She had lost sight of Ethan and his partner. Then she saw them again, Ethan practically hauling Celeste after him across the floor. They stopped at the table, and Grant got to his feet, his brows raised as he said something to Celeste. Then he looked at Ethan and, watching his expression, Rennie muttered, "Don't you dare stop them!"

"What?" Kevin raised his cheek from its resting place against her bright hair.

"Nothing." She smiled brilliantly at him to make up for her preoccupation. He had turned again so she was facing away from the table, and she crossed her fingers behind him.

But it was okay. Ethan paused on the way out, said, "Excuse us a minute," to Kevin and took her aside. "Sorry, I'm running out on you," he said. "You'll come home with your parents?"

"It's okay." Celeste was standing a little way off, unable to hide a blaze of hope in her face, mixed with trepidation. "She's in love with you, you know," Rennie added with assurance. "Good luck." She gave him a quick hug and shoved him toward Celeste before returning to Kevin.

"What's going on?" he asked curiously.

"Nothing to concern you," she said airily. The music quickened, and she eased herself out of his arms. "That's more like it! All that slow stuff was beginning to be a bore."

He didn't look as though he agreed, but as she swayed her hips and shoulders and lifted her arms, moving to the beat, he followed suit, watching the light play on the slim curves outlined by the brief sheath of gold satin, and the long legs encased in shimmering nylon.

Grant, left without a partner, was alone at the table. He was watching her, leaning back in his chair, his arms folded. He looked more disapproving than ever, she thought, and wiggled her hips extra energetically, throwing back her hair as the music reached a climax, her eyes half closed.