Free The Sinister Touch by Jayne Castle Page A

embarrass himself in front of Elizabeth Gallinger's wealthy guests. If he wasn't careful, he'd have to go hide behind a potted palm. It still amazed him that Guinevere could so easily affect him. Tonight, after the party, he would take her home and then to bed. He could wait. She was his for the evening. His for as long as he could hold on to her.
    Zac just wished he knew how long that was likely to be. There was still a strange element of uncertainty in his relationship with Guinevere Jones. It worried him primarily because he didn't know how to go about fixing the problem. Zac was accustomed to solving problems. He might be a little slow at it, but he was thorough. It annoyed him that this one wasn't getting resolved. How the hell did she really feel about him? How committed was she to the affair? And just how interested was she getting in babies? He looked around the room, and all he could see were two dozen biological clocks dressed in evening gowns. It was a daunting image. Maybe he'd had a little too much tequila.
    Across the room, prominently displayed over a white couch, was a Mason Adair painting. Guinevere had spotted it the minute she'd walked into the room. It was a canvas full of life and interest, a study of an old woman reading a book. For some reason, although there was a wealth of aging character in the face, the feeling projected by the painting was of youthful discovery. Even Zac, who admitted to himself that he knew next to nothing about art, could feel the effect of the painting.
    "I've heard that Queen Elizabeth prides herself on being a patron of the arts. She enjoys 'discovering' the best and the brightest of the new talent. I saw a lot of good stuff on display in the lobby of Gallinger Industries when I worked there for a while a few months ago. It's a real coup for Mason Adair that she obviously thinks enough of his work to have a picture hanging here in her home. I wonder if he knows she bought one?" Guinevere had commented in low tones when they had walked into the glass-walled living room. She had then given him a brief r é sum é of her experiences at lunch with Mason and his cousin, Dane Fitzpatrick, describing how alienated Mason was from his father. Before Zac could tell her he didn't approve of her having lunch with Mason Adair, Elizabeth Gallinger had come gliding across the room to greet them.
    Now, as Zac stood contemplating the picture in greater detail, a soft, throaty voice made him glance to the side.
    "Ah, Zac, there you are. I've been looking for you." Elizabeth Gallinger swept through a cluster of her guests who parted for her automatically. Elizabeth had that effect on people. She was a very beautiful woman who projected the kind of self-confidence that came from old money and old family. Zac couldn't imagine her giving a party that was anything less than an unqualified success. Everyone she invited would come. What had Guinevere called such an invitation? A royal summons. But then, Guinevere had been acting strangely whenever Elizabeth 's name came up lately.
    "Hello, Elizabeth . Looks like a great party." Zac winced inwardly at the inanity. He wasn't sure what else to say. It was easy enough to discuss security matters with Elizabeth Gallinger, but on any other topic he simply couldn't think of much to say. What did you talk about to a woman who moved in Elizabeth 's circles if you weren't talking business?
    "You don't appear to be enjoying yourself," Elizabeth complained, her crimsom fingertips settling lightly on his jacket sleeve. "What happened to that nice Guinevere Jones?"
    "She's talking to some of the other guests." Zac glanced across the room. Guinevere still appeared to be trapped in the baby discussion. Either that or she was staying in it of her own free will. He wished to hell he knew which.
    "Oh, yes, I see." Elizabeth smiled with great charm. "It's getting a little stuffy in here, don't you think? What do you say we go out onto the patio for a few minutes?"
    Zac