Free Caress by Marina Anderson Page A

mistake?”
    “I don’t know,” she confessed. “It’s hardly a big deal though. I passed, and that’s what matters. He was very happy afterwards.”
    “He was?”
    “Yes,” she said firmly, remembering how close she’d felt to him, and how near she was sure he’d come to saying he loved her. “And since you seem very keen on talking about the last trial, you and Amber both tried to stop me succeeding.”
    “How?”
    Her cheeks felt hot. “You stopped what you were doing to me just when… Look, I’m really not comfortable talking about this here. It’s different at the Dining Club.”
    “Yes, because that’s not the real world. Don’t ever forget that. All right, I admit I didn’t play fair either, but I did it because I like you so much. I’m only human. I don’t have David’s skill at remaining detached during all the trials, not when I have feelings for someone.”
    Grace looked across the room at him. He was as flushed as she was now, but not with embarrassment. She realized that thinking back to the trials had aroused him, and that he wanted her.
    “If I weren’t with David, would you want to go out with me?” she asked slowly.
    Andrew nodded. “Yes, I would,” he said, his deep voice tender. “I realize that’s not the way a best friend should behave, but I can’t help it. I think I’m falling in love with you, Grace.”
    “But your motive for warning me off David is still purely for my own sake, is it?”
    “Yes, hard as it may be for you to believe, it is. I know you don’t feel the same way about me at the moment, and if you leave David you still might not, but despite that I don’t want to see you hurt.”
    “I think I’ll take my chance on being hurt. I’m not a fool, Andrew. David’s very complex, and I don’t pretend to understand him all the time, but I love him and I want him to love me too. The Dining Club is my only chance of making that happen. He’s made that very clear.”
    “Even if you’re right, and he does fall in love with you, it won’t last,” said Andrew slowly. “I’ve never known anyone who gets bored of things as quickly as David. I think he’s one of those men for whom the conquest is all.”
    “The only certainty in life is that nothing stays the same forever,” retorted Grace. “There are never any guarantees of anything, least of all love.”
    “But you think you could hold his interest for several years?”
    “I don’t know, but Amber seems to have done.”
    “He’s not in love with Amber,” Andrew pointed out. “That’s why their relationship has lasted. Even if he does fall in love with you, Grace, when it’s over and his love for you has died, Amber will still be in his life. Can you cope with that knowledge?”
    “I’ll do my best, although thank you for the warning.”
    “Good luck for the next trial then,” said Andrew. “A lot of people find the prospect of a trial that lasts a whole weekend very daunting. Clearly you don’t.”
    “The whole weekend?” she asked, unable to hide her surprise.
    “Yes, didn’t he tell you?”
    “No, he must have forgotten,” she said, suddenly remembering that David had suggested they meet up on the Friday night, something they’d never done before a visit to the Club before. Her mind raced as she realized that if the Friday evening ended with them making love, she’d already be quite tired before the long weekend began.
    “I shouldn’t have said anything then,” said Andrew. “I simply assumed…”
    “I don’t see why it’s important,” she interrupted, not wanting him to know he’d already shaken her confidence.
    “At least you know now, and can make sure you get an early night. That’s what I’d suggest if you were my girlfriend, anyway.”
    “Well I’m not your girlfriend, I’m David’s, and I’d like you to leave now,” said Grace.
    Andrew got out of the chair and put his jacket back on. “You’re angry with me, aren’t you? That’s the last thing I