Perfect Partner Read online

  He looked at her for several minutes, his gaze admiring. ‘I’ll tell you what, Juliet,’ he finally said. ‘You write a book and I’ll tell everyone what a beautiful woman you are, very independent, intelligent, and prepared to stand up for what you believe to be right.’

  Juliet blushed at his description of her. She had believed that, like most men, he would see only the surface attraction and not bother with the intelligent woman inside the body. But Jake Matthews was turning out to be a bit of a surprise altogether. Most people would have accepted her earlier snub, or at least avoided the subject that had caused it, but this man had gone straight back to it.

  ‘Wouldn’t that be rather unfair? Besides, I’d probably write a poor story.’

  ‘What work do you do?’ he asked interestedly.

  ‘I work for Michael.’ She sipped her wine.

  Jake smiled. ‘Then you’re in the right place to get your book published.’

  ‘Have you ever written one?’ She couldn’t ever remember seeing a book written by this man, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t one. Besides, if he had any sense he would write under a pseudonym, as the nature of his profession meant his fellow-workers were likely to be over-critical about any book bearing the name Jake Matthews.

  ‘Never,’ he laughed softly. ‘And I’m never going to. You?’

  ‘I wrote one once,’ she revealed slowly.

  ‘What happened to it?’

  Juliet shrugged dismissively. ‘It’s at home somewhere, turned down by a publisher. Perhaps I should let you read it, get your opinion. On second thoughts, maybe I’d better not. The sort of criticism you dish out would break me.’

  He gave a husky laugh, a deep attractive sound that caused several of the other women present to turn and look at him. Juliet realised for the first time that she was actually being envied her dining companion, that most of the other women here would gladly take her place.

  She looked at Jake Matthews with new eyes, seeing a wealth of experience in the deep cynicism of his face, a knowledge of women in those narrowed blue eyes that hadn’t been learnt just by looking at them. This man was at least thirty-five, there would have been many women in his life, could even be one now. He could even be married for all she knew!

  ‘I’d be very gentle on you, Juliet,’ he promised softly.

  She searched his strong features for some sign of a double meaning, but could find none. But Jake had been flirting with her, she knew that. She hadn’t reached her mid-twenties without learning something of men, and Jake Matthews definitely found her attractive. ‘What would your wife think of you showing such favouritism?’ she asked pointedly.

  His mouth quirked with humour, seeing right through her line of questioning. ‘I’m not married, Juliet.’

  Her eyebrows rose as she couldn’t hide her surprise at his single state. ‘Have you ever been?’

  ‘No. Have you?’

  ‘No,’ she replied tightly.

  ‘I’m sure you’ve had offers, though,’ he taunted.

  ‘Several,’ she confirmed stiffly.

  ‘And I’ve never offered once,’ he drawled.

  She knew that. If he had offered he would have been accepted. There would be few women who would turn him down. ‘You’re quite old not to be married,’ she said bluntly.

  ‘So are you,’ he replied as candidly. ‘What are you, twenty-three, twenty-four?’

  ‘Twenty-four. And you, over or under forty?’

  ‘Under,’ he grinned. ‘I’m thirty-eight. Now that we have the question of married status and age out of the way perhaps we can get to know each other a little better. Do you have any family, Juliet?’

  ‘Just my mother. She lives in Devon. And you?’ If he could ask personal questions then so could she!

  He shrugged. ‘No parents, just a sister. She’s married to an American, living in California with her husband and two unruly brats.’

  ‘You don’t like children?’

  ‘I didn’t say that,’ he denied. ‘I like them well enough, and probably one day I’ll have a couple of my own. I certainly don’t intend remaining single for ever. I just haven’t found my other half yet.’

  Juliet held back her gasp of surprise. ‘You really believe that everyone has a perfect partner?’

  ‘Yes,’ he nodded, grinning suddenly. ‘It’s a pity they rarely meet.’

  ‘You’re cynical!’ Juliet snapped.

  ‘Realistic,’ he corrected. ‘But I’ll marry one day, if only to have children. But they won’t become beach-bums,’ he added grimly.

  ‘Is that what’s happened to your sister’s children?’

  ‘Yes. The eldest one has already dropped out of school, the other one will soon follow. It’s a damned waste.’

  ‘And you?’ Juliet eyed him with amusement. ‘Did you dutifully finish your education?’ He didn’t appear to her to be the sort of man who would welcome the leash of authority, and she doubted he had been any different in his youth.

  ‘No,’ he smiled, that devastating smile that even Juliet was finding she wasn’t immune to. If anything he looked even more attractive when he smiled, his eyes a deeper blue, crinkled at the corners, his teeth very white against his tanned skin, the cleft in his chin more prominent. ‘But then you knew that, didn’t you?’

  ‘I guessed,’ she smiled back, and then stopped herself. The unaccustomed wine was making her enjoy talking to a man she should despise, in fact she was starting to like him, which wouldn’t do at all. ‘What did you do instead?’ Her tone was more stilted.

  ‘I went to sea for a couple of years. You grow up fast that way.’

  ‘I can imagine,’ she grimaced. It was a hard life, and Jake still kept himself very fit by the look of him, very lean and firmly muscled. It wasn’t the body of a man who sat behind a desk all day. ‘Did you like it?’

  ‘I enjoyed the stops in port—and I didn’t have a girl in every one,’ he added at her knowing look. ‘Just a couple of them,’ he grinned. ‘Believe me, after several months on board it’s nice to have someone to—go home to.’ He grimaced. ‘I stuck it for a couple of years before hitch-hiking over America. I really liked that. I did any work going to pay my way. Then when I got back to England I got a job as an errand boy on one of the big newspapers. I loved it—the tension, the excitement, the sheer hard work that went into putting out a newspaper every day. It was as if I’d come home.’ He shrugged. ‘I knew that atmosphere was for me.’

  Juliet had been mesmerised by the different emotions flitting across his ruggedly tanned features. That he enjoyed his work was obvious, his expression one of tense excitement as he spoke of it.

  ‘Unfortunately, I can’t write,’ he added ruefully. ‘I tried for a while, but it was no good. But I’ve always liked reading, anything I could get my hands on, so I was finally taken on as assistant to the book critic of the time. When he retired I was chosen to take his place. The television programme came out of writing the column. A television studio has a similar atmosphere to a newspaper, everyone knowing what their job is, and determined to do it to the best of their ability.’

  ‘Including you,’ she recalled dryly.

  ‘Especially me,’ he nodded. ‘Juliet—’

  ‘Hey, you two,’ Melanie appeared behind them, ‘everyone else has gone through to the lounge for coffee.’

  And they had too. Juliet had been so intent on their conversation, so interested in spite of herself, that she had forgotten everyone else at the table, and she could tell by Jake’s almost surprised expression that he had too.

  He stood up, pulling back her chair for her. ‘Forgive us, Mrs Dickson. I’m afraid Juliet has been too good a listener. I must have been boring her out of her mind.’ He gave a smile that said he knew she had been anything but bored.

  She smiled at him politely, not denying the statement, watching as the smile died out of his eyes, even if his mouth remained smiling.

  ‘Come into the other room and have some coffee,’ Melanie encourage
d. ‘You can continue talking in there.’

  Juliet excused herself as soon as they reached the lounge, escaping thankfully to the bathroom. Jake Matthews was very easy to listen to, was fascinating in fact, and without realising it she had enjoyed being with him, had enjoyed his intelligence and humour.

  But she wasn’t going to get involved with him. Despite her preconceived dislike of him she knew he wouldn’t be as easy to handle as Ben or Stephen either, all of their attempts at a more intimate relationship duly rebuffed by her. It might be old-fashioned in this day and age to reject physical intimacy, but she did so every time. She wasn’t a complete innocent, but in the true meaning of the word she was, never having met a man she wanted to be that close to. And Jake Matthews wasn’t that man either!

  Melanie was waiting outside for her as she left the bathroom, and dragged her into the adjoining bedroom. ‘Well?’ her blue eyes glowed mischievously. ‘What do you think of Jake?’

  She wasn’t even sure of that herself! ‘I hardly know the man,’ she evaded.

  ‘He likes you, I can tell.’

  ‘Don’t be silly, Melanie.’ Juliet vigorously brushed her auburn hair into gleaming waves and re-applied her lip-gloss, satisfied with her coolly composed reflection. ‘We’ve just been talking, that’s all.’ She turned from the mirror, shutting her small evening bag with a snap.

  ‘What about?’ her friend asked expectantly.

  ‘Oh, this and that,’ she evaded.

  Melanie raised one blonde eyebrow; she was the complete opposite of Juliet, being small, bubbly and blonde. ‘That?’ she queried suggestively.

  ‘Not that,’ Juliet sighed. ‘Really, Melanie, I’ve only just met the man! Even you wouldn’t discuss sex with a complete stranger.’

  ‘I might, if he looked like Jake.’

  ‘You wouldn’t,’ she smiled. ‘But I really am very angry with you for putting the two of us together,’ she sobered. ‘You know what I think of him and his sarcasm.’

  ‘Did you tell him?’

  ‘I certainly did.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘And he didn’t seem to mind,’ she admitted reluctantly.

  ‘Maybe he can take criticism,’ Melanie teased.

  ‘I should think he would have to,’ Juliet said bitchily. ‘He’s so often wrong.’

  Her friend laughed happily. ‘I must go and talk to Michael, he’s dying to know how you got on with Jake.’

  ‘Don’t bother,’ Juliet mouth twisted, ‘I’ll tell him myself.’

  ‘But what about Jake?’ Melanie gasped.

  Juliet smiled at the other girl. ‘You go and entertain him,’ she opened the bedroom door. ‘Afer all, he’s your guest.’

  ‘But—’

  ‘I’m just going to have a word, in fact a few words,’ she amended pointedly, ‘with your husband, and then I’m leaving.’ She quickly left the room, before Melanie had time to protest any further.

  Jake Matthews was talking to one of the other guests, the cricket player he had derided being here, as Juliet made her way over to Michael’s side. But Jake seemed to know of her presence in the room, his narrowed gaze following her progress across the room, watching as she talked to Michael. And that blue-eyed gaze could be very unnerving.

  ‘You louse!’ she instantly accused Michael.

  ‘Me?’ he feigned innocence. At twenty-five he had inherited his father’s publishing company, and now, five years later, entirely due to his judgment, Dickson Publishing was one of the few publishers not to be suffering difficulty in this time of high prices and high interest rates. ‘What did I do?’ he grinned goodnaturedly.

  ‘Not just you,’ she scowled. ‘Melanie helped. I suppose you both thought it was very amusing. And don’t pretend not to know what I’m talking about,’ she carried on as he went to speak, ‘because I know you both too well for that. The two of you make a good comedy act!’

  ‘Now just calm down, Juliet,’ he patted her arm soothingly. ‘I’d forgotten you were going to be here tonight. Honestly,’ he insisted at her look of outrage.

  ‘You wouldn’t know honesty if it sat up and bit you!’ she dismissed scathingly.

  ‘Now, Juliet, that’s hardly fair—’

  ‘Fair!’ she cut in crossly. ‘That isn’t in your vocabulary either. Really, Michael, you’re just asking for trouble having us in the same room together, let alone actually sitting us next to each other.’

  He shrugged. ‘I didn’t notice any fights that end of the table, not physical ones anyway.’

  ‘That’s because Juliet is too much of a lady to hit a man in public,’ drawled the now familiar voice of Jake Matthews. He looked down at her as he came to stand at her side. ‘Melanie tells me that you’re leaving, and that you usually get a taxi.’ He took a firm hold of her arm. ‘I’ll take you home, then you can—hit me in private,’ he winked at the other man.

  Juliet glared up at him resentfully, although some of her anger was directed at Melanie. She usually left her car at home when she came to one of these dinner parties, conscious of the alcohol level, but Melanie didn’t have to go and tell Jake Matthews that.

  ‘Let go of my arm,’ she ordered. ‘Will you let go!’ she repeated as he made no effort to do so. ‘If you don’t let me go,’ she warned softly, ‘I’m likely to hit you now, public or no public.’

  He studied her mutinous face in silence for several long minutes. ‘I believe you would too,’ he said slowly.

  ‘She would,’ Michael told him dryly. ‘Take my advice, Jake, and let her go.’

  He made no effort to do so, but looked calmly at Michael. ‘If she hits me I’m going to kiss her,’ he revealed softly.

  ‘You wouldn’t!’ Juliet gasped.

  Those deep blue eyes were now turned on her. ‘Try me,’ he challenged softly.

  He would do it, she could see that in the steadiness of his gaze, the determination of his jutting jaw. ‘Would you please release my arm, Mr Matthews?’ she requested tightly, hating the use of his superior strength. Unlike a lot of women nowadays she was quite prepared to admit that in physical strength most men were superior to women, although she didn’t believe they were superior in any other way!

  ‘Jake,’ he corrected huskily.

  ‘Jake,’ she said through gritted teeth, sure that he was bruising her arm.

  ‘Certainly I’ll let you go, Juliet.’ She was instantly set free. ‘Now, are you ready to leave?’

  ‘I’m not going anywhere with you, you—’

  ‘I could still kiss you,’ he affably interrupted her angry tirade.

  She looked over at the grinning Michael. ‘Well, don’t just stand there,’ she snapped. ‘Help me!’

  He was looking at the other man with open admiration. ‘I’ve always wanted to do something like that,’ he spoke almost in awe. ‘But I don’t think Melanie would stand for it,’ he added ruefully.

  ‘Neither will I!’ Juliet exploded. ‘Mr Matthews, you—’

  ‘We’re leaving, Michael,’ Jake once again grasped Juliet’s arm. ‘Say goodnight to your lovely, and helpful, wife for us.’

  The last Juliet saw of Michael was as Jake Matthews bundled her across the room and out of the house. She had never been treated so high-handedly in her life before, and was literally speechless as the passenger door of the Ferrari was opened for her, Jake walking around the back of the car to get in behind the wheel, his presence at once overwhelming.

  ‘Did I bore you that much?’ he asked once they had been driving in silence for several minutes.

  Juliet blinked dazedly, her lashes long and silky. ‘Bore me?’ she repeated.

  ‘Mm,’ he nodded. ‘So much so that you escaped the first opportunity you could.’

  ‘I didn’t escape!’ Her eyes flashed like a sparkling red wine. ‘I was simply talking to Michael. We were at a dinner party, Mr Matthews, it’s usual to converse with one’s host.’

  ‘You would have come back to me?’

  ‘No, I wouldn’t! We didn’t g
o there together, I saw no reason to stay at your side,’ she scowled.

  ‘But I saw every reason for staying at yours,’ he smiled that infuriating smile. ‘I like the way you look, Juliet. And I like your spirit. Will you have dinner with me tomorrow?’

  ‘Certainly not,’ she replied irritably. ‘You see, I don’t like anything about you.’

  ‘Nothing?’ he quirked one dark eyebrow questioningly.

  ‘Nothing,’ she told him rebelliously.

  He slowed the car right down, turning off into a side-road before stopping the car completely. He left the engine running as he turned in his seat to look at her. ‘You have the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen,’ he said almost incredulously, his hand at her nape pulling her slowly towards him. ‘The colour of sherry,’ he murmured throatily.

  She watched him almost as if in a dream, was conscious of his movements and yet unable to stop him. She knew he was going to kiss her seconds before his mouth claimed hers, knew it and yet didn’t fight him. Let him take his kiss, it was easier than fighting him, and she would never see him again after tonight anyway. She waited resignedly, wishing it over.

  But the second his lips touched hers she knew this was no ordinary kiss. Jake held her face between his hands as his mouth discovered hers, as his lips probed and parted hers with throbbing urgency, their ragged breathing the only sound in the car, the air between them charged with electricity.

  When Jake finally moved back they were both pale, Juliet’s eyes, the eyes that had apparently prompted the kiss, wide with bewilderment. She had been kissed by other men, quite a few in fact, and yet her senses still swam from the impact of this one.

  ‘Dinner tomorrow?’ he repeated persuasively.

  Her hand resting on his chest told her his heart was beating as erratically as her own. ‘What time?’ she heard herself ask breathlessly.

  ‘Eight-thirty?’

  ‘Fine,’ she nodded.

  ‘Juliet…’ he groaned before his lips once more claimed hers.

  It was just like before, that same liquid fire in her veins, that same dizzy feeling, as if she had drunk too much champagne. And yet she had only had a couple of glasses of wine, so it wasn’t that. No, it was this man making her feel drunk, with passion.