‘I’m not fucking her, Max, if that’s what you’re saying.’

‘Everything but, then.’

‘Jesus.’

‘Look, she should be good for a hundred grand at least and it’s not as though you haven’t fucked her plenty of times before.’

‘I happen to be busy right now fucking someone else.’

‘Then you’ll have to be real diplomatic. Either to Antonia or Miss Hart. That’s up to you.’

‘Thanks for the advice,’ Dominic grumbled. ‘And if I catch your eye at the damned party, you’d better get your ass over and pry Antonia off me. Got it?’

‘I’ll have Liv invite Lieutenant Penzance from the embassy. I hear he’s in demand with the ladies.’

‘Now you’re thinking. I won’t be there a minute before six. Miss Hart will be my companion.’

‘Careful.’

‘I intend to be. She’ll be introduced as a business associate – which she is, at least temporarily. But you owe me big-time for this. I’d prefer not interrupting one of my better holidays.’

‘I understand. Thanks.’

‘She’s really remarkable, Max. Out of the ordinary.’

It wasn’t like Dominic to speak so plainly, especially about the women in his life. He was generally reticent about the women he entertained or who entertained him. ‘I thought so when I met her,’ Max replied. ‘I’m glad you’re pleased.’

‘I’m more than pleased. Anyway, thank you for finding Katherine. I mean it sincerely.’

Max told his wife afterwards that he felt as though someone had punched him in the gut when he heard Dominic speak about Katherine Hart with such unreserved emotion. Dominic didn’t expose his feelings. He always kept everything personal locked up inside. On the other hand, Dominic didn’t do permanent and that’s what women always wanted. ‘Although I doubt she’ll be in Hong Kong long,’ Max sardonically added, standing in the doorway of his wife’s small office where he’d come to give her the good news. ‘You know Dominic.’

Olivia smiled. ‘She must be spectacularly better than his other playmates if he’s escorting her to a public function.’ Olivia was fully conscious of Dominic’s attractions. Money, youth and good looks were a rare combination. ‘She’s the usual gold-digger though, I expect.’

‘She’s not.’ Walking in, Max dropped into a chair near his wife’s desk.

‘You can’t mean it.’ Having trusted her husband to get results, Olivia had been scrolling through the email list of participants that had to be notified of the party’s venue change. She turned in her chair. ‘Every woman Dominic knows is after his money.’

‘She really isn’t. You forget, I vetted her. She’s a small-town girl. Midwest. Focused on her skill set, not interested in money. Dominic had told her she could write her own ticket when it came to her contract, but she asked for only a modest fee. And after she saved Dominic twenty million in Singapore, she turned down his bonus offer.’

‘Good Lord.’ Olivia’s brows arched high. ‘A saint?’

‘No, but different from us. Exemplary small-town upbringing. Not at all like you, darling.’ Olivia was a slender, blonde aristocrat from a diplomatic family, with a refined beauty bred through six centuries of wealthy male forebears who’d married beautiful women because they could. ‘But you’ll like her. Katherine Hart is open, natural, whip-smart and fully aware of Dominic’s track record with women. She told me she did her research before the interview. I’m sure she did.’

‘I see. Then she won’t be surprised when he sends her on her way.’

‘Probably not. She’s sensible.’

‘And beautiful, no doubt. You forgot that. Always a requirement for Dominic.’

‘She’s pretty rather than stunning. She’s not every hair-in-place-put-together kind of glamorous like all of Dominic’s’ – he shrugged – ‘pick your label.’

‘Paid escorts?’

Max shrugged again. ‘Dominic likes temporary arrangements.’

Liv smiled. ‘I’ve noticed, everyone’s noticed. By the way, speaking of paid escorts, Antonia is sure to appear once she understands the event is at Dominic’s.’

‘I’ve already told him he’s to be nice to her. You want a sizeable donation.’

‘Thank you, darling. You’re a dear.’

‘But you have to invite Lieutenant Penzance to lure Antonia away from Dominic. I have orders to drag her off him if she’s too persistent. He’s apparently concerned about Miss Hart’s feelings.’

‘Her feelings?’

‘You should look surprised.’ Max grinned. ‘Personally, I’m looking forward to a philharmonic charity event for the first time in my life. Watching Dominic deal with both Antonia and Miss Hart will be worth the price of admission.’

Olivia held her husband’s gaze for a moment, her eyes alight. ‘Do you think this unusual young lady has breached Dominic’s protective defences? Insinuated herself past that cool indifference?’

‘Ask me next week.’

She grimaced. ‘That means no.’

‘Not necessarily. Dominic’s not the same with her. I actually mean wait until next week. He’s scheduled to fly out on Tuesday.’