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Without giving it a further thought she pressed close, thrilled at the feel of his lithe hard body against hers. Her heart raced painfully, blood pounded in her head, and when his hand cupped her breast she felt herself drowning in a tide of ecstasy.

He led her gently towards the couch and they lay down side by side, kissing passionately, as though their lives depended on it, his hands moving expertly over her body, caressing, teasing.

It was a long time before she thought of Liz again, and realised that Vane probably treated her in the same manner—he had in fact spent several hours in her room!

With a sudden scream she pushed him from her. ‘Get away, you louse, get away? I know you’ve made love to Liz, but it doesn’t mean you can do it to me too!’

His face hardened. ‘If I were you, Debra, I’d make sure of your facts before you make accusations like that.’

‘I am sure,’ she cried dementedly. How close she had come to making a fool of herself, how easily he had made her forget her hostility!

Any last thoughts she had had of making him fall in love with her fled. Before she knew it she would find herself in bed with him. She had no control over her feelings when he exerted himself. She was better off having nothing to do with him at all.

If Liz chose to let Vane Oliver make love to her then she would have to face the consequences. It was the last time she, Debra, would interfere. Neither of them thanked her for it.

‘I’m confident if you asked Liz she’d tell you differently.’ Vane stood before her, arms folded, silver eyes shooting through her like twin knives. ‘Why don’t you?’

‘Do you think she’d tell me?’ she rasped. ‘For a man who knows so much about women you’re remarkably naive if you think we discuss our love lives.’

‘Some women do,’ he said maliciously. ‘They enjoy boasting.’

She turned away in desperation. ‘Liz doesn’t, neither do I. We ought both to have kept well clear of you. It’s your type who can get a girl into trouble.’

His brows rose mockingly. ‘I never push myself, Debra. A girl has to be willing—like you were a few minutes ago. What happened?’

‘You know damn well what happened!’ she grated. ‘I thought about Liz. Perhaps you should too, considering the amount of time you spend with her.’

He looked at her thoughtfully. ‘Would it change things between you and me if I assured you that Liz is nothing more than a friend?’

She shook her head vehemently. ‘I wouldn’t believe you. I prefer to believe what I see and hear. So far as I’m concerned you’re a lecherous old man, and if you never come back to Hong Kong I shall be very happy.’

His face became blank, as though he had drawn a shutter over his feelings. ‘I wish you hadn’t said that, Debra, because I will be back. This is my villa, and even if you’re not pleased to see me than I know your friend will be.’

‘Liz is a fool,’ she snapped. ‘She doesn’t know what she’s doing. Why don’t you tell her you’re stringing her along? Why don’t you be honest instead of letting her think that there might be a future in your relationship?’

‘Because,’ he said quietly, ‘there is a future. I’m quite sure about that.’

Debra was dumbfounded. All along she had thought Liz was lying when she’d said Vane loved her. Almost paralysed with shock, she said, ‘In that case there’s nothing more to be said. Goodnight, Vane. I apologise if I misjudged you.’

She staggered from the room, ignoring his, ‘Debra, wait, you don’t understand!’

Out in the hall she met Liz, who looked at her stricken face and asked, ‘Debra, what’s wrong?’

Flashing her an outraged look, Debra cried, ‘Ask him—it’s his fault, everything’s his fault. I wish we’d never come to Hong Kong. I wish I was dead!’

Liz’s face echoed some of Debra’s shock and she rushed into the room. ‘Vane, what’s happened?’ The door closed and their voices became nothing more than a murmur.

Slowly Debra trailed to her room, pulling off her clothes one by one, stepping under the shower like a zombie, and eventually dropping on to the bed.

There was no point in getting between the sheets, she would not sleep. She felt as though she would never sleep again in her whole life.

As numbness faded Debra began to feel angry. They had deliberately kept their feelings hidden, tried to make her believe that they were nothing more than friends, or at least Vane had. Why? Was he afraid she might be hurt?

She was more hurt by his deception, and the fact that she too loved him. Never had she imagined it would come to this. Liz and Vane? It just didn’t seem possible.

One thing was clear, no way could she live with them once they were married. If they made this their home then she would give up her job and return to London.

Vane remained in London for the next few weeks, phoning both the office and Liz frequently, but never once asking to speak to Debra. Not that she wanted him to. Occasionally a message was passed on to her regarding her job, but that was all.

One day Mai Mai came into her office, her handsome face as black as thunder. ‘What’s this I hear about you designing some accessories for Vane’s Hong Kong collection? I’ve never heard of it.’

So he hadn’t discussed it with his chief designer? Debra felt secretly pleased, but he had not told her that she was not to talk about it, so she said airily, ‘Oh, hasn’t he told you? He’s doing a range for the smaller woman and he thought it would be nice to use an Oriental theme.’

Mai Mai glanced at the sketches on Debra’s drawing board. ‘It’s unlike Vane not to tell me what he’s doing. Are you sure you should be working from these? They’re not finished.’

‘I know,’ smiled Debra, ‘but he wanted me to see what ideas I could come up with while he was away, and then we’ll get together on the complete range.’

If looks could kill she would have died at that very moment. Mai Mai’s dark eyes were furious, her red mouth turned down angrily at the corners. ‘For your information, Miss Delaney, Vane Oliver
always
discusses his ideas with me. I am his chief designer, please do not forget it.’

‘You and I work in different fields,’ said Debra quietly but firmly.

‘Meaning what?’ snapped the other woman.

‘That we’re both equally important to him,’ supplied Debra glibly.

Mai Mai tossed her head. ‘I have worked with Vane ever since he opened this branch, and I certainly do not intend to move over for someone like you.’

Enraged now by this woman’s supercilious manner, Debra said angrily, ‘I think the decision as to who should do his work lies with Mr Oliver himself. Maybe you’d like to carry your complaints to him?’

‘I shall,’ returned the Cantonese woman positively, ‘just as soon as he returns.’ With that she swept out of the office, banging the door so loudly behind her that the pens on Debra’s desk rattled.

She was both annoyed and amused by Mai Mai’s attitude. The woman had no right charging in here accusing her of doing work that she should not be doing. But if she thought there was something going on between her and Vane then she was sadly mistaken.

Perhaps she ought to tell her. It would be fun to go in and say, ‘I’m not having an affair with Mr Oliver, if that’s what you think, but he’s going to marry my friend.’

That really would shock Mai Mai, give her something worth worrying about.

The longer Vane stayed away the more miserable Liz became, and no matter how Debra tried to bully her out of it, she spent long hours in the house, sitting beside the phone, pouncing on it the moment it rang.

After his calls Liz would be happy for a while, then her lethargy would return. It was worse, if anything, than after the accident, thought Debra. Liz was so miserable it was unbelievable.

And this purely because Vane was away for a few weeks. What would she be like if they parted altogether? Not that that was likely to happen now, thought Debra dully. All too soon they would be naming the day, and that would be the end of any faint hopes she entertained herself that he did not really love Liz, that one day he might turn to her.

He arrived back unexpectedly, and Debra returned from work to find them both out. She ate a solitary meal and went to bed early, not particularly wanting to see Vane, or at least not with Liz, not when she knew she would see the love shining in their eyes.

She had not been in bed long when she heard his car. Her heart throbbed warningly, she grew tense, unconsciously listening for sounds that would tell her what they were doing.

When she heard footsteps along the corridor she froze, fearing they were going to bed—together. Wanting to listen, yet afraid, pulling the sheets over her head, telling herself that she was overreacting.

It was not until her door opened that she realised she had heard only one set of footsteps. Assuming it to be Liz to tell her about her evening out, Debra called from beneath the sheets, ‘Goodnight, Liz, I’m sorry I didn’t wait up, but I have a headache.’

‘Or was it because you didn’t want to see me?’ The sheets were jerked back, and Vane towered above her, his deepset eyes almost hidden by the frown that blackened his brow.

A tremor ran through her. ‘Of course not, Vane,’ she lied. ‘If I’d known you’d be this early I'd have waited. I thought you’d be late, and I was tired, and ’ She faltered, uncomfortably aware that her nightdress was revealing more than she would have liked, and that Vane was insolently studying her, not listening to her excuses.

‘You have a beautiful body,’ he said thickly, and reached out.

Debra snatched at the sheets with a hand that trembled. There had been desire on his face and for one reckless second she had wanted to feel his hands on her, revel in the luxury of physical contact.

But for one second, that was all. Vane loved her friend, any feelings he might have for herself were purely chemical. Any man who saw a half-naked woman in bed would react the same.

‘What do you want?’ she demanded passionately, unusual colour staining her cheeks.

‘I wondered how you were.’

Debra averted her eyes. ‘I can’t really believe you feel any concern for me.’

‘I’ve missed you,’ he said, and something in the way he spoke made her look at him, and the love in her heart grew.

He exuded a masculine virility that no woman in her right mind could resist. If he chose to jump into bed with her she would say to hell with Liz, he wants me and I want him, and that’s all that matters.

They disgusted her, these feelings, yet she could do nothing about them. Her mind ran riot and, afraid that her thoughts might be reflected in her eyes, she jumped out of bed, pulling a dressing gown defensively about her shoulders.

‘I don’t believe that,’ she said flatly, ‘but if you want me to join you and Liz I will.’

He gripped her shoulders, strong fingers digging painfully into her soft flesh. ‘Dear little Debra, don’t be so aggressive. It doesn’t become you.’

‘Take your hands off!’ she cried desperately, unable to bear the exquisite torture of his touch. 'If you don’t I shall scream!’

His eyes narrowed. ‘I don't think you will. I think you like me touching you, I can feel your anticipation.’ He lowered his head. ‘Have you missed me? Have you spent sleepless nights wondering when I’ll be back? Is that what’s wrong?’

Debra was torn. She ached for his kiss, yet at the same time despised him for betraying her friend. Loyalty won. Fiercely she struggled, managed to wrench away.

‘Vane Oliver,’ she demanded, ‘what game are you playing? What do you think Liz would say if she saw what you’re doing? Perhaps I ought to call her, let her see what you’re really like!’

To her surprise he shrugged. Without attempting to defend himself he moved towards the door. ‘There’s a nightcap waiting for me. And I certainly need it!’

Debra
fully expected Vane to accompany her to the office the next morning, and was surprised and disappointed when there was no sign of him.

Instead of going out on her usual rounds she stayed in, ostensibly to write reports, but in reality because she wanted to see Vane.

Her disillusionment was very real when he did not turn up. It was only too easy to guess what he was doing, and she had been a fool to let his love for Liz slip her mind.

However, when she got home she found Liz alone. ‘Vane’s gone shopping,’ she said sulkily, ‘to buy new silks for his collection. He wouldn’t let me go with him.’

It was understandable, thought Debra. Liz would distract him, he would not be able to think clearly when he had his loved one at his side.

He returned later looking very satisfied with himself. ‘I’ve succeeded in getting hold of some beautiful materials,’ he said to Debra. ‘Crisp satins, shimmering Thai silk, gold-embroidered chiffon. I can’t wait now to get on with my collection.’ For the moment Liz was ignored. ‘You’ll look very beautiful, Debra, modelling my clothes. As soon as the designs are finished you must come to London to be measured. Work will begin right away—I shan’t risk having them made up here. I shall put my top cutters and machinists on the work. You’ll be sensational.’

Debra had given no more thought to his earlier suggestion and she gazed at him now with horror. ‘You’re serious?’

‘Of course. I thought it was all fixed. You’re not going to let me down now?’

Even Liz looked excited. ‘Fancy, you’ll have your photograph in all the glossy magazines!’

Debra felt even more uneasy. 'It’s not that type of work, is it? I thought I’d just be a house model.’

Vane smiled confidently. ‘Naturally there’ll be a great deal of interest in my new collection. Photographs are inevitable, but don’t worry, you’ll be given all the necessary tests. The main thing you’ll have to contend with is jealousy. You’ll be my star attraction, and my other models won’t like it. Think you can cope?’

His smile was reassuring, it made her feel special, and warm, and wanted, and Debra nodded. 'If you have faith in me, then I’ll do my best not to let you down. Is my job here finished?’

‘No way,’ he said positively. ‘You’re a permanent fixture so far as I’m concerned.’

Maybe, thought Debra. It all depended on the outcome of his relationship with Liz. At the moment no one would believe they were lovers. His eyes were for her alone, and strangely Liz Bid not seem to mind. Perhaps she was proud that her friend was going to be a model, albeit temporarily.