Part 19 (1/2)

”I want to ask you something, but you have to be honest with me.”

”Yes...yes I will be honest with you.” She couldn't afford to anger him...She knew he could take away the food if she did.

”You have to be honest. You can tell me anything, okay?”

”Okay,” she mumbled as she tried not to stuff too much food into her mouth.

”Do you find me attractive?” he asked.

A sick feeling settled on her. Though she continued to eat she started to sense the price she would have to pay.

”You want me, don't you?” John said.

What do I say to that?

”Go on, Debbie. You can tell me. You want me, don't you?”

This could be my chance to escape, she thought. This man is crazy. If he is the same man who caught me and brought me here and fed me potato chips then he is a complete lunatic and I need to get out of here and this is my only chance...

”Yes,” she answered.

”Say it,” he said.

Debbie suddenly felt ill. Her stomach had shrunk over the past few days without food. The gnawing feeling had stopped and in its place was a feeling of complete helplessness. She didn't understand why he was asking her such a thing. She was confused. And scared.

”Saaaaaaaaaaay it!” he shouted.

”I want you,” she said obediently.

”Say, 'I want you, John'.”

”I want you, John.”

He came around the table and pushed her to the ground. At first she lashed out with her arms against the weight of his body, but it didn't take her long to realise this was a fight she wouldn't win.

CHAPTER 29.

Makedde came home from the conference worn out. She was greeted by the flas.h.i.+ng answering machine. She had promised to meet Roy and it was probably him calling. At the thought of his company, she perked up a little. Should she just invite him over? Talk and watch videos or something? Eat some takeaway?

She pressed ”play”, antic.i.p.ating his voice, but it wasn't a message from Roy she heard.

”Hi, Mak.” It was Andy. ”I missed you at the conference today. Look, I need to speak to you. I don't know what you have planned, but perhaps we could catch up over a bite of dinner tonight? Please give me a call as soon as you can. The number is...”

How did he get my number? b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l.

There was no way she was going to just drop everything for dinner with Andy. No way at all.

No. I want to spend time with Roy, not Andy.

She called Andy back at his hotel and was relieved when the hotel voice mail picked up.

”Andy, it's Mak. I got your message. Sorry, but I'm busy tonight.” It gave some minuscule sense of accomplishment to tell him that. ”Perhaps we can meet tomorrow? Take care.”

Makedde hung up and frowned.

Part of her really wanted to see him, and she hated that.

Roy Blake came round at eight, right on time.

”Now here's a man after my heart,” Makedde remarked with a smile. He stood patiently on her doorstep, waiting to be invited inside, balancing a couple of rented videos, two bags of takeaway, a bottle of wine and a bunch of pastel-pink baby roses.

Wow.

”Come on in,” she said. ”Thanks for this. You really went all-out.”

He smiled and gave her a kiss as he stepped inside. ”My pleasure,” he said. ”It's great to see you.”

He stood beside her and she was struck once again by how exquisitely tall he was. He wore a leather jacket and blue jeans with casual boots. When he took his jacket off she noticed the way it clung to his wide shoulders, a feature she found incredibly attractive in men.

Roy was ”just her type” as Jaqui had pointed out. And he had that handsome, boyish face.

Mmm, and he was wearing cologne again.

They settled on the couch and she laid out the takeaway with some placemats and plates. He had brought Indian food-b.u.t.ter chicken, lamb korma, some curried vegetables and naan.

”This looks wonderful. Thanks.”

”No problem at all. It's kind of you to invite me over,” he said.

”So what's in the video cases? What did you pick out?”

He grinned mischievously.

”What...?”

”From Russia with Love and To Live and Die in LA.”

She squealed with delight. ”From Russia with Love!”

”You said you love Bond. And let's face it, Sean Connery is the only Bond, right? I only hope you haven't seen it too many times.”

My G.o.d, he has been paying attention. Dr No was still her favourite, but From Russia with Love was a close second. Her mood had completely lifted. She was truly impressed. The previews rolled for their video, they clinked gla.s.ses and began eating. The meal was delicious and so was the full-bodied red wine he had chosen. What a treat.