Trophy Read Online Free PDF

gown with gold highlights, and an intricate gold necklace gleamedat her throat. Black earrings hung from small lobes and a small, black-dialed watch on a gold band encased her left wrist. On her feet were golden sandals. Unusual, but interesting, he thought. And very expensive.
    “Will I pass?” she queried, tilting her head to one side as his eyes surveyed her.
    “You’ll pass.”
    “Well! I did expect a little more enthusiasm.”
    “You mean like those drones who’ve been hovering about you all evening?”
    “Ah ha. So you did notice me.”
    “It was difficult not to.”
    “Oh dear. I detect a note of censure and … Oh do look! It would seem that Reggie’s having a go at kissing your girl… but she does not appear to want him to. You must have quite a hold on her. Reggie’s usually quite devastating.”
    “He looks fat and conceited from here.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “If you find us so hard to stomach, why did you come?”
    “Morven got the invitation. She needed an escort. I agreed to provide one.”
    “Morven,” she said, dragging out the name thoughtfully. “And she needed an escort. So she’s not your … girlfriend.”
    “My sister.”
    “Your sister.” Below them the band stopped playing. As the reverberations faded she lowered her voice. “What’s this? Big brother foresakes the skiesto chaperon sweet little sister and keep the big bad wolves at bay?”
    “Who told you about me?” he countered.
    “You’re not the only one who’s observant, you know. In passing, I heard someone ask a friend what you did for a living. You know how it is at these functions …”
    “No. I don’t.”
    She smiled. “What a lovely chat we’re having. I think it’s time we introduced ourselves. One never knows how the evening could end.” Her glance was daring him. “I’m Kim Mannon. That’s right,” she continued as he started, “Mannon, of Mannon Robinson, merchant bankers. I’m the host’s daughter.” She offered her hand in an almost businesslike way.
    He shook it. “Mark Selby. I—”
    “No need to apologize.”
    “I wasn’t going to. You called me a paid killer.”
    “Oh dear. We’re arguing just like an old married couple. This is going to be an interesting evening, after all. I was getting quite bored with these people.”
    “And now you’ve found a convenient distraction.”
    “Don’t be so hostile, Mark. I saw you up here all alone. You looked bored too, so I thought I’d come up and say hello.”
    “You have a unique way of saying it.”
    She tilted her head again. “I’m going to make you like me, you know.”
    “You’ve got that on good authority?”
    She didn’t reply. Instead, she asked: “Are you really a jet fighter pilot?”
    “Yes.”
    “What are you?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “What rank?”
    “Is that important?”
    “I’m just curious.”
    “Snobbish, you mean. I’m a Flight Lieutenant.”
    “And what’s that in
real
rank?”
    Selby shut his eyes in weary resignation.
    “Well, you can’t expect ordinary people to know these things,” she said defensively. “I understand about majors, captains, and colonels and so on …”
    “If you need a translation, it’s equivalent to a captain.”
    “Army captain? Or navy captain?”
    “Army captain.”
    “It’s not much. But it’ll have to do, I suppose.”
    “Thanks.”
    “Well, I’ve got to know what I’m going to marry.”
    “You’re
what
? First I’m going to like you … now I’m going to marry you?” He laughed, amused in spite of himself. “All in the space of an evening?”
    “Well, not this evening …”
    “You’re crazy.”
    “Daddy won’t be pleased, of course. He wantsme to marry Reggie. Something in the City, you see, and all that crap.”
    “You
are
crazy.”
    “But nice. Underneath all the rudery.” She looked away. “And speaking of the devil, here he comes, towing your clearly undevastated sister.”
    Selby peered over. The plump, sleek-looking man with the