'You can't have a working relationship with someone you distrust on principle!' she swept on.
`If you're that concerned about speeds it's simple enough to arrange for tests, but, frankly, if you're not prepared to take my word I might as well leave now!'
`All right, all right, calm down,' Luke said irritably, throwing his pen on to the desk. `I'll assume you're as pure as the driven snow and that all your qualifications are quite as phenomenal as they appear, if that'll make you any happier.' His unnerving eyes inspected her thoughtfully. `But if you're such a perfect secretary, why do you want this job so badly?'
'I'm not sure that I do!' Kate said, still angry.
`Oh? I was under the impression that you wanted this job-at least enough to make sure
you didn't get up and walk out the way you wanted to when faced with my appalling manners.'
Kate looked wary. She had said something like that… but surely he hadn't understood?
`I think you should know,' Luke answered her unspoken question with a sardonic look, `that, although my accent is poor, I understand French perfectly well.'
`Oh,' she said uncomfortably.
`Oh, indeed,' he mocked, and Kate knew that he was enjoying her discomfiture. To her annoyance, she coloured faintly.
`Well?' he prompted.
`I'm sorry if I was rude,' she said stiffly.
I don't mind your being rude, but I can't be bothered with a secretary who's going to sulk if I'm rude, or lecture me on my manners. I've got -c o much to do to worry about trivia like that!'
* It's not trivia,' Kate said before she could help herself. `If you want people to work for you you've got to treat them like human beings.'
-I said I didn't want to be lectured on my -manners!' Luke snapped, but Kate was unrepentant.
'Ill-mannered people never do!'
His dark brows drew together in a dangerous