Signed, Sealed And Delivered

Signed, Sealed and Delivered by Janet Woods

© copyright by Janet Woods, May 2001 Cover Art by Jenny Dixon ISBN 1-58608-262-0 Rocket Edition ISBN 1-58608-340-6 New Concepts Publishing Lake Park, GA 31636 www.newconceptspublishing.com

Other NCP books by Janet Woods Duet 008: Spellbound/In Bed with the Enemy

CHAPTER ONE Still half asleep, Katy Adams dealt the alarm clock a semi-mortal blow, stretched, then swung her legs over the edge of the bed. She pushed a dark, tangled mane of hair from her eyes and reluctantly stood up. Jet-lagged or not, she was determined to keep up her fitness program. A gray looking dawn crept through the hotel window, which overlooked an equally gray English channel and an untenanted stretch of beach. Over to her right, the long length of Bournemouth pier jutted into the sea, pointing towards France. Her eyes measured the distance as an hour of leisurely jogging, giving her plenty of time afterwards to prepare to meet the man she’d come to see. Stepping into the bathroom she scrubbed her teeth, splashed water on her face to wake herself up, then returned to the bedroom in search of her suitcase. The sight of a man’s well-muscled body clad only in black underpants and sprawled face down across the neighboring bed, brought her up short. Head to one side she contemplated whether she ought to shout for help, then bit down on her lip. Why should she? He wasn’t attacking her. In his present state he didn’t look very dangerous at all. One knee was drawn up under him, the sock clad foot of the other leg dangled over the end of the bed. She grinned when the head buried in the pillow gave a soft snort, as if he was having difficulty finding enough air to breathe amongst the feathers. An expensive looking suitcase by the bed was almost submerged under discarded clothing. Next to a black leather wallet on the bedside table stood an empty champagne bottle. She raised an eyebrow at the expensive label. This was no tramp who’d wandered into her room. She wondered where her own suitcase was. Still sitting amongst the potted plants in the downstairs lobby, no doubt. She’d arrived at the hotel late, after driving from London, where her father had been

hospitalized with a heart attack. The drive was on top of a flight from New Zealand, where she’d been on a modeling assignment. The young man on duty hadn’t been able to find her booking, but he’d given her the only vacant room, and had promised to bring her luggage up. She carefully appraised the man. She’d seen many scantily clad men in the course of her career. If his face matched his body this particular one was easily centerfold status. Her urge to wake him up and order him out was tempered by caution. Better to get the hotel staff to handle it discreetly. She’d just pulled on the beige pants and shirt she’d traveled in, when with a ripple of muscles and a grunt, the man turned over. "Geez," he groaned, hyacinth blue eyes squinting out from a jungle of dark hair, "that must have been quite a party. I feel like hell." He propped himself up on one elbow, his eyes widening as they raked her from head to toe. "Hey, you’re really something?" Her gaze became frosty. His forehead crinkled into a frown. "You’re annoyed?" "Would you expect me to be anything less?" His chest rose several inches when he took a deep breath. "I’m sorry. I couldn’t have been much good to you in the state I was in." He grabbed up his wallet, extracted some notes and flicked them towards her. The cash landed on the end of the bed. "Will that cover your time?" She was glued to the spot with embarrassment when she caught his drift. Warmth crept into her face. "It won’t be necessary." His frown encompassed both her and the money for a moment, then the beard split into a piratical grin. One fluid movement brought him upright. "This is a joke, yes? The boys put you up to it." Katy took a step back. Tall herself, she had to look up to him. He slid the money into the cleft between her breasts. "Use it to buy yourself a ticket back to London, darling." He stared at her for a moment, his short, but intense scrutiny uncomfortable. His eyes were so astute they missed nothing. He gave a soft whistle and his grin came, sort of predatory. "On the other hand ... wait here until I’ve had a shower ... you might as well earn your pay." No sooner had the bathroom door closed behind him than Katy stuffed her nightie into her overnight bag, and bolted.

"Madam, you’re not booked into this hotel at all." Her airline itinerary landed on the counter. "This is the Ocean Breeze Hotel, not the Ocean Beach. I can only apologize. The night porter is new and should have double checked your booking." His smile was sincere, but practiced as he ushered her firmly towards the revolving door. "Your case has been delivered to your hotel, and I’ve rung to tell them you’re on your way. To save embarrassment to the gentleman in number six, I’d be obliged if you left straight away. No charge for your overnight stay, of course." "Well, anyone can make a mistake," she muttered as she drove herself a couple of hundred yards further

along the road and into the car-park of a similar looking hotel.

She was readying herself for her jog when she discovered the wad of money was still tucked in her bra. She grinned. The pay was pretty good, the client wasn’t bad, and if she had been in the oldest profession she might have quite enjoyed ...? Her face began to burn. This wasn’t the time for speculation. It would be awkward if he came looking for the money. She didn’t need any distractions, not when her father’s company and life was at stake. Slipping it into an envelope, she addressed it to: "Bearded man in room six," then dropped it into the hotel’s letter box when she jogged by. She then succeeded in dismissing the incident from her mind. Her run took her down a path zig-zagging the cliff side. She nodded to a couple of other people taking early morning exercise. In a couple of hours the sea front would be packed with holiday-makers in striped deck chairs. Children would be shoveling in the sand, screaming their enjoyment and wasps would be zeroing in on cool drink cans and discarded ice-cream wrappers. Katy preferred it now, when the rising sun sent long shadows across the tide-cleansed beach, and the sea was touched by the colour of dawn. The blood sang in her veins as she pushed her body as far as it could go. On her return journey she was forced to slow to a walk on the cliff path, which snaked sharply upwards. Her leg muscles began to ache, and she came to a halt halfway up, resting on a low stone wall to replenish her oxygen supply. The sound of pounding feet and rasping breath came from below her. She grinned. Someone was making a punishment of their run. A bushy head came into view, and her smile faded when their eyes met. Hands on hips he bent forward from the waist and sucked in some air. "Hell, you were hard to catch, and I’m out of condition this morning." Knowing the money couldn’t have reached him yet - Katy took off. "Wait," he shouted after her. "I’ve got something for you." He was crazy! She made the top of the cliff path in what must have been record time, and by the time she reached the hotel she thought her lungs were going to burst.

"Your father’s condition has improved overnight, and they’re doing tests this morning." Her mother sounded exhausted. "Are you sure you can handle the interview? David won’t rest until he’s got Leith Stanford under contract." "I know how important it is, mom. Tell dad I’ll have him under contract by lunchtime." Her confident reply didn’t match her gut feeling. This man must be really something for her father to need him so badly. "Give him carte blanche on the Australian project. The contract’s standard, but double it if you have to. Agree to anything he wants." Mark Cross, Katy’s fiancé, and her father’s accountant, had been hoping to be put in charge of the

Australian project. "He can’t have it," David Adams had told her bluntly. "He’s a bean counter. He wouldn’t have a clue about building, let alone handling the unions. They’d walk all over him. And next time Mark wants something," her father had growled, "he can damned well ask me himself." Katy hadn’t bothered to argue with her father. The fact that her wedding would be delayed once again came as a bit of a relief. Mark wanted everything before they finally tied the knot, a house in a good area and a car that would befit his status as the boss’ son-in-law. A year or so in Australia at the company’s expense, and with a vastly upgraded salary would have given him all he desired. She would then be expected to step into the role of perfect wife ... a role which had lost its attraction when coupled with Mark’s name. Conscience at her own cowardice attacked her. She wasn’t being fair to Mark, she should have ended the engagement long ago. Sometimes she thought she stayed engaged out of habit, and the longer she stayed engaged, the more she found in Mark to criticize. His main fault was his meanness with money. He hated spending it, and hated her spending it. Even her engagement ring had been agonized over. In the end she’d settled for a small solitaire diamond instead of the ruby cluster she’d been willing to share the cost of ... and it wasn’t as if their sex life was anything to shout about, either. As she questioned whether she still loved Mark enough to marry him her glance strayed to her ring finger. She sucked in an annoyed breath. Damn, she’d left her engagement ring in the hairy man’s bathroom!

He’d gone, booked out half an hour before. "No, madam, it hasn’t been handed in ... the gentleman has checked out ... I’m sorry, we don’t give out information about our guests" "Did he get the envelope?" "The mail box isn’t opened until eleven ... of course we can’t hand it back to you. We have no proof you’re the sender. I’ll post it on to his forwarding address. "No, it’s against hotel policy to give you his forwarding address. I assure you, madam, the room’s been thoroughly checked. May I suggest you’ve misplaced your ring elsewhere." Katy shrugged and kissed her engagement ring goodbye. The man was a thief. She wished she’d hung on to his money, now.

CHAPTER TWO "Leith Stanford?" He had the most wicked smile and roguish blue eyes Katy had ever seen. His sure-footed stride carried his body silently across the polished floor of the lawyer’s office and his hand closed firmly around hers

like a soft leather glove. His voice was cold cream poured over hot caramel. It drip-fed sensuality into the depths of her ear. "I think we’ve met before." She’d dressed in a straw-colored linen suit, sweeping her hair up into a smooth chignon to present an executive appearance on her father’s behalf. His glance seemed to peel off the layers of sophistication, leaving her aware of the clinging satin underwear she favoured. "Tell me your name, brown eyes. I know it’s not David Adams, and I’m hoping like hell you’re not his wife." He had a nice line in patter, if a little dated, she thought. If they had met before, Katy knew she would have remembered this big, beautiful dark-haired man. She slid her hand away and smiled. "I’m Katherine Adams, and no, we haven’t met before. You may have seen my picture somewhere though. I model." Her left hand was briefly scrutinized. "You’re not wearing a ring so you can’t be David’s wife. You must be his daughter. Has he sent you to soften me up?" Her smile faded. She hadn’t had much to do with her father’s business in the past, and much to her dismay had been forced into the deep end by circumstances. Leith Stanford projected powerful vibes. Could she handle the interview? She though leveling with him might be the best way to go. "My father’s been hospitalized, Mr. Stanford. I’m going to be a poor substitute for him." "I wouldn’t say that. To start with, you’re much prettier than your father." Feeling flustered, Katy pulled his file towards her. "Won’t you sit down, Mr. Stanford?" He hooked an upright chair with his foot an dragged it towards him, then turned it round and straddled it. "The name’s Leith." "How long have you known my father?" "Ten years. We worked together on a project in Brazil." His file told her he was thirty-two. Impressed to think her father would choose a man of his age for the Australian project, she stared at him with more interest in her expression than she should have. "You must be good at what you do." She nearly groaned. What a corny old pick-up line. Why don’t you bat your eyelashes as well? "The best." He grinned sympathetically at her when her smile assumed a wry twist. "I’m more than good, otherwise David wouldn’t be after my head, right?" She wondered if there was a hat size to match his ego. "If you insist." His grin told her he knew exactly what she’d been thinking. "I never make an idle brag. Now, let’s talk about your dad. I was looking forward to seeing him again. What’s wrong with the old coot?"

"He’s had a heart attack." His grin was replaced by concern. "How bad?" Her voice began to tremble. "We don’t know yet, they’re doing tests." "Don’t start mourning him yet, he’s a tough old buzzard." Leith’s rough optimism made her smile. "I hope so. Now, about this project. The terms of the contract -" "I’ll take it." It couldn’t be this easy, she thought, resenting the fact he’d taken the initiative. "I haven’t told you what it is yet." A notebook appeared in his hand. "A resort complex in Queensland, Australia. Building is due to start in three months time and it should take approximately eighteen months to complete." She glared at him. "It was supposed to remain a secret until the press release. How did you find out?" The grin he gave was infuriatingly smug. "Never mind how I knew. I want complete control and twenty-five percent more than the standard executive salary, but with the usual perks. I also want a bonus if I bring the project to completion on time. I’ll be available as soon as David needs me. Okay?" `It was this easy, too easy. "Ten per cent, not a dollar more." He smiled. "Fifteen, not a dollar less." The note-book closed with a snap when she nodded. "Let’s go and have lunch. We can settle the details afterwards." She’d had enough of his arrogance and resented him taking the initiative from her with the assumption she’d lunch with him - when for all intents and purposes she was his boss. "We’ll settle them now." He uncoiled to his full height and gazed down at her. "Lesson number one. If you want my signature on the document you’ll have to learn it’s me calling the shots at the moment." Just in time, Katy remembered her father would pay anything to get Leith on the payroll. With difficulty, she swallowed back a sarcastic retort and composed her features into a calm mask. His blue eyes mocked her. "Anything to say, Katherine?" She bit down on her tongue. "On behalf of my father, welcome to the company. I’ll be happy to lunch with you." His expression was pseudo-wounded, and he sounded like a schoolboy. "Come on, Katy, girl. You can do better." She shot him a glance. "It wasn’t a exactly a graceful invitation. What did you expect?"

The warm chuckle he gave would have melted an iceberg. It worked faster on her. "I’m sorry. For the past two years I’ve been in the company of men and I’ve forgotten how to treat a lady. May I have the pleasure of your company for lunch?" Rising to her feet, she smiled. "You may. Now, about the contract." "After," he said, sounding adamant as he hooked his jacket casually over his shoulder with one finger. His eyes threw her a challenge. "Ready?" His statement about him calling the shots wasn’t idle talk. He’d forgotten how to treat a lady, had he? Well, it was about time he rediscovered the art. She smiled to herself as she walked past him. After a moment of confusion at the closed door, when she gazed inquiringly up at him, he caught on, grinned and opened it with a flourish. "After you, Katherine." She loaded her voice with as much irony as his. "Thank you, Leith." My pleasure," he said, and sounded as though he meant it.

Leith was a charming lunch companion, though the undisguised predatory look in his eyes made her feel slightly nervous. His appearance offered nothing to the contrary to reassure her. There was hungry power about him, from his blatantly physical walk to the muscles rippling beneath the soft, white fabric of his shirt. "I’m engaged to be married," she said, in case he harbored any ideas about her. He picked up her hand, then turned it over and ran his thumb gently over her palm. "Where’s the ring?" "I lost it." His hand was cool, the nails clean and squared. An initialed gold ring inset with a small diamond decorated his little finger. She slid her hand away from his, bothered by the comparison. Amusement filled his eyes at the gesture. "Who’s the lucky man?" "My father’s accountant." "Mark Cross?" He gave an odd, unbelieving sort of laugh. "You must be kidding!" Katy found herself giving a shrug, when she should have defended Mark. "Like that, is it?" "Like what?" she flared, feeling guilty. "Like Cinderella won the handsome prince and he turned into a frog at the stroke of midnight." "There’s no such creature as a perfect man." "On the contrary. I’m about as perfect a man as you can get." "That figures."

He ignored her sarcasm. His glance roved over her face to linger on her lips. They began to tingle. The sheer physicality of him was almost overwhelming. "Your sensuous mouth contradicts the cool image you’re trying to project, and your eyes ...." They were captured by the piercing blue of his. "Provocative and flirtatious, you’re all woman." Attention fully captured now, she feasted on the cynical curves of his mouth, the craggy planes of his face and the caramel warmth of his voice. He wasn’t as handsome as the golden-haired Mark, but he had a charisma Mark lacked. His words were disturbing, and strangely seductive. She didn’t want to listen to them! "You’re talking rubbish." "Am I? Tell me, Katy, how long have you been engaged to Mark?" "Two years." "You live together?" At least she’d had the sense not to set up home with him. "I live with my parents." A grin twisted the corner of his mouth. "If you were my girl you’d be in my bed every night of the week, and wearing a ring you’d be proud to show off." It was as if he’d guessed, Mark had given her a cheap ring. Startled, she gazed at him as the second part of his statement registered. "What makes you think I’d want to go to bed with you? I’ve only just met you and already I dislike you." Which was a complete and utter lie. She shot to her feet, her eyes blazing from both barrels. "Let’s go back and get the contract signed." His eyes narrowed. "Sit down, Katy. Stop acting like an affronted virgin." She bit her lip, torn between her promise to her father, and the need to escape. Subsiding into her chair she chased a lettuce leaf around the plate with her fork. "I’m sorry," he said softly, appearing to be genuinely contrite when she finally slanted him a glance. "To make up for it I’ll take you out to dinner tonight." "Some prize. Is it being awarded before or after the contract’s signed?" His full-throated laugh sent goose-bumps climbing up her spine. "After, of course. I can’t imagine you falling for the same trick twice." At least he credited her with some sense. She warmed to him again. "Has it occurred to you I might accept, then not show up?" "I don’t intend to sign the contract until four o’clock. I’ll be going over it with the lawyer first. Any rebellion on your part might delay matters." She managed a light laugh. "Are you always so determined to get your own way?"

His hand covered hers. "Had your father been here, the contract would have been signed by now. But then ... I wouldn’t have wanted to take him out to dinner." "Don’t forget I’m engaged to Mark," she said, and knowing her life was going to be complicated until Leith went to Australia, she slid her hand away. Encouragement, he didn’t need. "That’s of no consequence." He leaned forward to gaze directly into her eyes. "Get this straight. I have absolutely no scruples about coming between you and Mark Cross." Adrenaline surged through her, then receded, leaving her weak. Leith was downright dangerous, and everything in her responded to what he represented - a healthy young male on the prowl. He made her feel desirable. She wanted to flirt with him, to lead him on to an inevitable conclusion. She closed her eyes and swallowed. She’d be mad to even contemplate it. He’d be winging his way to Australia in a few short weeks. Taking a deep breath she pulled together some semblance of control, then opened her eyes and smiled at him. "Shall we go? I have things to do this afternoon." "I thought we might go for a drive." "You’re seeing the lawyer, remember? Besides, my hair needs washing." "A lame excuse if ever I heard it." His breath teased her scalp when he pulled back her chair. "I’ll take it as a compliment you want to look your best for our dinner tonight." His arrogance was matched only be his conceit. She rounded on him, only to catch his smile. "You wanted to say something?" "Yes. Someone should have warned me about you." Turning her back on him she headed for the door. He caught her up when she was crossing the public gardens and took her arm. "You’re going in the wrong direction." "My hotel’s this way." "But I’m here." He slid his arms around her waist and pulled her close. "Let’s see if you like surprises." His lips closed over hers, and the evocative tenderness of his kiss stunned her. She fluctuated between outrage, and a desire for something more passionate. When he pulled away she didn’t know whether to strike him or return the kiss, so she just stared at him. "I’m a bit out of practice?" he said apologetically. "Rate me out of ten." She wanted to smile, but didn’t dare encourage him. "Don’t do it again," she said weakly. He leaned against a tree trunk and gazed at her, his eyes flaming with laughter. "Didn’t you enjoy it?" Deciding she’d had enough she ground out. "Listen. I’m only here because my father wants you for the project. Personally, I don’t give a tinker’s cuss whether you work for him or not so don’t think you’re

going to take advantage of the situation." He placed a stray strand of her hair back in place. "I’ll try to remember that." She jerked away from him. "I’m trusting your oral agreement, taking it at face value because I respect my father’s judgment. I’ll see you in the lawyer’s office at four to sign the contract. Until then, leave me alone." "Yes ma’am." This time he got the message, because when she looked back he blew her a kiss. At least he didn’t follow when she walked off.

Leith was there on the dot of four, waiting for her with the lawyer. "Make sure you read and understand the amendments. Miss Adams," the lawyer advised. Her eyes slowly scanned the contract, not really reading it because she was still jet-lagged, but giving every appearance of being the efficient executive. Salary ... bonus ... perks, all as agreed to. Her mind wandered to her mother. She should be home, supporting her, not here. Why on earth had her father agreed to Bournemouth, of all places. Every now and again Leith impatiently clicked the mechanism of a pen. When she thought she’d kept him waiting long enough, she initialed the amendments and slid the papers towards him. His signature consisted of several black upright slashes. Her mobile rang when the lawyer was notarizing the signatures. Her mother was crying. Katy’s face paled when she picked up the gist of what she was saying. Mouth dry, she whispered. "Try not to worry. Everything’s been done here. I’ll be home as soon as I can get there." "Trouble?" Leith said, when she rang off. "My father’s having emergency surgery." He picked up her bag. "I’ll drive you to London. My car will get you there faster." She didn’t argue when the lawyer offered to call the rental company she’d hired the car from and arrange for it to be picked up. Within fifteen minutes they were on the road in a sporty white Jaguar. "You look as though you’ve had a hell of a day, and I guess I didn’t help it much," he said, when she leaned back and closed her eyes. "Care to tell me about it on the way." She had nothing to lose. Leith Stanford was signed, sealed, and was on his way to being delivered. Her worry over her father couldn’t take away her sense of achievement. She just hoped Leith had a sense of humor when she said, "Would you believe, I woke up this morning

to discover a bearded drunk snoring his head off in the other bed?" Leith stroked a hand over his closely shaved chin and darted her a glance. "It sounds like a bit of a traumatic experience to me. What happened?" Encouraged, she launched into a highly lurid account of what had happened." Ten minutes later he said. "Let me get this straight. You’re expecting me to believe someone resembling a gorilla spent the night in your room. He then mistook you for a working girl, and forced money on you. After which, he stole the engagement ring off your finger and chased you halfway up a cliff whilst you were out jogging?" "You got that bit wrong. The ring was in the bathroom, not on my finger." His perfectly straight face was offset by the blatant humoring expression in his eyes. "Hmmm ... I see." Okay, so he thought she was mad. "I’m not making this up." He flicked her a pitying glance. "Why didn’t you call the police?" "I couldn’t. Actually, it wasn’t my room, it was his." "I don’t get it," he said, the hint of a frown touching his face. "If it was his room, what were you doing there?" "Not what you think," she snapped. "I was tired after a long trip and went to the wrong hotel. There was a mix up, that’s all. Look, if you don’t believe me, say so. It’s no skin off my nose." "Oh, I believe you. Some men will do anything to take advantage of a good looking woman. Why didn’t you tell me before we left? I could have gone to the hotel and sorted him out for you." She wished he’d stop jumping to the wrong conclusions. "He didn’t take advantage of me, at all." "But you said he paid you for your services." "I ... he did." Aware Leith probably knew the score better than she did, she grimaced. "I managed to escaped before he could grab me." He punched the steering wheel, growling under his breath. "He must have been some kind of pervert, trying to take advantage of a girl like you." His anger was satisfying. "The worst kind. He had wild matted hair, bloodshot eyes, and the room was littered with empty bottles and discarded clothing." She wondered if she’d gone too far when Leith’s mouth twitched at the corner. But his expression remained serious when he momentarily turned her way. "He was ... naked?" She cleared her throat. "Almost." "Young or old?"

Dark hair arrowing over an expanse of flat stomach, tight buttocks and long, well-muscled legs drifted into her mind. She swallowed. The man had been a work of art, but it was a waste of time dwelling on it. "Middle-aged, I should imagine." "But you said he had dark hair." Why was he quizzing her on this? "He had gray in it ... lots of gray. He had lots of wrinkles too, and his stomach sagged." Leith chuckled. "The poor old devil. He must have thought he was in heaven when he woke up and saw you standing there in your underwear." "As it happens, I was dressed." "That’s a pity." "Whose side are you on?" she said indignantly. His eyes crinkled up with laughter. "Looking at it from a purely male point of view, if he’d watched you dress, at least he’d have got something for his money." What if he had been awake all the time? "I hope he didn’t get a free peep-show," she said thoughtfully. "I sent the money back to his hotel, and I can’t very well ask him for a refund." Leith laughed so hard he had to pull the car into a lay-by. She stared at him in annoyance. "It’s not that funny." "Think about it." It took a few seconds before she realized what she’d said. Giggles attacked her, then she was laughing as hard as he. It was just the tonic she needed, and he’d led her into it beautifully. "I could murder you," she managed to say between the spasms of laughter. He planted a kiss on her mouth. "Kill me anytime you want, but give me fifty years notice." It had only been a friendly kiss, but its imprint was soft and warm against her mouth for the rest of the journey. Leith got her to London fast, and although he’d managed to break the speed limit for most of the way, he’d handled the car with expertise so she’d felt safe as a passenger. His grin was triumphant when they drew up in front of the hospital. Just as elated she gave a small laugh. "Don’t look so smug. You were lucky you didn’t get picked up for speeding." "I feel lucky today," he said, and he picked up her hand and lifted it to his lips. "Here’s some for you." Her fingers curled around the kiss. He wasn’t as bad as she’d first imagined, even if he did provoke her at every turn. "Thanks, Leith, for everything." Reluctantly, she tore her eyes away from his and gazed at the building. "Come in and meet my mother, perhaps your luck will rub off on her too."

Celia Adams was a dejected shape slumped on a bench at the end of the corridor. Mark was in attendance. He was talking and tapping the edge of her knee with a sheaf of papers he carried. When Celia shoved them impatiently to one side, Mark shot to his feet. Katy thought he looked almost threatening, until he glanced her way. He detached himself from her mother and swiftly made his way towards her. His kiss was perfunctory and he said without preamble. "I believe David gave you power of attorney this morning." "What about it?" Her way to her mother was blocked by his body. "I need your signature on these papers, and I need them now." "Later, Mark. My mother needs me." "It can’t wait until later." Mark had never sounded so autocratic. "Someone has to take over the reins if your father dies." White-faced, she gazed at him. "He’s not going to die." "He might." Mark’s hazel eyes resembled those of a bird of prey, and she shivered. "He won’t." He took hold of her wrist when she tried to push past him, his voice softened. "I know you’re upset, Katy, but if you want me to have control ..." Perhaps she was being silly, but she had the feeling she’d be tempting fate if she signed the company over to Mark. "I’m sorry, Mark. I’m not signing the company over to anyone whilst -" But Mark’s glance had gone beyond her. "What’s Stanford doing here?" She sent a smile in Leith’s direction. "He drove me up from Bournemouth. He’s decided to take the Australian project." The petulant expression on Mark’s face was chased away by an elegant shrug. "Just as well really. My expertise will be needed here. I’ll want to look over the contract before it’s signed." "It’s already signed." "You signed him up without consulting me? You little fool. He would have walked all over you." Like he was trying to do. She removed her wrist from his grasp. "I was acting on my father’s instructions. Excuse me, Mark." "Sign the papers first, Katy." His insistence annoyed her. "I’ll look at them later." "But, Katy -"

"You heard the lady," Leith growled. "This is none of your business, Stanford," Mark said aggressively. "Shut up, the pair of you, this happens to be a hospital." Seizing the opportunity, Katy pushed past them both and went to her mother. "Are you all right?" "What will I do if David ...?" She gathered her mother into her arms. "I can’t see Dad kicking the bucket when he’s got this big contract cooking, can you?" The thought of which coaxed a tremulous smile from her mother. "He’d better not, else I’ll murder him." "I’ll help you ... and I might get in some practice on Mark first." Her mother’s smile faded. "Can you keep him off my back? I know he’s ambitious, but he’s carrying things a bit too far at the moment. David wouldn’t like him taking over the company." "It won’t happen," Katy reassured her. "Taffy Jones is the logical choice. He’s dad’s right hand man." "Taffy’s resigned." "Why!" Katy couldn’t believe it, Taffy had been with her father since the beginning. "Mark said he walked out this morning." "But he wouldn’t leave dad in the lurch." "That’s what I thought." Celia’s glance went to Leith. "Is that Leith Stanford?" Katy nodded. "Would you like to be introduced?" "Of course." She took a comb from her bag and ran it through her hair. "Do I look all right?" Katy nodded. Her quietly attractive mother didn’t look her best, but Leith would understand. When Katy beckoned to Leith, Mark followed after him. His features were marred by a scowl when introductions were made. Leith took her mother’s hand. "I’m sorry we’ve met under such traumatic circumstances, Mrs. Adams. I knew David in Brazil. He talked so much about you, I feel as if we’re old friends. If there’s anything I can do to help, just ask." Nice one, Leith, Katy thought when her mother visibly relaxed and said. "Would you be able to conjure me up a cup of tea? I could do with one." "Of course." Katy shot Mark an accusing look when Leith strode purposefully off. He drew her to one side. "I need

those papers signed, now." "No," she snapped. His lips curled. "There’s no one else to take over, you know. Taffy Jones has gone, and if you think you’re going to slip Leith Stanford in over my head, you can think again." The idea hadn’t occurred to Katy, but she did intend to have a word with Taffy. She couldn’t believe he’d abandon her father. "Why did Taffy walk out?" Mark’s perfectly manicured hand raked through his smooth, blond hair. "You don’t need to worry your pretty little head about it, Katy." She bit down on her gasp of dismay, and it took all of her control to keep her temper on a leash. "Need I remind you I’m acting for my father." His chuckle was just as patronizing. "It will be in his best interests if you sign these papers, then." Her nails dug into her palms. "Forget it, Mark. My father wouldn’t want you in charge." Mark flushed, then sneered. "You’re not thinking of taking over yourself?" Katy hadn’t, but it would be a temporary solution if Taffy refused to come back. "Is there something wrong with that?" Mark stared at her. "You can’t be serious. You’re just a woman ... a model." "Very observant," she said. "Darling," he said, his smile, which had once sent her heart into orbit, now leaving her cold. "You don’t know what you’re taking on." "Yes, I do." She didn’t, but she didn’t like the way Mark was trying to manipulate her, nor his patronizing assumption that she was just a pretty face. "All you know is modeling." His finger stroked down her face. "This is too much for you. You need a man to lean on." His smile was as calculating as the expression in his eyes. "Let’s bring the wedding forward. Then there won’t be any argument over who runs the company." When she took a step back he grabbed at her hand and gazed down at it. "Why aren’t you wearing my ring?" "I lost it." He frowned. "That ring cost good money. How could you have been so careless? Where did you lose it?" "If she knew, it wouldn’t be lost." Leith winked as he handed her a cup of tea from a loaded tray. "Milk, no sugar. I remember from lunch." They exchanged a grin. "Thanks," and she meant for keeping quiet. Mark wouldn’t have seen any humor

in the situation. Mark ignored Leith’s interruption, but the look he sent after him was loaded with venom. He took the tea from her hands and set it on a widow sill. "We don’t need an engagement ring to get married. I suggest we get a special license and -" "No!" She didn’t even want to discuss it with her father being so ill. Mark looked shocked. "I want to wait for a while," and she cast around desperately for an excuse. "We haven’t got enough money saved." She could almost see his mind ticking over. "If I take over the company I’ll be on an executive salary." "Over my father’s dead body." She gazed at him with contempt, seeing his avarice, his ambition and most of all his lack of compassion, all too clearly. "You’re overwrought," he murmured, leaning forward to kiss her. "All this is beyond your comprehension. I’ll see you in the morning and we’ll resume the discussion then." His glance went to where Leith was chatting to her mother. "Say good night to Celia for me." He strode off, leaving her bathed in relief. It wasn’t going to be easy to get rid of the tenacious Mark, but she now knew she’d never marry him.

"The operation was successful." Katy watched the years drop from her mother when the surgeon made his announcement. "Can I see him?" The surgeon’s smile told of a job well done. "Five minutes. Don’t expect him to be awake though, and don’t let the apparatus scare you. Follow me, I’ll take you through to intensive care." Tears were running down Katy’s face when her mother walked away, which was a bit odd, considering her face was split in two by a smile. Leith drew her into his arms. "My shoulder is designed especially for you to cry on." "Thanks," she snuffled, and took full advantage of its padded warmth. There was a damp patch on his shirt when she’d finished. He chuckled when she apologized. "It’s not every day I have a gorgeous looking woman in my arms." She bet he wouldn’t have to make that much effort. "No?" A shrug rippled his shoulders. "I can’t remember one like you, even though that stuff you put on your eyes is smudged all over the place." "Oh, hell!"

He laughed and pinned her against his chest when she attempted to move. "You look like a dog I had as a kid. We called him Bandit." He’d used only a fraction of his strength yet she was unable to move. There was nothing soft about his body, but it was comfortable. The only thing uncomfortable was her own awareness of him. He made her feel - and she wasn’t prepared to fully analyze those feelings just yet - a bit weak. She decided she must, at least, make a token protest. "Let me go, Leith." His eyes narrowed a fraction and tiny muscles at the corners of his mouth tugged it into wry amusement. "I don’t really want to, but ..." He opened his arms. She felt like a caged bird who’d been given a freedom it didn’t really want as she took a tiny step back. She turned reproachful eyes on him. "Thank you." He stooped to capture her mouth, and she didn’t bother to move away. His kiss was deliciously soft, destructive, and much too short. "Why did you do that?" She turned away before he could see what was in her eyes, and fumbled in her bag for her compact. His face was reflected in the compact mirror when he gazed over her shoulder. "I didn’t want to disappoint you." Her mascara wasn’t in the least bit smudged. She moved the mirror out of the range of his lethal blue eyes. "I don’t want to get involved with you, Leith." "If you don’t, you won’t." His logic denied challenge. Turning, she grinned at him. "Damn you. Leith. I can’t argue with that sort of thinking." His smile should have been censored. "I was damned the minute I set eyes on you. I turned down a lucrative job in America because of you." "You should have taken it. I’m not part of the Australian contract." "No ...?" Mockery flared in his eyes, then his glance slid past her. "Everything okay, Mrs. Adams?" "David’s trussed up like a Christmas turkey," she said, smiling a little. "You must come and have dinner with us after driving Katy all the way from Bournemouth - and please call me Celia." "I haven’t had any home cooking in a long time." His eyes lit up and he smoothly tucked Celia’s arm into his. He held out a hand to her. "Coming, Katy?" He assumed control so easily, she thought, taking his hand anyway. It wasn’t until they reached the car park, where she noticed her mother’s speculative glance. She hastily removed it.

"I’m not working under Mark." Taffy was adamant. "I know you’re going to marry him, Katy, love, and more fool you. He treats everyone like dirt. This morning was the last straw. He took over your father’s

office as if he owned the company." Katy silently cursed Mark for upsetting Taffy. "You don’t understand. I’m not asking you to work under Mark. I’m asking you to take control." Taffy laughed. "From behind a desk? It’s not my style, and David knows it." His voice softened to a growl. "Thanks for letting me know he’s going to survive." "Don’t you dare hang up on me, Taffy Jones." She grimaced at Leith, who, stretched out in her father’s chair looked completely at home. "I’m desperate. What if I took charge for the time being. Would you consider coming back then?" "I’ll have to think about it." "Please, Taffy. I won’t be able to handle Mark without your support." She sensed him yielding. "Mark won’t like it, Lass." "It will only be for a few weeks." She took a deep breath and applied emotional pressure. "Dad will recover much faster if someone he trusts is advising me. Besides, now Mark’s got his foot in the door I’ll never get him out of dad’s office without help." Taffy sighed. "I must admit, you sound determined enough." "Of course I’m determined. Mark’s very good at his job, but the last person dad would want in charge." "Okay. I’ll show up in the office at nine to help you straighten things out. But if Mark interferes -" "He won’t. Thanks a million, Taffy." She gave a triumphant thumbs up to Leith when she hung up. Undermining Mark was giving her more satisfaction than she’d anticipated. "Well done," Leith said, grinning at her. Her grin was wider. "I’ve never been the boss before. I hope I can carry it off." "You’ll manage. Look what you’ve achieved so far. You’ve blackmailed Taffy into returning to work and signed up the best building engineer in the business." He stood up and stretched. "Now this engineer must find himself somewhere to stay." Celia looked up from her knitting. "You can stay here." "Thanks for the offer, but I can’t impose on you any further." Her mother was enjoying Leith’s company, and so was she. "Perhaps he has a girlfriend he’s eager to see," she said, hating herself for putting out feelers, "Or a wife, perhaps?" His eyes mocked her. "Didn’t you read my file, boss lady?" "You didn’t give me a chance." Her mother didn’t beat around the bush. "You’re not married, are you Leith?"

"Not at the moment." Katy frowned at the evasive statement. "Have you been married, then?" "Why d’you need to know? Are you thinking of making an offer for me? I’m worth at least ten chickens and five female goats." She picked up a cushion and hurled it at him. "Stop being aggravating. I take it you’re staying. I’ll go and make you up a bed." "Want a hand?" She wasn’t going to let him get within a mile of the same bed with her. "You can help my mother wash up." "Katy," her mother said, half-laughing, "You’re not usually so bossy." Leith chuckled. "The power of command has gone to her head. She’ll get over it." Not too soon, Katy hoped as she walked away. Her sense of euphoria was exhilarating.

CHAPTER THREE When Katy crept down to the kitchen next morning she was surprised to see Leith. Seated at the table, he stared dreamily into the garden as he sipped his coffee. He was wearing an old gray track suit and joggers. He turned when he heard her, smiled, then eyed her up and down. "You seem to have the same idea as me." She helped herself to a banana and a glass of fruit juice from the fridge. "I jog most mornings." "Good, I’ll have company then." "Who are you trying to kid!" She gazed wryly at his well-toned muscles. "You don’t imagine I’ll be able to keep up, do you? If we were cars you’d be eight horsepower to my two." "I’ll keep in low gear, I promise." His grin was infectious, and she laughed. "Sure you will, Leith."

Leith padded along as silent and as sure-footed as a cat in the vast expanse in Hyde park. As Katy had expected, she had trouble keeping up with him, even in his low gear. And he had trouble staying in low gear. Imperceptibly, his stride lengthened. His concentration was absolute, and it was obvious he’d forgotten she was there. She allowed him to draw ahead, grinning when she took the right hand turn towards the

Serpentine and he carried on along the path they’d taken. She was jogging on the spot when he found her fifteen minutes later. "What took you so long?" He was grinning when he slowed down. "I thought you were behind me, but it was a man on a horse." She had difficulty keeping her face straight. "You didn’t try to race it by any chance?" "Who me?" His grin challenged her. "I save myself for people I can beat." She knew she couldn’t win, but on the pretense of pulling up her socks she swiftly unraveled his shoe laces to give herself a head start. "You’re on." "Hey!" he shouted when she took off, "You don’t play fair." Three minutes later she was laughing when he scooped her up in his arms. "I’ll give you a lift." "Show off." She grabbed him round the neck when he picked up speed. "You idiot, slow down." He did, but not until they’d left the park. He grinned down her, his eyes full of laughter. "You don’t weigh all that much." His heart pulsed against her rib cage, his breath feathered her cheek. It touched against her ear and was received by some minute antenna, which interpreted it as a message of sensuality. She snatched in a gasp of breath when every hair on her head seemed to stand up on end. He raised an eyebrow. "Puffed?" "A little." He was hardly out of breath, she thought, awed by his strength and fitness. "Good morning, Katy," somebody said. "How’s your dad?" She giggled when Leith turned her towards the voice. It was the milkman, a man who’d delivered their milk since she could remember. He didn’t turn a hair at the position she was in. Anything she said would be spread along the street. "Good morning, Bill. They operated on dad yesterday, and expect a good recovery." "That’s good. Give him my best, and tell your mom that number twenty-four will be going on the market soon. The old lady’s moving in with her daughter." He flicked Leith an amused glance. "Taken a tumble, has she?" "Fell right into my arms." "Half your luck, mate." He winked, then climbed, whistling into his float. "I told you I was lucky," Leith said. Katy suspected chance had very little to do with it. "You make your own luck." His eyes tangled with hers as he nudged the gate open with his foot. "If you want to succeed you have

to, and I intend to get everything I want out of life." Instantly, she was curious. "What do you want out of life?" Intimacy was reflected in the eyes that roved over her face. Irony smudged at his smile when he slowly said. "Right at this moment, I want you, Katherine Adams." The mouth that breathed the words was only a few tempting inches away. Remembering its softness she nearly blushed. It was early morning, she was sticky and disheveled from jogging, and here she was with this honey of a man she’d known for only one day - and he was seducing her with his words. The deep breath she took was hardly enough to shake of the unreality of the moment. "I hardly know you. Besides, I’m ... engaged to Mark." He didn’t push the issue. He lowered her gently to her feet and gazed down at her. His astute eyes seemed to see right through her, and she was suddenly uncomfortable. "Don’t look at me like that." "Like what?" "You know ..." The vague sense of anger she experienced was directed at her own inability to cope with him. Leith reduced her to a bumbling idiot without even trying. Her bottom lip quivered when he slowly drew his finger across it. Such a small caress, but her body disintegrated into tiny pieces, each begging for the same treatment. "Yes ... I know." The hypnotic softness of his voice told her to beware. Leith seemed to be a man who had highly developed instincts where women were concerned. The nature of her job had made her fair game for propositions. She’d handled them all without trouble, so why couldn’t she handle Leith Stanford? Because he knew how far to go without giving offense, perhaps. And he made her feel special while doing it. "Katy? Mark’s on the phone." She gazed up at the bedroom window, where her mother’s tousled hair and sleepy eyes indicated she’d been woken from sleep. She cursed Mark for his thoughtlessness as she scurried inside, and was unable to keep a sharp edge from creeping into her voice. "Do you realize what time it is?" "What of it? You always get up early to go on those stupid runs of yours." "But my mother doesn’t." "Oh ... sorry." She heard him yawn. "I’m coming round to get those papers signed before I go to the office." "There’s no need, Mark. I’ve decided to manage the company for the time being." "Don’t be ridiculous," he said, his voice suddenly bristling with authority.

Mark was so obsessed with getting his own way, he hadn’t even thought to inquire after her father. "Whether you think it ridiculous or not, I’m going to run the company until dad’s able to run it himself. Taffy Jones has agreed to advise me." Mark was incensed. "I suppose Leith Stanford put that idea in your head." "No. You did. Mark." "Can I make you some breakfast, boss lady?" Leith whispered in her ear. She threw him a smile. "Just some toast and tea, thanks. Watch out for the -" But the kitchen door had swung shut behind him. "Who was that?" "Leith." "He stayed the night, with you?" The suspicion in his voice left her with a nasty taste in her mouth. Her knuckles whitened on the receiver. "He’s a guest of my mother. Any objections?" "Plenty. He’s taken advantage of the situation to worm his way in, and you and your mother were too weak to stop him. Celia should have called me if Stanford needed a bed for the night. I could have found him a hotel room." His censorship of her mother was the last straw. "My mother doesn’t need your permission to invite a guest into her home." Glaring at the receiver she snapped before hanging up. "I’ll see you in the office at nine." "Is Mark being difficult?" "He’s being totally obnoxious." Katy gave her mother a kiss and a quick scrutiny. She received a smile in return. "Before you ask. Yes, I did sleep well, and I’m feeling much better." Katy laughed. "You look it." The smell of burning drifted from the kitchen. "Hell!" There was a scuffle of feet and the sound of a knife scraping against toast. They grinned at each other, then Celia said. "I’d better go and rescue him. It sounds as if the toaster’s being temperamental." "I thought I’d go to the hospital to see dad before I tackle the office. Is that okay with you?" "Fine," Celia said, calmly. "I’ll rely on your good sense to reassure him all’s going well." There was a grating sound from the toaster. A chair scraped across the floor and a triumphant voice yelled out. "Howzat!"

"Good enough to eat, just like you," Katy murmured. "He is rather, isn’t he?" And the two women exchanged a glance and laughed.

"You always did want me to work for you. If you ask me, this is an underhand way of going about it." David Adams gave a ghost of a smile. "If you need help, ask Taffy." "Who else would I ask?" "I thought Mark might -" Katy kissed her father’s pale cheek reassuringly. "You mustn’t worry, everything’s under control. Leith Stanford’s contracted for the Australian project and Taffy’s been appointed my official adviser." "Good girl." "You can see Leith if you like, but only for a few minutes. mom talked him into driving me over." Leith hadn’t needed any persuading. She gazed at her father with tears of relief in her eyes. "Don’t you ever scare us like this again." A bit of a grin appeared on his face. "I’ll be better than new now the spare parts are fitted," and his hand covered hers and gently squeezed. "The trouble with you women is that you cry at the wrong times. Now, off you go and get Leith before that nurse starts throwing her weight around. She’s a real terror." "You liar," she said with a watery chuckle. "She’s pretty and very sweet." "Well, don’t tell your mom, she’ll only be jealous." Pretty and sweet was right, and Leith must have thought so too, because the nurse was fluttering her baby blue eyes at him, and laughing at something he’d said. He uncoiled from his position against the wall when she crooked an imperious finger at him, and strolled towards her. "You want me, boss lady?" "Dad would like to see you for a couple of minutes." He smiled at the nurse. "That okay, Susie?" She dimpled a smile of assent. In five seconds Katy wondered if the nurse was married - if Leith was partial to short, dolly blondes how long a sentence she’d get for bumping her off - and why the hell was she bothering to think such things when Leith meant nothing to her? Then her attention was caught by her father’s words as he greeted Leith through the slowly closing door. "Leith - long time no see. I heard rumors about the prison. Was it bad?" Katy’s ears strained, and she just managed to catch. "It was the longest two years of my life -"

Her mind whirled with the shock of the revelation. Leith had said he’d been in the company of men for two years. Now she knew why. But what crime had earned him a two-year stretch?

"You’ll be pleased to hear my father’s operation was a success." Katy gazed around her at the faces of the department heads. "While he recovers I’ll be taking his place, and have in fact, power of attorney." She smiled at Taffy. "Mr. Jones will advise me on all matters. If you have any concerns about the arrangement I’d prefer to discuss them now." A subdued buzz of voices reached her ears, then one of the men stepped forward. Katy had spent most of her childhood in her father’s office, and remembered the man’s face. Story? No, he was in charge of stores. Spider, her father had called him. She smiled when the association clicked into place. "Mr. Webb, isn’t it?" Webb looked flattered to be remembered, and she made a mental note to try and remember those she’d met before. She needed the old timers on her side. Webb cleared his throat. "We understood yesterday that Mr. Cross was taking over the management of the company." Mark was frowning as he examined his fingernails. When he straightened up to speak Katy intercepted. "Mr. Cross assumed control during the immediate crisis, as my father expected." Mark gave her a sharp glance at that, and she hesitated. Despite her antagonism towards him she couldn’t make him look a fool in front of the rest of the staff. "My father regards Mr. Cross as too valuable in his position as head of accountancy to be moved to a position that - in my father’s own words - is little more than public relations." The murmur of laughter was cut short by Mark. "My temporary absence wouldn’t have jeopardized the department, or the firm. However," He spread his hands, "I’m sure you’ll all join me in giving the little lady our support." Katy quietly seethed whilst a mumble of assent ran through the assembly. If Mark thought he was getting away with that, he could think again. She dismissed the meeting, then when they were beginning to file out said, "Mark? Taffy? Would you wait a moment please." Mark came to where she stood and placed a proprietary arm around her shoulder. "What is it, darling? Make it quick, I have an urgent appointment." She shrugged away from him and went to stand behind her father’s desk. Taffy placed his hands in his pocket and turned to gaze out of the window when she said quietly. "I want to make one thing clear. While we’re at work I expect the same respect as you’d give my father." Mark said nothing. "I’d also remind you that Mr. Jones is now my adviser - a position which has my father’s complete approval." Mark’s eyes were venomous. "Anything else?" "Not at the moment. I don’t want to keep you from your urgent appointment."

He stared at her through narrowed eyes for a moment. The angry expression turned into pain. He glanced at Taffy, then back to her. "Can I see you in private for a moment?" She understood Mark needed to regain some of his lost pride, so she nodded to Taffy, who patted the mobile phone on his belt when he left, saying. "You know how to reach me." "Don’t forget your appointment, Mark," she said when Taffy had gone. "I have a few minutes." He perched on the edge of the desk and gazed down at her, his eyes still wounded. "Why are you doing this to me, Katy? I thought we meant something to each other." So had she, but the scent of power in his nostrils had changed him beyond recognition. The scales seemed to have fallen from her eyes with a vengeance where he was concerned. She seized on it, knowing it would justify the inevitable split. The bully in Mark was being replaced by emotional blackmail now. It wasn’t going to work either. "You’re taking this too personally." His eyes hardened. "And you’re taking it too lightly. You’re making a fool out of me, and that I won’t allow." She sighed. "You’re making a fool of yourself." "And you’re deluding yourself if you think your father’s clients will deal with a woman, especially one who has no concept of business practices and -" "That’s enough, Mark," she warned, and stood up to glare at him. "Whether you approve or not I’m going to do what my father wants and run his company for him." He changed tack. "Darling. I know how you feel about your father, but aren’t you taking things a little bit too far? Doesn’t our engagement mean anything to you?" This wasn’t the time and place to tell him the engagement was over. "Stop patronizing me. Personal relationships have nothing to do with this." He must have picked up the irony in her voice for he leaned across the desk and stroked her cheek. "We haven’t been very close, lately and you feel neglected. Is that the problem?" She grit her teeth at the false charm of his smile. "Let’s spend the long weekend together. Charles is taking the yacht to Cowes and wants me to crew. I’m sure there will be room for you." To escape his caress she dropped a pen and bent to pick it up. The last thing she wanted to do was resume an intimate relationship with Mark, and the thought of bouncing around on a yacht with the slimy, woman-chasing Charles, a man who wore a blazer and peaked cap with gold braid for effect, was too much to bear. She placed the pen back on the blotter. "I think I have a modeling shoot over the long weekend ... besides, I don’t want to leave my mother alone at this time." The flash of relief in his eyes was quickly masked. "I understand." For some reason, Mark didn’t really want her along. Some devil inside her made her say. "I might be able to get out of the shoot -"

"No, don’t do that. You have your mother to think of." "I knew you’d understand, Mark." Her glance flickered over him and he coughed and avoided her eyes. "I’d better be off then. Can’t keep a costing session waiting. Perhaps we can lunch together next week. I’ll check my schedule." "And I’ll check mine," she said as the door closed behind him.

The morning passed in a blur. The first thing Katy did was go through her father’s desk diary with his secretary. "No wonder he had a heart attack," she said, noting all the lunch engagements. "I’ll be as fat as a pig if I keep all these. Are they necessary?" Marcia smiled. "Only from a networking point of view. It’s your father’s way of keeping his finger on the pulse. They can all be canceled, except for the Friday one." "What’s so special about that?" "A representative of the investors of the Queensland project is flying in for consultation." Butterflies attacked her stomach, and she looked at her watch, wondering if Leith was still with her mother. "Shaft anything unnecessary, and give me plenty of time to hone up on what’s important, would you please, Marcia?" Marcia’s nod was sympathetic. "I’ll get you the Queensland file, shall I?" "Fine," she said, but her confidence ebbed when she flicked it open. After Marcia had gone she dialed home, relieved to hear Leith’s voice. "Celia’s gone to the hospital." "It’s you I want." "That’s the best offer I’ve had all day. When and where do you want me?" "I’m not after your body," she said with a laugh. "This is strictly business." "You’re wearing your executive hat. How does it fit?" "It’s falling down around my ears," she said with a groan. His chuckle was like honey. "It’s early days yet, you’ll cope." "I have a luncheon appointment with a representative from your project on Friday. I thought you might like to meet him." She prayed he would. "Friday?" He sounded doubtful. "I had plans for the long weekend."

Panic nibbled at her. "Please, Leith. I’ve read the file and it’s gobbledygook to me. What shall I say to him?" "Just flutter those long eyelashes at him like you did at me. He’ll grovel." His laughter was infectious and she began to laugh too. "I did no such thing, and neither did you." "If you have lunch with me I might let you talk me into helping you out." "That’s blackmail." "It’s something I’m particularly good at." She remembered his two years in prison, and wondered. "Leith?" "Yes, Katy," he purred, causing a serious outbreak of goose-bumps. She told herself it wasn’t any of her business, that if her father was willing to overlook a prison record and give him a chance, so should she. "You win. What time?" "I’m just about to move into a hotel, so I’ll pick you up at noon." Disappointment attacked her, which was irrational. Leith wasn’t the type to impose on people, and having him living at home would be impractical and awkward in the long run. "By the way, someone called Dorcas rang. She wants you to ring her back." "Thanks." She groaned as she hung up. That probably meant another shoot for her. She should have rung her agent sooner, but it had been low on her list of priorities. It didn’t take long to explain the situation. "I’m so sorry, Dorcas. I can’t take anything on at the moment." "Can you do the Saturday one? They specifically asked for you." "What is it?" "Evening wear, mostly. It’s a new designer, first collection. Word is she’s going to be big. They’ve hired some old warehouse at the docks." The location of some of the shoots never ceased to amazed Katy. She’d once modeled underwear on a barge moored in the middle of the Thames. It had been mid-winter and she’d nearly frozen to death. "What the collection like?" "Dramatic. You get to wear the evening gowns." And have to spend hours getting her makeup and hair perfect. "Freddie’s doing the shoot." "Great!" she said, with more enthusiasm. "What time?" Dorcas sounded apologetic. "Four-thirty start. They want to catch the dawn or something equally romantic." She laughed when Katy made a rude noise. "Exactly my sentiments."

Leith picked her up for lunch five minutes early. Ten minutes later he was rowing a boat into the middle of the Serpentine. Katy removed her jacket when the sun began to warm her. "You could have warned me. I’m not dressed for rowing." "You’re not doing the rowing, I am," he pointed out. "Stop complaining, woman, just continue to admire my rippling muscles and open the picnic basket. The captain of this craft is hungry." "You look more like the main engine to me." "Don’t be rude, else I’ll throw you to the sharks." She flipped open the basket, raising an eyebrow when she pulled out a bottle of champagne. "This stuff is seriously expensive." He shipped the oars and took it from her. "So, don’t just sit there with your mouth open. Find the glasses before it warms up." He was crazy, she thought, as she unearthed caviar, biscuits, cheese, delicate chicken and asparagus sandwiches and strawberries and cream. No one with his sanity intact would eat a picnic like this on the Serpentine on a rowing boat. "You’ve forgotten something to eat it with." "What’s wrong with fingers?" He popped the cork from the bottle and she scrambled to catch the fizzing liquid in her glass. "Is this a special occasion, or something?" "It is." His eyes were as blue and as cloudless as the sky, his voice as warm as the sun. "I’m with you." Her heart leapt crazily when his glance devoured her piecemeal. She took a sip of the champagne and stared at him over the rim of the glance. She had to keep a lid on what was brewing between them. "You’re a flirt, Leith." He leaned forward slightly to touch her hair with his finger. "I never flirt. Why don’t you let your hair down, Katy?" "Literally?" "Now who’s flirting?" His finger fumbled with the slide holding her hair in position. "How do you open this thing?" His cologne was a subtle fragrance, snatched from her by a breeze that ruffled his dark thatch of hair into curls. She had an urge to kiss his mouth where it curved into a smile. She had an urge to end all of the urges roiling inside her, and with him. Pleasure shivered down her neck as his fingers explored the possibilities of the slide. The thought of his hands tangled in her hair was irresistible. "Squeeze the clip at the end." Her hair tumbled free and she automatically shook her head to tousle it. When he smiled she struck a pose. "I should have brought a camera."

"God forbid." Surprise flitted across his face. "I would have thought you’d be used to it." "Yes ... but I can never be myself when I’m modeling." "I can imagine. I suppose it’s all an act." "A job." "You don’t enjoy the glamour." "That’s a fallacy. Mostly, it’s hard work. If you want to see how it’s done I’ve got a shoot at four am on Saturday morning." "Four o'clock?" His incredulity was replaced by interest when she nodded. "I’ll be there." "I thought you were going away for the weekend." Somehow her glass had emptied itself. She held it out for a refill. "You’d better eat something," he said, pulling the basket towards him. He placed a chicken sandwich on a napkin and handed it to her. It was delicious, so was the next. They devoured everything in the basket and refilled their glasses. Katy would have liked to have drifted with Leith all afternoon, but it was getting chilly and she had to get back to the office. She launched herself upright and the boat rocked alarmingly. "I’ve got to go back to work." "You can walk on water?" Leith chuckled when she hastily sat down again. "You’d better have some coffee first." She giggled. "I guess I’d better. I’d forgotten this wasn’t a luxury liner." "You have a vivid imagination." She guessed he was right, because the smile he gave her was loaded with devilment, and reminded her forcibly of the man whose hotel room she’d invaded. She grinned. "I like your smile and I love your champagne." "You’re pickled, Katy." "Just a little bit happy." She knew exactly what she was doing. Drifting along on the Serpentine with a man who was out to seduce her. "Would you like to kiss me before or after the coffee," she said, inadvertently voicing her thoughts. "After." He took a flask from the basket, poured the contents into two cups and handed her one. "Drink." "Playing at being a sea captain seems to have gone to your head. Don’t be so bossy. " He gave a laugh and his eyes narrowed. "We’re about to get wet, I think."

Which made her look up at the sky. Her eyes widened when she gazed at the clouds. "What happened to the sun?" Draining his cup he picked up the oars. "I guess it’s gone home for the day. Hold on to your hat, Katy. It’s full steam ahead." The rain started as they were sprinting towards the car. The fat drops soaked them both to the skin and washed the effects of the champagne from her mind. She was laughing when they scrambled into the car. "That’s the best lunch date I’ve ever had." Leith gazed at her, her smiled rueful. "You look like a drowned rat." "Thanks." "A gorgeous drowned rat, the best damned drowned rat I’ve ever seen, in fact." "You’re going into overkill." "I should have listened to the weather report. I’m sorry." "I’m not. I like the unexpected." "I’ll remember that," and he drew her towards him. "Now for that after coffee kiss." She was prepared to melt when his lips touched hers, but he drew away almost immediately. Her eyes flew open. "Is that all you can manage?" "That was the unexpected," he murmured, "and this ..." Was everything she’d ever dreamed of. Fiery little kisses feathered her mouth until it was soft and pliant, then came the pleasurable intimacy of his tongue exploring her mouth. He could become addictive, she thought, and although her mind told her to beware, her body ignored it. The wet shirt plastered against her breasts took on a steamy warmth and molded her hardened nipples against the fabric. She seemed to be melting all over, her flesh trickling into his, her mind dissolving into his until they were one. This was a man who could bend her to him, which was fine and dandy with her, when he went about the business of seduction with such finesse. Ten out of ten, for sure. A pity he was going away. As the thought released a warning from her subconscious she gave a groan of dismay. She couldn’t allow herself to become involved, however much she wanted to. He’d released her at the sound, and now gazed at her with hungry eyes. "I’d better take you home to get changed." "Yes." The damp, steamy heat cooled when his arms were removed. She wrapped her arms around her body. "I’m cold." "I hadn’t noticed."

She avoided his smile, gazing out of the window when he started the car. She felt guilty, and the strong urge of her sexuality towards Leith was disturbing. She’d never felt this way towards Mark. She knew she never would, and had to remind herself she was still engaged to him. That engagement had to be brought to an end before she could form another relationship.

CHAPTER FOUR Changed into a pastel pink dress with matching jacket, Katy was still wondering how to let Mark down lightly when Taffy came into the office. "There’s trouble on the insurance building site." The high rise the company was building for the insurance company was nearing completion. "There’s never been any trouble there before." Taffy sighed. "Someone told the workers about David’s heart attack and they downed tools." "Why should they?" "They think they won’t get paid if anything happens to him. I’ve talked myself blue in the face, but they won’t listen." "They’re certainly not going to be paid if they continue doing nothing." She smiled wryly at him, well aware of her inadequacies regarding the situation. "How do I handle it?" "It’s a storm in a teacup at the moment. I’ll take you over to talk to them. They need reassurance." "You’re throwing me into the deep end." "Sink or swim." He smiled at her. "Let’s find out if you can swim as fast as your father. Just remember, most of them have kids and mortgages." She studied the contract file on the way over. Taffy pointed out that the company would run into penalties if the building wasn’t completed on time. There was also a bonus clause for the construction workers. She smiled to herself. It was amid a chorus of wolf-whistles she made her way to the site office to face the delegation. "Good afternoon, gentlemen," she said, calmly sliding into the chair behind the foreman’s littered desk. "I’m Katherine Adams. Mr. Jones informs me there’s a problem on site and I’m here to listen to your grievances." \tab One of the men took a step forward. He looked a bit shamefaced. "It’s like this, Miss. Mr. Cross was poking his nose in this morning. He more or less told us the old ...." He coughed. "He told us Mr. Adams was on his last legs. The men are worried about their pay packets." She glanced at Taffy. "Did you know Mark had been here?" When he shook his head she turned back

to the spokesman. "What’s your name?" "Tom Newman. I represent the union." She smiled at him. "Let me set you straight, Mr. Newman. The old man is in hospital. He’s had an operation and a full recovery is expected. In fact, I spoke to him this morning, and you don’t have to worry about your wages. Until his return to work I’ll be running the office, and Taffy will have responsibility for the rest. Mr. Cross is head of accountancy, and has nothing to do with site matters." "Then why was he down here?" the man muttered. Why indeed? "I imagine Mr. Cross thought he was helping me out. Rest assured, from now on he’ll keep out of your hair. If he doesn’t ..." She grinned. "Deal with him the best way you think fit." She allowed the muttered threats and laughter to die down. "I’m a bit of a rookie at this, so I hope you’re not going to make things too hard for me. My father’s relying on me to keep things running smoothly." "There’s another matter," Newman said. "The men would like an extra tea break." Everyone looked at each other and grinned. She wasn’t that much of a rookie. "I suppose that could be arranged," She grinned when Taffy’s knuckles cracked behind her and flipped open the file. "I see the completion date isn’t too far off, and so far work’s running to schedule." "It’s a good crew," Newman said with a certain amount of pride. "Most of us have worked for the old man before." "And will do again, I should imagine." She consulted the file again. "Just be careful your extra tea break doesn’t spoil the chance of the bonus he’s written into your wage agreement." Taffy eased out a long breath when Newman chuckled. "I’ll get the men back to work. Fancy a trip up top, Miss Adams?" Her eyes lit up. "Thanks, I’d love to." "Just a minute, lass," Taffy said. "It’s dangerous up there." "I’m sure Mr. Newman will look after me," she said, as she jammed the safety hat he handed her on to her head. "Then I’m coming with you," he growled. "I can’t risk your safety to anyone else." The way up was a rattling cage suspended from a pulley rigged over the lift shaft The view from the top was a magnificent panorama of a London that seemed to have been washed clean by the rain. The river threading through the city was a silver thread. Clearly visible was Tower bridge, the dome of Saint Paul and Buckingham Palace. Although she couldn’t make it out, her eyes turned in the direction of the hospital. She blew a kiss to her father. "He’d have another heart attack if he knew you were up here," Taffy said quietly. "He’d sure be proud

of the way you’d handled things today, though." "I’ve got to sort out Mark," she said. "What would dad have done under the circumstances?" "For jeopardizing the completion of this project?" Taffy hesitated for a moment, then gave it to her straight. "He’d have dismissed him." Her breath exhaled in a horrified rush. "Mark wouldn’t have done it if my father had still been in charge, would he?" Taffy guided her through the rubble towards the lift. "He wouldn’t have had any reason, but mostly, he wouldn’t have had the guts."

There was a vase of red roses on her desk when she got back. "Where did these come from?" "The note that came with them is on your desk," Marcia said. "Expect the unexpected," she read out loud, and laughed. "He certainly knows how to romance a girl." Marcia threw her an inquiring grin. "Leith Stanford. We’ve got him under contract for Queensland." "The man who picked you up for lunch?" Marcia grinned when she nodded. "D’you know any more like him?" She stared at Marcia in surprise. Attractive, and in her early thirties, Marcia had a reputation of being aloof with men. "I wouldn’t have thought you’d have any trouble finding a date." Marcia shrugged. "I have a thirteen year old son. It seems to put most men off." "You were married?" "His father was." "Ouch!" She winced apologetically. "I didn’t mean to pry." "It’s okay. The relationship didn’t turn out to be what I hoped, but I’ve got a son who I love. I’m very proud of him." Her voice became brisk. "About that lunch on Friday. I’ll book you into the restaurant your father uses to impress important clients. We have an account there." "You wouldn’t fancy coming as well, would you," Katy said on the spur of the moment. "Leith will be there to meet the client." She grinned when Marcia raised an eyebrow. "They’ll be talking bricks and mortar, I expect." Marcia seemed pleased by the invitation. "I’d love to come." She fiddled with some papers on the desk. "Will you be seeing Mr. Cross today?"

Katy’s smile faded at the thought of a second confrontation. "I do have something to discuss with him. Perhaps you’d ring his office and ask him to come up." "Would you remind him the tender for the council flats must be completed and ready for signing by the end of the week." "Sure. Who signs it?" "Your father usually." Marcia frowned, uncertain. "I suppose you’ll have to." "I have power of attorney." "Good." She headed for the door. "I’ll see if I can locate Mr. Cross for you." But Mark couldn’t be contacted, and by the end of the day hadn’t returned any of her calls. Katy also drew a blank when she called his flat. Her irritation was overridden by the relief she felt. The inevitable would have to be put off until tomorrow.

Leith was waiting for her in the lobby, as she half-hoped he’d be. Her heart did a flip. "Would you like a lift home, boss lady?" "This is an unexpected surprise." "Is it?" He treated her to a lazy, sideways glance. "Weren’t you hoping I’d be here?" "Thoughts of you never once entered my head." His grin said it all. "I’ve been thinking of you all afternoon." "Good night, Miss Adams." It was one of the clerks from Mark’s department with another girl. Katy couldn’t remember her name. The second girl moved on a few steps, but the girl from Mark’s department hesitated. She gave Leith a quick once-over, her sharp little eyes missing nothing. "Was there something else?" The girl gazed at her with a slightly insolent air. "I hope Mr. Adams soon recovers." Katy smiled. She must be imagining things. "Thank you, I’ll pass your message on." "Oh, you don’t have to." There was something calculating about the girl’s gaze now. "Mark ..." She bit her lip. "Mr. Cross took him a get- well card from the whole department when he went to see him this afternoon." She grabbed her friend’s arm. "Come on or we’ll miss the bus." Katy watched them walk off, giggling. So that’s where Mark had been all afternoon. Something nagged uneasily at her. It would be uncharacteristic of Mark to allow any of his staff the familiarity of a first name basis, and she was certain the girl had let it slip deliberately. Leith slid a hand under her elbow. "I’d say that one was heading for trouble. Shall we go, or do you

intend spending the night here?" Preoccupied with the thought that Mark might have upset her father, she barely heard him, and said when they were seated in the car. "Would you drive me to the hospital before we go home?" "There’s no need," and his expression contained a certain amount of satisfaction. "Mark rang your mother. Celia’s no fool, she contacted the hospital as a precaution. Mark wouldn’t have been allowed in." "That’s good." She rubbed at her bare finger. It was odd how Mark had changed in her eyes from fiancée to foe almost overnight. "Is he causing you trouble?" Leith growled. "If he is -" "Not in the least," she lied, knowing the last thing she needed was Mark and Leith at each other’s throats. "I just don’t want him bothering my father." "... I’d be more than happy to wring his neck." "Who appointed you as my protector?" "David asked me to keep an eye out for you." "He should have appointed someone to keep an eye on you keeping an eye on me," she said tartly. He slid her a sideways glance. "Did you tell him you spent the night in a hotel room with a complete stranger?" "You .... wouldn’t tell him?" Of course he wouldn’t. His devilish grin said he just might. "It so happens I’ve got a pair of tickets for the theater tonight." "And you want to trade, I suppose?" "You have a suspicious mind, Katy. I’m inviting you to come with me." "And if I refuse?" "I know a couple of people who might be interested in taking your place." "All right." "I knew you’d accept." He was so sure of himself. "No, Leith. What I meant was - all right, take someone else." He started the engine and swung out into the traffic, his jaw tensed. "You’ll be missing a good show." "I’ve probably seen it." Why was she being so ungrateful? Leith had been good to her, it wouldn’t hurt to take in a show with

him. She stole a glance at him. He didn’t look annoyed, but there was an impatient set to his mouth. It was still there when he pulled the car to a halt in front of the house. "Have a nice evening, Katy." She felt mean. "Aren’t you coming in?" A little smile danced in his eyes. "I want to get to my hotel and make a phone call. It would be a shame to waste the tickets." She’d called his bluff, now he was calling hers. She gave in gracefully. "Pick me up at seven. I want to visit dad first." His lazy smile churned her up inside. "Yes, boss." He was a charmer of the first order and she couldn’t help but smile in return. "Leith?" "Mmmm?" Her eyes tangled in the depths of his and a thousand pulses went crazy in her. "I’ll probably regret this. Thanks for the roses, they’re lovely. And don’t call me boss lady any more." His finger lightly touched her lips. ""What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."" "You like Shakespeare?" she mumbled against his caress. He removed his finger, placed it against his own mouth and shrugged. "I can take it or leave it. Where I’ve just come from I was pleased to have anything to read." Was he referring to the prison? She asked the question as delicately as possible. "Where was that?" "Hell," he said morosely, then got out of the car to open the door for her. "See you later, Katy." He was gone before she got the front gate open.

"Stop fussing. Anyone would think this is your first date." Katy glanced at her mother. "He’s late." "The clock’s fast." "This dress isn’t too short, is it?" The glittery white dress brushed the top of her knees, and complimented her tan and dark hair. She rushed to the window when a horn tooted. "He’s here." "What shall I tell Mark if he rings?" Katy’s smile faded. "I’m going to end my engagement to Mark." Her mother didn’t seem surprised as she gently kissed her cheek. "I can’t say I’m sorry, I’ve been expecting it before now. I’ll think of something to tell him if he calls. Leith Stanford’s very attractive, isn’t he?"

"He’s got nothing to do with it." Katy’s cheeks warmed when her mother grinned. "Don’t get any romantic ideas. He’ll be gone in a couple of months so there’s no future in it." "A lot can happen in two months." Celia put her head to one side when Leith seemed to lean on the door bell. "I’d better let him in before he breaks it." "I’ll go," and she indignantly marched to the door and pulled it open. "We’re not deaf!" The door bell went on ringing. "It seems to be stuck," Leith said, stating the obvious. "No kidding." His glance swept her from head to toe. Your hero has arrived, and all you can do is frown at him." The black pants and shirt he wore gave him an air of charming villainy, as did his smile. The beginnings of a smile flirted at her lips. "You’re not my hero. Heroes don’t break door-bells." "I’ll repair it," he said. "When?" her mother cut in. "When I can tear my eyes away from your daughter." "Do it now please, Leith. I’m going deaf." Leith thumped his fist against the door jamb. The sudden silence vibrated. He gazed at his fist in surprise. "Damn me if it didn’t work." Katy was laughing as she waved goodbye to her mother. "Remind me not to talk too much tonight if that’s his way of dealing with noise." "I could think of more enjoyable ways of silencing you." Breath feathered the nape of her neck when he settled her in the car, then his lips slid along her bare shoulder before he straightened up, leaving it dewed with moisture. She found her father eager for news of her first day behind his desk. She told him nothing he might worry about, chiding him instead about his business lunches. "You’ll have to cut them out." He approved when she told him Leith and Marcia were going to the business lunch on Friday. "That’s a good move. Marcia knows all about the project. How’s Mark been?" She held her breath for a moment, then slowly let it out. "He understands it is better for the company if an Adams is in charge." "Uh-huh, had it out with him, have you?" he said with relish. She avoided his eyes. "Don’t worry. Everything’s under control, I promise you." She glanced at her watch, relieved to see she’d run out of visiting time. "I’ve got to go. Leith is taking me to see a show."

He raised an eyebrow. "Is he now? Tell him from me that he’d better treat you like royalty, or he’ll hear all about it from me." She laughed when she kissed him. "I’m old enough to run my own life." She told Leith anyway, and he bowed to her and kissed her hand before he opened the car door . She’d seen the show before, but enjoyed the entertainment it offered for the second time around. She delighted in Leith’s reaction to it, his enjoyment evident in his laughter. "Are you coming in for coffee?" she said when they got home. "I think you already have company." Her heart dropped when she saw Mark getting out of his car. Her sense of euphoria fled. Mark pointedly consulted his watch, then gazed with barely-concealed dislike at Leith. "I’d like to talk to my fiancé alone, if you don’t mind." "Which reminds me, Katy." Leith flicked her a smile and handed over a tissue wrapped package. "Here’s your engagement ring. You left it in my hotel room, and we’ve been having such a good time I forgot all about it." Her mouth was dry as she watched him get into the car. Why hadn’t she seen it before, that Leith was the man in the hotel room? How could he? how could he? She’d come to like him, to trust him even. Sticking his head out of the window, his eyes gently mocked her. "Would you like me to stay and help sort things out?" "You can go to hell?" she whispered, hating him for bringing things to a head. She wasn’t ready for it, not on top of everything else. "Katy?" Mark sounded incensed. "What were you doing in Stanford’s hotel room?" "You won’t believe this," she said, watching Leith’s car speed away from the scene of his crime. And Mark being Mark, he probably wouldn’t even bother to try, she thought.

CHAPTER FIVE To her surprise, Mark did believe her, dismissing her explanation of how the engagement ring was in Leith’s possession with a disparaging, "Can’t you get a simple thing like a hotel booking right?" With a sudden shock, she realized Mark had always treated her like an idiot. "Nothing happened if that’s what you’re worried about." There was a sarcastic edge to his laugh. "Why should I be worried? I know from experience you’re not interested in a physical relationship. Besides, didn’t you say the hotel sorted it out?"

She’d omitted to tell him they’d actually spent the night together first. "Mark ..." She took a deep breath and gathered her courage. Now Leith had pushed her into it she knew it was time to bring the relationship to a conclusion. "I want to end our engagement." "No." His blunt reply astounded her. "Why not? I’ve fallen out of love with you. I been mulling it over in my mind for some time now." "Did you think I hadn’t noticed?" He raised an eloquent eyebrow. "I have no intention of being discarded - at least, not until it suits me." Instinct told her he’d used the engagement only to further his own career. Mark had been in a relatively minor position as a bank clerk when they’d met. Her father had given him a job and time off to complete an accountancy course. After their engagement, he’d promoted Mark to the vacated position of department head over longer serving employees. Mark’s brilliance with figures was undeniable, but now she wondered how much the engagement had contributed to his promotion. Sick at heart, she held out the engagement ring. "You have no choice." "It’s you who has no choice," he said, and grabbing her hand he roughly thrust the ring back on to her finger. Relentlessly, he squeezed her fingers together until the stone dug into her flesh and she winced with the pain of it. "Stop it, Mark." He increased the pressure and smiled. His eyes bore into hers, cold and menacing. "If you humiliate me any further I’ll break your father." Fear thumped her in the chest with an iron fist. Voice husky with unshed tears she gazed at him. "What ... what do you mean?" A final squeeze saw the diamond break skin. Blood spurted. He dropped her hand, wiped the blood from his fingers with an expression of disgust then flung the stained handkerchief into the gutter. His eyes came up to hers. "The Queensland project. How do you think your father got it?" Mark was going to tell her anyway, so she just stared at him. "Contacts." She didn’t understand. "Contacts? Everyone has contacts." "This particular one was bribed by your father to make sure he got the contract." The statement disgusted her and her lip curled. "You’re lying. My father wouldn’t do anything dishonest."

"Wouldn’t he?" She wanted to strike him when he laughed. "Are you willing to risk his exposure when he’s unable to defend himself?" "You despicable little worm," she scorned, and her eyes raked him from head to toe. "Whatever it was I saw in you, it certainly wasn’t a man." Colour rose to his cheeks. "A frigid bitch like you hasn’t got what it takes to make me feel like one." When the colour faded his eyes were like ice. "These are my terms. To start with, I’m taking the rest of the week off." "You can’t do that. The tender for the council flats ... I need you." He gave a tight little smile. "My my, we’re learning fast. The tender’s prepared and ready for completion and signing. My second-in-command is perfectly capable of running the department. After the long weekend I’ll expect you to announce to the staff that I’ve been appointed head of the company." Congealed blood squeezed between her fingers as her hand tightened into a fist. She couldn’t see what Mark had to gain from this, except dismissal when her father had recovered. "And if I don’t?" He slid into his car and gazed out at her. "You’re playing with the big boys now. If you want to call my bluff, go ahead. It’s your risk." Her mind suddenly notched into top gear. Mark had inadvertently given her some breathing space by taking the week off. One thing she was sure of. She wasn’t going to bow to his demands until she had to. She wondered where he was going for the rest of the week, and although it was an effort, managed to make her voice sound submissive. "Where can I contact you if I need to?" "You can’t." His glance slid away from her and he started the engine. "Charles has invited some important people -" He changed what he’d been about to say. "I’ll be on the yacht." She hoped it sank. "Are you sure you want to do this, Mark?" she said when his hand went to the gear shift. "My father’s been good to you." The moment of indecision on his face was replaced by petulance. "He showed what he thought of me when he passed me over for the Queensland project." "Leith Stanford was available, and -" "Damn Leith Stanford!" he muttered. "It’s a pity they didn’t throw away the key to that bloody prison." He took off in a squeal of tires, leaving her staring after him. What had Leith done? she thought again, but more importantly, what was she going to do about the situation that had developed? She dragged the engagement ring from her finger and gazed at the blood. She hadn’t expected violence, however mild, and the element of truth in Mark’s words hurt. Was she frigid, or would her response to intimacy be different with someone else? Leith for instance. But why was she thinking of Leith, when he’d proved to be as bad as Mark. Worse! Not only had he betrayed her trust, he had a criminal record. It was a second time she’d allowed herself to be duped. Was she destined to be attracted to men who

thought only of themselves? She thought of her father lying helpless in his hospital bed and grimaced. If he got wind of what Mark was doing it might kill him. But who could she trust? "Taffy Jones," she said out loud, and smiled. He knew her father better than anyone, and hadn’t he said he’d be there if she ever needed him? She heard a clock chime eleven, and shivered, realizing she was standing all alone on a darkened street. Hurrying indoors, she snatched up the receiver and dialed Taffy’s number. "Do you realize what time it is?" he growled. "I need your advice." "Can it wait until tomorrow, lass? Some of us older folk need our sleep." "Yes ... I guess it can. Sorry, Taffy, I forgot it was so late." "I’ll see you at noon then. Good night," he said gruffly, and he hung up.

She was on tenterhooks all morning, and jumped every time the phone rang. Leith called just as she was expecting Taffy to arrive. She was tempted to hang up on him, then he piqued her interest by saying. "Where were you this morning?" Did he really expect her to fall at his feet after what he’d done to her. She took a deep breath, counted to ten and put some steel in her voice. "What do you mean? We didn’t have an appointment." "I waited for ages at the entrance to the park. I had to jog by myself." Jogging! She had more on her mind than that. After what he’d done to her he was lucky she was even speaking to him! She glared at the receiver. "I had an early appointment and I’m busy. Is there anything else?" "Yes. Are you free for lunch?" His unmitigated arrogance caught her unawares and she shot back at him. "Why don’t you try rent-a woman?" The was a few moments of silence, then his low chuckle traveled down the line to softly lift the hairs at the nape of her neck. "I take it you’re annoyed with me," he murmured. "You’re not important enough for me to be annoyed with, and I don’t want to lunch with you. I ... I’ve got another appointment." "I went to all this trouble for nothing then," he said casually.

"What trouble?" A light tap at the door had her whirling round in her chair. She watch in disbelief when a waiter wheeled a loaded trolley though the door. She waited until the man departed then whispered into the receiver. "Leith, I’m going to kill you. Leith ...?" A hand holding a white rose slid through a crack in the door. The crack widened and his head followed. "This is a peace offering. Is it safe to come in?" She was in no mood for games. "Go away and take your food trolley with you." Her stomach growled a protest. "Shuddup," she said. The rest of him followed the hand. He relaxed against the door jamb, gazing at her. "What happened with Mark?" The way he came straight to the point unnerved her. An involuntary movement of her hand covered the bruise. "Mind your own business." "You’re still engaged to him?" "Not as far as I’m concerned." He moved so fast she didn’t have time to tighten the concealing hand before it was brushed aside. His eyes darkened when he gently touched the bruise. "Did he do that?" "No!" "You’re lying," and his eyes were now murderous. "This was all my fault. I should never have left you with him." His nearness threatened her composure. His height, the overpowering impression of strength and the warm, fragrant smell of him, all were a threat. She wanted to burrow her head into the silky, blue fabric of his shirt and feel his arms around her. He caught her eyes - a split second confrontation of awareness occurred before it was masked. "Am I reprieved?" "Of course." Confused by this alien business environment she’d been tossed into she concluded it was a man’s world. Men must think differently to women. They seemed to like the cut and thrust, the confrontations, the power game. Her own world had turned topsy-turvy, and she didn’t think she’d be able to cope for much longer. Yet, as she gazed into Leith’s eyes she felt strengthened. There was no alternative. She couldn’t back down, so would have to fight. Mark couldn’t be allowed to use blackmail because of his own selfish need for glory. Leith had his head to one side, and was gazing at her with a wry smile. He brushed the underside of her chin with the rose. "I apologize for being such a presumptuous, ill-mannered fool at the hotel." "Did you really think I was on the game?"

His grin crinkled his eyes as the shattering answer came. "Of course I did." "Oh!" And her eyes narrowed. "Why?" "What else would a man think if he woke up to find you standing there?" "He might think I was there because I wanted to be, not because I was paid to be." "A man should be so lucky." He dropped the rose on her desk. "Watch out for Mark. He’s got a vindictive nature." The mutual dislike between the two men indicated an earlier acquaintance. "How long have you known him?" Leith shrugged. "We attended the same school for a short period." "You seem to dislike each other." "It’s nothing specific. Intellectually we were well matched and ended up as rivals." "Mark was a poor loser, huh!" His eyes honed in on her in all their astuteness. "You could say that. Why the questions?" She hesitated, wanting his input but unwilling to involve him. "You said he was vindictive. How vindictive?" Leith was very still now, as if poised to strike. Softly, he said. "You’d have to remove his teeth before he let go of a prize, whether he’d won it by fair means or foul." Fear prickled up her spine and her breath expelled in a rush. As he confidence deflated on one rush, her mind registered a knock at the door. Leith’s eyebrow arched an inquiry. "Taffy Jones. We have something to discuss." "You want me to go?" She decided to run with her instinct. As an employee outside the main arena, Leith had no ax to grind with the company, and had demonstrated no desire to step into her father’s shoes. "Will you stay? I need all the help I can get." His mouth grazed against her hair, inciting a bunch of shivers to tumble along her spine. "I’m yours, any time and anywhere you want me." "Stop it. Leith. I haven’t the time or inclination to play games." "Wrong, Katy. You’ve definitely got the inclination." He was right, she thought, as her brain reminded her body it was only the time she lacked. Before Leith could act on the intention displayed in his eyes, she called out to Taffy to come in. Leith casually vacated the corner of the desk to turn towards the door.

The men introduced themselves with a handshake, then Katy told them what had taken place. "I don’t believe my father would bribe anyone," she finished. Taffy and Leith exchanged an amused glance, infuriatingly male affinity in content. Carefully, Taffy said. "Your father may have paid a consultants fee." Her face fell at this unexpected piece on information. "You mean it’s true?" Leith smiled. "It’s not illegal to hire a consultant. In fact, it’s quite common." Relief was followed by puzzlement. "Then why did, Mark say - ?" "Bluff, lass," Taffy said gruffly. "That boyfriend of yours has got egg on his face, and he doesn’t like it." She frowned. "Unofficially, he’s no longer my boyfriend." "You should make it official." "But what if he carries out his threat to blacken my father’s name?" "If he uses a consultants fee as grounds he’ll be laughed out of the business. He wouldn’t find another job, either - not in the building trade. Spying on the opposition is one thing, lack of trust in a key employee is another thing altogether. He’d never get another job in the trade." Taffy’s usually doleful face appeared almost cheerful at the thought of Mark permanently joining the unemployed, and she knew he considered dismissal a foregone conclusion. She doubted whether she had to guts to fire Mark - and worried in case he wasn’t bluffing. Eyes full of indecision, she gazed at Taffy. "There has to be something more. If Mark got control of the company what would he have to gain? My father’s going to recover and will be back at work in a few weeks. Mark must know he’ll be made to account for his actions." Leith gazed thoughtfully at Taffy. "She has a point. My bet is he’s after a job elsewhere, and the prestige would help his application. If he gained control, he’d also have access to information he otherwise wouldn’t have." Katy looked from one to the other. "What sort of information?" Taffy shrugged. "Information on upcoming projects. Mark only does the costing on tenders. He doesn’t know what’s coming up in advance." "Who does, besides my father?" "Myself and Marcia. We investigate the companies involved, then the findings are filed on the computer and to disk. No one has access to the information without the password." She sighed, having no doubt Mark could gain access to the file if he put his mind to it. "Is there any way we can find out what he’s up to? I don’t want to dismiss him and land the company in a lot of hot water?

Most of all, I don’t want to do anything that will set my father’s recovery back." "Now you’re talking!" A broad grin crossed Taffy’s face. "There’s a private invest -" Leith faked a coughing spasm, then threw her an ashamed smile when she frowned and said. "Cut it out, Leith, I’m not a child." Taffy carefully reworded what he’d been about to say. "There’s a firm your father consults when the need arises. I’ll get on to them." "A detective agency, I take it?" "Something like that." Taffy rose from the chair and stretched. "Just leave the dirty stuff to me, lass." She voiced a knot of worry as it surfaced. "Promise you won’t do anything illegal, Taffy." "Like hanging Mark from the flagpole by his thumbs, you mean?" His eyes softened when she gave a nervous giggle. "Don’t worry, I won’t do anything your dad wouldn’t approve of." Which knowing her father, wasn’t very reassuring. After he’d gone, she tried to ignore the niggle of guilt she felt and enjoy the lunch Leith had provided. It tasted like ashes. Leith’s hand covered hers when she pushed her plate aside. "You’re feeling bad at what’s going on, I guess." "I feel scared and a bit dirty," she admitted. "I don’t think I like myself any more." "It’s a dirty business. Just remember, Mark started the war." His finger stroked gently over the bruise on her finger. "If you have to go for the throat, don’t leave it too long." A shiver ran down her spine. "I don’t know if I’m strong enough." Leith smiled as he stood up. "It’s lonely at the top, isn’t it?" "I wish Taffy had taken the job." "Taffy knows his limits. Mark out-foxed him right at the beginning. From what I heard, Mark shot Taffy down in flames in front of everyone, giving him no choice but to resign. Now you’ve done the same to Mark. Only Mark won’t go without a struggle. He won’t forgive, and he won’t forget." He took her hands in his and pulled her upright. She took courage from the eyes that gazed so calmly into hers. "You have to fight for your father, Katy." Some nuance in his voice made her ask, "I guess you like him a lot, don’t you?" Leith gave a faint smile. "Your father’s the salt of the earth. He gave me a chance once, and I won’t stand by and watch Mark push him under. Anything I have to do to stop him, I will." A lump rose in her throat, threatening to choke her. "Thanks, Leith." His lips brushed against her almost roughly. "Save your thanks, Katy. Before this is over you could end

up hating me." Her mouth was burning from his kiss, so the meaning of his words didn’t register as anything other than hot air. "You’re talking nonsense. I could never hate you." "You might think that now," he muttered, "but perceptions of things have a way of changing," and he turned on his heel and was gone, leaving her staring after him.

Although Mark had told her he couldn’t be contacted, Katy stated her intentions by placing the engagement ring in an envelope and dropping it through his letter box on the way home. The next day, Marcia handed her Edward Kirby’s personal file. Middle-aged, his accountancy qualifications far surpassed Mark’s. He’d been with the firm for twenty years. Katy was ashamed to think her father had seen fit to slide Mark in over his head for nothing more than personal reasons. She sent for him. "Are you happy working under Mr. Cross, Mr. Kirby?" His voice had an ironic edge to it, his eyes were wary. "Has he complained?" "Please answer the question." His glance met hers, and although he hesitated for a moment, he said. "If you want me to be truthful, not entirely, but I don’t have much choice." He shrugged. "I need to work and I’m paid well. Is my competency under question, Miss Adams?" "Far from it. How can it be when you’re running the department?" She wondered how much she should reveal. A direct appeal might be the best course to take. She picked up a biro and clicked the button mechanism in the few seconds it took to make up her mind. "It’s more than possible that Mr. Cross will not be returning to the position. I’ll need your support, Mr. Kirby. Can I count on your absolute discretion?" His eyes sharpened and a smile touched his lips.

Katy was elated when Leith picked her up from work, as he was now in the habit of doing. He eyed her with respect when she told him what she’d done. "Getting Kirby on side is a good move if you can trust him." She grinned. "He has his own ax to grind. Mark was promoted over his head. I’m surprised dad did something like that He’s usually so fair." "You’re his daughter and he loves you. I guess he thought it would make you happy." Leith flicked her a glance in the driving mirror, then neatly slid into a gap in the traffic. "Can we forget Mark for tonight? You need to unwind a bit." "You think I’m up-tight?" She laughed at the thought. "Actually, it’s pent up energy. I missed out on my jog this morning, remember?"

A grin tickled at Leith’s mouth. "Then let’s go out and release some of it. A night club with a dance floor might do the trick. Are you on?" "You bet." She had a perfect dress hanging in the wardrobe, a short, red jersey shift that she’d never worn before. Her mother made no comment when she slid into it, but she gave her a knowing grin when a pair of stiletto heeled shoes with ankle straps were added. "It’s not what you think. We’re just good friends," she protested." Her mother’s grin broadened. "Uhuh!" Although Katy tried to frown at her they both ended up laughing. "Okay, so I’m out to make his eyes sizzle and pop from their sockets." Which they almost did when he set eyes on her legs. A slow whistle left his mouth. As he handed her into the car, he whispered, "You’re really something." Somehow, Leith managed to get a table, but they didn’t stay there long when the pounding, throbbing music tempted them on to the floor. As dancers, they were made for each other. Leith anticipated her every move. He seemed to have rhythm built into his body, and moved with a lack of self-consciousness and a sinuous grace. Hair flying, she laughed when he swung her into his arms and eased her gently against his body. The music changed to a slower tempo. His glance was an intimate caress. "Enjoying yourself?" She couldn’t remember when she’d enjoyed herself more, yet she thought it might be prudent to open up a few centimeters of space between them. "Mmmm." His voice was a river of satin. "That dress is dynamite. I’d like to peel it off your body." The body in question quivered at the suggestion. She threw him a provocative grin. "We’d be arrested if you did." Someone nudged her closer to him in the crush. His arms tightened, keeping her there. They were hardly moving, but the music flowed through his body into hers. What the heck, she might as well live dangerously! She slid her arms around his waist and relaxed. Their bodies merged, so every movement they shared became one. Leith was all muscle, so how could he be so comfortable? she thought dreamily, and deposited a smile against the side of his neck as she recalled him lying on the hotel bed almost naked. Her imagination took her one step further. Her fingers caressed the curve of his waist. There, she’d like to take a little bite, and watch him shudder with pleasure. His skin would taste earthy, like the subtle, woodsy scent of him. Her bodily reaction was as pleasurable as her thoughts as she explored her urges and recognized the

truth of them. She wanted Leith, she wanted to take him to the limit of carnal excitement and drown in the pleasure of his response. Tension stretched between them, as if he’d picked up on her thoughts. They were aware of each other too aware. Her pulse began to sprint when he gazed at her through partially hooded eyes. "Time we left, I think." Drawn into the hyacinth depths, she saw all to clearly that she was to be his prey, not the reverse. It would be he who took her over the edge. He’d take his pleasure and leave her without a backward glance. Hadn’t he made his intentions clear? Flowers, theater, picnic, dancing - all designed to seduce her. He would leave her heart broken in little pieces if she allowed herself to fall in love with him. Yes, it would be easy to fall in love, easy to live for the moment - to give herself to him, heart, body and soul. When all he really wants is your body. That notion alone had its attractions. A tiny shiver raced through her. "What are you thinking?" he whispered. As if he didn’t know. This was a man who knew women, who had the instincts of a hunter. She smiled, thinking that if Leith wasn’t in her father’s employ, and if that same father wasn’t lying in a hospital bed trusting her with his company, then she might very well go back to his hotel room and spend the night in his bed. As things stood, she couldn’t embarrass her father by having affairs with his key personnel, however attractive they were. "I’m thinking you should take me home." "I shouldn’t have asked." Amusement crept into his eyes and his smile quirked. He had the ability to laugh at himself, to accept defeat gracefully. He planted a hand in the middle of her back to guide her through the crowd. She hoped she had the strength of will to carry her through to his departure to Australia, so she didn’t make a fool of herself over him. A bray of laughter made her head turn, and she stopped in shock. Leith’s breath exhaled with a soft ‘oof’ when he walked into the back of her. Seated at a nearby table were Charles and Mark with some other people, including the girl from Mark’s department. The girl’s eyes widened in recognition. Tentatively, she touched Mark’s shoulder. He glanced with annoyance at her. Before the girl could say anything, Leith’s body came between her and the table. "Come on," he said, and inserting a hand under her elbow hustled her outside. He looked apologetic. "Sorry if I was rough. That man with Mark is Michael Burke. He has a building company in the north, and is looking to expand." She stared at him. "What are you telling me, Leith?" "It’s possible you’re in for real trouble." Fear stabbed at the pit of her stomach. "What sort of trouble?"

"I’m not about to hazard a guess until I find out more." His smile was almost a caress. "In the meantime, I seem to have enough trouble of my own to cope with." The preoccupation in his eyes told her his words were a ploy to take her mind off his earlier statement. She wanted to kiss him for that, and she wanted her kiss to steal the expression from his eyes and replace it with awareness of her. She gave in to the impulse, her lips touching a gentle invitation against his firm mouth. Although he responded it was automatic. His lips gave nothing and took nothing. The preoccupied expression remained in his eyes as he gunned the engine into life and drove her home.

Trouble arrived with a vengeance on Friday. For no apparent reason the bank canceled the company’s overdraft. When Katy rang the manager he was unavailable. She made an appointment to see him the following week, the only appointment available. A hastily arranged meeting with Edward Kirby assured her the company was in good shape, and she accepted his offer to make discreet inquiries amongst his colleagues. Ten minutes later, Marcia told her someone had arrived from Mark’s office with the tender for the council flats. She heaved a sigh of relief. At least they’d been delivered on time. Then she thought, considering Mark’s absence from work the papers must have been ready for signing earlier in the week. It was the girl who’d been with Mark at the night club. Katy’s glance was drawn to her deliberately flaunted hand, which was adorned with her own discarded engagement ring. She transferred her gaze from the papers to the girl. "What’s your name?" An expression of dislike flared in the eyes that slid away from hers. "Debra." "How long have you been with the company, Debra?" she said in an effort to cut through the tension surrounding the girl. Debra’s reaction was a triumphant smirk. "If you’re going to sack me because Mark has thrown you over for me, don’t bother. I’m leaving anyway." Katy’s eyes widened. She couldn’t imagine Mark being serious about Debra. The girl couldn’t have been more than eighteen. "I had no intention of sacking you. Are you sure you know what you’re doing?" Colour touched Debra’s cheeks. For a moment the defiant expression slipped, revealing the underlying vulnerability. Katy felt sorry for her. "If you need to talk -" The mask of insolence was back in an instant. "I don’t need your help. Why don’t you mind your own business?"

A perfectly sound suggestion, even if the delivery of it was rather abrupt. She bit back a hasty retort and counted silently to ten. "Under the circumstances your rudeness will not be noted on your file. No doubt, Mark will furnish you with references. Close the door on your way out." Who will furnish Mark with references, she thought, gazing once again at the tender papers. She didn’t raise her eyes until she heard the door close. Marcia came in fifteen minutes later, bearing a cup of coffee and a chocolate eclair. "The comfort food you ordered," she said, when Katy glanced askance at it. "I didn’t order it." Indignation chased the astonishment from Marcia’s face. "That little madam from accounts said you wanted it. Do you know how hard it is to find a cake shop in this part of town?" Katy laughed. "You can have the eclair if you want. I’ve learned to live without chocolate and cream. What time do these papers have to be lodged." "Three." She flicked a dismayed glance at the wad of papers. "That’s cutting it a bit fine. I haven’t read them yet and we’ve got lunch to get through." "Lunch should be a breeze. Men seem to fall at your feet, so the Aussie shouldn’t be much of a challenge. What have you got that I haven’t?" Katy cast a professional eye over Marcia. She was of medium height. Her figure type was slightly bottom heavy, but not enough to make her look disproportionate. Her hair style was too severe, and her make-up needed a softer approach. The red lipstick she wore emphasized her thin upper lip, when her fine blue eyes were her best feature. "I know a few tricks that would make you look stunning, and I rarely go anywhere without my make-up case," she said, almost to herself, and knowing she’d rather be doing that than reading through some stuffy tender that was bound to be perfect because Mark took pride in his work. Marcia’s eyes had began to shine. Katy indicated the tiny executive bathroom that adjoined the office. She just hoped this lapse in working ethics didn’t get back to her father. "Go and switch the phone through, and let’s get started."

Katy had expected someone, at least, her father’s age. David Sullivan was a tanned and wiry forty year old with a mass of light brown hair. His matching brown eyes were shrewd, and riveted on Marcia, who along with Leith, added a high degree of professionalism to the lunch-time conversation. The two men hit it off immediately. "How long are you in London, Dave?" Leith asked him. "A couple more weeks," the Australian drawled. "I came over for my sister’s wedding, and thought I’d do the tourist bit and have a bit of a look round while I was here." His eyes slid to Marcia. "How about showing me London at the weekend?"

Katy grinned when Marcia looked a bit taken aback and watched her take a deep breath. "I’d love to, but my son’s home from school." David’s glance swept over her ring less hand. "How old is he?" "Thirteen." "Almost a man. Is there any reason why he can’t come with us?" "I suppose there isn’t. I’ll have to ask him ... he might have other plans ..." Katy grinned when Marcia displayed signs of embarrassment at being pursued so obviously in front of everyone. "If you’ll excuse me I have to get back to the office. I have some papers to go through. No stay," she said when Marcia started to move. "I don’t need you for an hour or so, finish your lunch," and she gently kicked Leith in the shin. He obliged her by standing up and pulling back her chair when she rose. "There’s a couple of things I need to discuss with you, Katy, so I’ll come with you." They were smiling conspirator’s smiles at each other when they left the restaurant together. As soon as the office door closed behind them, she said. "What did you want to discuss, Leith? I’ve got this damned tender to wade through, and haven’t got a clue where to start. I’ll be glad when my father’s recovered, I wasn’t destined for the executive life." "If you’ll come away with me for the weekend I’ll go through it for you." Straight out, just like that - no preamble and with an extra inducement thrown in. She raised an eyebrow. "I don’t know how the diplomatic service manages to get by without you." His grin slayed her. "Before you say no, your Aunt Caroline is coming for the weekend." Katy’s groan was heartfelt. Her mother’s eldest sister was as disagreeable as indigestion. She’d never married, and disapproved of Katy’s job after seeing pictures of her advertising underwear - something she voiced loudly at every opportunity. She lived in a country cottage, acting as companion to an equally unpleasant and elderly spinster lady. There was no doubting her love for Celia though. "Also, I thought you might like to meet my sister." "Sister? I didn’t know you had one." She was suddenly beset by curiosity. "Where does she live?" "In the depths of the Dorset countryside, with her husband, two kids and a pack of dogs. Will you come?" She reminded him. "I have a shoot tomorrow morning." "We’ll leave straight after." The thought of a weekend in the country, away from the office and from the dreaded Aunt Caroline who would undoubtedly prefer not to have to compete for Celia’s attention - was very appealing. She dropped the tender documents into his hands. "It’s a deal. I’ll be manning Marcia’s desk if you need me."

Five minutes later, a furious sounding Leith called her in. "Unless I’m very much mistaken this tender has been deliberately priced too high. Who prepared it?" "Mark." He scowled. "That figures. Get Edward Kirby up here, and fast!" She didn’t like his tone of voice. "Would you care to turn that order into a request?" "I’m sorry," he growled, then strode around the desk and stood in front of her. A grin twisted his mouth. "I am sorry, Katy. I apologize." "Accepted." She put some space between them, aware of the magnetic attraction drawing them together as she dialed the extension of the accounts department. "Could you come up to the office please, Mr. Kirby? There seems to be a mistake in a document sent up this morning." She turned back to Leith. "That’s not the only problem. The bank has canceled our overdraft, and for no reason." Leith whistled. "Mark’s been a busy boy." Dispirited, she sank into a chair. She was making an awful hash of things. "I don’t think I can handle this any more." He knelt in front of her and took her hands in his. The honey of his voice soothed her tattered nerves, his eyes gazed into hers with smoky blue intensity. "You probably won’t have to for much longer." Her eyes searched his. "You have a solution?" Her heart melted when his lips brushed against the corner of her mouth. "Leith?" she murmured. He softly swore when a tap at the door announced Kirby’s arrival, and sprang to his feet. "Come in." It didn’t escape her notice that Leith seemed to have taken over, but somehow, she was much too tired to care.

CHAPTER SIX When they arrived at the warehouse it was still dark. Leith yawned as he switched off the car engine. "Are you sure this is the place?" Bands of light shone through the windows on to paint stripes on ground outside. A familiar green car with personalized number plates was parked outside. "There’s Fred’s car, so it must be." "Who’s Fred?" "The best photographer in the business. They’re certainly spending money on this shoot." She began to wake up. "We’ll be through in half the time with Fred in charge. Let’s go and see if there’s some coffee brewing."

It was like Aladdin’s cave inside. She gazed around her with interest. "Wotcher, Katy," Fred shouted from the other side of the space. "What do you think? Bloody great, isn’t it?" "Fantastic." The place was filled with theater props. Fred dodged around a papier-maché dragon and enveloped her in a hug. "Thank God you’re a professional, darling. I’ve got a couple of beginners on this shoot and they’re twitching with nerves. Honestly, they’re getting younger by the minute. "Or you’re getting older." He shrugged. "There’s that, of course. I’m putting you up front so they can see how a professional works." He held her at arm’s length and inspected her. "You look like you’ve been burning the candle at both ends. Put concealer on those circles under your eyes, it will save me having to air-brush." "Which circles?" Leith said, his voice full of bristles. "She looks perfect to me." "Not perfect enough for film." Fred flicked her an acid look. "Who’s the expert?" She introduced Leith, surprised to discover him uncomfortable with Fred. She grinned to herself when he mumbled some form of greeting. Leith usually associated with men like her father, tough, straightforward men. Her profession would be completely alien to him. Chances were, he’d never met anyone like Fred before - chances were he’d stereotyped him. Most people did at first sight. Humming to himself and with head to one side, Fred subject Leith to a thorough up and down scrutiny. He winked at her. Nice, me old china ... blooming lovely, in fact. Wonderful bod." Leith scowled. "Make sure you stay out of range," Fred said to him before he moved off. "I don’t want a load of amateurs gettin’ under me feet." "Remind me to take the flouncing little git up a high rise and drop him off," Leith growled when he was out of range. She chuckled. "Lighten up. it’s all an act. Fred’s a happily married man with three kids. That was a professional once-over he gave you, not a come-on." Leith’s voice subsided into a few low mutters. She found him a cup of coffee and a place to sit where he wouldn’t get in anyone’s way and raise Fred’s ire. Things could become hectic, and tempers had a habit of fraying if things went wrong. The dressing room was little more than half a dozen screens. There, she found the two young models, teenagers with perfect skin, large eyes, long legs and pouting mouths. Both of them looked nervous. She gave them a reassuring smile. "First professional shoot?" They nodded in unison.

"Just do what Fred tells you and you’ll be all right. Don’t get upset if he shouts. He can get a bit frazzled and his bark’s worse than his bite." Her dresses were hanging on a rail, the dresser and make-up artist already on hand. She stripped off and climbed into a full-skirted purple number. Made up, she joined her male counterpart on a flight of stairs leading up to a gilt mirror. She’d worked with Tony several times before. They exchanged a brief hug and kiss, then went through the motions swiftly and without fuss until Fred was satisfied. One thing followed another like clockwork. She congratulated herself as she squeezed into the last outfit, a white satin leotard covered in beads and teamed with a diaphanous split skirt. "What’s going on?" she said, hearing the sound of upraised voices as her hair was pulled into a beaded headpiece. A blue satin cloak with stand up collar was placed around her shoulders, purple lipstick painted over the pink. She emerged from behind the screen to find Tony and Fred eyeballing each other. "I’m not going up on that thing," Tony yelled. Fred was almost frothing at the mouth. "It’s been checked by a rigger. Tell this mummy’s darlin’ it’s safe, Katy." She eyed the trapeze, guessing it was to be raised to a canopy of silk under the roof. Heights didn’t bother her, but she wasn’t stupid enough to go up with a person who was terrified of them. "I’ll go up by myself, Fred." "You’re an absolute angel." Leith’s voice cut firmly into the row. "Like hell she will. Katy’s not going up there alone with no safety net under her, and she’s certainly not going up there with someone who suffers from vertigo." The hubbub stopped. What happened next impressed her, mostly because she hadn’t realized Fred was quite so calculating. He threw her a grin and said with acid conciseness. "Fetch the man a tux somebody. I’m not about to lose this shot because Tony’s too chicken-livered to do his job." Whilst Leith looked stunned, Tony told Fred where to go in no uncertain manner. Fred flapped a hand at him. "Naughty, naughty! Go and have a good sulk, then run home to mumsy, me little darlin’. You’ll feel better afterwards." Tony stalked off, leaving what he considered to be an appropriate pseudonym for Fred to colour the air. "Very descriptive," Fred yelled after him, "I’ll have it bottled. He grinned and challenged Leith directly. "Are you going to put your money where your mouth is, big man, or am I going to have the security guards bounce you out on your posterior?"

Leith could have picked Fred up with one hand and bounced him like a basketball. The fact that he didn’t, impressed her, though his smile took on a gritty look and his eyes gleamed. "If I was you I’d get lost while you still can," she said to Fred. He didn’t need telling twice. She laughed when Leith swore and whispered in his ear. "I’m sorry I’ve spoiled your snack. Go and get your make-up on, I don’t want to hang around all day by myself." Five minutes later he was back, looking totally sexy with his hair coaxed into curls. The white tuxedo her wore was open over a black polo neck, the cuffs turned back. They’d accentuated his eyes, and powdered the shine from his face. "I feel like an idiot," he grumbled when they were being taken up. "You look great." "You look like something from a horror movie in that lipstick." "Be careful I don’t sink my fangs into your neck and take a bite of you." He gave a low, chuckle. "Any time, Katy." "Quiet everyone. We don’t want any distractions. There was a hush from below. When the lights were adjusted, Leith swore. "Don’t look at them," she said. "Look at me and listen to Fred. He knows what he’s doing." Leith gazed into her eyes when the camera started to click. When he leaned forward to take her hand the trapeze gently swayed back and forth. "Take the cloak from her shoulders, darlin’," Fred instructed. "That’s you he’s talking to, Leith darlin’," she prompted. "Are you sure he’s married?" "Perfectly sure." She kept her eyes on Leith when he slowly inched the cloak from her shoulders. "He spread it wide and dropped it. It floated into the void below." "Wonderful, now lean forward and kiss the cheek away from the camera." "With pleasure." The trapeze swayed slightly when he leaned forward. His lips found her ear lobe, and she shivered when he gently bit it. "Behave yourself," she hissed. "Fantastic, work your way to the front. Respond, Katy." Fred sounded excited. She glanced to where his voice came from. Perched like a monkey on another trapeze, he was being raised and lowered by the crew in response to his hand signals. "Pout, Katy."

Trying not to giggle she managed a smoldering pout. Leith eyed it. "That lipstick looks lethal." The pout became a grin. "If you make me laugh, I’ll fall." "I won’t let you." He nibbled the corner of her mouth. "Not bad. It tastes better than it looks." His arm slid around her waist. "Let go of the rope, ease yourself against me." "Are you mad?" His eyes absorbed hers. "Trust me. I’ll keep you safe." She believed him. There was a stifled gasp when she let go of the rope and edged to the center of the trapeze." Leith smiled his piratical smile at her. "Can you think of a better way of spending a Saturday morning?" "In bed," she suggested. "Now you’re talking." The back of his free hand trailed gently down her face. "Is that a firm offer?" "Dynamite," Fred whispered over the tense silence, and she could hear his camera working overtime. "Hold it ... hold it ... right, that’s it. Hold tight, we’ll bring you down." She was shaking as they were lowered to the floor amid applause, her adrenaline totally expended. "Wonderful, me old darlins’," Fred enthused. "A shot in a million." "If you pull a stunt like that again with her, I’ll ram the damned camera down your throat, darlin’," Leith said with quiet menace before striding off. Refusing to be intimidated Fred smiled with satisfaction. "I’ll give you the shot of where you were both balanced in the middle. A souvenir." The colour drained from her face. "He let go of the rope as well?" "Confidence, that’s all it takes. That’s a man who knows exactly what he’s doing." A space appeared where her knees usually resided. Faintly, she said, "I’ll kill him." Fred enveloped her in a brief hug. "You’ll make a fortune from that shot. What’s more to the point, so shall I. Thanks, Katy. You can shove off now if you want." She’d never wanted anything more.

"Are you going to stay mad at me all weekend?" "I’m considering it." She opened her eyes a chink. Shattered nerves had made already made her chew him out after the shoot, but a second dose wouldn’t hurt. Trust him, he’d said! Hah! "What sort of guy

tells me I’m safe, then lets go of the only thing between me and the ground?" His soft chuckle made her toes curl. "You’re really something, Katy. I thought you liked the unexpected." "Not that unexpected." She remembered the expression on his face when Fred had tricked him into partnering her, and laughed. "When that picture’s published it could be the start of a new career for you." "Not a chance," he growled. "Today was a real eye opener for me. Next time I see a gorgeous woman decorating a magazine, I’ll know the effort that went into it. You frightened the hell out of me offering to go up on that trapeze alone." She grinned. "You came over a bit on the macho side. As it turned out, I would have been in less danger up there by myself." "It’s not my fault you proved to be such a distraction. That dress was so low-cut my eyes nearly fell into your bodice when that cloak slid off. If they had, they would have caught fire." The scenario appealed to her sense of the ridiculous. Sometimes, his eyes contained enough heat to melt steel. At the thought of her breasts catching fire a laugh choked out of her. "Are you trying to convince me you’re hot stuff, Stanford?" He applied himself to the question for a few moments, then grinned sideways at her. "Spontaneous combustion has to be experienced, and it’s better shared." "Or purchased," she reminded him, a mocking light in her eye. "When we first met, did you really think I was worth as much as you offered?" He flicked her a glance. "I usually judge a book by its cover. Your cover was particularly well designed." His mouth twitched. "I thought you looked provocative." "In beige pants and -" "Red satin garments with a touch of lace, I believe." He whistled and shook his head. Incredible. When I came out of the bathroom and found you’d disappeared, I was quite disappointed." "You creep! Are you saying you watched me dress?" "I wish I had." "Then how?" "I saw a bit of red lace when I paid you. It put all sorts of ideas in my head." "Only your head?" She grinned when he shot her a look, and relaxed back in her seat. "You didn’t pay me. Not only did I send the money back, I wasn’t for sale in the first place." "One day I’ll come up with the right offer." He caught her warning glance and laughed. "Then again, we might happen to want to combust spontaneously at exactly the right moment." The possibility of that happening grew stronger every time she saw him. She liked his sense of humor,

the way he teased her, his sureness and touch of arrogance he displayed. His voice was a dream and his body ...? Her glance was pulled towards him like metal to a magnet and a surge of desire rocketed through her. "Hungry?" Leith asked, his eyes flicking to the roadhouse sign ahead. If he knew how hungry, she wouldn’t stand a chance. She put her indecent fantasies on hold. "I’m ravished." He raised an eyebrow as they pulled into the parking lot. "Was that a slip of the tongue, or wishful thinking?" Her subconscious needed a lesson in discipline, but she couldn’t stop herself from grinning. "I meant, ravenous." "In that case we’ll have breakfast. I’ll save the ravishment for a later date." The early start had given them both an appetite. Ignoring her waistline, Katy joined Leith to wolf down a giant sized breakfast. They washed it down with a pot of tea, and within half an hour were on the road again. Fields, forest, rivers and villages flashed by. It wasn’t long before they were meandering through the green, Dorset countryside. They came upon a white-painted house. It looked completely at home, standing on a daisy-strewn lawn. There was a spreading oak tree for shade and a riot of gaudily colored flowers jostling for space in the borders. When the car drew to a halt outside the garage Katy heard a dog bark from somewhere inside the house, then a chorus of frenzied noise. "We’re not going to be attacked, are we?" "There’s only three of them." Leith smiled as an old black Labrador waddled around the corner. Followed by a Pekinese and a Poodle, their tails wagged a unanimous welcome. They’d just got out of the car when a Doberman trailing a leash bounded out of a bush and bared its teeth at them. She edged behind Leith. "Is it smiling or snarling?" "Smiling, I hope." Carefully, he held out a hand to the dog. "Lynn has a tendency to take in strays." The Doberman sniffed Leith’s hand, explored it with his tongue, then deciding he liked the owner he reared on his hind legs and planted his front paws in the middle of Leith’s chest. "Get down you idiot." Leith fondled its ears and pushed it aside before taking her hand in his. "Let’s get inside before it changes its mind." The air was redolent of roses as the dogs escorted them to the door. The flower beds under the French windows were massed with them, the scent trapped by the humidity. Leith frowned when there was no answer to his knock. He kicked the door mat aside, sighed, then

fished around in a hanging pot of brilliant red geraniums. As he inserted the key triumphantly in the door he stated what was already obvious to her. "They must be out." They were out. A note stuck to the fridge door advised Leith of the fact that they’d be back the following day. "Untie the Doberman," it said. "Although he looks fierce he’s really quite friendly. His name’s Conan. Take same for a run else he’ll bark all night and keep you awake." Conan stuck his head through a swinging flap in the door and gazed at them hopefully when Leith finished reading the note. "Later, mutt, I’ve got a guest to look after first." Her room had a view over fields sloping down to a small village. "This used to be a rectory before the church decided to economize," he said, throwing open the windows. "If you want a good run ..." And her glance followed his pointing finger to a track meandering through the copse. "... that goes through the hills to the sea. It’s a testing run, but there’s a swim at the end of it." The place had a quietness about it she liked. It gentled the tension that had built up in her over the previous week. "It’s lovely here." "I was hoping you’d like it. This is where I grew up." The introspection in his voice told of memories being recalled. He’d never mentioned his background to her before. She realized she knew very little about him and hoped she wasn’t intruding when she asked. "Do your parents live close by?" "They died in a boating accident when I was twelve." She had intruded. "I’m sorry. That must have been traumatic." "Yes," he said simply. "Lyn was only eighteen at the time. She gave up a place at Oxford to look after me. She used the money from our inheritance to put me through school, and worked in an office to keep the roof over our heads." "She sounds nice." "She’s okay." Leith’s eyes focused on her like two blue jewels. "She deserved more than I gave her in return. I went off the rails for a while and didn’t complete the final year of my degree. I went for big money instead and joined a chancy building company. It went bust. That’s when your father came into my life." "Go on," she said when he hesitated. "Your father took over the contract in Brazil. It was his first overseas contract. I was out of money, didn’t have the fare home and asked him for a job." "End of story," she said with a smile. "Only the beginning. He hired me as a laborer and spent the next three months teaching me enough to get through my final exam. I expected to be upgraded, but he kept me on as a laborer." Leith’s grin was self-deprecating. "He told me I was too brash and still wet behind the ears. He said he’d offer me something better when he thought I was worth the effort he’d put in on me."

She sucked in a breath. The remark seemed uncharacteristic of her father. But then, she only knew him in one role, as the loving father she adored. "He was right of course, but I didn’t find that out until a couple of years ago." She remembered his prison record. "What happened then?" His smile faded a bit. "My get-rich-quick philosophy brought me more trouble than I could handle." Delicately, she suggested. "The prison?" "Right, first time." A phone rang downstairs and Katy silently cursed when he turned towards the door. "Make yourself comfortable. That’s probably Lynn checking up on me." Leith was still on the phone when she’d finished unpacking. She tidied herself up and left the pretty green and white painted bedroom. He cast an appreciative eye over her when she walked down the stairs, blew her a kiss and whispered. "I’ll be with you in a minute." As she wandered into the kitchen she heard him say before he replaced the receiver, "Are you sure that’s what you want? Okay, I’ll see you at seven then." He joined her in the kitchen and opened the fridge door. His voice sounded unnatural, as if he’d hit a false note. "Right, what can I get you to eat?" He pounced on some eggs without waiting for an answer. "I’m a master chef when it comes to omelets." "Omelets will do," and she took the eggs from his hands when the phone rang again. "I’ll cook them whilst you answer your calls." He seemed relieved by the diversion and dropped a kiss on her nose. "Thanks, I’ll have cheese in mine." When he returned he was back to normal. He flopped into a chair at the table. "That was Lyn. She said to tell you to give me a smack around the ear every time I misbehave." He gazed with appreciation at the omelet she slid in front of him. "It looks nearly as good as the one I make." "It’s probably better than yours. I saw the relief in your eyes when the phone rang." She was pulled on to his lap. "Watch it, boss lady," he said, the laughter in his eyes irresistible. "You’re much too sassy for your own good." "And you’re too confident." He yelped when she slapped his ear and slid from his lap. "Eat, or I’ll give it to Conan." As if on cue, the dog in question stuck his head through the flap and stared pointedly at Leith’s plate. "Shove off, hound." He picked up his fork. "Katy cooked it for me, and I’m going to eat it." He stared at her side of the table. "Aren’t you going to eat?" "I’m a bit too tired to eat, and I’m not really hungry after that big breakfast we had." "Why don’t you go and have a rest."

After a genuinely stressful week, the thought of relaxing on her bed and listening to the silence proved quite irresistible. She didn’t need to be told twice. The country air streamed through the window. It smelled of roses instead of diesel fumes, and the only droning sounds came from the bees in the flower beds below. Far away she heard a lawn mover engine, then the lowing of a cow. She smiled slightly. It was very relaxing ...

"Are you going to sleep all afternoon or do you want to come for a walk?" She opened one eye a chink. "What’s the time?" "Three." "You’re lying," she said, and closing it again, snuggled back into the pillow. "I’ve only just laid down." "Oh, no you don’t." She grinned at the laughter in his voice when he turned her over. "If I leave you here you won’t sleep tonight. Open your eyes." She opened them and squinted against the light. "If that’s a mug of tea in your hand I’m going to wake up fast." "It’s tea." She scrambled up in bed and reached for it. "Not so fast. It’s my tea. Yours is on the kitchen table." "I hate you sometimes," she grumbled, and pushing the hair from her face scrambled off the bed. "As long as it’s only sometimes." He smiled and handed her the mug of tea. "How do you feel about me now?" A gulp of the tea brought a blissful smile to her face. "I’m mad about you." "How mad?" Something in his eyes told her to be careful. "Moderately, but not insanely." Setting the mug on the table she grabbed up her hairbrush and attacked her hair, twisting it into a knot at the top of her head. The reflection of his face appeared in the mirror beside hers. "Why don’t you leave it down?" "It’s too hot." She secured it with a slide and turned to face him. A thread of tension had formed between them. A smile skirted around his mouth as he carefully scrutinized her. "We’re in for a storm later, I think. Does thunder scare you?" "No."

"Heights don’t." He had something to say to her, but was going about it the long way. "You know they don’t." "There must be something that scares you. Mice perhaps?" She laughed. "Men?" he suggested softly. What was he getting at? She wasn’t frightened of men, she was just frightened of getting involved with him. She turned to mush every time she set eyes on him. There was a sexual revolution going on inside her at this very moment. But Leith had heart-breaker written all over him. "Why should I be frightened of men?" She inhaled the scent of his body and felt something blatantly sexual churn in the pit of hers. Deep down, she knew she wouldn’t discourage any physical advances he made to her. She could only fight him with words. "I usually trust men I happen to like." His finger lodged under her chin and tipped her face up. His grin was all knowing. "That sort of emotional blackmail doesn’t wash with me. I’m a thoroughly despicable character." He proved it by demolishing her with a kiss, and it would have developed into more if Conan hadn’t bounded through the door, and with a flying leap, knocked them both backwards on to the bed. When a hot tongue rasped down her face, and panting dog breath was spliced with a couple of choice oaths, she started to laugh and slid out from under them. "Get him, Conan!" Conan needed no encouragement. He attacked Leith in a series of splay-footed bounds and yipping snarls, until Leith managed to wrestle him to the floor in a heap of bedclothes. Picking up her tea, Katy stepped over them both, and laughing, escaped downstairs.

Their walk took them over the hills, through fields decked in summer wildflowers and a village of delightful thatched cottages, which seemed to be set in a previous time. Stepping stones took them over a brook that meandered through the village. It was a leisurely walk, and apart from a few cows, who lifted white faces to gaze at them, they didn’t meet a soul. The air was slightly sultry, but vibrantly alive with the humming of bees. It seemed the most natural thing in the world to slip her hand into Leith’s. He squeezed it when she said. "London seems like another planet. Even the air smells different down here." His nose wrinkled. "Spoken like a true city girl. It’s the by-product of the cows. It lends a rural atmosphere." "That’s an unromantic way of looking at it." He slanted her a glance. "I was brought up here, and know how romantic the place can be. It’s nice for a holiday, but to be quite honest, I wouldn’t like to move back here permanently."

"Where would you like to settle?" "Epping forest perhaps. I had a holiday there when I was a child. It’s also nearer to London." She nodded in agreement. "I did an advert there a couple of years ago. They sat me in a coach wearing a fortune in real diamonds. Along came Dick Turpin on his horse to rob me of them. It was good fun." "I haven’t seen that one." Dryly, she said. "No one has. On closer examination, the board of directors marketing the product decided my heaving bosom detracted from the product. They settled for a black, velvet tablecloth instead." Leith chuckled. "They must have been blind to have preferred the diamonds to the alternative." "One of them wasn’t. He phoned the agency and invited me out to dinner." "Does that happen often?" he said with a touch of annoyance. She shrugged, unwilling to tell him it was quite frequent. "It’s an occupational hazard, I guess." He stopped and gazed at her. "Doesn’t it bug you?" "Sometimes, when the calls or letters are obscene. The agency handles those," she said hastily when anger replaced the annoyance in his eyes. "How many of those do you get?" "Not many. Most of the calls and letters are from young girls wanting to be models and asking for advice. I intend to open my own modeling academy one day." "You’ll give up modeling then." "Not for a year or two." She smiled when he relaxed. "By that time I should have enough money for the academy, and can model part-time while it’s getting established. I have plenty of contacts in the business, so it shouldn’t be too hard." They resumed their walk in silence. As they neared the house the dogs surged ahead, except for the aging Labrador who waddled along at the rear. Leith turned to glance at her. "Why are you going to run your own business? I thought you hated being in charge of your father’s." She wished he hadn’t reminded her about the mess she’d have to face on Tuesday. Her eyes were troubled when she gazed up at him. "Modeling, I know about. I’m not a builder and I’m making a complete hash of it. That tender paper was incomprehensible to me, and I couldn’t make head or tail of the contract you signed." He tried to disguise his grin and she gently punched him on the arm. "It’s not funny. If I never have to set foot in dad’s office again, it would make me very happy." "Would it?"

"Totally. Now can we forget about it for the weekend, please?" "Sure, I won’t mention it again." He kissed the top of her head just before they went indoors. A rumble of thunder reached their ears. "Just in time," he muttered, and smiled winningly at her. "Who’s cooking dinner tonight?" "You’re the host, You are." "I thought you’d say that." His martyred sigh would have done justice to St. Joan as he headed for the kitchen. "Take a bath whilst I get on with it. If things run true to form, when this storm hits we’re liable to be without electricity." The power went out just when she was about to iron a blouse to wear over her pants. "Can I borrow a shirt?" she called down the stairs. "Help yourself. My room’s at the end of the hall." His wardrobe was stuffed with shirts of different hues. She raised an eyebrow when she selected a gaudy shirt she couldn’t imagine him wearing. Made of burgundy brocade, it had no collar and was laced up the front. Rolling up the sleeves she presented herself with a grin. "I’m beginning to wonder about you, Leith, this is definitely Romeo and Juliet." He laughed. "Try the Pirates of Penzance, school play, final year at school." He walked around her with a grin on his face. "I think Lyn made it out of a pair of old curtains. It looks great on you. Keep it." "Thanks." She reached up to kissed his cheek and made contact with his mouth when he neatly turned his head. "Nice," he said with a chuckle. "Do it again." "Some other time," she said evenly, then jumped when a crash of thunder split the sky above them. Her heart picked up speed and she gave a shaky smile. "What’s for dinner?" "Chicken casserole, creamed potatoes and runner beans." Her astonishment showed, because she couldn’t smell anything cooking. "Lynn left them ready in the freezer for us. I only had to warm them through." He opened the oven to check, presenting her with a tautly attractive rear. His face fell when he turned back to her. "Damn, I forgot to light the gas under it. I hope you’re not starving." Mission accomplished, he caught her smile before she could hide it. "Stop laughing at me. Let’s take a bottle of wine into the conservatory and watch the storm for a while." The simple truth hit Katy when Leith braved the inferno to fetch her a red rose from the garden. She’d fallen in love with him. He shook the rain from his hair and presented it to her. "For my lady."

Her heart hovered somewhere between elation and dismay as his eyes tangled with hers. It settled for elation, sending it fizzing through her veins to fill her body to the brim. She didn’t need wine to intoxicate her. Leith had the same effect. "That’s a very special smile you have," he murmured. She hadn’t known she was smiling at him. She dropped his offering on the table and took his face between her palms. "It’s for a very special person." His mouth was soft and compliant when she traced a kiss across it, but he didn’t take advantage of what her lips were telling him. He gazed at her with a wry smile, the expression in his eyes slightly wary. "I didn’t expect that." "What did you expect from this weekend?" she asked instinctively knowing she’d get an honest answer. It was disappointing. "I intended to make sure you relaxed." "No seduction planned?" "Just enough to keep you interested." The grin he gave was disarmingly tender, his voice firm. "I didn’t count on you trying to seduce me." She couldn’t keep the laughter from her voice. "What will you do about it, Leith?" "I’ll sleep on it," he growled, and turning her round pushed her towards the kitchen. "Tomorrow, I’ll kick myself for being a gentleman." He did neither. Katy was woken by the light flicking on. At first, she thought it was morning. A glance at her watch told her otherwise. They’d gone to their separate bedrooms in the midst of a power cut, and she realized she must have automatically flicked the light switch when she walked into the room. She switched it off, and was about to get back into bed when she noticed light shining under the door. A downstairs light was on as well. It was the kitchen. Whilst she was down there she helped herself to a glass of orange juice, and had just clicked off the light when she barged into Leith, who was entering through the same door. Even though she knew who it was she gave an alarmed squeak. His arms came around her. "I’m sorry if I startled you. The lights were on." She experienced every inch of him through her satin slip of a nightie - the lightly furred smoothness of his chest, the firm muscles and the rough towel at his waist. "I like that perfume you’re wearing." His voice was gruff as his hand brushed lightly across her buttocks. "Some night-dress." His touch sent messages to her body that were impossible to ignore, and he tensed when her nipples jutted against his chest. "Go to bed," he growled, making no attempt to let her go. Where she was suited her just fine. She slid her arms around his neck. "Kiss me."

"Damn you, Katy," he whispered, burying his lips into her hair, "You know it won’t stop at that." Heat rose from his body as his roving mouth sent ecstatic little shivers through her. Then his hands slid under her buttocks and he lifted her against him. She arched her back when he teased her breasts into flame and murmured with pleasure, needing his passion to quench her own. She didn’t know how they reached his bedroom. The glow of the lamp lit his face as he tumbled her on to the bed, emphasizing the taut lines. Her finger coaxed his mouth into a smile. "Why so serious, Leith?" "Would you believe I had no intention of -" "You don’t want me?" she teased, knowing her eyes were soft with loving him, and that only a fool could fail to see the signals she was sending out. "Hell, yes! Since the moment I set eyes on you." She tugged the towel from his waist. His body was beautiful. Hard and muscular, its coiled strength was designed to work in symmetry with his brain’s commands. The rest of him was proportioned accordingly. She ran a finger down the silky length of him. The effect was instant. "Just testing," she said, and grinned when he chuckled, mostly at herself for being so eager. He slid her nightie up over her head and kissed her though the satin, leaving a dewy patch against the fabric. She could see his glance dancing over her through the filmy fabric. Lust came in a swift, erotic flood. This wasn’t going to be the clinical act she’d grown used to, but a full-blooded, rough and tumble of sex. She’d be expected to participate as an equal partner. He’d expect her to be more experienced than she was. "Leith ... I don’t know if I’m going to be what you expect ... and the light’s still on." His tongue lashed lightly over her breasts and settled in the hollow at the base of her throat. She felt relaxed, as if she was being fed a drug to rob her of everything but intense pleasure. "The sight of you turns me on. Does that bother you?" She stretched like a lazy cat. "I guess it doesn’t, at that." "And your taste is something else. I’m going to devour you bit by bit, and it’s going to take me all night." The way she was trapped excited her, as did his words. Leith was going to bring all his senses into play. He’d stalked her, caught her, and was going to enjoy her at his leisure. His natural arrogance would drive him to prove himself as a lover and she’d end up totally satisfied. The light rasp of his tongue against her flesh made her gasp with delightful anticipation, leaving her eager to experience more. Straddling her body he slid her nightie up over her head and tossed it in a corner. His hands pinned hers to the pillow and he gazed down at her. Desire rode the blue depths of his eyes and a quirky smile played

around his mouth. "It’s going to be my way, brown eyes. Later, we can play games." She wanted to touch the firm thighs she was pinned between, she wanted to run her hands over the flat expanse of his stomach. She had the feeling he intended to keep her at arm’s length and drive her crazy with wanting him. He smiled with the knowledge when he put his mouth close to her ear to whisper. "Later, Katy?" She was wondering how much later when his teeth nipped gently at her lower lip. The tip of her tongue flicked against the sting and encountered his. Very slowly his mouth closed over hers, then his tongue curled into her mouth and withdrew. She sucked it back in, feeling the erogenous rhythm pick up pace until it seemed to involve every nerve ending in her body. There was a sense of loss when he stopped to gaze down at her. She didn’t know what he needed to find in her face, but it must have been there because he gave a faint smile. "Don’t stop," she whispered, lifting her mouth up to his. Her wrists were brought together on the pillow and manacled there by one of his hands. His weight shifted to the side, and his free hand made delicious inroads into her heated flesh. The wild cry of longing she gave became a long drawn out groan when his mouth closed over hers. After that, she forgot everything except the wild sensuality of their passion.

CHAPTER SEVEN Katy’s toes whirled soap over Leith’s chest. Totally relaxed, he reclined against the back of the old-fashioned bath, his eyes shut. "Are you asleep?" "Mmmm." A grin tickled his mouth and he grabbed her foot to kiss each toe. "I’m recharging my batteries." They would need recharging, she thought, trying not to blush when she recalled the previous night. She’d been taken to heights she’d never experienced, her abandoned response laying to rest any small doubts she’d had about the status of her own sensuality. He’d woken her in a most delicious manner too, keeping her in an erotic dream-like state until everything had merged into an explosive urgency of driven consciousness. "Can you manage a run this morning?" Her heart flipped over like a sizzling pancake when she became the feature of his smile. "Can you?" "My energy is inexhaustible when I’m with you." "Uhuh, I noticed," and she grinned. "Running’s a bit different."

His hands slid under the water to caress the back of her knees. "Tell me what you’re thinking." "Breakfast," she lied, and catching the glint of eyes watching from under his lashes, delicately licked her top lip with the tip of her tongue. "What about you?" His hands circled her calves. "I was wondering if I might be able to slide you along the bath on to my lap, then make love to you without spilling a drop of water over the side." "Impossible," she murmured. As it turned out, only half of it was impossible ...

Leith had been right. It was a punishing run. Katy watched him reach the top of the hill and double over to catch his breath. She’d slowed to a walk to climb each hill, careful not to over strain her muscles. The aim was to keep fit, not body build. By the time she reached Leith he was on the grass, stretching his tendons and muscles to avoid soreness. She flopped down beside him, wincing when the muscle in the back of her thigh threatened to spasm. "Here, let me." He knelt at her feet, gently helping her through the cooling down process. The breeze ruffled his hair against his forehead. Dark strands stuck to his perspiration, his eyes were on hers and his mouth was laughing. "You’re pretty good for a woman?" "A week behind a desk has made me lazy." She put her hands behind her head when he gripped both her ankles, and did half a dozen sit-ups. Seagulls flew lazily overhead, then settled in the grass not far off, watching them. Conan charged over the hill, barking to scare them off. The air smelt of salt, which was hardly surprising, because a glimpse over Leith’s shoulder revealed a stretch of glittering sea at the bottom of the dune they occupied. She wished she bought swim-wear. "We could of taken a dip?" "We still can. No-one ever comes here at this time of morning." He held out his hand to her and pulled her upright, settling a light kiss on her mouth at the same time. She hadn’t expected him to strip naked, but he did. After a moment’s hesitation she followed suit, and they ran into the breaking waves together, laughing with the sheer joy of it. The salt water flowed like cool satin over her skin. They acted like a couple of kids, throwing seaweed, ducking and splashing each other, and shrieking with laughter as they played like dolphins in the breaking waves. It was Conan who alerted them to the fact someone else was present, disappearing from the water in full voice to race to the top of the dune in a flurry of droplets. He hurled himself at a small figure. The figure greeted the dog with a flurry of pats, then waved both arms in the air and turned away to disappear over the crest of the dune. The sound of an engine was barely heard over the noise of the sea, then it was gone.

"Your sister, Lyn?" she said, for she couldn’t think who else would interrupt them and bring a smile to Leith’s face. Circling her waist, Leith cupped her buttocks in his hands and pulled her against him. His eyes were full of regret. "Damn, I was hoping to have you to myself for a bit longer." "There’s always next weekend." "You might not want to know me next weekend," he said, the expression in his eyes suddenly serious. "That’s why I don’t want this one to end." "Everything ends," and she remembered he’d be leaving for Australia soon. She’d embarked on this affair without giving thought to the future of the relationship. "Perhaps it ought to end now, Leith. You’re leaving soon. I don’t want to put myself in the position of being ... emotionally hurt." His eyes clouded over, rested on her face for a moment "I guess that’s the risk we all have to take. I didn’t intend to pressure you." "You didn’t pressure me. We just happened." She smiled shakily at him, trying to ignore the suspicion forming in her mind. Then she slid from his arms and headed for the beach, disappointed he hadn’t bothered to argue with her. But then, why should he? She was just another girl to him. Suddenly, she was dreading the rest of the weekend. The intimate relationship they’d enjoyed would changed things and they’d no longer be easy with each other, or be content to remain as just friends.

Lyn bore very little resemblance to her brother. She was of small to average height and slightly overweight. Her brown hair was cut short in a sensible fashion, but her eyes were the same vivid blue. Katy was introduced to Lyn, then to her husband, who dropped the case he was carrying to pump her hand up and down, then to the two gangling teenagers, who were so awkward with her they blushed, then looked at Leith for rescue. He obliged with the opening gambit, "How’s the cricket practice going?" "Andy might make the first eleven this year. Dad’s promised us a game after lunch -" "He thought you might like to bowl, he said you’re faster than him," the other one chipped in. "Later," Lyn shooed them away. "I want to discuss something with your uncle first." Lyn’s voice had an undertone of tension, as if she wasn’t looking forward to what she had to say. Katy gazed from one to the other. "I’ll go and tidy myself up." Leith captured her hand and pulled her on to the sofa beside him. "You haven’t got to excuse yourself. I haven’t got any secrets where you’re concerned." Lyn bit her lip and blurted out. "I want to sell the house." "Fine. Go ahead."

Lyn didn’t seem to hear him. "Bob has been offered a partnership in a law firm at Oxford, and now the boys are big enough to fend for themselves a bit, I want to resume my education." "Good idea." Katy grinned when Lyn gave him a suspicious look. "What did you say?" "Good idea." "Half of the house is yours, Leith. I thought you’d object." Leith smiled at her. "As it happens I need the money. I suppose you’ve had a market valuation done?" Lynn colored. "Actually, yes ... in fact the agent has already got a good offer for it." "In writing?" Lyn fetched some papers from the bureau and handed them to him, watching anxiously whilst he read through them. Leith whistled. "Someone with more money than sense. Accept it." "That’s what Bob said you’d say." Lyn’s eyes lit up. "I’ll go and ring the agent at home. He’d said he’d come out and get your signature if you agreed to sell." She turned at the door, her eyes suddenly anxious. "You don’t mind, do you? It was our family home and I don’t want you to lose it just because you need money. Bob and I could always lend you some, and we could rent a place in Oxford." Within seconds Leith was on his feet and across the floor. He took her in a hug and said fiercely. "It’s time to let go, Lyn. This place is full of memories. The picture in the hall is the one Dad bought mom for her birthday, there’s a blue hooped bowl of hers still in use, and a set of dad’s golf clubs in the attic, along with other reminders." "I can’t bear to get rid of them. I’ve always had the feeling that one day -" "- they’d walk in through the back door." He shrugged, and tenderly kissed the top of her head. "You know better than that, Lyn. You don’t owe anything to anyone except yourself now, and I’ll throw the biggest damned party Oxford’s ever seen when you graduate." They’d forgotten she was still there. A lump formed in Katy’s throat and tears filled her eyes. Despite being witness to Leith’s softer side, she felt she was intruding on an intensely personal moment. Silently, she left the room by way of the French windows.

The weekend flew by. Once the offer and acceptance had been signed, Lyn seemed galvanized into activity. "I’m going to sort out your wardrobe, first," she said to Leith. "If there’s anything you want to keep, now’s your chance." She handed Katy a plastic bag. "You might like to help." She avoided Leith’s grin when Lyn eyed the messy bed and scolded, "It’s about time you learned to be tidier." As she gave the quilt a shake Katy’s nightie slid out and landed on Leith’s foot. A casual flick sent

it under the bed. It was retrieved later when a pale-lemon cashmere jumper fell to the floor. Leith shuffled her nightie inside it when he bent to pick her up. "This would look good on you, Katy. Why don’t you go and try it on?" She’d just pushed the sleeves up when Leith came in carrying an identical sky blue one over his arm. He dropped it on the bed, and drawing her into his arms whispered against her ear. "I have a desperate need to kiss you." When he finally released her, Katy felt a little desperate herself. He gazed down at her, his expression becoming slightly rueful when Lyn called out for him. "I shouldn’t have done that, should I?" "Leith!" she whispered urgently when he strode rapidly from the room, then she giggled when Lynn said in amusement. "You should change your lipstick colour, that bronze shade doesn’t quite suit you. Reach up and get those suitcases down from the wardrobe for me, would you. What’s in them?" "How should I know? I haven’t lived here for the past fourteen years, and some of this stuff dates back to my school days. Look, just get rid of everything. I like to travel light." "Still the same old rolling stone." "I just don’t see the point of hanging on to things." There was a grunt, followed by the sound of locks clicking, then a long drawn out: "Oh God! I’d forgotten about this." There was silence for a few moments then Lynn said. "It’s wreckage from the boat, isn’t it?" "Yes. I found it on the beach a month later." "You didn’t tell me." "No. I didn’t see the point. It’s only a few sticks." "Oh Leith ... I was suffering too." "More then me, I expect. You gave up everything to look after me. You needn’t have." "They would have put you in a children’s home." "I would have survived," he said gruffly "You may have, but I wouldn’t. You were all I had left, and believe it or not I loved and needed you." Lyn’s laughter had a shaky sound to it. "I’ll box your damned ears if you still think differently after all these years." "I know. I guess I wanted to punish everyone for what had happened for a long time afterwards. I’m sorry I was such a pest, sis." And Lyn said in a voice thick with tears. "What shall we do with the wreckage?"

"Burn it. I’ll do it tonight, at the cove." "Even after all these years I don’t often go down there," Lynn said. "I always get the feeling that one day their bodies will wash ashore." "The undertow took them out to sea," he said, sounding remote. "But something of mom was left behind. See, wrapped in this handkerchief." There was a gasp. "It’s her gold bracelet." "Yes. She was wearing it when I decided to swim for help. She put her arms around me to kiss me goodbye and it must have caught in my jumper. I was going to give it to you ... but you were upset and I was young and didn’t quite know what to do, so I put it away and forgot." "Oh, Leith." There was a click of metal and a gruff. "It’s yours. She would have wanted you to have it." "I’ll come with you to the cove tonight. We’ll say goodbye, just the two of us, like we should have done years ago." Lyn gave an embarrassed little laugh." This might sound fanciful, but I feel things are changing for us. We have to leave the ghosts behind, and we have to tell them we’re going." "Sure we do," Leith said easily. "I’ll take the wreckage back to the beach this afternoon. It belongs to the sea now." Lyn’s voice dropped to a whisper. "What about Katy?" "Katy’s not like other girls. She doesn’t expect me to dance attendance on her. Besides, I know she’d understand." There was something pleasing about Leith’s faith in her. Katy made herself scarce after lunch, giving him time to slip out with the suitcases. There was a strained atmosphere that evening. Lyn attacked the weeds in the flower beds, and Katy tried not to stare at the gold chain dangling from her wrist. Now and again Lyn sat back on her heels and examined it, running her finger over the metal. Leith was preoccupied, playing cricket with Bob and the boys. When it was nearly dusk, father and sons went off over the hill with the dogs. Leith caught Lyn’s eye, then came to where she sat. His eyes searched her face and she nodded, letting him know she’d overheard the conversation he’d had with Lyn. "Will you okay without me for a while?" She smiled, reaching up to touch his face. "Sure, I will. I might get a bath and have an early night. "Grab the bathroom before the boys get back," Lyn advised. "It always looks like a herd of elephants have wallowed in there otherwise." Katy went off to bed with a paperback she’d bought at the roadhouse. The book wasn’t as exciting as going to bed with Leith had been, but was a fairly decent read. Not for long though. The sea air had

made her tired. Flicking off the light she laid back on the pillows and gazed at the stars through the open window. She heard Bob and the boys return, the television was switched on then switched off, there was conversation, footsteps creaked up the stairs, teeth were noisily scrubbed. Classical music began to softly play downstairs. Katy was nearly asleep when she heard brother and sister leave, latching the back door quietly after them. Was it her imagination or did the wind have a melancholy sigh to it? The net curtains at her window ballooned gently into the room, then collapsed, as if someone was breathing into them. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and watched them go. The lights from their torches bobbed to the top of the hill, then over it. In the distance, Conan barked. She could hear the sea, the waves shushing on the shore, reaching for the wreckage. It belongs to the sea now, Leith had said, and she shivered. It was odd to believe Leith’s parents had set sail from the cove and never returned. How hard it must have been for them both to cope, especially as Leith had been on the boat too, and had swum ashore to fetch help. Katy could imagine the dread of waiting for their bodies to wash ashore. Odd that he’d kept bits of the wreckage all that time. It belongs to the sea now. What had he meant? That he was ready to let go of the past after all these years? Tears gently trickled down her cheeks, and after a while the wind dropped. Although she tried hard to stay awake, she never heard brother and sister come back home. Over the rest of the weekend Leith was monopolized by his nephews, who accompanied them on the morning runs and the evening walks. No amount of dropped hints got through to the pair, and she and Leith exchanged rueful glances. In between, when he wasn’t engaging in meaningful male conversation with Bob, or being bullied into doing something domestic for Lyn, he was used for batting practice, bowling practice and fielding practice. On the whole, Katy enjoyed the weekend, and not just for the great sex. She’d relaxed, hardly giving the office a thought. She’d also gained some useful insight into Leith’s background, and he’d turned out to have more depth and sensitivity than he displayed on the surface.

It was late when they arrived back in London. The roads had been heavy with holiday traffic for part of the way, the going slow. Leith had been quiet for most of the journey, and she wondered if the weekend had been a strain on him. "Would you like to come in for coffee?" she said when they reached the shelter of the porch. He pulled her gently into his arms and gazed at her. "I’m whacked. I’ll see you tomorrow, huh?" "In the park at six-thirty then."

His eyes slid away from her. "Not tomorrow." Tuned in to his mood, she knew he was keeping something from her. "What is it, Leith?" His lips brushed against hers. No passion, just gentleness. Her heart sank like a rock into a bog. "Was that good-bye?" He answered her simply and without embarrassment. "I hope not, because I’m in love with you. Whatever happens, remember that, Katy." He smiled at the astonishment in her face. "I’ll see you tomorrow." Her heart was pounding when he strode away. A smile spread across her face when he turned to blow her a kiss before getting into his car. When it roared off into the night she was so elated she wanted to shout the news from the top of her voice to anyone who would listen. She didn’t though. Hugging the knowledge to herself she quietly let herself in and crept upstairs to bed.

Leith hadn’t been wrong when he’d said he had a solution to her problem. He also hadn’t been wrong when he’d said she might end up hating him. She started the day with her usual jog, not minding the light mist which dampened her hair into ringlets, or even noticing when it became a soft drizzle and turned her track suit into a clinging second skin. Her mind was focused on Mark. Rather than sack him outright she’d decided to give him the chance to resign, and intended to ring him as soon as she got back home. Her plans changed, when an hour later the sleepy voice of Debra answered his home phone. "He’s gone out." "At this time of morning?" Katy couldn’t quite bring herself to believe it. "It must have been important to get him out of bed before eight." Debra’s voice sharpened into malice as she came fully awake. "Mark doesn’t have to report his movements to you, but since you ask. He was invited to a special meeting of department heads at eight. My bet is, they’ve decided they don’t like having a woman in charge and are going to invite him to take over." Katy dropped the phone back on to its rest and headed for the bathroom at a run. She fumed when her mother called out. "I won’t be long, dear. I’m washing my hair." Everything seemed to work against her after that. She dropped make-up on her skirt and had to change, then discovered a ladder in her stocking. Changing them caused her to miss the bus by seconds, the next was full to bursting point and didn’t stop at all. Finally, she hailed a taxi, then discovering she’d forgotten her purse had to detour back to the house first to collect it. Breathless when she reached the building housing her father’s company, she was just about to step into the elevator when Mark grabbed her by the elbow and steered her away from it. "You underhand little bitch, I’ve been waiting for you," he snarled, pushing her up against a pillar. "You didn’t have the guts to do it yourself, did you?"

She glanced towards the security guard. He was talking on the phone, oblivious to what was going on. She raised her voice. "What are you talking about?’ His fingers dug into her arm. "Don’t play the innocent with me, you know what I’m talking about." "Let go of me, Mark," she said loudly. The security guard looked over, frowned, then rose to his feet. He was a big man. Katy relaxed. "Don’t think you’ll get away with it," Mark spat out. "I intend to ruin this company." "Mr. Cross?" "What is it," Mark snapped, without turning around. "Can’t you see I’m busy?" "I have instructions to escort you from the building, sir." Mark dropped her arm when the words sank in. "I don’t need a bloody escort," he seethed. When he reached the door he turned to glare a warning at her. "You’ll be hearing from me, Katy." "Are you all right, Miss Adams?" She managed a tremulous smile. "I guess so, thank you." "Just doing my job." But who was he doing his job for? "Who asked you to eject Mr. Cross from the building?" "My instructions came from your father’s personal secretary." Katy briefly wondered what Marcia was doing there so early as the elevator bore her swiftly upwards. Marcia had her back to her and was filing papers into the cabinet when Katy went in. Something about Marcia was odd. Her hair was hanging loose, as though she’d been roused from home in a hurry. But by whom? A suspicion was forming in her mind, and it didn’t take Katy long to confirm it. Leith was seated on the edge of her father’s desk. He looked every inch the executive in an expensively tailored, gray business suit. It was the first time she’d seen him in a suit and she wondered if his red silk tie was strong enough to garrote him with. "Leave the coffee on the table please, Marcia," he said without looking up from the paper he was reading. "I’m not Marcia." Leith regarded her calmly enough, but the depths of his eyes were wary, as well they should be. "I wasn’t expecting you just yet." Which was stating the obvious. Ignoring the sick feeling in her stomach, her lip curled. "You certainly had me fooled, Leith."

A smile dismissed her sarcasm. "It’s not what you think." That smile fueled her anger. Was he so sure of her he thought his charm would work? He had a shock coming to him. "Tell me what I think, Leith. Let’s see if you’re right." He took a step towards her, his hand outstretched. "Katy ..." "Stay where you are and tell me what I think," she snapped, halting him in his tracks. "You think I’m some sort of louse who’s taken advantage of the situation to grab control of the company." He subsided back on the desk, perfectly in control of himself. "Isn’t that what you think?" "You’re damned right, only I could think of a stronger way to put it." Leith grinned. "I daresay you could." The grin was like waving a red rag in front of a bull. "It’s not funny. Who the hell gave you the authority to call a meeting without my knowledge and ... dismiss Mark." "Katy ..." "Shut up! I haven’t finished." Leith was the second man in as many weeks to betray her trust, and he wasn’t going to get away with it. "I was going to give Mark the chance to resign." "You think he would have?" Leith said, gently ironic. "I would have sacked him if he hadn’t." "If you’d had the guts you would have done it before." His hard voice drove a sliver of ice into her heart. Leith was worse than Mark. Mark had been calculating, but Leith was a con-man as well. Leith had worked on her emotions and taken everything she had to offer. She hated him for making a fool out of her. Fingers curling into fists, her eyes blazed fury at him. "You think I’m too gutless to sack someone? I’m sacking you, Leith. Get out of my father’s office else I’ll call the security guard and have you thrown out!" "You can’t." "Just watch me." Heading for the desk she reached around him for the receiver. His hand came down on the rest and cut her off before she started, the other plucked the receiver from her hand and replaced it on the rest. "Calm down, Katy. I have every right to be here. I became your father’s partner this morning." The words scrambled through her brain for a few moments, not making sense. Leith was her father’s partner? How could he be? It hit her all of a sudden, straight in the solar plexus. Her father’s partner! That’s why he’d needed money from the sale of the house, and why he’d said she might hate him by the weekend! She sank into a chair, like a rag doll minus most of the stuffing. "How could you do this to me?"

"I was going to tell you over the weekend, but you didn’t want to discuss work." "That’s a cop-out, and you know it." "I know it is." He glanced towards the door when Marcia came in with the tray. "Get another cup for Katy, please, Marcia." The last thing she wanted to do was drink coffee with the man who’d taken advantage of her father’s illness by robbing him of his life’s work. "Don’t bother. Marcia, I won’t be staying long enough to drink it." Marcia gazed from one to the other, then backed away when Leith indicated the door with his head. He took her hands in his. "To be quite honest, I didn’t want to spoil the weekend for you." Without conscious effort her hands jerked out of his. "It was your weekend you didn’t want to spoil. You wanted me in your bed, and if your sister hadn’t come home I’d probably still be there, like the tart you mistook me for to begin with. Only it was you who turned out to be the tart, and now you’ve got your hands on what you really wanted, I suppose I’m dispensable." A nerve twitched in his jaw, and it was hard to ignore the derision in those blue eyes. "Spit it out, Katy, get it over with." Hurt flooded through her. "It seems everyone knew about this, but me. The department heads, Marcia, my parents. I was counting on your support and all you did was use it to make a fool of me." Worse then the derision was the pity in his eyes. "That’s not true. Only your father and myself knew until I rang Marcia early this morning. The department heads haven’t been informed yet. I want you to stay and do that." She stared hard at him. "When I rang Mark’s flat to ask him to resign, Debra, the girl from his department said he’d been called in to a department head meeting. They must know." "It was a ruse to get him here early, otherwise it would have been a mess." Leith’s voice hardened. "It’s not my policy to publicly humiliate anyone, whatever they’ve done to deserve it." Marcia’s head poked around the door, and it was obvious she’d already categorized Leith as her boss when she said. "The departmental heads are arriving, Mr. Stanford." "Give us a couple of minutes." His eyes were questioning. "Will you put our personal relationship aside and hand over the reins gracefully?" Her smile was bitter. "I’m sure you can handle the situation without me." A hiss of in drawn breath signaled his annoyance. "Do it for your father, Katy." She felt like laughing, but merely smiled. "Emotional blackmail? It won’t work." "Damn it, Katy." He laid his hand lightly on her shoulder. "You know how I feel about you." She felt icy cold as she jerked from his touch and walked towards the door. "Perhaps you should see a doctor ... or better still, a veterinary surgeon."

"Katy, please come back, let’s discuss this reasonably." She wondered how long it had taken him to perfect the catch in his voice. "There’s nothing left to discuss. I never want to see you again." In perfect control she turned to take one last look at him. "I loath everything about you." "You didn’t loath me at the weekend." "That was temporary insanity on my part. A mistake." Amusement flared in his eyes and she fired a parting shot to eliminate it. "There’s no way I’d allow myself to get serious about a criminal who’s spent two years in prison." After a momentary widening of his eyes, Leith sucked in a breath, and though his eyes brimmed with laughter, the laugh he gave was uncertain. "This is something I need to think seriously about. Are you referring to the last two years?" "Have there been other times you were locked up?" "I can’t say there have been." Head to one side he considered her for a few moments. His lip suddenly curled. "You couldn’t allow yourself to fall in love with a former con. Is that what you’re saying?" Shame made her squirm a bit. It wasn’t exactly what she’d meant, but she wasn’t going to get into a debate with him. "I guess it is." "But romping half-naked on a bed with him turns you on - and how!" His mocking laugh whipped fire to her face. "Perhaps my first impression of you wasn’t far from the truth." "You .... you ...!" The only really effective words she could think of to describe him would get her arrested. "... you make me sick!" Killing him with a glare she opened the door and barged through it, right into the solid body of James Kirby. He grunted, then said gallantly. "I’m so sorry, Miss Adams." "It wasn’t your fault, it was mine." She remembered where she was when several murmured greetings reached her ears, reminding her of her responsibility to her father. The company was poised on the brink of ruin, and it seemed Leith was the only person who knew how to reel it back in. She mustn’t allow temper and hurt pride to overrule good sense. Summoning up her most professional smile, she said. "Before you go in, there’s something I’d like to say. Leith Stanford has become a partner in this company, and as of this morning will be taking control." The murmurs became animated as they filed past her, most of the men were smiling she noticed. Taffy was grinning from ear to ear. "Stanford, eh!" he whispered into her ear when he stood aside to let Marcia through. "I knew your dad would pull something out of the hat, but this will shake the dust out of the cracks. He’s a wily old fox, your dad, and Leith takes after him." Feeling decidedly superfluous, Katy watched the door close behind him and caught Leith’s glance on her through the closing crack, he was smiling.

She shut her eyes for the space of a heartbeat, then opened them to gaze at the impersonal office door. Her temper was spent, leaving her feeling ashamed of herself. She shouldn’t have thrown his prison sentence at him. He shouldn’t have goaded me into it! She shouldn’t have told him to go see a veterinary surgeon. She winced. That would be a crime. But why was she thinking of him at all, after what he’d done? She pushed the door open a crack, to encounter Leith smiling and at ease. He was a man’s man, like Taffy, like her father. Men were comfortable in his presence, and it showed. Taffy stood at Leith’s shoulder, thumbs hooked in his belt like some old style western gunfighter, and looking every inch his sixty-three years. He’d be retiring soon, his retirement package enough to keep him comfortably for the rest of his life. No wonder he hadn’t wanted to take over the company, but his long-standing friendship with her father had made him put everything on the line, anyway. That was loyalty. The department heads were behaving in an oddly boyish way, telling man jokes and laughing and fawning over Leith like he was King Crab - the same men, she thought indignantly, who’d treated her with patronizing respect and paternal indulgence. The boisterous behavior stopped instantly when Leith drew himself to his full height and ran an assessing glance over them. "Gentlemen," he began, "changes have been made ..." Katy took her eyes from the crack and gazed around the empty office. Softly, she said, "Bloody men!"

Just when she needed someone to talk to, there was nobody. The note on the table informed her that her mother was visiting a friend for the day, and would be back in time to cook dinner. Katy chided herself for feeling disappointed. She knew she always took her mother for granted. It wasn’t often she took the day off. She gazed around her, noticing that the housework, which they usually shared between them had been neglected over the past week. Here was a good outlet for her surplus of angry energy. It would also put a stop to the self-pity creeping over her. She’d seen Leith coming, and had only herself to blame if he’d walked all over her. Climbing into a pair of frayed, cut-off jeans, she pulled her hair into a pony tail, tuned the radio in to a pop-music program, and started work. She lived in a comfortably-sized family home, and the cleaning of it kept her occupied her until lunchtime. There were several messages on the answering machine when she stopped for lunch. Katy played them as she bit into a salad sandwich. Her aunt had left a message saying she’d got a sore back from sleeping in a strange bed, and if she’d left a beige petticoat would they please send it on. Katy found two apple cores, several sweet wrappings and a pair of fishnet tights under the guest room bed, no petticoat.

There was several get-well-soon messages for her father. She wrote them all down, then was startled to hear Leith’s voice. "Don’t think you’ve gotten away with walking out on me this morning. I’ll pick you up for lunch about one and we’ll talk." The hall clock chimed one - and because it was five minutes fast, it gave her time to rush around the house shutting all the windows. She found a vantage point behind a curtain on the landing. He was exactly on time as he strode purposefully to the front door and rang the bell. He walked away when she didn’t answer, and she dodged across to the bathroom and scrambled up onto the pedestal. With the window open a chink and her head screwed to one side, she could just see the kitchen door. Thirty seconds later she was staring at the top of his head when he rapped on the glass. Uneasily, she tried to remember if she’d locked it, but he didn’t try the handle. She sped across to the landing again when he swore, and turned to walk away. Obviously, he wasn’t going to try very hard. He was at the gate when he turned and stared up at the window, and right into her eyes. Her heart began to thump, and even though he couldn’t possibly have seen her, she gave an involuntary start. He shrugged, folded himself into his car and drove off. She told herself she was relieved. Sooner or later she’d have to face him, but later would be soon enough. Five minutes later she knew she’d underestimated Leith’s powers of observation when his face appeared at the kitchen window. "Next time you pretend to be out, don’t leave a steaming cup of coffee and a sandwich with a bite out of it on the kitchen table," he said. "Go away." The door knob rattled. "Stop being childish." His scathing tone raised her ire again. Just what kind of egotist was he? Prison record aside, did he really think she’d forgive what he’d done to her father? "I don’t want to talk to you, Leith." "Give me the chance to explain." She nearly fell for the tiny conciliatory note in his voice. She was being childish. There was no reason why she shouldn’t let him explain. Except he’ll tie you in knots. Look at the effect he had on you at the weekend. He weakened you to the extent where you ended up in his bed and did exactly what he wanted. She had a vague feeling that somewhere over the weekend she’d done exactly what she’d wanted, as well. She ignored it. It was futile trying to apply logic when she was enjoying her anger. She needed time to think rationally, and enough space to breathe without the scent of him stirring her senses like a pot of broth over a flame. "You had your chance to explain over the weekend." His sigh was audible through the glass pane. "I had other things on my mind."

Trust him to bring that up, when she was trying to forget it. She was about to tell him where to go when the phone rang. She snatched up the receiver. "Katy Adams." "Thank goodness you’re still there," Marcia said, sounding breathless. "I though I might have missed you. Sorry to spoil your lunch date, but can I speak to Leith. It’s urgent." "Just as minute." She opened the door and gazed at him as if he was a fillet of smelly fish. Ignoring his grin, she spat out. "It’s for you." His smile disappeared as he listened intently, and without interruption. "I’ll be there," he said abruptly, and hung up. He turned. "I have to go." She indicated the door. "Nobody’s stopping you." "Katy," he murmured, taking a step towards her. "Keep your distance," she warned. "Everything’s over between us." "I have no intention of keeping my distance." His finger closed around her wrist and he jerked her forward, his mouth closed over hers. His kiss was persuasive enough to drive hot tears of despair to her eyes before he sensed her resistance crumbling and let her go. "The relationship between us is only just starting, and I’m not about to let you push it to one side," he warned, and was gone before she could gather her wits together. The kiss still burning his mouth, she sank into a chair and tried to rationalize her feelings towards Leith. As she’d known it would, his attraction had proved too powerful for her body to resist. His arrogance was a turn on, his confidence overwhelming and his air of honesty - though she was forced to question the content of that now - was disarming. She’d responded to his sexual overtures right from the start, and in no uncertain manner. She was still responding, despite the fury she felt towards him. What she felt was a deep and unbridled lust as old as Adam and Eve. And to think she’d imagined herself in love with him. One bite of the apple, and wham! A pity the apple had turned out to be rotten. "Hah!" she muttered, picking up a shiny red apple from the bowl and sinking her teeth into it. Juice ran down her chin and she shuddered at the tartness. "Who’s scared of apples. All I have to do to stay out of trouble is to avoid him. That won’t be hard with him at the office and me back at work." Grabbing up the phone she rang her agency to let them know she was available. "Damn!" Dorcas said, "I’ve just rearranged all your engagements." Then after a pause in which Katy could hear papers rustling, she said casually. "How would you feel about standing in for me for a couple of weeks?" "In the office?" "You don’t have to sound so surprised." "You’re not sick are you? What about Brenda? Won’t it put her nose out of joint?" "I’ve asked her. She said she can’t do her own job as well as mine, and prefers to stick to the

paperwork, that way she doesn’t have to be nice to people." "How long will it be for?" "My mother has to have an operation. It’s not drastic, but she’s worried. I thought I might go home and keep her company for a couple of weeks whilst she gets over it. " It would be something different, Katy thought, and valuable experience for when she started her own business. "Yes, okay. I’d be happy to." "Good. You wouldn’t like to mind my flat as well, would you? It will save me having to ask the neighbor to feed the cat. He’s not very reliable." "Normally I wouldn’t mind, Dorcas, but I don’t want my mother to be by herself at this time." "Oh well, I suppose the cat will survive. Come and see me tomorrow. I’ll explain how the agency operates." After a few more minutes chat Katy excused herself when the doorbell rang. She decided to keep the chain on the door in case it was Leith, and peered cautiously through the crack. "Debra! What on earth ..." The girl was crying and she guessed it had something to do with Mark as she threw the door open. "You’d better come in." It took a while for her to calm down and spill everything out. Katy’s face paled as she pieced it all together. "I didn’t think Mark was that vindictive," she murmured, but there were more shocks to come. "I’m only telling you this because I don’t want to get into trouble. Mark made me take it." She sniffed. "There’s more. Mark chucked me out this morning. I’m pregnant, you see. He said he didn’t believe the baby was his." Blood sang in Katy’s ears. "Mark threw you out when you’re carrying his child?" "He told me to go to a clinic and get rid of it." Debra started to cry all over again and her hands covered her stomach. "I want to keep the baby. He ... Mark said he’d marry me if I helped him get a position with my uncle’s firm. Now that’s fallen through he doesn’t want me or the baby. It’s not the baby’s fault." Things had gone from bad to worse for Debra. Katy felt sorry for her. "Will your family help you out?" "mom will stand by me. She warned me that Michael Burke was a bad lot. I should have listened to her instead of Mark." The name rang a bell. "Michael Burke? I seem to know his name." "He’s a builder. Mark was going to help him get established in London in return for the managerial position." Leith had warned her about him at the night club. "Has Mark handed over the future projects file to him?" For the first time she’d entered the house, Debra smiled. "He can’t crack the code. He’s tried everything."

Katy smiled too. "Thanks for telling me. Is there any way I can help you, Debra?" The girl seemed embarrassed. "If you could just keep my part in it quiet. I know it’s a lot to ask, but I have my baby to think of. We can get along without Mark. He’s not worth knowing, and you should be glad to be rid of him." Her smile made her look very young and very courageous. "I guess I did you a favor." Debra would need more than courage to help her out. Katy drew her check book from her bag. "I didn’t come here for money," the girl said stiffly. "This isn’t for you." She smiled as she folded Debra’s hand around the check. "Your baby will need more than a loving mom." "You won’t tell Mark I came here?" "This is between you and me," Katy reassured her as she ushered her towards the door. "It will stay that way." As soon as the girl had gone Katy reluctantly dialed Mark’s number. "I need to talk to you, Mark." "What about?" "Something has been mislaid from my father’s office." There was a short silence, then he purred: "What’s it worth to you, Katy?" She couldn’t believe Mark would be so stupid. "If I tell Leith about it he’ll put it in the hands of the police." "Without proof he won’t have a leg to stand on." She sighed, wishing she hadn’t given her word not to involve Debra. Mark laughed. "I can get a good price for it elsewhere." "No wait!" She couldn’t risk it falling into a rival’s hands, because even if Mark hadn’t cracked the password, it didn’t mean someone else wouldn’t. "How much do you want?" The sum he calmly mentioned made her gasp. "I haven’t got that sort of money." "I know exactly how much you’ve got saved, Katy. You record the total in your diary every time you receive your bank statement." And the worm had been snooping in her handbag every time her back was turned. She chomped down on her fury. "That’s saved for my business." "Now it’s time you decided which is the most important to you. Your business or your father’s." There was no choice. "Okay, I’ll bring you a check."

"Cash," he said crisply. "I’ll meet you in the park tomorrow at seven. If I see anyone else with you, forget it." She glanced at the clock, desperate. "The bank closes soon." "Then you’d better get a move on." A click signaled the end of the conversation. Katy knew she didn’t have time to waste. Snatching up her bag she headed for the door at a run.

The bank was difficult, and her untidy appearance didn’t help. They didn’t liked her emptying her savings account. First they demanded extra identification, then they double-checked by ringing her agency, because the account was serviced by a regular wage deduction. Finally, they handed over the money, counting out each note in a way that made her want to scream with frustration. The bank was shut by the time they finished the transaction. A security man escorted her to the door, locking it firmly behind her. She felt vulnerable, as though she’d just robbed them. For safety’s sake she took a cab home, arriving just as Leith’s car pulled up. Her mother got out of the passenger seat and smiled happily at her. "Guess who stopped to give me a lift." "Genghis Kahn?" she suggested, in case Leith thought the smile he was giving her had a beneficial effect. "I’ve been invited for dinner," he informed her, relieving her mother of the bag she was carrying. His eyes roved over her. "What a grubby daughter you have, Celia." "That’s because I’ve been doing the housework," she protested, preceding him into the house. Her mother raised an eyebrow. "I could have sworn you’d just stepped out of a cab." Katy unconsciously hugged the canvas bag to her chest. "I remembered I needed money and dashed down to the bank before it closed. I didn’t have time to change. I’ll go and clean myself up before dinner. I’ve prepared some vegetables, but there won’t be enough for Leith, as well." "I’ll do some more. The house smells lovely. I adore lavender polish, it reminds me of my childhood." As Katy started off up the stairs her mother called after her, "By the way, I’ve offered Leith the spare room. Now he’s in partnership with David, I think it’s stupid to waste good money on a hotel room." Katy turned and stared at her mother. "You’ve what?" "Offered him the spare room," and her mother frowned. "Katy, what’s wrong with you today? You are please, aren’t you?" Leith’s eyes locked with hers, and were ironic to the extreme when he drawled. "Anyone can see she’s delighted at the thought of having me as a house guest." Her lips spread into a smile as the solution presented itself. "As it happens, I am delighted. "My agent has asked me to look after her flat, so it means I’ll be able to take her up on the offer."

Leith’s eyes narrowed, but his smile was a roguish as ever. "Convenient." "Mmmm, so it is." "Where is this flat?" "I have no idea," she said vaguely, and tore her eyes away, because she felt decidedly peculiar looking at him, as if her edges were crumbling away. And if Leith thought she’d encourage a visit he could think again. "Jog tomorrow?" he said, when Celia headed for the kitchen humming under her breath. If Leith turned up it would ruin everything. Her hands clutched at the canvas bag. "No! I want to run alone." His lips tightened. "I’ll be there, anyway. We have to talk." "Please ... no!" His eyes swept up to hers. "Why not?" "Not tomorrow," she stammered. "Give me some time to think things over." His glanced touched on the bag clutched in her fingers, then scanned her flushed face. "Is there something you should be telling me?" Please don’t let him guess. She sucked in a steadying breath. "Why should there be? I just don’t want to discuss anything tomorrow. I want to be completely alone when I jog. I can think better that way." She tried to disguise the tiny, pleading note in her voice. "Please Leith, promise you won’t be there?" His eyes were sharp against hers. She felt as though he could see the deception inside her, as well as the banknotes inside the canvas bag. He would put two and two together, then both he and her father would lose everything they had. That would be her fault for making excuses for Mark instead of getting rid of him that very first day. Sweat beaded her body as she stared at him. After a few long and anxious moments, he relaxed and shrugged. "If the thought fills you with panic, I won’t push it." He turned away and followed her mother into the kitchen. The sigh of relief she gave was audible as her shaking limbs carried her to the top of the stairs.

CHAPTER EIGHT It was the type of morning Katy usually enjoyed. Today, she hardly noticed her feet blazing a trail of footprints across the dewy grass, or the halo of sun above the trees causing shadows to shift across the pathways. Today she ran like an automaton. Her rhythm was hampered by the bag secured by safety pins to the inside of her sweater. She had tucked it into the waistband of her pants to stop it thumping against her

diaphragm. She’d been nervous when she’d left the house, not trusting Leith to keep his word. There had been no sign of him so far. She hoped Mark would keep his word and hand the disk over. She patted the bag on her stomach. At least he couldn’t snatch it, and if necessary she could out-run him. Another glance over her shoulder revealed two girls jogging and a man with a dog. Her tension eased slightly, none of them could be mistaken for Leith. She stayed in the open as it neared seven, praying Mark wouldn’t be late. The last minute seemed interminable as she jogged on the spot. Perspiration soaked into the bag. There had been a lot of perspiration put into the contents, she thought resentfully, relieved when Mark finally appeared in the distance. Six years work to be exact. It contained part of the first and the last salary check she’d earned. She noticed Mark seemed more nervous than she was, his eyes were darting from side to side as he approached. He jumped when the two girls overtook him, and something inside her rejoiced at the loss of his self-possession. What had happened to the confidence he’d displayed over the phone? "You’re alone?" he hissed from the corner of his mouth. He resembled a seedy character from a bad movie, looking ridiculous in a trench coat, sunglasses and chin stubble of all things! A delicious sense of the ridiculous hit her, and she couldn’t keep the derisive smile from her face. "I have a detective from Scotland Yard hidden up each sleeve, Mark. The game’s over." "Very funny," he snarled, and his glance took in the man with the dog, who was ambling in their direction. "Who’s that?" The medium sized, bald man couldn’t be mistaken for Leith in any way, shape or form. He was having difficulty controlling an Alsatian, who seemed to be dragging him behind him. Mark was being ludicrous, and she discovered a certain satisfaction in her sarcasm. "The dog is Sherlock Holmes in disguise. I don’t know who the man is. Perhaps he’s Doctor Watson." She thought Mark was going to hit her when he raised his hand. She flinched. His eyes were mean when he removed his sun-glasses. "All right, you’ve had your fun. Where’s the cash?" She took it from it’s hiding place, then held out her other hand. "The disk first." Her skin crawled when Mark pressed the disk into her palm. She cried out with pain when he squeezed both hand and disk inside his. Tears filled her eyes. "The money," he hissed. She threw the bag as far away from her as she could. "There’s your blood money, Mark. Enjoy it while you can." Mark scrambled after the bag. Nursing her hand, she was just about to walk away when something incredible happened. Somehow, the Alsatian had managed to free itself from the leash. It streaked past them both and snatched the bag up in its jaws. The dog headed off at a run, tossing the bag up in the air

and catching it again. Mark ran after it, shouting threats. Katy started to run, laughing through her tears at what was taking place. When she reached the trees she looked back to see Mark chasing the dog in circles. He was swearing loudly at it. The bald man could moved faster than she thought, but instead of going after the dog he was moving in the same direction as she was, and heading for the same seat. She left it for him, and doubling up with laughter, hid behind a tree to watch the comedy. The bald man sat down and without looking her way, said. "My dog likes playing games, but I think it’s time to put a stop to this one." The animal’s ears pricked up when he gave a piercing whistle. It bounded towards its master carrying its prize. "Drop it, Daisy." He made a fuss of the dog and kicked the bag towards her. "Yours, I believe, Miss Adams." Her mouth dropped open. "Who are you?" His eyes were alight with amusement. "I’m the detective you had up your sleeve. Only I don’t work for Scotland Yard these days and my name’s not Watson." His glance turned towards Mark, who was trudging across the grass, out of breath. He fondled the dog’s ears and whispered without glancing her way. "You’d best be on your way. I’ll stay and see if I can help Mr. Cross find what he’s looking for. Go and play with the nice man, Daisy." The sound of Daisy barking, Mark cursing and the detective’s profuse apologies, was music to her ears as she made her escape.

Katy was almost certain Leith had engineered that morning’s event, yet a doubt in her mind remained. She’d told no-one about the bargain she’d made with Mark. Either Leith knew the tape was missing and had banked on Mark contacting her, or the detective had been following Mark at the company’s request and had learned enough to figure out what going on. She had no idea what a private detective was allowed to legally do, but she wondered if Mark’s phone had been tapped. She gazed suspiciously at Leith over breakfast. He’d been home when she’d arrived, fresh from a shower and smelling of cologne. "Have a good run?" he said. "Why do you ask?" She’d been unable to keep the exhilaration from her voice, had found it hard to maintain an attitude of indifference towards him. He smiled enigmatically as he walked towards the kitchen, as if he’d been enjoying a secret. But then, she could have imagined the secretive smile, and she’d wished he’d asked her again because she was dying to tell someone how wonderful it had been. "Leith," she said, deciding now was as good a time as any to pump him.

His eyes surveyed her over his coffee cup, blue and innocent. "Yes, Katy." "That detective you and Taffy set on to Mark. Has he got a dog?" His face was shuttered in blandness. "What detective?" "The one who gave you a coughing fit in the office that day." He flipped her a grin. "Why do you ask?" Either he was unaware of what had taken place, or was deliberately playing dumb. Her eyes narrowed in on him. Two could play at that game. "Forget it." "Sure," and he smiled as he stood up. "You ask the strangest questions, Katy." "What does she want to know?" her mother said, breezing into the kitchen. Leith’s chuckle raised the hair at the nape of her neck. "If Doctor Watson had an Alsatian called Daisy." "Doctor Watson. Who’s he?" "Nobody," and she glared at the grinning Leith. He dropped her a wink and drawled. "I’m off. See you later." Scrambling from her seat she intercepted him at the front door. "How did you find out about it?" "Intuition. I knew a disk had gone missing and Mark was implicated. As soon as I saw you clutching that cash bag and acting all edgy, I guessed he’d contacted you. I wish you’d told me," he said as he opened the door. Guilt squeezed at her innards. "I’ll get the disk." "Later will do." His eyes roved over her face and settled on her mouth. "All it records is the details of the last annual audit. Mark got hold of the wrong disk." Leaning forward he bussed his mouth gently against hers. "Mark played you for a sucker and you fell for it." A beam of morning sunlight shafted through the front door on to his running shoes, placed side by side on the metal tray of the umbrella stand. They were damp. She chased past him to stand in front of the gate and accuse. "You went to the park, didn’t you." His lips quirked at the corners. "You should know by now that you can’t trust me to keep my word." "What’s going to happen to Mark?" She sucked in a deep breath when his face became granite. "Do you care what happens to him or his accomplice after what he did to you?" She thought about it. She had a healthy distaste of what Mark had done, but didn’t have it in her to seek revenge. On the contrary, she felt only pity for him ... and she couldn’t allow Debra to be implicated.

She’d promised. She was troubled as she gazed at Leith, and couldn’t help comparing his strength with Mark’s weakness. "I feel sorry for him, I guess. He lost everything when you came on the scene. You’ve defeated him, Leith. Can’t you leave it at that?" "Since when have you been so magnanimous towards criminals?" he said quietly. Though she colored at the jibe, she held his gaze and got in a dig of her own. "I guess I deserve that. But you of all people should be able to understand his grab for power." The whip-lash of his voice curled against her ears. "Only I succeeded where he failed. Is that what you’re saying?" "Didn’t you?" His eyes were blazing with anger. "If I had time I’d put you across my knee and wallop some sense into you." He gave a tight smile when she tried to take a step backwards and was brought up short by the gate. She put out a hand to steady herself and winced with pain as she snatched her injured hand from the metal railing. He took a step forward, so there was only an inch between them. "Let me see that hand." "It’s nothing." Too late, she tried to slide it under her sweater. He gazed down at the palm, his thumb gently stroking the puffed and bruised skin. "Mark?" She nodded, and watched his eyes darken. He’d see right through a lie. A few seconds later he bore her hand to his lips and tenderly kissed her wrist. "Put some ice on it." "Young Debra is pregnant and Mark’s deserted her," she murmured. "Whatever you decide to do, I’d like her left out of it if possible. She’s got enough to cope with, and the baby needs a chance." He took her by the shoulders and moved her to one side, staring down at her for a moment or two. A pulse beat furiously in the side of his jaw. "Okay, I won’t prosecute, but if Mark doesn’t get out of town I’ll personally run him out." "Thanks, Leith." "Thank the baby," he said briefly, and leapt over the gate. "Also, thank the fact that I’m nuts about you and it’s making me soft in the head. Nah, don’t thank me, Katy. Thank yourself." He was in his car and gunning the motor before she had time to answer. The car roared off in a squeal of rubber and blue smoke, leaving her staring after it.

Realizing being around Leith would be dangerous, and needing time to think, Katy moved that same afternoon.

Dorcas’ flat was a nice size, taking up the top floor of a house. It was furnished with mismatched bits and pieces collected from markets. Somehow, it all added up to a colorful and slightly exotic look. Garish mobiles dangled, curtains were held back by silk tassels and a black wooden elephant stood in a corner. Cushions were large, multicolored and fringed in gold. Katy preferred a plainer, less fussy look, but had to admit it had a certain style. "Very you," she said, and Dorcas took it as a compliment. "It took me ages to get it exactly as I wanted it. You can have the little room for now, and can take over the business tomorrow if you like," she said. "I’ll be around for the rest of the week if you need me." Katy needed her several time over the next couple of days, but by the time Dorcas was ready to leave she was able to cope with the demands of the position, which seemed to consist of organized mayhem. Luckily, Brenda was ruthlessly efficient, if lacking in social grace, and the business side ran like clockwork. "Brenda can’t stand being out of her routine," Dorcas said, dropping a kiss on her forehead as the cab tooted its horn. "Remember, she’s all bark and no bite if things get out of hand." "I hope your mother’s operation goes well," Katy called after Dorcas as she clattered off down the stairs. Which reminded her, she hadn’t seen her father for a while. She glanced at her watch. If she hurried she could make it across town in time for an evening visit.

David Adams was in high spirits. "They’re letting me go home in a day or two." "So soon?" "Those are the exact words your mother used," he said with a laugh. "I’m beginning to suspect my two favorite women don’t want me back. Can the charms of my new partner have anything to do with it?" "What charms?" she said tartly. Her father gazed at her for a few second. "You seem to have your nose out of joint, kitten." She summoned up a smile. "I’m sure Leith Stanford is very skilled at what he does." Certainly at love! He’d sneaked up on her with a vengeance. With some distance between them, and the weekend in Dorset growing remoter by the minute, she wondered what on earth had come over her. "Something about him worries you?" Not particularly," she said offhandedly. She should have known she couldn’t fool her father. "Come off it, Katy. This is your dad you’re talking to. Something’s troubling you." Guilt hit her. They shouldn’t be discussing work when he’d been so dangerously ill. She wondered if the doctors knew what they were doing by letting him go home so soon. What if he had a relapse? What if ...? Her father’s hand slid over hers, as warm and as strong as it had ever been. "Come on, out with it."

She picked her words as delicately as possible. "I just thought the decision to take Leith on as a partner was a little premature." "Did you. love?" Her father’s gentle reply invited further comment. All her life she’d had a fair hearing from him, however busy he’d been. "I’m not suggesting he’s incompetent or anything, because of course he couldn’t be, else you wouldn’t have offered him Australia. It just ... well, it happened so unexpectedly." "Circumstance, that’s all. I put you in an impossible situation, with what was going on with Mark. I’m sorry about what happened." She shrugged. "I’m not. My relationship with Mark had just about reached an end, anyway. Your illness just speeded things up. If I’d been better at handling things Leith wouldn’t have been able to talk you into a partnership. The company’s your life’s work, and he took advantage of my incompetence. I’ll never forgive him for that." Astonishment filled her father’s eyes. "You’ve got things back to front. I’ve been after Leith for the past year or so. He wouldn’t take the partnership because he didn’t have the capital to invest." "Why didn’t he tell me?" "I suggested he take the project in Australia, and invest half of his salary into the company. It was all written into the contract. I’m surprised he didn’t push us higher than the fifteen percent you got him for. I would have gone to at least forty." "I didn’t actually read much of the contract, dad. I was jet-lagged and worried about you ... and what with one thing and the other ..." "Leith was adamant he wouldn’t take a partnership until he was satisfied he’d invested enough, but with Mark doing his best to ruin the company I couldn’t afford to wait. I badgered him into taking over once I realized what a rotten position I’d put you in." His hand squeezed hers. "I never dreamed Mark was quite so power mad." Her father seemed to know an awful lot about what was going on considering he’d been so sick. "Who told you what was going on?" His glance flicked to the telephone. "I kept in contact with a couple of people. Kirby was a good move, though he knew he was in line for that job. There’s been discrepancies. He’s been keeping an eye on Mark for me for some time. I was going to dismiss Mark the day I took sick." "Dad!" She grinned when he gave her a sheepish look. "Haven’t you learned anything from what happened?" "Sure I have. I’ve learned I’m not young any more. When Leith gets back from Australia he’ll be ready for more responsibility, and I can start easing up. Taffy and I planned to retire together. We’re going to find ourselves a jetty and do a bit of fishing." "Are you sure Leith will want to take full control?" "Don’t you worry about him. He’s just about sown all his wild oats."

Something stirred gently at her insides. What would her father say if she told him Leith had sown a few with her? She gave a little grin. Not only that, his daughter had enjoyed the experience. "What’s funny, kitten?" Which was something he’d always said when she was small, because the sight of him coming up the path always made her grin and his response had always been the same. Love for him swept over her in a big wave. "You haven’t said that for a long time." "You haven’t smiled like that for a long time." "Like what?" "Like you’ve got a big secret in your pocket. His laugh was teasing. "You haven’t saved me one of those horrible striped humbugs, have you? They used to get covered in fluff in your pocket, so they ended up looking like woolen beetles." "I haven’t eaten those in a long time," she said with a giggle, "and I used to lick the fluff off before I gave them to you, so stop complaining." Her father’s smile broadened as his glance went past her to the door. "Don’t hang around there, Leith. Come in." "I didn’t want to intrude." Their glances tangled and held when she turned. Her heart quickened, because she hadn’t seen him for a few days and he caught her unawares. His smile said something personal to her, his words confirmed it. "I’ve missed you, Katy." Her heart began to throb and colour rose to torment her cheeks. Did he have to be so obvious in front of her father? Taken by surprise, she didn’t know quite what to say, so mumbled. "Hello Leith." Her father chuckled. "I thought you came to visit me." Leith sent him an easy smile. "Only because I hoped Katy would be here." He had the cheek of the devil considering he’d threatened to put her over his knee the last time they’d met. "You could have phoned me," she said with more huff than she’d intended. "If you hadn’t left instructions with Celia not to give me your number, I would have done." She shot a glance at her father, who was gazing at her with a knowing grin on his face. "You conspired with your mother?" he said. "You keep out of it," and feeling slightly flustered, muttered. "He could have reached me at the agency if he’d tried hard enough." "You could have tried the agency, Leith. Katy wants to know why you didn’t." "Tell her some old tartar called Brenda told me to clear off. She said Katy didn’t want to talk to me."

"He said, some old tart-" "I told Brenda I didn’t want to talk to Mark if he rang." Katy gazed at her father in exasperation. He looked past her at Leith. "Katy said -" "Cut it out, dad," and she burst out laughing. He chuckled. "Would someone mind telling me what this is all about?" Leith grinned at him. "I threatened to tan your daughter’s hide the last time we met. She took exception to the notion." "So do I, as it happens." "I thought you might, so I have every intention of apologizing to her." "Never apologize to a woman, lad," her father advised. "It gives them the upper hand." Two pairs of male eyes regarded her at the same time. Her father had never enjoyed this easy familiarity with Mark. Leith and her father were two of a kind. They were lions. Arrogant, but easy in their human guise. It explained the attraction Leith held for her. She experienced the wryness of her smile. She’d read it was common for women to fall in love with men who reminded them of their fathers. "I suppose you two have business to discuss." "I need some advice about something," Leith told her. "He’s supposed to be recuperating, and you’re supposed to be running the company." She couldn’t help mocking him a little. "Perhaps you’re not as perfect as you imagined you were, Leith." He appeared slightly anxious when the bell signaled the end of visiting. "I admit I’ve got a lot to learn, but I won’t be more than five minutes, I promise. Will you wait? I’d like to talk to you." When she kissed her father good-bye she questioned the wisdom of waiting for Leith, but did anyway.

Leith’s five minutes turned into ten. When he strode from the main entrance and saw her sitting on the wall he slowed down. A smile chased across his face. "You waited." "As you see," and she automatically got to her feet and strolled with him towards his car. "I wanted to tell you I’m sorry I moved in on you the way I did. I’ll find somewhere else to stay as soon as possible." If he was gracious enough to apologize, she had to be honest enough to admit she was wrong. "You needn’t, really. It was nothing to do with what happened between ... us." She took a deep breath when she realized he was trying not to grin, saying more stiffly. "You had every right to get mad after what I said to you."

He took her hands in his. "You’ve spoken to your father, haven’t you?" "He explained the circumstances of the partnership." "And you approve?" "It’s really nothing to do with me," she said. "The company belongs ... belonged to my father." His frown crept into place. "You don’t approve, do you?" She didn’t want to hurt his feelings. "I trust my father’s judgment. If he thinks you’re good enough to step into his shoes one day I can accept that you are." "What are you reservations?" Her reservations were purely personal. She hadn’t learned from her relationship with Mark and had rushed headlong into one with Leith. The physicality of it had left her depleted of common sense. In the week she’d spent apart from Leith she’d come to grips with her own sensuality and recognized it for what it was. Leith had caught her on the rebound, and had taken what she’d offered as any man would. Troubled, she gazed at him. "It was too much too soon. I don’t know if I can trust you. Everything’s happened too fast." "And you want some breathing space." He dropped her hands and leaned his hip against the car, his eyes intent on her. A breeze sent strands of hair flying against her face. He stroked it back in a caressing gesture that made her long to turn her cheek against the warmth of his palm. "I need to get certain things into perspective." "Like what? Perhaps I can help you out," he murmured. He was doing the opposite at the moment. She wished the touch of his hand didn’t have this weakening effect on her - wished the desire in his eyes didn’t please her so much. A shiver raced through her, but didn’t go unnoticed. His smile became predatory and his finger traced a trembling awareness of him into the curves of her mouth "It’s impossible to put nature into perspective. Deny you want me if you can." She couldn’t. Tension buzzed through her body when she strove to stop herself leaning into the dominating power of his. She’d never imagined she could crave the touch of a man so much. The strength of her feeling was slightly immoral, and deliciously exciting. Unconsciously, her mouth responded to the caressing finger, opening to admit it entry. He explored the moist tip of her tongue. "Leith," she whispered, half in protest, half in invitation. "You drive me crazy every time I see you, woman," he purred. "Leith," a woman’s voice called out. "Damn, I’d forgotten about her," he said, and took a step back to gaze at the hospital entrance.

The her was the nurse, Susie. Katy’s eyes narrowed. "You don’t let the grass grow under your feet, do you?" "It’s not what you think. I’m just giving her a lift home." "Hi!" Susie said breathlessly, her glance biting a big chunk out of Leith. "Sorry I’m late, my relief didn’t arrive on time." Which would have been an acceptable excuse if her make-up and perfume weren’t obviously fresh. Katy could almost see the girl slavering over Leith. That Leith appeared embarrassed by the situation didn’t make one iota of difference to Katy. Her brain screamed a warning, her lip curled a fraction. The man had a wandering eye, and to think she‘d been on the verge of falling for his approach. Katy received a cursory smile as Susie slid her arm possessively through Leith’s. "Can we give you a lift home first, Miss Adams?" The we wasn’t lost on her. Leith’s duplicity was astounding. She was almost tempted to take Susie up on the offer but she was too furious. His appetite for women obviously demanded variety, and she wasn’t about to give him the bonus of her address. Making an effort she smiled through tightly clenched teeth and lied, "I’ve got a cab ordered." "It’s no trouble," Leith said as she began to walk away. "I can drop Susie off first." "I thought we were going to my friend’s party," the nurse said, her tone indignant enough to be believable. Leith’s muttered excuse was lame, and followed right on cue. "Uh ... sorry ... I did only say I’d think about it, Suse. Some other time, okay?" As luck had it, a cab drew to a halt just as Katy reached the hospital steps. She scrambled into the back and said to the driver. "Lewisham, please." Leith stared after her, an odd sort of smile on his face. Susie was standing with her hands on her hips. She looked peeved, which she was quite entitled to be. The last Katy saw of them before the cab turned into the street was the pair of them getting into Leith’s car. She got mad all over again. Obviously, Leith was easily swayed. She had no use for a man who couldn’t say no and mean it. Five minutes after reaching the flat, the doorbell rang. Leith gave her a triumphant grin. "I followed you." He winced when she shut the door on his foot. She glared at him. "It’s called stalking these days, and I could have you arrested." "Aw, come on, Katy. Give a guy a break. My foot’s got pins and needles, and you’ll have to open the door eventually, otherwise I won’t be able to get it out."

She eased the door open and gazed past him. "Where’s the blonde piranha?" "If you’re talking about Susie, I dropped her off at the nearest bus stop. I offered her a lift because it’s on my way to your parent’s place." She glared at him. "You know she fancies her chances with you." He shrugged. "You don’t have to worry. Short and efficient isn’t my type." "I’m not worried. Why should I worry about it? You’re an idiot if you think I’m jealous of that nurse." And she spelled it out for him to make sure he understood. "AN IDIOT! Get it?" "I think it’s short for brainless," he drawled and took a step towards her. She took a step back. "I thought you and Susie were going to a party." His second step brought her within his range. "You thought wrong. She asked but I didn’t commit." He kicked the door shut with his heel, circled her waist with his hands and drew her against him. "I was just about to kiss you when you left the car park. I’ve come to collect." Any protest she might have made died in her throat as his lips demolished the notion she had about keeping her distance from him. Smoldering beneath her skin was a zillion volts of electricity, all charging at once. The power of it brought her body alive and robbed her mind of cohesive thought. "You damned pirate," she managed to whisper against the mouth that plundered her of her senses. "You just take what you want, and convince me I want the same." His eyes were full of laughter when he let her go. He gazed down at her. "You’d better believe it, brown eyes." She could believe he was the most attractive man she’d ever met and he was irresistible to her. She wanted him with a low down intensity she’d never experienced before. The odds on her heart being broken was high. He’d leave her with a yawning gap where her heart had been. Despite that, she found a gap between two buttons on his shirt and kissed the warm flesh beneath. "Keep that up and you’ll be in serious trouble," he purred against her scalp. She was already in trouble, and so was he. This was the most infuriating, the most exciting and most sensual man she’d ever met. The turbulent combination of their aroused states alone would have registered on the richter scale. Her eyes met his. When he moved to Australia her life would resume its pattern and the memory of their relationship would enrich it for a while. When they met again, they’d be strangers who’d once been intimate. They’d probably avoid each other’s eyes. She wanted to laugh at way mother nature tricked people into love. Next year they wouldn’t look at each other like they did now, with the need for intimacy all consuming so they almost scorched each other with a glance. Her smile was as ironic as his. "I keep trying to convince myself I can resist you." "It’s not me you’re trying to resist, it’s yourself," he said gently. "You’re hovering on the edge and don’t

know which way to jump." "The edge of what?" "Commitment." She wouldn’t have considered applying that word to a short term love affair. "And you’re going to push me over the edge?" His knuckles brushed against her face. "I’m hoping you’ll let go of whatever’s holding you back. It’s for you to decide what’s important to you." He could only be referring to his prison record. She’d tried to tell herself it didn’t matter, but deep down it bothered her. If he told her what crime he’d committed she might be able to understand and come to grips with it. But he’d thrown it back in her face the last time she’d mentioned it. Yet something inside her didn’t want to know. What if his crime had been so horrific she couldn’t live with it? The thought of him being locked up for two years was just as terrible to her. She imagined his muscular body pacing up and down, seeking release from the agony of confining its energy. "Tell me about it," she murmured, hoping he’d understand her doubt. "Tell you about what?" "The prison." A lazy chuckled stirred through her scalp. "Ask your father. He’s dug everything there is to know about it out of me. That’s one part of life I definitely want to forget, despite the lesson it taught me." "What was the lesson?" He was laughing when he held her at arm’s length. "That going after money sometimes isn’t worth the price you have to pay. Does that answer your question?" It raised more questions than he’d answered, but she was relieved his crime hadn’t been one of violence. She managed a smile. "Shall I make us some coffee?" His eyes narrowed and he pulled her towards him again. "Definitely not. I’m taking you out for dinner a little later." "I’ll have to get ready," she murmured in breathless anticipation when his lips nuzzled the hollow at the base of her throat. His teeth closed around the top button of her blouse and he slipped it from the buttonhole. "There’s no panic," he murmured as he slid down to the next one, "let’s relax a bit first." Pleasure was a tongue-tip, a delicate probe against a satin covered nipple. Like a spring bud, it strained against the restraint of its covering. Its twin came to life, surging against his cheek for a same attention. He laughed and eluded it. Giving a tiny growl she tangled her fingers in his hair. His tongue slicked against the neglected nub and he

whispered. "I thought you were in a hurry to get ready." She pulled his head back and dropped a kiss on his mouth before letting him go. "Come into the bedroom and help me." He shouldered into her midriff and stood up, lifting her fireman fashion over his shoulder. "Which way’s the bedroom? "Don’t answer it," he whispered when someone rapped on the door. Her laugh was provocative when she called out. "Who is it?" "It’s me, darling," Fred called from the other side. "Stop doing whatever’s making you laugh and open the perishing door." Three strides took Leith across the room. "Put me down," she hissed when he pulled the door open. Fred didn’t turn a hair. Walking past them he threw himself into a chair, then turning his head sideways gazed into her dangling face. "Mmmm, a rather unflattering shade of puce." Leith laughed. Fred threw an envelope on the coffee table. "Drop her, Tarzan. I don’t intend to stand on my head to talk to her." Dumped on the couch, she scrambled to arrange her blouse into some semblance of order. Not that it mattered to Fred. Over the years he’d cultivated an attitude of impersonality which made him comfortable to work with. He smiled when he slid some photographs from the envelope grasped in his hand. "Take a look at these, would you?" Leith’s breath fanned against her cheek when he gazed over her shoulder. He gave a swift intake of breath. "You’re one hell of a photographer." "Thanks," Fred said, his voice dry-edged. Katy exchanged a glance with him and they grinned at each other. Anyone in the business knew Fred was a genius behind the camera. Fred’s eyes wandered to Leith. "You seem to be a bit of a dark horse, Stanford." Leith shot him a look. "I showed those shots to a friend of mine. He recognized you, and wants an interview." Katy stared from one to the other. Leith stood up and walked over to the window. He gaze out over the roof tops. "Why would he want to interview me? I’m just a builder." "Perhaps he’s heard about the partnership with dad," she suggested. Fred snorted. "It’s more to do with central America I should imagine." Leith turned, his eyes wary. "I see ..."

"He’d like to get his facts straight about certain matters before he does his feature. It’s background stuff mostly, but he’d also like to get a handle on the man involved. He’ll treat the personal angle sympathetically." "If don’t want to be interviewed he’ll go ahead with it anyway?" "Got it in one." A grin flitted across Leith’s face. He came to sit beside her, his arm draped along the back of the couch. A faint fragrance of sandalwood lingered about him. "I was hoping to put that damned prison behind me." "So you’ll do it?" There was something reluctant about the nod Leith gave. "I seem to have no choice. When?" Fred wasn’t going to give him a chance to back out. He took a mobile from his pocket and stared down at it. "How about now? He’s waiting in his office for a phone call, and I can shoot you whilst you’re talking to him. His office is only five minutes away." Nerves quivered along Katy’s spine. Whatever Leith had done he’d already paid the price by the loss of his freedom for two years. Not only was it unfair to publish the information, it could also ruin the business he’d recently bought into. That would ruin her father as well. She reached up to touched Leith’s wrist. "Aren’t you going to think about this?" His finger traced across the back of her hand. "What’s the point? Someone’s already got information about what happened. I might as well make sure it’s accurate." Fred was talking to someone on the phone by the window. She rose from the couch and stared down at Leith. "What about my father?" Leith’s smile was carefree. "David knows everything about it." She wondered if he was misinterpreting her words on purpose. Anger flooded her. "He doesn’t know you’re going to broadcast it. Can’t the interview wait until you’ve consulted with him. He is your partner, after all." Fred looked from one to the other, his smile fading. "I don’t know what’s with you, two, and I don’t want to know. I’ll wait downstairs until you sort yourselves out." Getting no response, he left, closing the door gently behind him. Leith’s smile was no longer in evidence. "I’ve no need to consult anyone. This is something that occurred before the partnership. Trust me, Katy. I wouldn’t do anything to harm David." "I’ve tried trusting you," she couldn’t keep the bitterness from her voice, ‘It doesn’t work." "We’ll talk about it when I get back." She turned away from him. "I don’t want you to come back. Just leave me alone." She thought he’d gone when the door closed, but when she turned he was still there. He gripped her

shoulders and gazed into her eyes. "Stop trying to freeze me out. You know it won’t work." She glared at him. "It would if you’d just stop pestering me." The smile he gave was tightly controlled. "Do you think it’s that easy? Do you really imagine if she stop seeing each other we’ll forget what we feel for each other?" "Yes," she whispered, knowing it was a lie, but figuring she might just as well start being miserable now as later." "Okay." A brief kiss spelled good-bye. "I’ll see you around, Katy." She’d never experienced such a brusque brush-off. "Just like that?" "Just like you wanted," he said agreeably, and turned towards the door. "A lot you cared, then," she threw at his retreating back, knowing she sounded as childish as she felt. "I’ve told you how I feel about you. You know my phone number, call me any time you want." Like hell she would. "I bet you’ll call me first." "I wouldn’t count on it," he said, and shut the door behind him. "Don’t hold your breath," she called out after him. "I’ve got better things to do with my time." "Like growing up a little." The suggestion reached her ears at the same time as Fred’s car horn tooted. She rushed to the window in time to see Leith unlocking his car door. He straightened up and blew her a kiss. Tempted to poke out her tongue, she remembered his suggestion and held herself in check. His smile contained a faint trace of mockery. She threw open the window, determined to get the last word in. "I can live without you. I bet you’ll contact me first." He waved, then his legs followed his body into the car. The engine gunned into life and he followed Fred’s car off down the street. It had been a stupid spat. He was right, she had been childish. She blew him a kiss, hoping he’d see it. Of course he’d contact her. He always did. A week later she was thankful she hadn’t put any money on it.

CHAPTER EIGHT "You look like the main attraction at a funeral instead of a wedding. Is a more bride-like expression too much to ask for?"

Katy glared down the camera lens. "Is it too much to expect you to stop bawling orders at the top of your voice like an army drill sergeant? I’m not on a commando course, and that black thing you’re looking through isn’t a telescopic lens attached to a rifle." Fred popped his head up and grinned at her. "From somebody usually so even-tempered, that was quite a mouthful. What’s wrong, Katy, had a row with the boyfriend?" She’d hardly seen Leith in the few days since she’d moved back home. Each time they ran into each other he’d be entirely natural with her, yet so distant, she wanted to scream with frustration. It was if he’d suddenly become her brother, or something. "I’ve got a headache, that’s all," she said, which wasn’t exactly a lie. It was only a mild one, and caused by tension. What she really suffered from was a hefty dent to the ego. The only trouble she’d had with men before was fending them off. Now, she had trouble keeping one. Mark had been the first to attack her confidence. It had been galling to discover he’d wanted her only to further his career, but at least it had given her a legitimate excuse to part company with him. Now Leith, damn him! Leith was totally unpredictable. At first she’d thought he’d wanted her for her body, then for position and power. Then she’d convinced herself he’d wanted her for herself. Hah! Now he didn’t want her at all. She sighed. He had her all mixed up. She’d been certain he’d call her. But he hadn’t, and she’d been too stubborn to call him. Now she was home she didn’t know how to approach him, to put things right. Her self-esteem was at a radically low ebb. "Try and look radiant one more time," Fred said, sounding more sympathetic. "Let’s make this the last shot, then you can go home. Lean back against the archway ... turn your head towards me ... smile ... widen your eyes ... come on Katy, pretend you’re in love and the man you’ve just married can’t wait ..." Hah! Leith was indifferent towards her, and anyway he’d never thought to ask her to marry him. "... to get you in his bed." A shiver ran through her. That was Leith, love them and leave them. The taste of Leith had been a teaser. She was suffering from sexual frustration. She’d have a memory with her for the rest of her life, of him trapping her beneath her nightie and kissing her through the material. Her body came gloriously and sensuously alive. Five minutes later Fred was enthused with smiles. "I’m sorry I was such a pest today," Katy said to him afterwards. Fred patted her shoulder. "We all have our off days. Thank God it was the studio though, otherwise I’d have lost the light and this is a rush job. Take something for that headache when you get home - oh, and before I forget, Dorcas wants you to call her." Katy rang the agency as soon as she got home. Dorcas was bubbling over with excitement. "New York!" Katy breathed, feeling stunned more then anything else. "How did an international agency get on to of me?"

"An article about your boyfriend appeared in a top business magazine. They ran that photo of the pair of you on the trapeze with it. Can you believe your luck?" Her head began to throb in earnest. Cautiously, she asked. "What’s the contract?" Dorcas was positively gleeful. "Twelve months." Katy sank on to the nearest seat. This was a dream come true - to work for a top class international agency. She would earn an astronomical amount of money and could have a lifestyle to match. So why didn’t she feel more enthusiastic at the prospect? "Do I have to decide straight away?" Puzzlement touched her agent’s voice. "Katy? I don’t have to tell you this chance won’t be repeated if you turn it down." She sighed. "I know. I’ve got a thumping headache at the moment. I’ll sleep on it and call you tomorrow, if that’s okay." "Sure," Dorcas said. "Take a couple of days to think it over. If your headache improves and you want to discuss it, come over tonight. I’m having an at-home with the cat." She fed her headache a couple of aspirins, then made herself a coffee and took it through to the sitting room. Leith was there, legs stretched out across the rug and reading a magazine. "Sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you," she said awkwardly, and feeling like a stranger in her own home. He closed the magazine, set it place down on the side table and smiled brilliantly at her. "You’re not disturbing me." Her heart gave a slow roll. She’d glimpse the photo of them on the trapeze, but as he so obviously hadn’t meant her to see it, she didn’t mention it. "Where’s mom and dad?" "Sitting outside in the garden. Had a good day?" As if he was interested. "Yes and no. I was offered a contract in America for a year." His eyes narrowed slightly. "Was that the good or the bad?" "Good, I suppose. It’s not often a chance like this comes along." His finger traced the pattern on the arm of the chair. "A pity you’re not free to take it then." The casual statement struck her as odd. "What are you talking about? Of course I’m free to accept it." He gazed up at her, half-wary. "Had you forgotten you were written into my contract? You’ve committed yourself to coming to Australia as my PA." An image of hastily signing the contract came into her mind. She couldn’t remember ... but then she hadn’t read it. The blood sang in her ears. "Don’t be so ridiculous." He stood up, his smile drenched in charm. "Shall I fetch you my copy to read?"

She didn’t need to read it, to know what he said was true. Leith never played games unless he had the winning card. "There’s no need. I have no intention of being forced into going to Australia with you, contract or not." "What’s this?" her father said from the doorway. "I thought I heard Australia mentioned." "You did," Leith said. "I was simply pointing out to Katy that she agreed to come to Australia -" "He tricked me into signing the condition as a clause in the contract." David Adams wasn’t smiling as he gazed at his partner. "You won’t be holding my daughter to that condition, of course, Leith." Katy’s mother suddenly laughed. "I don’t know why you should object, David. You did the very same thing to me when you slid that paper amongst the others for my signature, just a week after we met." Leith beamed a smile her way. "He told me about it in Brazil. He said he’d never regretted it for one moment, and that’s where I got the idea from." Her father was discomfited, and growled. "That was different. I didn’t intend to snatch Celia away from her family and carry her off to some remote continent." "Australia is quite civilized these days, sir, and you can get there in a day" "I know exactly how long it takes to get there," her father growled. Celia gave her husband the most sweetest of smiles. "I only had a sister, and if I recall, you wanted to strangle her at times." "And still do," he growled. "Caroline’s a busy-body. I found her damned petticoat in one of my drawers. It was a tatty mustard colored thing with safety pins keeping the straps on. I threw it in the rubbish. Thank God you turned out to be nothing like her." "And to think you only came to convert our house into two flats. Caroline was not amused when we moved into the upstairs one together." Celia’s eyes took on a dreamy expression and Katy smiled when her mother sighed, and said. "I thought it was such a romantic thing to do. I’ve still got the contract upstairs. Would you like to read what you said in it, David?" He cleared his throat. "I know exactly what I said in it, right down to the spelling mistake. Are you trying to give me a relapse?" He turned to stare thoughtfully at Leith. "Remind me not to tell you anything in confidence again. And as for my daughter -" Leith chuckled. "Katy must make her own mind up. I won’t pressure her." Her father’s glance lit on her, and she could see the speculation in them. It would suit her father if she married Leith. Not that Leith had asked her ... but she could see a shotgun on the horizon, with her father on the business end. There would be no problems about the company then. It would stay in the family. "Katy ...?" Her father’s voice made barely a dent on her thoughts.

Like it or not, and she didn’t, the pressure would come from two directions, possibly three. Her mother made no bones about the fact she liked Leith a lot. In fact, she’d already started with none-to-subtle hints. Perhaps the offer from New York had come at the right time. "I’ve had an offer of a contract with a New York agency." Her parents stared at her, wide-eyed and without saying anything. Her mother recovered first, and pulled a smile on her face. "Congratulations, darling." Her father didn’t bother to hide his disquiet. "I don’t like the idea of you in New York, alone." She realized, he still thought of her as a child in some ways. She should have moved out of home earlier, made a life for herself. She’d enjoyed her independence in Dorcas’ flat. She wanted to protest, to tell him she was old enough to live her life as she chose. She didn’t, because she loved him and because he’d been ill. He was the only father she had, and she his only child. He was entitled to be protective of her and she didn’t want to hurt his feelings. So she crossed to where he sat and kissed him on the cheek. Her glance sought Leith’s. She loved him too. They were two of a kind, and between them they’d backed her into a corner. "I love you, dad. When I decide what I’m going to do you’ll be the first to know. I’m going out now, and I’ll probably stay with Dorcas tonight. We have a lot to discuss." "I’ll drive you over there," Leith said. But he was on the phone when she came downstairs with her overnight bag in her hand. She went to sit in the car, her headache a thing of the past. When Leith slid in beside her she was so conscious of him her flesh tingled. He turned to gaze at her, his eyes very blue, his lips twisted into a faint smile. "You’re driving me crazy." "I know," she said, her voice hardly audible. "I’m sorry." Amusement flared in his eyes. "I do believe you are." "Stop laughing. It’s not funny. I want to chose the course of my life. You can’t expect me to honour that contract. I didn’t even know about it." The corner of his mouth quirked into a dimple. "I told you to read it. Why didn’t you?" "I wanted you -" "And I wanted you." The wounded expression in his eyes was almost unbearable. "My father thinks we’re in love with each other." "We are." Trust Leith to hit the nail right on the head, but did he have to be so casual about it? Anger surged through her, giving her courage. "Who’s fault is that?"

Mock resignation was coupled with an eloquently arched eyebrow. "Mine?" Attack was the best form of defense when faced with such disarming honesty. "You maneuvered me into a relationship. Not only that, if you insist I go to Australia with you, then I won’t be able to take the modeling contract. I’ve been waiting all my life for a chance like this. It will make me a millionaire." "Ah, I see," he said. "You want me to insist, you want me to make the decision for you. That way, you won’t have to chose between what’s right and what you know to be wrong. If it all goes sour on you, then you’ll be able to blame someone else." "Is that ridiculous statement all you’ve got to say?" "I promised not to pressure you, and you know I can’t insist. Take the contract if that’s what you want. Marcia is willing to take the job in Australia. In fact, I’d rather she had it. She’s efficient and experienced, and David Sullivan specifically asked for her." Which was a bit wounding. "You could have given me the chance to refuse." "I did, and you did. Take the contract in New York, Katy. You deserve a chance to prove yourself." Why did she feel let down all of a sudden? Perhaps Leith didn’t really want her to go with him. Perhaps it was just a game. It wasn’t in his nature to give up easily, but he hadn’t even offered a token resistance. The fact that his love had been offered only as long as the physical relationship lasted, hurt her. Hadn’t she ended her engagement to Mark because of him? Hadn’t she trusted herself to Leith? And hadn’t he just indicated she had a tendency to blame someone else for the wrong decisions she took? She’d done none of those things. She’d used Leith for her own ends against Mark, abused his trust, taken what he’d offered and thrown it back in his face. She didn’t really want the modeling contract. She wanted Leith. Her love for him was more important than anything else in her life. She felt like crying. "You don’t need me then." He reached out to touch her hair and slowly spiraled a strand around his finger. "I didn’t say that, brown eyes." "What are you saying, Leith?" His smile was wry. "That I need you like I need to breath, that I’m crazy about you ... so crazy I’m willing to let you go." Adrenaline salted her tongue. "Is that why you want me to go to New York?" "I don’t want you to go to New York. All I want is for you to be happy. You seem to be confused about what you feel for me. If a modeling contract in New York makes you happy, I’m willing to wait a year or so. Who knows, you might even miss me." Leith would wait a year or so! Katy very much doubted if he had that sort of patience. She remembered the brochures of Australia, the wide sunny beaches and the bikini clad girls. The only temptation Leith was going to have to handle, was her!

"I’m not in the least bit confused," she told him. "I don’t care about the contract. I don’t care about your prison record, I don’t even care whether you want me to go with you or not. I love you and I’m going with you. I can probably get some work over there." He started to laugh, and gently pulled her towards him by the captured strand of hair. His mouth touched hers in the lightest of kisses. "You don’t really believe I’ve got a prison record, do you?" "I overheard you say to my father ... mmmm ... when I asked you about the prison ... you said ... mmmm .... stop that a moment," and she wondered if he was going to allow her a complete sentence. "I got it all wrong, didn’t I?" she managed to blurt out. "You haven’t been in prison, have you?" His eyes gazed into hers, very blue and intent. "In a sense, yes." She couldn’t keep the shock from showing in her eyes and a lump formed in her throat. "I couldn’t imagine you locked away in a tiny cell. It must have been awful." "I wasn’t locked in a cell." His arms were a warm cradle she didn’t want to leave. "I was locked in the prison along with the construction crew for a few months." He’d been building a prison! Though she felt all kinds of fools she smiled with relief. "How did you get locked in?" The government of the country who’d contracted it ran out of money for progress payments, so the construction company tried to pull out of the deal." He shrugged. "Troops were sent in to prevent us leaving." "So you were hostages?" "More or less. They locked us in during the night." "Couldn’t you have escaped?" There was more than a touch of pride in the grin Leith gave. "Impossible, I built it too well." She laughed. "What happened in the end?" There was a coup. The new government apologized and let us go. By that time, the building was completed, anyway. At the moment the company I worked for is negotiating for payment. I paid the crew from my own funds and they held one hell of a party for me before flying on to the States." He winced. "I still can’t remember how I got to Bournemouth that night. Are you sure it wasn’t you driving my car?" "Absolutely." "That’s a relief." She sighed when his lips grazed a path through her hair. "I was disappointed when the girl of my dreams had turned out to be so commercial." "Girl of your dreams?" she snorted indignantly. "You’d only just met me." "I had a magazine cutting of you on my cell wall. You were sitting in the fork of a tree wearing a white,

lacy dress with the sun shining through, so your legs were outlined. You were wearing a straw hat tied with a green satin ribbon held in one hand, and you had a butterfly perched on the finger of the other hand. Your feet were bare and your hair was flying in the wind." She shivered when his fingers caressed the nape of her neck. "When I set eyes on you in Bournemouth, I couldn’t believe my luck." "Hah!" A finger was placed across her lips. "Hush, I haven’t finished. When you turned up at the lawyer’s office I felt as though I’d been king hit. By the end of the day I knew I was in love." His grin was as roguish and as confident as the first time they’d met. "I hope you’ll put me out of my misery and marry me, Katy? I can’t bear the thought of being in Australia without you." "Try and stop me," she said, and because she couldn’t wait any longer she kissed him, long and hard. "We can’t make love here in the street," he said, when they finally came up for air, "And your mother is watching from behind the curtain. I just happen to have booked a hotel room, champagne and a romantic dinner ..." She leaned across him and switched on the engine. "Let’s go." His arm snaked out of the car window and he gave a triumphant thumbs-up towards the house. Her mother waved and the curtain slid back into place.

Katy was pleased with herself. She grinned cheekily at the big man sprawled across the bed. "Aren’t you going to open that champagne?" He smiled lazily at her, his eyes narrowing as she peeled off a delicate lace stocking. "Did you have to pick this hotel? I’m sure the manager recognized us." She laughed and tossed the stocking his way. "How am I doing?" "Like a real pro," he said, and chuckled when she threw a cushion at him. Her gown pooled around her ankles and his stomach hollowed when he took a deep breath. "Now, this is getting real interesting. What’s that lacy satin thing you’re wearing called." "Sexy," she purred. "You’re not kidding." He came upright in one motion, his hands smoothing over the garment. His eyes had a predatory look. "I’d have liked a bed built for two, woman." "I chose this room for sentimental reasons. I guess we’ll have to make do with two singles for tonight." "Or one," he suggested, his hands smoothing down over her hips. "And what makes you think we’re waiting until tonight?" His breath sent a drift of confetti from her hair. A couple of pieces landed on the marriage certificate lying on the dressing table, and her glance went to the shiny new wedding ring on his finger.

Signed, sealed and delivered, she thought, and decided the champagne could wait a little longer when his mouth began to distract her from anything else but him.