A Stranger's Kiss

do is mention his wife’s name.’
    Her eyes widened in horror. ‘You wouldn’t—’
    ‘Watch me.’ He frowned at her distress. ‘You don’t owe him any favours, Tara.’
    ‘I...’
    ‘Yes?’
    Her eyes dropped to her hands, busily shredding a tissue. ‘I was partly to blame. You warned me.’
    ‘Yes, I did. But you said no. He didn’t like it and considering the way you’d been flirting with him all evening I have some sympathy. But no still means no.’
    ‘But to blackmail him...’
    He made an abrupt move towards her, but stopped as she flinched away. ‘Don’t worry, Tara. All I want to do is speed things up. I shan’t be too unkind. Just rob him of the fun of haggling down to the last cent.’ His mouth twisted in a smile of pure derision. ‘It will be more painful for him than being ducked in a fountain, I can assure you. And it won’t cost him money.’ He rubbed his forehead vigorously with his fingers. ‘Well, not too much. Get Rashid, arrange the flight then bring your book up. I want the agreement in my hand for him to sign the minute he walks through the door.’ He turned in the doorway. ‘And I’d like some coffee if it’s not too much trouble,’ he added, caustically.
    ‘And perhaps something for your headache?’ she threw after him.
    He bowed slightly in acknowledgement that her barb had found its mark. ‘Thank you, my lady. That would be most appreciated.’
    She put Rashid through to the bedroom phone. She had been nervous of speaking to him, but last night might never have happened. The call was brief and she was able to make the travel arrangements as soon as he had finished. That done she added her notebook and pencils to the tray brought by the servant and carried it upstairs.
    His door was ajar, but she still knocked.
    ‘Come in, Tara.’ She pushed the door open, but the room was empty. ‘I’m in the bathroom.’
    ‘Oh!’
    ‘Don’t be a prude, girl. Get in here.’ Hardly knowing where to look she peered around the door. He was lying up to his neck in a deep foaming bath, eyes apparently closed. ‘Don’t hover. Sit down and give me the painkillers.’ She handed him the tablets and a glass of water and he swallowed them.
    Her own bathroom was beautiful with a soft carpet and hand-made Spanish tiles, but Adam’s was palatial. The bath was enormous, quite large enough for two. She quashed the thought hard. He had probably shared it with Jane on his last visit.
    ‘Why are you blushing, Tara?’
    ‘I’m sorry. I’ve never taken dictation from a man in his bath before.’
    He opened one eye and eased up slightly, so that his shoulders appeared above the water. ‘Would you rather I got out?’
    ‘No!’ She quickly sat in a comfortable wicker chair and stared down at her notebook.
    He dictated more slowly than usual, clearly thinking about every word he used, weighing it, carefully. He asked her to read back what he had dictated more than once. He made several changes but was finally happy. ‘That should do it. Knock it out as quickly as you can, Tara. And hand me that towel, will you?’ He erupted from the water. She flung the towel at him and fled, pursued along the corridor by his laughter. He had clearly made a quick recovery.
    She typed the document as quickly as she could, but kept making uncharacteristic errors as the image of his hard, well-muscled shoulders and the strong column of his neck kept intruding between her and the screen. She had printed it three times before she was satisfied.
    * * *
    Adam finally appeared, casually dressed, ready for the journey and read it through. ‘Fine.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘I’ll print the rest of the copies, you’d better go and pack your things.’
    ‘Shall I pack for you?’
    He stared at her for a moment. ‘Yes, thank you.’
    She was half way up the stairs when the front door opened and Hanna’s voice called an almost unbearably cheery greeting to Adam. In that instance she knew what he had done. He must have known how much she was dreading facing him and had got her out of the way. It was kinder than she deserved. She felt her throat tighten and knew she was close to tears.
    ‘Stupid!’ Tears wouldn’t help. She blinked hard, but it was too late and as she swiftly folded her clothes into her case, small damp spots appeared with unhappy frequency. Finally everything was packed but the scarlet dress. She shook it out. It seemed pointless to pack it. She would certainly never wear it again.