A Stranger's Kiss

everything.’
    ‘Of course,’ he said, dully. ‘Little Miss Perfect.’
    Stung she asked, ‘How is Jane?’ She had to keep jabbing at the hurt, reminding herself that what she felt for this man was foolish nonsense.
    ‘Jane?’ He rubbed his hand over his face. ‘Oh, she’s fine. So is Charles Adam Townsend, thank heavens.’
    ‘Congratulations.’ Her voice sounded quite normal she thought as she straightened her desk once more.
    ‘What?’ He shrugged. ‘Oh, right. I’ll pass it on to the appropriate quarters. If you’ve finished you’d better get home.’
    ‘Yes. I’ve left a list of messages on your desk, but I’ll fill you in tomorrow.’ It wasn’t so difficult if you kept to safe subjects, she thought.
    ‘Not tomorrow. Not ever.’ Shock lifted her head and she was confronted by his emotionless face. ‘I don’t want you to come back, Tara.’
    ‘Not…’ She stopped. Why was she surprised? She hadn’t exactly behaved like the perfect secretary during the last few days.
    He was at her side in a stride. ‘Don’t look at me like that, damn you! I’ll keep to our agreement. If your temps are half as good as you I’ll have the better part of the bargain.’ He stepped back, clearly regretting the impulse that had brought them within inches of each other. He waved her away. ‘I’ve kept you from your own affairs long enough. Just get me someone here tomorrow who can type.’
    ‘Until Jane comes back?’
    His mouth tightened. ‘Jane won’t be coming back.’
    Of course not. She could hardly deposit the boss’s son in the fifth floor crèche every morning. She had been conscious of the dull ache in her chest all day, but now it threatened to explode. She clenched her hands. Keep to business. Think of business and it would be all right.
    ‘Would you like me to look for a new secretary for you?’ she asked, with every evidence of being completely calm. Completely in control. This seemed to anger him.
    ‘Why not? Just make sure she’s middle-aged and plain and wears flannelette underwear.’
    Tara’s cheeks flamed. ‘I’ll keep those requirements in mind, Adam, but frankly, I prefer to make my judgements on skill and personality.’
    ‘Do you? Well, to be honest I don’t care overmuch whether she can even type, Tara. Just so long as she doesn’t answer back!’
    There were tears burning against her lids now and she had to get out before they began to fall. She grabbed blindly for her bag and her coat. ‘I’ll bring someone in the morning. Walk them through the system.’
    ‘No. You managed. So must she. I don’t want you here.’ He caught her arm and swung her to face him. ‘Have I made myself clear?’
    ‘Let go of me!’
    He looked down at his hand on her arm, as if wondering how on earth it had got there. Then his eyes flashed up into hers.
    ‘I’ll let go in my own good time.’
    ‘Adam!’
    ‘Before you go you’ll have to settle your outstanding obligations.’
    ‘I have no obligations to you—’
    ‘Your outstanding fee for services rendered.’
    ‘What—’
    He drew her slowly towards him. She was shaking her head, pulling desperately in her need to get away. But there was no escape. His eyes fastened her to the spot like a butterfly on a pin. Barely conscious that he had released her she still could not turn and run.
    He took her bag and coat from her lifeless fingers then, his hands at her waist, warm, strong, electric through the smooth cloth of her jacket, he drew her towards him. His mouth was closer now. Descending slowly, as if he didn’t want the moment to pass. Slowly, drawing her body along the length of his. Slowly, while he drank in every feature as if for last time. His lips touched her forehead, her brows, gently caressed her eyelids.
    Tara moaned as if in mortal agony, but his mouth was relentless in its soft seduction. It courted her temples, wooed the curve of her jaw and the delicate, sensitive skin below her chin. The touch of his lips to hers was both a relief and a menace. Somewhere, deep inside she knew she should be fighting for her survival. There was some good reason why she should fight this seductive pleasure. But her body wasn’t listening.
    Softly his lips moved across hers, tempting, flirting, drawing from her little whimpers and moans of longing that she wasn’t even aware of. His tongue flickered teasingly and her lips parted in welcome. This was the kiss she had waited for all her life. Nothing had ever prepared her