A Stranger's Kiss

closed her eyes to blot out the cold green fire in his eyes. ‘Stop it, Adam. For pity’s sake stop it,’ she begged. ‘Haven’t you made me suffer enough?’
    ‘Suffer? You, my lady? I don’t believe you know the meaning of the word. You’re ice all through. But I intend to make you suffer for the agony you’ve put me through this week.’
    ‘You can’t—’
    ‘Believe it. You have my personal guarantee. You like to play games, Tara, lead a man on with those eyes that promise so much, until he’s half mad, crazy with—’
    She flung her head from side to side. ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about.’
    He grasped her shoulders, dragging her towards him until she could feel the heat of his body, hammering in waves against her own. ‘Oh believe me, Tara, I know.’
    She put her hands over her ears. ‘Stop it. Stop it do you hear! You’ve no right to say such things—’
    ‘Then tell me. Who were you with?’ His eyes were angry slits. ‘The truth!’ He shook her, fiercely. ‘I promise you, I’ll find out if you’re lying.’
    Her mouth was dry. She recognised in Adam a man at the end of his tether and the danger of goading him any further. Whatever he might believe, she had no intention of lying to him.
    ‘I stayed with my godmother in Kendal for the week.’
    ‘Your godmother?’ This was clearly the last thing he had expected. He released her and she staggered slightly, retaining her feet with difficulty.
    ‘I had to get away. I needed a breathing space. Some time…’
    He raked his hand through his hair. The slash of silver across his forehead seemed more prominent than she remembered. ‘Time.’ He laughed bitterly. ‘I’ve tried that. It doesn’t work, does it?’
    She shook her head. ‘No. I’m afraid not. But there’s nothing either of us can do about it.’
    ‘Oh, yes there is.’ He groaned and pulled her roughly against him. ‘Only one thing. Marry me, Tara. Put us both out of this misery.’
    Shocked, she stood rigid, unresponsive in his arms. ‘How can you ask me that?’
    ‘I’m simply bowing to the inevitable. I’m asking you to do the same. I know you still feel strongly for that boy who died, but you can’t live your life in the past, Tara.’
    ‘And Jane?’ she asked, coldly. ‘Is she to be relegated to the past as well?’
    ‘Jane?’ He stared at her. ‘What has she to do with this?’
    ‘She needs you, Adam. Her baby needs you.’
    ‘For God’s sake, Tara, haven’t I done enough? I can’t give up a life of my own simply because her husband spends half of his in one remote jungle after another—’
    ‘Jungle?’ Tara interjected.
    ‘That’s why she came to work for me, because she couldn’t stand being in the house all day by herself.’
    ‘And all night?’ Tara demanded.
    ‘All night? What are you talking about?’ He held her at arms length. ‘My God, she didn’t tell you!’
    ‘Tell me what?’
    ‘Didn’t she come here? I made her promise that she would.’
    So that was why she had come. To please Adam. ‘You needn’t worry. She kept her promise. She asked me to be... kinder.’
    ‘But she never told you?’
    ‘Told me what, Adam? What was so important?’
    ‘I don’t believe she could be so stupid. This baby has turned her wits to sawdust.’ He stepped forward and took her shoulders and held her at arm’s length. ‘Jane phoned me in Wales to say you were home. I told her I was coming straight back and that she had better get around here and clear up all misunderstandings before I arrived.’
    Her eyes were huge in her pale face. ‘What possible misunderstanding could there be, Adam? Everything seems very simple.’
    ‘No, my lady. The only simple thing around here is me, for allowing my sister to get me into a situation where I was in danger of losing the one woman I have found it impossible to live without. No matter how hard I tried.’
    He watched while the words sank into her brain. ‘Your sister?’
    ‘Jane is my sister,’ he repeated carefully, making sure she understood. ‘She is married to Charles Townsend.’ She didn’t immediately respond to this information, still trying to take in what he was saying.
    ‘Charles Townsend? The explorer?’ She had seen photographs of him in a Sunday supplement. A great blond Viking of man.
    ‘Yes,’ he said, evidently relieved that he was finally getting through to her. ‘By the time Jane realised she was pregnant it was too late for him to back out of this