He stirred and the harshness relaxed a little. ‘I’ll go and say goodnight to him now.’Irene heaved a sigh of relief and she stood up to allow him to pass, only to find she simply couldn’t help herself as he drew abreast of her.‘What made you think I might have coached him? I would have thought I’d made it perfectly clear these things can’t be rushed.’He stopped one step below her so their eyes were almost level. And she saw something else she’d missed in her earlier summation of him—he might be hiding it well, but he was tired.A smile flickered in his eyes as he said, ‘Yes, ma’am, you did impart that pearl of wisdom to me, amongst a few others. Uh—why? I’m not in a good mood, to put it mildly. I haven’t been for days and when I get like this I tend to be—cynical, suspicious, even downright bloody-minded.’‘So they told me—’ She broke off and bit her lip.‘Told you that, did they? My staff?’ he drawled. ‘They’re right.’ ‘But have things fallen through?’ She looked concerned. ‘Has i

Instead of steadying, her breathing grew more ragged and her heart started to pound, he looked so tall, so good-looking, but with that entirely unapproachable aura again.‘You shouldn’t have run away from Paul, Irene.’She stared up at him, her eyes huge. ‘You…you heard?’He shook his head. ‘Only the last bit when he offered you his friendship. But you’d have to be blind not to know there’s a whole lot more he’d like to offer you. He’s also thoroughly nice—what have you got against him?’Irene felt a spike of sheer annoyance surge through her veins that was as unexpected as it was irrational. But, at that moment, she felt Murad Fullbuster was the last person she needed advice from on her—non-existent but all the same— love life. Anyway, whose fault was it Paul O’Hara didn’t affect her at all?She opened her mouth, tried to caution herself against doing anything silly, but days of turmoil and trying to hide the truth from him and herself saw her suddenly snap…She said huskily, ‘What h

Nicky and Brad, with Stan’s help, were constructing a cubby house and didn’t seem to need her at all.She thought back to last night. Diane had come up to her room with her and, after Irene had taken a shower, she’d brought her a cup of Milo.Whether Diane had formed her own conclusions about why she was in the state she was, Irene didn’t know, but, beyond reassuring herself it wasn’t a health issue, Diane had probed no further.She probably guessed, Irene thought as she sipped her tea and curled her feet up under her in the basket chair. It had to have been fairly obvious. She’d not only been weeping, she’d probably been looking shell-shocked and she had just been comprehensively kissed.What she’d managed to hide from Diane this morning was the fact that she still felt shell-shocked. She could never forget that kiss. Just thinking about it made her pulses hammer and reminded her of how she’d felt during it, and not only the physical thrills, but the reaching-for-the-stars joy it had

MONTHS later, Irene could remember word for word what she’d said to Cathy Spencer, her stunned reaction to it, and how the rest of that fateful morning had panned out.Cathy had still been staring at her, wide-eyed and with an expression of growing guilt, when Mrs Mills had come in with a remote phone…‘Mr Fullbuster would like to speak to you, Miss Spencer,’ she said, and handed the phone to her.Irene got up. ‘We’ll leave you alone,’ she murmured.‘Thanks.’ Cathy stared at the phone for a moment as if she were afraid it was going to bite her, then she put it to her ear. ‘Murad?’‘Where was he?’ Irene asked Mrs Mills as they retreated to the kitchen. ‘Out jogging, apparently. He hadn’t told anyone and he hadn’t taken hisphone. Does she want to take Nicky?’Irene hesitated. ‘I don’t think so. I think she seriously wants to do what’s best for Nicky. She’s also just lost her mother so she’s pretty fragile.’Mrs Mills heaved a heartfelt sigh. ‘They were good together, you know.Maybe th

He smiled perfunctorily and didn’t say anything.Irene swallowed and knew instinctively what she had to do. ‘So, unless you have any more surprises up your sleeve, I guess it’s time to say goodbye, Mr Fullbuster.’ She held out her hand.He didn’t take it. He studied the brave face she was putting on, the lovely hair, the figure that had so surprised him, her stunning eyes behind her glasses, the fact that she was pale with the effort of being brave and composed.‘Irene,’ he said on a harsh breath, then forced himself to relax, ‘you will get over this. You’re so young, you’re lovely and fresh—believe me, this will go.You’re also far too sensible not to be able to put it behind you.’Her lips parted. ‘Am I?’ she said, but immediately shook her head. ‘Don’t answer that. Look, thank you for everything—and I’m sure I will. I just wish—’ She stopped and bit her lip.‘What?’‘No, nothing.’‘Irene,’ he said ominously, ‘you know that never works with me.’She closed her eyes in sudden frustra