‘Is he mad?’ she cried scornfully.
‘No, just a father who wants to get to know his daughter.’
‘I surely don’t have to go and live with him for that,’ she dismissed scathingly.
‘It’s surely the best way?’
‘Not for me! I’m going back to the States in two days’ time. I intend resuming my career.’
‘You aren’t well enough for that.’ His voice was sharp. ‘Your legs—–’
‘Are healed.’
‘Beautifully,’ he nodded. ‘As far as it goes. But they aren’t strong enough for the arduous job of a model.’
‘I’m strong enough to do what I damn well please,’ Sara snapped, resenting his bossy behaviour.
‘I forbid you—I ask you not to do it,’ Dominic amended with a shake of his head. ‘I’m sorry, I think the last few days have got to me too. You have no need to work, Sara. As Michael’s daughter—–’
‘Will you stop saying that!’
‘All right, then,’ he bit out angrily, ‘as Marie’s sister, won’t you do this?’
Her mouth twisted. ‘Because you like to see Marie happy?’ she taunted.
‘Partly,’ he admitted grimly.
‘And the other part?’
‘For you. I’m sure you can’t feel happy about turning your back on your own sister.’
She wasn’t. He knew she wasn’t. This man knew her, knew everything about her, and it wasn’t just because he was close to Marie. ‘You aren’t being fair,’ she choked. ‘I don’t owe Michael Lindlay anything, least of all loyalty.’
‘But you think he owes you something.’
‘Yes! No—I don’t know,’ she said miserably.
‘Well, he doesn’t. You were happy with your mother, weren’t you?’
‘Very,’ she nodded, frowning.
‘Then Michael gave you all he owed you when he let you go. He did, Sara,’ Dominic insisted as she went to protest. ‘Just think for a moment. Your mother left your father to be with her lover. She shouldn’t really have been allowed to take either of her children, and yet Michael let her have you. Why did she never have any other children?’ he asked shrewdly.
‘Richard wasn’t able to have any,’ she revealed slowly.
He raised his eyebrows. ‘Then Michael did her more of a favour than she first realised. I would have been less charitable.’
‘Charitable!’ she echoed furiously. ‘When he’d been having an affair himself?’
Dominic sighed. ‘I can see there’s no reasoning with you.’
‘None at all,’ she confirmed. ‘I—–’
‘Dominic.’ For the second time in two days Michael Lindlay walked unannounced into the room containing Dominic and Sara. He came up with a start. ‘Sara!’ he gasped.
He had aged overnight, even she could see that; there was a drawn look to his handsome face, a bleak look in his eyes. His expression was agonised as he looked at her, seemingly undecided about whether to enter the room or simply leave again.
‘Come in, Michael,’ Dominic made the decision for him. ‘Perhaps you can talk some sense into Sara.’
‘I don’t think so,’ she denied tightly, turning away.
A few seconds later she heard the door close. She didn’t know whether she was relieved or saddened that her father had so calmly accepted her refusal to speak to him. She had no doubts that Dominic would never accept such a decision himself. Maybe that was the reason she felt she could rely on him. Even after the way they had reached out to each other just now? She couldn’t begin to work out what had happened between them a few minutes ago, except to think that Dominic had momentarily confused her with Marie. That would be the obvious explanation.
‘Sara.’
She spun round. Dominic hadn’t been the one to remain in the office after all; her father had. She swallowed hard, biting her top lip. ‘How is it you were able to tell Marie and myself apart from the start?’ she asked shyly.
Some of the tension seemed to leave him, although he still eyed her warily. ‘I know my girls,’ he said huskily.
She flushed. ‘Both of us?’
‘Oh yes,’ he nodded.
‘How?’ Her head went back in challenge.
‘Photographs of you. And I have Marie with me.’
Sara frowned. ‘You have photographs of me?’
He nodded. ‘Sent to me by your mother. With Richard’s consent, of course.’
‘You’ve corresponded with my mother?’ she gasped.
‘Occasionally,’ he nodded again. ‘Although perhaps corresponded is too strong a word. Once a year, sometimes twice, your mother would send me a photograph of you, and I would do the same thing with Marie. I doubt we’ve written more than a dozen words to each other in twenty years, but the photographs became a ritual.’
‘So you’ve known exactly how I looked all the time?’ Sara was having some trouble taking all this in.
He smiled. ‘Every step of the way.’
‘Did you know that this year you weren’t to receive a photograph?’ her voice was bitter. ‘That my mother and I were actually going to visit you here in England?’
‘No,’ her father looked startled. ‘I had no idea.’
‘Apparently my mother considered it time Marie and I were made aware of each other. I think we should have been told a damn sight sooner than this.’
‘I realise you’re angry, Sara—–’
‘Angry?’ she repeated tautly. ‘I’m furious!’ Her eyes sparkled with anger. ‘Marie might be able to take all this calmly, but I’m afraid I can’t.’
Her father gave a rueful smile. ‘Marie didn’t accept it calmly either—she gave me hell once you’d left yesterday.’
‘Good.’ Sara felt some of the anger leaving her. ‘I like Marie,’ she admitted huskily.
‘She likes you too.’ There was a shimmer of tears in his deep brown eyes so like her own. ‘But not as much as I do. Sara—–’
‘How about inviting me back for lunch?’ she broke in on what she felt could only be an emotional speech. And until she had decided what the future held for her she wanted to keep emotion out of this situation for as long as possible. Even her own anger and resentment must be dampened down for the moment.
‘You mean that?’ he asked eagerly.
‘Why not?’ she gave a casual shrug. ‘Although I’ll have to let my aunt and uncle know where I am.’
‘Susan and Arthur? We can call in there on the drive back if you like.’
‘I’m not sure—–’
‘We’ve remained on quite good terms, if that’s what you’re concerned about,’ her father cut in.
‘It seems to have been palsy-walsy all round,’ Sara said bitterly.
‘I—–’
‘I’m sorry,’ her movements were jerky as she picked up her, handbag from the desk-top, ‘shall we go now?’
‘I just have some papers to collect from my office first. Would you like to come with me or wait here?’
‘I’ll wait here. You won’t be long, will you?’
‘Two minutes,’ he promised, his eagerness almost embarrassing.
Dominic returned to his office a few seconds later, obviously having been waiting outside. ‘There goes a happy man,’ he drawled.
‘It’s only lunch,’ Sara snapped awkwardly.
He shook his head. ‘Not to Michael it isn’t.’
Her eyes flashed at his taunting tone. ‘You don’t sound as if you approve.’
‘Oh, I approve, for Michael’s sake.’
‘And Marie’s!’
‘Yes,’ the word came out as a hiss. ‘But not for my own. And you know why, don’t you?’ he added harshly.
‘No …’ The awareness was back, only stronger, and once again it frightened her.
Dominic slowly closed the door behind him, his gaze locked on her parted lips. ‘Yes, Sara. God, yes …!’ he groaned, pulling her into his arms. ‘I’ve been wanting this since—since—Oh, God!’ His lips ground down on hers.
There was no thought of denial, her mouth opened to accept the probing intimacy of his, her body arched against him. She had never been kissed so intimately, so thoroughly, each touch of Dominic’s lips was more drugging than the last.
The situation was spiralling out of control, Dominic’s hands probing the curve of her back, sending shivers of delight down her spine, his mouth now caressing the hollow below her ear.
But she was a substitute, Marie’s double. It wasn’t her he was kissing at all. This realisation made her spin away from him, the fierce desire in his face reaching out hungrily to her, their breathing ragged.
‘I have to go,’ she said jerkily. ‘I—I’ll wait for my father outside.’
Dominic made no move to touch her, standing pale and dazed as she quietly left the room.
Sara smiled nervously at the secretary, pushing her long hair back from her pale face. What had happened in there? It had been like a minor explosion, their bodies fusing together in a tide of sensual abandon. Dominic, a man she had believed to be in control at all times, had definitely been out of control for a few brief minutes, had wanted her with every fibre of his body. And she had wanted him too.
But she hadn’t been Sara Hamille to him, she had been Marie Lindlay! He seemed to have trouble separating them, and until he could she would have to stay out of his way. If only she weren’t so attracted to him!
‘Sara!’ Her father appeared at her side, a briefcase in his hand. ‘Sorry I was longer than anticipated. I just called Marie to make sure she would be at home.’
After what had just taken place between herself and Dominic Sara wasn’t sure she would even be able to face Marie.
Luckily she had to visit her aunt and uncle first, which helped to banish Dominic from her mind somewhat. It seemed her father was right about there being no resentment, because Aunt Susan and Uncle Arthur greeted him politely enough.
‘Now that we’re here I think I’ll change, if you don’t mind,’ she spoke to her father.
‘Go ahead.’ He seemed quite at ease. ‘I’m sure Susan and Arthur will keep me company in your absence.’
Sara hurried to her room, changing from the denims and tee-shirt she had hastily donned that morning and putting on a silky summer dress with a halter neckline and shaped in at the waist. Its tan colour suited her golden skin, making her look cool and composed. At least now she looked more in keeping with a guest of Michael Lindlay.
She hurried downstairs, intending to rescue her aunt and uncle from what could only be an embarrassing meeting, even though they appeared to be putting a brave face on it.
‘Sara doesn’t know about this, does she?’ she heard her aunt say, halting her entrance at these puzzling words. What else didn’t she know?
Michael Lindlay sighed. ‘It isn’t something I find easy to tell anyone, but especially Sara.’
‘It’s unbelievable,’ her uncle said emotionally. ‘Poor Sara, I don’t think she’ll be able to take it. First her mother and stepfather, and now—–’
‘Ssh, Arthur!’ his wife told him. ‘I think I heard Sara.’
Sara sighed her frustration. What had her uncle been about to say? First her mother and stepfather, and now—–? Now was her father going to die too? Oh God, surely not! But what other explanation could there be?
She forced a bright smile to her lips as she breezily entered the room. ‘I’m ready,’ she announced generally, looking at her father with new eyes. If he was dying, and there could surely be no other explanation, then of what was he dying? He was only in his forties, what could strike a man dead at that young age? A weak heart, a terminal disease? The list was endless. And it made her continued resentment of him seem childish and cruel.
Her father stood up. ‘And looking very nice too.’ He turned to her aunt and uncle. ‘Can I persuade you to join us?’
‘Perhaps another time,’ her aunt refused.
Sara studied her father on the drive to his home. He didn’t look ill, a little strained perhaps, but not ill. Still, some illnesses were like that, the person looking completely normal until it was too late.
Unless she had it all wrong. But what else could have been meant by that conversation?
‘Sara!’ Marie ran out of the house to greet her as soon as the car drew up outside. She pulled Sara’s car door open, tugging her out on to the gravel driveway. ‘I couldn’t believe it when Daddy rang to say you were coming to lunch.’ She hugged her tight. ‘After yesterday I didn’t think you would ever want to see us again.’
Sara gave a tearful, smile. Marie’s pleasure was completely genuine. ‘Not want to see my own sister?’ she choked.
‘Oh, Sara!’ Marie hugged her all the tighter. ‘Isn’t it fantastic?’ She put her arm through the crook of Sara’s. ‘We’re going to have such fun together,’ she told her, taking her into the house.
‘Hmm-hmm?’
They both turned at the rather pointed cough. Marie grinned at her father’s pained expression. ‘Okay, Daddy, you can come too,’ she permitted graciously.
‘You’re so kind,’ he grimaced, a lithe, attractive man who didn’t look old enough to have twenty-year-old daughters.
Lunch was a lighthearted affair, with Marie and her father doing their best to make Sara feel at home. And to a certain degree they succeeded, all of them greatly enjoying the staff’s amazement at there seemingly being two Maries. It took a bit of explaining, but everyone was very welcoming once they knew who Sara was.
‘I have to go back to work this afternoon,’ their father said regretfully. ‘Will you be here when I get back?’ He looked hopefully at Sara.
‘Well, I—–’
‘Oh, do stay, Sara,’ Marie cut in on her refusal. ‘Then after dinner we can—–’
‘Dinner?’ she laughed. ‘I only came over for lunch.’
‘I want you to stay,’ her father told her huskily.
She shrugged. ‘All right—dinner.’
He shook his head. ‘Not just to dinner, Sara. I want—we both want, Marie and I,’ he seemed to be having trouble articulating. ‘We want you to stay here with us.’
Sara bit her lip. ‘Dominic said something about that. I have to go home—–’
‘This could be your home,’ her father cut in. ‘With Marie and me.’
‘Surely Marie will be getting married soon?’ Her voice was shrill at the thought of Dominic marrying Marie. She might have only been a replacement for Marie this morning, but as far as she was concerned Dominic had been Dominic, the man she and Marie both loved. Yes, loved. She had fallen in love with a man who wasn’t just engaged to any woman, he was going to marry her own sister, a girl she couldn’t possibly dislike or fight.
‘All the more reason for you to come and live with Daddy,’ Marie said smilingly. ‘Then he won’t be lonely when I’ve gone.’
There was no bitchiness intended in that remark, Marie just didn’t have it in her, and yet Sara realised that once again she was being used as a replacement. She had never felt second-best in her life before, but she did so now. Marie was a lovely, friendly girl, well liked by everyone, and Sara felt that she was being compared to her and found wanting. Marie was placid where she was fiery-tempered, accepted without demur the wishes of the people around her, namely their father and Dominic, whereas she rebelled at restrictions being put on her. Her independent upbringing was possibly responsible for that.
‘I want you to come and live with us for yourself.’ Her father perhaps sensed her bitterness. ‘After all this time I would just like us all to be together.’
‘I—I’ll think about it,’ she told him jerkily.
‘You go back to work, Daddy,’ Marie cut in on the tension. ‘Sara and I will go for a swim this afternoon, and I promise you she’ll still be here when you get home tonight.’
‘Okay.’ He bent to kiss her on the cheek. ‘I think your persuasive powers are a lot stronger than mine.’ He hesitated in front of Sara. ‘May I?’ he asked huskily.
She raised her cheek in acceptance, watching as he left the room with long strides. He was a man any girl would be proud to have as a father, and she was fast coming round to thinking that way. After all, what had happened twenty years ago had been a joint decision, and she had loved her mother very much, so why shouldn’t she eventually come to love her father! Eventually? The way he had been talking earlier to her aunt and uncle, there might not be time for ‘eventually’.
‘Poor Daddy,’ Marie giggled. ‘All this has put him in a terrible state. He hasn’t rested since he found out.’
Sara frowned. ‘I don’t understand how you can accept it all so easily.’
Marie shrugged. ‘Life is too short to make an issue out of something like this. Oh, I know you think Daddy treated you badly, but your mother—our mother, treated me just as badly, and I don’t resent her. After all, she did leave me behind. New angle?’ she quirked a teasing eyebrow.
Sara laughed, nodding. ‘New angle.’
Her sister became serious. ‘What was she like? Was she beautiful? I mean, we must have got our looks from someone.’
‘Conceited!’ Sara’s eyes twinkled merrily.
‘Well, I have to be something to have captured Dominic. Everyone thought he was a confirmed bachelor before he asked me to marry him. I would have been a fool to refuse. Don’t you think he’s just gorgeous?’
Sara was puzzled. If Marie thought he was so wonderful, and she obviously did, then why did she go out with other men, men Dominic knew about, even though it angered him? Marie didn’t seem the sort to try and deceive Dominic, she seemed to love him very much, and yet she had these other men. And she didn’t know Marie well enough yet to ask her why she did!
‘Sara?’ Marie prompted at her continued silence.
‘He’s very nice.’ Her manner was rather stilted, her love for the man a feeling she had never before experienced. ‘You’ll have to excuse me if I’m a bit reserved about him,’ she gave a nervy smile. ‘After all, the first time I met him he verbally attacked me, the second time he accused me of all kinds of things.’
‘Oh yes,’ Marie giggled, ‘I can sympathise. You should have heard what he said to me the next day! He’s so protective. I think he must be the best friend I ever had. Shall we go for a swim?’ she suggested. ‘You can wear one of my bikinis, it’s sure to fit you. You still haven’t told me what our mother was like. Oh dear,’ she gave a rueful smile, ‘I’m chattering again! Dan—Dominic always says I talk nonsense. And I suppose I do. But I do hate silence, don’t you? I never like to be alone,’ she grimaced. ‘I really hate that.’
Sara was aware that her sister was now chattering not for the sake of it but to cover something up. She hadn’t been going to say Dominic at all, she had mentioned someone called Dan and then tried to act as if she hadn’t. Who was Dan?
There were so many questions unanswered about the family she now had. Dominic was just as much of a mystery. Why kiss her when he was engaged to Marie?
She mentally shook her head. Each and every one of these people was a complex personality, and she certainly wouldn’t be able to analyse them on a few days’ acquaintance.
‘Our mother was very beautiful, very intelligent. She had a bubbly personality, loved to entertain, and she was very happy with Richard, my stepfather.’ Sara shrugged. ‘I liked her. And I’m not just saying that because she was my mother.’
‘I’m sure you aren’t,’ Marie agreed readily. ‘It isn’t always possible to like a parent, even though you love them. I like Daddy too. I think you will when you get to know him better. He really wants you to stay, Sara,’ she added wistfully. ‘We all do.’
Dominic didn’t. He wanted her to go back to the States, and she wasn’t sure that wasn’t the right thing to do. Wouldn’t she just be bringing heartache to herself to stay here, tormenting herself with what she couldn’t have?
‘I’ve said I’ll think about it,’ she told Marie firmly, ‘and that’s what I’m going to do.’
‘Without any pressure from me,’ Marie said ruefully. ‘Okay, let’s go and have that swim.’
The pool was deliciously cool in the heat of the day, situated at the far end of the acre or so of land that surrounded the house, shielded from the house by a high hedgerow. As Marie had thought, her bikini fitted Sara perfectly, its scantiness only just decent.
Sara telephoned her aunt later in the day, and they encouraged her to stay to dinner, saying they had no plans for the evening anyway.
‘I think maybe I’m a bit underdressed for dinner.’ She looked down at her halter-necked dress.
‘You look lovely,’ Marie assured her. She frowned. ‘Or is that being conceited too?’ She shrugged. ‘Oh well, it can’t be helped—you do look nice. But if you want to wear something of mine then you’re quite welcome.’
Sara pulled a face. ‘I’m beginning to feel like Little Orphan Annie!’
‘How can you be Little Orphan Annie when I’m sure you have lots of clothes at home?’ Marie dismissed that idea. ‘It must be fun being a model.’
‘Hard work,’ Sara corrected.
‘Mm, I suppose so. I bet if Mummy and Daddy had stuck together I would have been allowed to work too.’ Marie flung open the doors to her wardrobe that took up one wall of the bedroom. ‘Take your pick,’ she invited.
Sara had never seen one person own so many clothes before, and all of them beautiful, the fashion designers’ labels showing how expensive they were. She shook her head. ‘I’d be afraid of spilling something on them.’
‘Don’t be silly,’ her sister tutted. ‘They’re only dresses.’
Sara finally allowed herself to be persuaded into wearing a blue velvet dress, the material sensuous against her bare skin. It too was halter-necked, although it revealed a larger expanse of her breasts, and was long and straight to the floor in style.
When Dominic arrived with their father she wished she had turned down this dinner invitation. She hadn’t been expecting him, and colour flooded her cheeks as she vividly remembered being in his arms earlier, being kissed by him. She wrenched her gaze away as it seemed to lock with his, glad that she had seconds later as she heard Marie greeting him.
‘Darling,’ she said softly, the next few moments of silence telling their own story, a painful one to Sara.
She looked up just in time to see Marie moving out of Dominic’s arms, her lipstick slightly smudged.
‘Sara,’ Dominic greeted her abruptly.
‘Mr Thorne,’ she nodded just as abruptly.
‘You can’t call my fiancée Mr Thorne,’ Marie dismissed with a laugh, her hand resting in the crook of his arm. ‘Can she, darling?’
‘No,’ he agreed curtly.
Sara tried not to call him anything through dinner, concentrating most of her conversation on her father. He was intelligent, amusing, and altogether a charming companion. She was coming to like both members of her family, but falling in love with Dominic made it impossible for her to stay in England.
‘Sara?’
She looked up to find her father looking at her enquiringly. ‘Sorry?’ she blinked her puzzlement.
He laughed. ‘It’s all right, it wasn’t anything important anyway. Did I remember to tell you how beautiful you look this evening? I like the dress.’
She laughed. ‘You should—you paid for it!’
He looked startled. ‘I did?’
‘It’s one of mine, Daddy,’ Marie grinned. ‘Although it never looked that good on me, it must be all that training to be a model.’
Sara blushed at the compliment, studiously avoiding Dominic’s piercing blue eyes. He was watching her, she knew he was; he always seemed to be watching her. She just wished she knew why.
‘I—er—I think I should be going now,’ she suggested brightly.
‘I’ll drive you,’ Dominic offered instantly, almost as if he had been waiting for just such a suggestion.
‘No,’ she refused sharply, not trusting herself to be alone with this man. ‘What I mean,’ she added hastily, ‘is that I can get a cab—taxi. There’s no need to take Dom—Dominic away from Marie this early.’
‘You won’t be taking me away early,’ he drawled. ‘I can easily come back.’
‘Yes…’ Sara bit her lip. If he came back he would no doubt spend time giving Marie a prolonged goodbye. Jealousy ripped through her as a physical pain. And then she cursed herself for being a fool. Marie and Dominic could even be sleeping together for all she knew, it was very common in this day and age, and the idea of that was even more unpalatable to her. She couldn’t let Dominic drive her home knowing he would be coming back to Marie. ‘But I really would rather get a taxi, there’s no point in breaking up everyone’s evening.’
‘You won’t be doing that,’ Dominic assured her smoothly, standing up to look down at her expectantly.
‘Aren’t you coming with us, Marie?’ she asked her sister almost desperately. ‘For the ride?’
‘I don’t think so.’ Marie shook her head regretfully. ‘You see, when I’ve had one of my migraines I usually go to bed early for a few nights.’ She grimaced. ‘Doctor’s orders. I wouldn’t do it otherwise.’
‘We know that,’ her father teased. ‘Actually, it’s after ten now, so perhaps you ought to go to bed as soon as Sara and Dominic leave.’
Sara and Dominic. Sara repressed the shiver of pleasure that she felt at hearing her name coupled with Dominic’s. ‘I’d really rather get a taxi, especially as Dominic wouldn’t be coming back here.’
Dominic shrugged. ‘I have to leave now anyway, so if you want a lift I have an empty car.’
‘Of course she’d like a lift,’ her father smiled. ‘Sara was just being tactful, wanted to leave you two alone.’
‘Oh, you don’t need to do that,’ Marie dismissed. ‘I’ll just take Dominic outside now and then you won’t need to feel in the least guilty. Come along, darling,’ and she took her fiancée’s hand and led him out of the room.
‘You mustn’t mind Marie,’ her father excused as the door closed after them. ‘She’s very forthright.’
‘Yes.’ Sara’s cheeks were fiery red as her imagination played overtime. ‘I—I like that. My mother—–’ she broke off, biting her lip.
‘Yes?’ he prompted. ‘Don’t stop talking about her because it’s me,’ he said huskily. ‘It’s been so long since I heard news of Rachel that I would love to hear about your life with her.’
‘I’m sorry,’ she said with genuine compassion, realising Dominic had been right about her father’s love for her mother. ‘My mother brought me up to be completely honest too,’ she finished her previous statement.
‘We always did have similar views on bringing up children,’ he nodded. ‘I don’t think either of us did a bad job of it.’
At that moment Marie and Dominic rejoined them, Marie’s mouth pointedly bare of lipstick. Sara winced, turning away, making her expression blank as she sensed Dominic’s gaze on her once again. Marie looked thoroughly, glowingly kissed, and Dominic was looking at her.
Why? Did he expect her to act jealous? Was he one of those men who liked to have more than one woman interested in him? Most of all, did he like having twins interested in him?
‘The dress!’ she suddenly exclaimed as they were leaving. ‘I still have your dress on, Marie.’
‘Well, that’s all right,’ her sister giggled. ‘I’m sure I’ll see you again soon.’
‘Oh yes, yes, of course.’ She gave a jerky smile.
The silence in the car was uncomfortable, Sara not knowing what to say to Dominic now that they were alone.
‘I hope I—’ Both of them began talking at the same time, both of them breaking off at the same time. Sara gave a nervous laugh. ‘Go ahead,’ she invited.
‘It wasn’t important,’ he dismissed.
She sighed. ‘Neither was what I had to say.’
‘You don’t like being with me, do you?’ he guessed bluntly.
‘Not much,’ she answered with the honesty she had told her father her mother had instilled in her.
‘Because I kissed you?’
She blushed in the darkness. ‘No,’ she answered tautly.
‘Liar!’ his voice was harsh.
‘No lie,’ she shook her head. ‘You weren’t kissing me, you were kissing Marie.’
Dominic’s laugh was bitter. ‘If I kissed Marie like that I’d frighten the hell out of her! I was kissing you, Sara. Fool that I am.’
Now he had thrown her into even more confusion. Could her surmise be correct, was he a man who liked more than one string to his bow? And yet he seemed to love Marie very much. Maybe he did love her, but that certainly didn’t prevent him being attracted to someone else!
‘Then I would appreciate it if you didn’t do it again,’ she told him tightly.
‘I’m trying, Sara,’ he revealed grimly. ‘I really am trying.’
‘Then try a little harder. It’s bad enough for me here without having to fight off passes from my sister’s boy-friend!’
Dominic’s mouth tightened with suppressed anger. And she wasn’t surprised. It must be years since anyone had called him a ‘boy’. He was thirty-five, all man, and no one could mistake him for anything else. But Sara knew that her only weapon was verbal attack, she was powerless against him physically.
‘It wasn’t a pass,’ he rasped. ‘I—I couldn’t stop myself.’ He obviously hated admitting the weakness. ‘But if you’ll stay in England I promise it won’t happen again.’
‘If I go back home it won’t happen again either!’
He gave her a sideways glance. ‘I could always follow you.’
Sara gasped. ‘That wouldn’t be very practical,’ she scorned.
‘For once in my life I would like to act unpractical!’ He was gripping the steering-wheel so tightly his knuckles showed white.
‘When is the wedding?’ Sara asked with pointed sarcasm.
Dominic drew a shaky breath. ‘No date has been set yet.’
‘Then perhaps it should be. Maybe if you had a wife to keep you busy you wouldn’t chase other women.’ Her eyes sparkled angrily. ‘Marie would be very distressed if she knew about the way you’ve been acting with me. I believe my father would be too.’ There was a threat in her voice, and she knew it had gone home.
A white ring of tension appeared about Dominic’s mouth. ‘I would prefer you not to tell them.’
‘I bet you would!’ she scorned.
‘Not for the reason you’re thinking,’ he snapped. ‘There’s something—a reason you don’t understand. If you tell them what happened between us then you’ll be causing more damage than you realise. And Marie, and of course your father, are going to need you in the very near future.’
That feeling of foreboding again! Wasn’t Dominic just confirming what she already guessed—her father was dying?
‘And what about me?’ she asked shrilly. ‘Who’s going to help me?’
His hand moved to grip hers in the darkness, strong and sure, and wholly dependable. ‘I’ll always be around to help you, you can be sure of that.’
She knew that; hadn’t he already become the one person in this whole crazy situation that she knew she could rely on? And yet he was the one she feared the most emotionally, the man who could destroy her at a glance.
‘I know,’ Dominic said suddenly, huskily, seeming to read her tortuous thoughts. ‘And it isn’t going to be easy for me either.’ He sighed. ‘But I swear to you that from now on I’ll just be your friend. Stay, Sara,’ he pleaded softly. ‘Stay, and I’ll take care of you.’
She looked up to meet the dazzling passion in his eyes, knowing that she couldn’t go back to Florida now even if she wanted to. The man she loved was here, and she had to be where he was.
She nodded. ‘I’ll stay,’ she agreed in a choked voice.
The tension left him in a sigh, and he lifted her hand up to his mouth, kissing the palm with intimate intensity. ‘Thank you, Sara! You’ll never regret your decision.’
Strange, she already regretted it!