LITMIR.BIZ

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I? But at least I’ll have some kind of control.’

      ‘I imagine Dad thought that, when he gave you money so that you’d marry Marcel. But he was fooling himself—as you showed him.’

      ‘Yes, I did, didn’t I? My first success as a businesswoman. The world should beware.’

      ‘Perhaps you’re the one who should beware,’ he said gently. ‘Now, I think we should go. You need some rest.’

      He drew her to her feet, supporting her, and they strolled slowly back along the river, his arm about her shoulders. He felt passionate relief that the atmosphere between them had eased and she seemed willing for them to be close again. But he saw more trouble on the horizon.

      Freya was vulnerable, and all the more so because she seemed unable to understand just how vulnerable she was. But he saw it clearly, and his old protective instinct rose up again. It was about to make him do something that he knew was a risk, but he was going to do it anyway. For her sake.

      Soon the hotel was in sight. He stopped and drew her into the shadows.

      ‘Look at me,’ he said.

      She raised her head so that her face was illuminated by the moon. He thought he’d never seen anything lovelier.

      ‘Freya, I’m your friend. You do believe that, don’t you?’

      ‘Yes, I believe it now.’

      ‘Then take this as an act of friendship,’ he whispered, brushing his lips against hers.

      He felt her tense and drew back an inch.

      ‘This is to make you forget about that kiss from Tommy,’ he said. ‘Only that. Do you understand?’

      ‘Yes,’ she murmured. ‘Yes—’

      He laid his lips on hers again, lightly, touching her just enough for her to feel him while keeping his inner self far back in the shadows. He didn’t seek a response from her, either from her flesh or her emotions. He had no wish to intrude on her heart. He meant only to drive away the memory of the man who’d troubled her tonight.

      ‘All right,’ he said softly. ‘Time to go in.’

      She followed his lead into the hotel, not speaking. At the door to her room she turned a puzzled gaze on him.

      ‘Goodnight,’ he said. ‘Sleep well.’

      She backed into her room, still not speaking, not taking her eyes from him. When the door was closed Jackson turned away, prey to a wild confusion of thoughts and feelings.

      But then, to his annoyance, he saw the last thing he wanted to see. Tommy was standing there in the corridor.

      ‘What the hell are you doing here?’ Jackson snapped.

      ‘Look, I just came to apologise. I didn’t mean things to happen like they did. I didn’t know that you and she were—you know—a couple—’

      ‘Shut up!’ Jackson told him. ‘Do you hear me? Shut up!’

      Tommy didn’t reply. One look at the murder in Jackson’s eyes was enough to make him flee.

      * * *

      Janine came to Freya’s room early next morning as she was getting dressed.

      ‘Amos has already gone downstairs,’ she said. ‘He wants to look over the tourist shop again. I can tell that he’s got something fixed in his mind, but he won’t tell me what.’

      ‘He really enjoyed yesterday,’ Freya observed.

      ‘Yes, I haven’t seen him so cheerful for a long time. He was on the phone last night to England, I think. I didn’t hear everything, but what I did hear sounded businesslike.’

      ‘He’s not still doing business, surely? Isn’t he retired?’

      ‘He still has a lot of investments, and he likes to stick his nose in. I don’t know—I’ve just got a funny feeling.’ She looked curiously at her daughter. ‘Freya, are you listening?’

      ‘Yes—yes, of course.’

      ‘You look as if your mind was on another planet.’

      ‘Sorry, I just got distracted.’

      ‘Are you all right, darling?’

      ‘I’m fine,’ she said quickly. ‘It’s just that it’s going to be a busy day and there’s a lot to think of. Shall we go downstairs?’

      Once downstairs she might escape her mother’s all-seeing eye. To say that she was distracted was putting it mildly. She been devastated ever since she’d left Jackson the night before.

      It had all seemed to go so well. They had cracked jokes with each other, just as in the past. The resentment that had once smouldered in her had faded and it had seemed that their friendship was being restored.

      Then he’d kissed her and everything had changed.

      The touch of his lips had sent tremors through her, making her heart beat with a force that had taken her by surprise. She’d wanted to cry out in protest. Such things no longer had a place in her life. She was resolved on that and no man was to be allowed to change it.

      But the pleasure that had surged through her body couldn’t be denied. It had prompted her to yearn towards him, returning the kiss, increasing her own desire and seeking to inspire it in him.

      Yet he’d uttered those ominous words. ‘Act of friendship.’

      She’d agreed—‘Yes—yes...’—but the words had been spoken mindlessly.

      When he’d released her she’d somehow kept control of herself, walking and talking like an automaton until she was in her room and the door was safely closed between them. But inside she had been shattered by what had happened to her feelings. Jackson had acted as a kind friend. He’d been careful to make that clear. But her own reaction had been everything she didn’t want it to be—everything she didn’t want to admit.

      Had he sensed her response? The thought made her cringe with humiliation. Whatever it cost her, he must never be allowed to suspect.

      It won’t last, she told herself. Just a momentary reaction. It’ll pass and things will be all right. She was still repeating this assurance to herself as she went downstairs with Janine.

      The route to the breakfast room lay past the tourist shop. Through the glass door they could see Amos, talking earnestly to an assistant. He saw them, waved, and came out empty-handed.

      ‘You didn’t buy anything, then?’ Janine said.

      He grinned. ‘Let’s say I’m thinking about it. Shall we go?’

      He went ahead to the breakfast room, walking with the lofty air of a man who had a victory to celebrate. Janine and Freya exchanged baffled glances before following him.

      Jackson was there ahead of them, indicating for Freya to sit beside him.

      ‘My leg’s still hurting a bit,’ he murmured. ‘You couldn’t bear to give it another rub, could you?’

      ‘You don’t need me,’ she said. ‘I’m sure the hotel has a good doctor.’

      ‘Just a little rub?’ he pleaded.

      Once she would have agreed without question. Now the thought of touching him like that made her inner self back off. She must not touch him. She didn’t dare.

      ‘Sorry, Jackson, I won’t have time. I’ve got to stay close to Amos.’

      ‘He seems fine to me.’

      ‘That’s when I have to be most careful. I think I’ll go and sit beside him.’

      He clasped her hand, preventing her from leaving.

      ‘Have I offended you?’

      ‘Of

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