LITMIR.BIZ

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truth. Besides, it wasn’t her secret to tell…

      She gave an abrupt shake of her head. ‘Then it’s just as well it isn’t me, isn’t it?’

      ‘Isn’t it?’ he returned hardly.

      Their gazes locked in mutual challenge, Kit determined not to be the one to back down.

      Marcus finally gave in. ‘I think I’ll just go upstairs and take a shower. I’ve finished talking to Desmond, so we can leave before lunch if you would—’

      ‘Oh, yes!’ she accepted quickly. ‘I can’t wait to get away from here,’ she admitted abruptly.

      ‘Believe me, it isn’t the most successful twenty-four hours I’ve ever known, either. Oh, and by the way, you were right about Desmond.’ He paused.

      Kit gave him a curious look. ‘About his still being in love with his wife, you mean?’

      ‘That—’ Marcus nodded ‘—and the fact that the rumours concerning his financial problems did originate from him.’

      ‘They did?’ She had merely been guessing when she had made that comment yesterday, hadn’t really thought there would be any truth in it.

      ‘Yes,’ Marcus went on. ‘Although not for the reason we supposed. He’s actually in no financial difficulty at all, but he thought that if his wife believed he was she might come back to him.’

      Kit’s expression was perplexed. ‘Isn’t it usually the other way around…?’

      ‘That’s very cynical of you, Kit,’ he teased. ‘Obviously you’ve never met the latest Mrs Hayes.’

      ‘Well, of course I haven’t met her! I don’t usually mix in such exalted company as I have this weekend,’ she shot back.

      ‘The exalted bit is certainly a matter of opinion!’ Marcus responded wryly. ‘I can think of several people here this weekend who certainly don’t come under that heading!’

      Mike Reynolds and Catherine Grainger being two of them, Kit easily guessed.

      ‘So can I,’ she agreed dully.

      ‘I’m sure you can,’ he allowed flatly. ‘Anyway, the bottom line is that Jackie wants children and Desmond is terrified at the thought. But as he also loves his wife to distraction…’

      ‘He came up with the idea of starting a rumour that he’s in financial difficulties in the hopes of winning Jackie back,’ Kit realised.

      ‘Yes,’ Marcus confirmed.

      ‘But didn’t they discuss having children before they got married?’

      ‘I have no idea,’ Marcus told her lightly. ‘Having only just started my career as a marriage guidance counsellor, I didn’t think to ask that question!’

      ‘And you’re so highly qualified too!’ She instantly felt the colour warm her cheeks at her unthinking outspokenness. ‘What I meant to say was—’

      ‘I know what you meant to say, Kit,’ he assured her. ‘As for Desmond, I felt quite sorry for him, actually.’

      ‘Who did you feel sorry for, darling?’ Andrea Revel cut smoothly in on their conversation, moving to stand next to Marcus as she linked her arm loosely with his to look up at him.

      Instantly making five-feet-ten-inches-tall Kit feel like a giraffe—and with about as much grace of movement!

      The other woman looked gorgeous, of course, the skimpy green bikini she wore moulding to the perfection of her voluptuous curves, the tiny pieces of material leaving little to the imagination.

      Not that Marcus needed imagination where this woman’s curves were concerned, Kit reminded herself crossly.

      Or that it was any of her business, she rebuked herself.

      ‘Surely not Mike Reynolds?’ Andrea persisted when she received no answer, green eyes glittering maliciously as she looked across at Kit.

      ‘No, not Reynolds,’ Marcus rasped, obviously having no intention of breaking Desmond’s confidence by enlightening Andrea as to exactly whom he had been talking about.

      Andrea arched blonde brows. ‘I believe you had a little trouble with the man last night, Kit…?’

      Did everyone here know what had happened in her bedroom last night? Although she didn’t need to look far to know who had been Andrea Revel’s informant!

      She gave Marcus a glare before answering Andrea. ‘Nothing that couldn’t be sorted out,’ she said tightly.

      ‘Lucky for you that Marcus came back when he did,’ Andrea drawled pointedly.

      ‘Very,’ Kit acknowledged tautly, knowing from the taunting glint in the other woman’s catlike eyes that she was enjoying her discomfort thoroughly. ‘If you’ll both excuse me, I would like to go inside and dress?’ she said stiltedly. ‘You said we’re leaving shortly, Marcus?’

      ‘In about an hour,’ he confirmed.

      It couldn’t be soon enough for her, Kit knew as she turned away from the sight of Andrea Revel leaning her curves into Marcus’s body as the two of them whispered together.

      Her heart ached as she acknowledged that Marcus wasn’t exactly pushing Andrea away. Oh, she believed him when he said his relationship with Andrea was over before the two of them had come away together for the weekend, but that didn’t mean that it couldn’t be rekindled, did it? She didn’t doubt that if Andrea Revel had any say in it then it certainly would be!

      Just as she didn’t doubt her own love for Marcus. Or that that love was of the everlasting variety.

      What an idiot she was.

      She had spent the last six months hiding her own attractiveness from Marcus, only to fall in love with him and wish that he would feel the same way about her.

      What a futile hope…!

      CHAPTER TEN

      ‘YOU’RE very quiet?’

      ‘I was under the impression you preferred it that way when you’re driving.’ Kit didn’t even glance in Marcus’s direction as he sat behind the wheel of his Jaguar, remaining relaxed back in her seat, her sunglasses once again perched protectively on the bridge of her nose.

      ‘Touché,’ he allowed. ‘What are you going to do with the rest of your weekend?’

      ‘What do you mean?’

      ‘Well, you must have cancelled all your original plans in order to come away with me this weekend, and now we’re returning early. And I won’t expect you to come in to the office until Tuesday—after all, you’ve given up most of your Saturday.’

      ‘Yes?’ she acknowledged guardedly.

      ‘I just wondered what you were going to do with all this sudden free time?’

      She gave a puzzled smile. ‘Whatever I usually do with my weekend, I suppose.’

      ‘Which is?’ he persisted.

      ‘Marcus—er—Mr Maitland,’ she corrected hastily.

      ‘Marcus will do,’ he told her dryly. ‘After all, we’re still out of the office,’ he qualified.

      ‘Okay,’ she agreed slowly. ‘But where is all this questioning leading?’

      ‘It isn’t leading anywhere.’ He grimaced. ‘At least—I wondered if perhaps you would like to have dinner with me this evening?’

      Kit became very still, slowly turning her head to look at him, glad that the surprise that must be in her eyes was hidden by her sunglasses. Was Marcus inviting her out on a date? But he couldn’t be. Could he…?

      ‘Why?’ she finally said bluntly.

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