LITMIR.BIZ

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‘Stop the car—now.’

      She had her hand on the door handle even before Ben pulled the car into a layby. As soon as it stopped she jumped out and faced him when he got out too and stood beside the bonnet. She pushed her sunglasses on top of her head and put her hands on her hips, not even sure why she was so angry...just that she was.

      ‘So everyone there must have known exactly who you were, and yet you let me make a complete fool of myself—standing on that podium with no clue as to who on earth you were—’

      He came towards her, cutting her off. ‘My aim was never to make a fool of you, Lia. I hadn’t intended on hiding my identity for as long as I did.’

      He muttered something that sounded like a curse and pushed his own sunglasses to his head. His eyes were intense on her, making her regret reacting so forcefully.

      Ben went on. ‘The opportunity to talk to you without you knowing who I was was too tempting. Especially after that date. And the truth is that I didn’t want to see your reaction when you realised who you’d been talking to.’

      Lia forced down the weak way she wanted to seize on that and folded her arms. ‘That doesn’t change the fact that you saw me and made the most of an opportunity. Were you bored? Was that it? You thought you’d have some fun at my expense?’

      Ben frowned and shook his head. ‘No, it wasn’t like that at all. I had no plans to go to that particular function, Lia. I went because I found out that was where you’d be.’

      The fire drained out of Lia’s anger like a stealthy traitor. She believed him. He looked almost angry, as if he hadn’t wanted to admit this to her. A muscle pulsed in his jaw.

      Lia was embarrassed by the emotion she’d shown even as she began to feel mollified. She’d revealed far too much. So she just said, ‘Okay,’ and walked back to the car and got in.

      Ben looked at her for a long moment as she buckled up, and then he got in too. For the remainder of their journey to Salvador they only spoke when Ben pointed out things of interest to Lia.

      The fact that they did share a common interest in a cause very close to Lia’s heart was something that she’d never expected, and it wasn’t doing much to help her resolve to keep him at a distance.

CHAPTER FIVE

      ‘THIS IS ONE of the earliest squares in Salvador, laid out by the then governor. And that is the Catedral Basílica de São Salvador—one of the most ornately decorated baroque churches in Brazil.’

      Lia had thought she couldn’t be more impressed than she already was, but as she followed Ben into the huge church off the beautiful square and saw how everything gleamed with gold—literally—her jaw dropped. She had to hand it to him for keeping this till last.

      It was a fitting end to what she had to admit had been a very enjoyable day—after that skirmish by the side of the road.

      Almost against her will Lia had found herself relaxing bit by bit as Ben showed her around the stunning city which had once been next in importance to Lisbon in the Portuguese colony. It was vibrantly colourful, with hilly cobbled streets and baroque architecture everywhere, and she’d been charmed from the start.

      Everyone seemed to smile all the time, and the mix of cultures and nationalities—many of the population were descended from African slaves—added to the melting pot atmosphere. There was music everywhere, calling to a side of Lia that she didn’t indulge often.

      Just as she’d relaxed when she’d sunk her feet into the sand outside Ben’s villa yesterday, something seemed to be unwinding inside her today. Everything about this place called on her to settle into a different rhythm. It was intoxicating. And Ben, surprisingly, was a brilliant guide. A natural storyteller.

      He’d also proved himself to be a consummate gentleman. If he’d touched her at all it had been only fleetingly, to draw her attention to something—like when they’d stood on a bluff overlooking the city and the impressive bay. Perversely, that had seemed to have more of an effect on her than if he’d touched her with more intent.

      He’d taken her to lunch to an admittedly dubious-looking restaurant on the seafront earlier. Catching her expression, he had chided softly, ‘Don’t let its exterior fool you—the owner keeps it looking like this to scare the tourists away. This place serves the best fish in Brazil, and it’s for locals only.’

      He’d been right. To Lia’s surprise it had been pristine inside, and the fish had indeed been the best she’d ever tasted, served on a beautiful rooftop with trellised vines keeping the harshness of the sun at bay. The smell of the sea had only added to the taste.

      She was acutely aware of Ben now, as he walked close behind her as they looked around the cathedral.

      Lia stopped at the wooden altar, which was covered in a thin layer of gold. She shook her head. ‘This is totally over the top, but it’s beautiful.’

      ‘I know.’

      She glanced up to see Ben had come to stand beside her and was looking up at the ceiling. He said, ‘They brought the stone for a lot of these buildings all the way from Portugal, on ships. The sheer industry involved is breathtaking.’

      Lia hardly heard what he said. She was mesmerised by the strong column of his throat and that proud profile. The sensual curve of his fuller lower lip. She wondered about his early life. Where exactly had he dragged himself from to become such a titan of industry?

      Just then someone bumped into her from behind, making her pitch forward into thin air, but within a split-second strong arms were around her and she was pressed close to Ben’s side as he accepted someone’s profuse apology over her head.

      Lia’s breasts were crushed against hard muscle, and every curve she had and even some she hadn’t been aware of melted into Ben’s form as if they’d just been waiting for this opportunity. Her hands were splayed across his chest and she was very aware of the thin material of his T-shirt. She’d noticed how it had moulded to those defined muscles whenever the breeze had caught it during the day. And the way his faded jeans clung lovingly to powerful thighs and tight buttocks.

      For someone who up till now hadn’t considered herself very sexual, some switch seemed to have been well and truly turned to on.

      The tour group behind them moved on but Ben didn’t release her. She was filled with lassitude and a reluctance to break free. Slowly she looked up—and fell straight into those bluer-than-blue eyes.

      The memory of that hot kiss in New York emblazoned itself on her mind...she wanted to reach up and feel his mouth on hers again. Feel the slick slide of his tongue against hers. Something sizzled.

      ‘I’m okay...’ Lia finally managed to get out, pulling herself back from the brink of humiliating herself again. ‘You can let me go now.’

      For a moment Ben didn’t, and Lia’s heart spasmed with anticipation in the flickering glow of a thousand candles, and then he did, saying with a little grimace, ‘As my thoughts are decidedly unholy right now, I think it’s for the best.’

      By the time they’d reached the entrance again and walked out, with Lia keeping a careful few steps behind Ben, she’d almost got herself under control. She’d just had a glimpse of how much he’d lulled her into a false sense of security, but instead of making her angry, she felt excited.

      The setting sun was burnishing everything with blazing orange and pink, and some musicians nearby were infusing the air with a contagious tropical beat. An old Bahian couple danced together and for a moment Lia felt reckless, giddy. Just as she had on the dais at the auction... Dangerous. Maybe the intense smell of incense had got to her inside the cathedral? Maybe it was all part of this man’s plan to break down her defences until she was just a weak, pliable mess?

      Then he turned to look at her and every coherent thought left her head. She already was a weak mess. Pathetic.

      Ben

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