The Secret Kiss of Darkness Read Free Page B

They’d wanted to get married as soon as possible. She shook herself mentally and concentrated on the man in front of her, who was looking at her with raised brows, obviously waiting for a reply again.
    ‘Uhm, I have a bit of a headache today and it looks like you’ve left me plenty to do here. I might have to work late,’ she prevaricated. ‘And tomorrow I’ve promised to go out with Maddie and you’ve got that dinner at the—’
    ‘Oh, yes. Well, I’d hoped to spend some time with you tonight, but maybe I’ll go for a pint with the guys upstairs instead then. You haven’t forgotten the party on Saturday, though?’
    Kayla almost laughed. ‘No, of course not.’ As if she could possibly have forgotten about the party his parents were holding in their honour. A gathering of the Russell clan to inspect the latest addition to see if she would pass muster, she thought with an inward grimace. She’d been worrying for weeks about what to wear, but suddenly it didn’t seem to matter.
    She gave him a placating smile and took hold of his hand, which was still hovering above her desk, giving it a squeeze. ‘I’m sorry, Mike. I would have loved to go out tonight, but soon we’ll be together every evening, won’t we? Once the wedding is over and done with and I’ve moved into your flat, we’ll have plenty of time for ourselves.’
    ‘Yes, you’re right.’ He bent over the desk to give her another quick kiss, after first looking around again. Kayla felt another twinge of annoyance. What did it matter if anyone saw them? They’d soon be man and wife.
    ‘I’d better get on with this.’ She put on the audio headphones and inserted the first tape into the machine, effectively ending the conversation, but Mike hadn’t quite finished and tapped her on the shoulder. Reluctantly she freed her ears.
    ‘Yes?’
    ‘Don’t forget to do that Local Authority search for the Peterson’s house and send it off with the right payment. I promised them it would be done today.’
    ‘It’s on my list of things to do.’ Kayla gritted her teeth against another sudden wave of irritation as Mike disappeared into his office. She had been a legal secretary for seven years and knew as well as he did what needed to be done, but since his promotion he seemed to feel the need to reinforce his role as the boss from time to time. Sometimes, just sometimes, he annoyed the hell out of her. Another small doubt entered her mind, shattering her former confidence. Was she doing the right thing in marrying him?
    ‘Oh, for heaven’s sake, don’t be silly,’ she muttered. ‘Of course you are.’
    Kayla dismissed her doubts as pre-wedding jitters, switched on the tape and started to type. Mike’s voice droned on, dictating the same kind of letters she had typed a hundred times before, so she continued on automatic and let her thoughts return to her recent purchase. She wondered how soon Sotheby’s would deliver it. Within the next few days, perhaps? A quiver of excitement snaked up her back.
    The endless letters on the computer screen in front of her blurred and instead her thoughts returned to the first time she saw her painting in all its glory.

Chapter Four
    Eliza felt fragile in his embrace, but so soft and womanly. Although small in stature, she had a luscious figure, and he was acutely aware of her full breasts pressing against his chest. Jago tried not to hold her quite so close, but she clung to him as if he was the only thing in the world that could save her. He tried to think of other things, but the longer he held her, the more he wanted her. It was impossible to stop his body’s reaction to her.
    She smelled divine, like honeysuckle and roses combined. Not just her person, but her hair and her skin, too. Jago breathed in deeply, storing her unique scent in his memory. He was sure he’d never forget this night for as long as he lived.
    He knew what she looked like. He’d seen her once or twice peering out through the window