A Night With Consequences Read Online Free PDF Page A

straight in the eye. But whether he believed her was another thing. If the truth were known she would not have believed herself.
    ‘Good, because we’re going to be spending an awful lot of time together. Have you eaten breakfast yet?’ And when she shook her head, ‘Then perhaps you will join me and we can go over today’s agenda?’
    They had already gone over it many times, thought Kara, but refusing did not appear to be an option. The dining room was full, and all eyes were turned on them as they made their way to Blake’s table.
    Blake had never come across any woman who intrigued him as much as Kara Redman did. He could not make up his mind whether she truly was the innocent she appeared or whether she was putting on an act.
    ‘We’re two of a kind, do you know that?’
    Kara stopped picking at a croissant and frowned at him. ‘What makes you say that?’
    ‘It’s simple. We’ve both lost our fathers, we have no siblings, and we’re both career-minded. Maybe myit career has taken me on a different path from yours, butyou’re very good at what you do, very conscientious, which in my eyes makes you the perfect PA. I wish never to lose you.’ And that had to be the truth.
    ‘It’s very kind of you to say so.’
    ‘Do you mind if I ask how long it’s been since your father died? I gained the impression the other day that his death had hit you hard. My father died when I was just eleven, so I’ve had some time now to get used to it.’
    Instantly Kara’s face changed. A mask came over it, and when she spoke her voice had become much cooler. Blake instantly felt her withdrawing from him. ‘I’d really rather not talk about him, if you don’t mind. My father was—well, he wasn’t a very nice man. And that’s more than I should have told you. I’m sorry.’
    ‘And I’m sorry that I asked.’ Her confession had stunned Blake and he wished now that he had said nothing. Kara’s hurt still sounded raw. Maybe one day he would discover exactly what sort of man her father had been, but for the time being he needed to bring the conversation round to something pleasant.
    ‘I lived here for a while,’ he told her. ‘It’s a beautiful country. My mother is half Italian.’
    To his relief a spark of interest brightened her eyes. ‘Does she still live here?’
    ‘Actually, no. She prefers England. Says she likes to be closer to me. But I do have cousins in Seville.’
    ‘And will you be visiting them after the conference? I’ve never known you take a holiday.’
    ‘I doubt it,’ he answered. ‘My work means far more to me than spending time looking up relatives. Howabout you? Where do you go when you take your annual leave?’
    Kara shrugged and looked as though she wished he had not asked her
that
question either. ‘I stay at home. My mother isn’t well enough to travel.’
    Of course. He was forgetting her parent’s illness. ‘In that case you have no right criticising me,’ he said, accompanying his words with a smile. Sometimes Kara looked as though she was terrified of him and he had no idea why. She intrigued him, and he felt a very real need to get to know her better while they were here.
    Kara found the first day of the conference an eye opener. She was spellbound. Watching Blake take command, the respectful interest everyone had in him, the energy that buzzed around the room, somehow invigorated her as well. She felt more alive than she had in a long time.
    She had expected to sit quietly by Blake’s side, making notes, feeding him any information he did not have readily to hand, but somehow she found herself being drawn in.
    Maybe the fact that she was fully conversant with everything helped. She had made it her business to be the most efficient PA Blake had ever had so that he would never feel the need to get rid of her. And she felt very proud of herself when she was able to answer any question that he threw her way.
    ‘A very successful first day,’ he announced when the meeting