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problem…’
    She studiously avoided looking at him, her heart jumping erratically in response to his silent closeness so that she knew her colour must be heightened, her eyes over-bright.
    ‘But if we make it half-past?’
    ‘That’ll suit me.’
    ‘Great.’
    As she scribbled down the appointed time, a lock of soft brown hair fell forward over her face, getting into her eye. With an exclamation of annoyance she brushed it back, tucking it behind her ear.
    The tiny gesture did disturbing things to Rhys’s struggle for composure. Already his precarious hold on his temper had been threatened by what she had told him about the baby. The rage that had boiled up inside him at the way that he—as her cousin’s estranged husband—had been painted totally black was still lurking inside, barely under control.
    He could only pray that his outward appearance had hidden the way that his hands had been clenched into hard fists where they were pushed deep into his pockets.
    But now another feeling clutched at his guts, twisting sharply. A different, but equally primitive feeling. A physical hunger that burned away thought.
    But not all thought.
    Because, totally unexpectedly, mixed in with the most basic, most primal hunger, he had a sudden rush of sympathy. Of tenderness. A longing to hold and protect—to cherish this woman.
    It was the line of her cheek that did it. The delicate curve of her jaw, the faintly rose-tinted pallor of her skin.
    They were fine and feminine and totally irresistible. And he couldn’t fight the appeal they made to his senses.
    His mouth felt dry, his throat tightening. He leaned closer, the faint, floral scent of her perfume swirling round him like a fragrant cloud. His thoughts swam, his body tightening, and he could barely see as his lips came closer, touched the fine-skinned area under her ear and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to the warmth of her flesh.
    Caitlin froze for a second, then reacted sharply. Her head swung round, translucent eyes wide and startled.
    ‘What—?’
    Anger was the first thing that sprang to her tongue. Anger and rejection.
    But as soon as her gaze locked with the deep blue of his, suddenly the rejection evaporated. And the anger vanished immediately afterwards. Instead she had the scarily composure-shaking feeling that she was looking into the eyes of fate. Of something she didn’t yet understand, but which was going to affect her life forever.
    ‘Did that break the rules?’ he questioned softly. ‘Because if it did then I can’t say I’m sorry.’
    ‘Yes—no…’ Caitlin managed, not sure at all how she should answer or even what she was answering.
    Rules? What rules? It seemed as if even ordinary, everyday life had lost its meaning and her grip on life was slipping away from her fingers.
    ‘No,’ she decided at last and that seemed to be the answer that pleased him. At least his eyes seemed less dangerous, and his mouth curved faintly at the corners into something that was almost a smile.
    ‘I couldn’t resist it. I wanted to kiss you. I have done from the start. Just as I wanted you to have dinner with me tonight.’
    ‘I—I’m glad. I wanted it too.’
    And the really scary thing, Caitlin reflected as she watched him walk away, tall, dark, devastating and totally disruptive to her peace of mind, was just how true that was.

CHAPTER THREE

    ‘I THINK it’s time we left.’
    Rhys glanced briefly at his watch then lifted a hand to summon the hovering waiter.
    ‘Do you realise that we are the only people left in here?’
    ‘Are we?’
    Startled, Caitlin glanced round her sharply, the movement reflected and repeated over and over in the dozens of gold-framed mirrors that lined the walls of the restaurant.
    ‘Where did everyone go?’
    ‘To the bar. To their rooms. To bed.’
    Was it only in his mind that those words had the sensual echoes that reverberated around them, like the ripples from a stone thrown into the stillness of a pond? Or had the big