down behind one of the mountains. This surely had to be the most perfect place in the world, she thought, and felt sad that they had only one more day left.
She wondered whether she dared ask Blake if they could stay a little longer, but then remembered the fuss she had kicked up in the first place. And of course her mother would be expecting her! She suddenly sat up straight. How could she have forgotten her mother? How could she have spent a whole day without even thinking about her?
‘Is something wrong?’
‘I was thinking about my mother, wondering whether she’s all right. I feel guilty now for—for enjoying myself.’
Enjoying
was too feeble a word to describe the emotions that had set her body on fire. It should have been something like seventh heaven or paradise, and she was glad that the darkening sky hid the hot colour that now flooded her cheeks.
‘Then why don’t you ring her?’ And he tossed her his phone.
Even as he spoke her own phone rang, and as soonas she heard the panic in her mother’s voice Kara knew that something was wrong—very, very wrong—and she moved away so that Blake would not overhear.
‘You need to come home,’ said Lynne urgently. ‘He’s found out where I am. He was here just now, demanding money. I’m scared, Kara. He was really nasty. I’ve never seen him quite like that before.’
Kara felt her blood run cold. She had never heard her mother sound so worried. She was usually resigned to their lot in life. But she knew that she must not panic—even though she wanted to! She drew in a long breath and spoke as steadily as she could. ‘Of course I’ll come. Try not to worry. I’ll speak to Blake. I’ll be there as soon as I can.’
She spent a further few minutes trying to pacify her mother, who had a weak heart. Kara knew how dangerous it was for her to get worked up like this. And she needed to draw in a few more deep breaths herself before returning to Blake’s side. Her heart was racing all over the place.
His dark eyes were questioning as he looked at her. ‘Is something wrong? You’ve gone very pale.’
‘My mother’s not well. I need to go home.’ She couldn’t tell Blake the truth because it would to be embarrassing to admit to this man that her father had tricked them in such a blatant way. And, knowing Blake as she now did, he might want to do something about it. They would then be in his debt. And did she really want that?
The answer was a resounding no. Besides, once they got back to England their intimate relationship would be over. She was sure of it—convinced of it. He hadn’tmade her any promises. Far from it! Kara was certain that Blake wouldn’t want to carry on their affair under the noses of his staff. No, a line would be drawn under the whole affair. It would be back to business as usual. Telling him about their debt would be a huge mistake!
She would need to treat these last few days as nothing more than a pleasant interlude. An overwhelming interlude! More than overwhelming, actually, but she could think of no other superlatives to describe what had happened to her. At least she would have memories. Totally amazing memories that she would hold for the rest of her life.
‘I am sorry. Of course you must go.’ Even as he spoke he was on the phone, and in what seemed like no time at all they were on their way to the airport.
The good thing about being with Blake was that he got things done, thought Kara. Money talked.
‘What’s happened to your mother?’ he asked her now, genuine concern on his face. ‘Is she in hospital?’
Kara shook her head, unaware that her eyes were shadowed and her face so drained of blood that she looked ill. ‘She has a weak heart and amongst other things she suffers panic attacks—really bad ones. A legacy from my father, I’m afraid.’ None of this was a lie; she was not making excuses to avoid the truth. ‘She needs me. I should never have come away. I blame myself for this.
She wondered whether she dared ask Blake if they could stay a little longer, but then remembered the fuss she had kicked up in the first place. And of course her mother would be expecting her! She suddenly sat up straight. How could she have forgotten her mother? How could she have spent a whole day without even thinking about her?
‘Is something wrong?’
‘I was thinking about my mother, wondering whether she’s all right. I feel guilty now for—for enjoying myself.’
Enjoying
was too feeble a word to describe the emotions that had set her body on fire. It should have been something like seventh heaven or paradise, and she was glad that the darkening sky hid the hot colour that now flooded her cheeks.
‘Then why don’t you ring her?’ And he tossed her his phone.
Even as he spoke her own phone rang, and as soonas she heard the panic in her mother’s voice Kara knew that something was wrong—very, very wrong—and she moved away so that Blake would not overhear.
‘You need to come home,’ said Lynne urgently. ‘He’s found out where I am. He was here just now, demanding money. I’m scared, Kara. He was really nasty. I’ve never seen him quite like that before.’
Kara felt her blood run cold. She had never heard her mother sound so worried. She was usually resigned to their lot in life. But she knew that she must not panic—even though she wanted to! She drew in a long breath and spoke as steadily as she could. ‘Of course I’ll come. Try not to worry. I’ll speak to Blake. I’ll be there as soon as I can.’
She spent a further few minutes trying to pacify her mother, who had a weak heart. Kara knew how dangerous it was for her to get worked up like this. And she needed to draw in a few more deep breaths herself before returning to Blake’s side. Her heart was racing all over the place.
His dark eyes were questioning as he looked at her. ‘Is something wrong? You’ve gone very pale.’
‘My mother’s not well. I need to go home.’ She couldn’t tell Blake the truth because it would to be embarrassing to admit to this man that her father had tricked them in such a blatant way. And, knowing Blake as she now did, he might want to do something about it. They would then be in his debt. And did she really want that?
The answer was a resounding no. Besides, once they got back to England their intimate relationship would be over. She was sure of it—convinced of it. He hadn’tmade her any promises. Far from it! Kara was certain that Blake wouldn’t want to carry on their affair under the noses of his staff. No, a line would be drawn under the whole affair. It would be back to business as usual. Telling him about their debt would be a huge mistake!
She would need to treat these last few days as nothing more than a pleasant interlude. An overwhelming interlude! More than overwhelming, actually, but she could think of no other superlatives to describe what had happened to her. At least she would have memories. Totally amazing memories that she would hold for the rest of her life.
‘I am sorry. Of course you must go.’ Even as he spoke he was on the phone, and in what seemed like no time at all they were on their way to the airport.
The good thing about being with Blake was that he got things done, thought Kara. Money talked.
‘What’s happened to your mother?’ he asked her now, genuine concern on his face. ‘Is she in hospital?’
Kara shook her head, unaware that her eyes were shadowed and her face so drained of blood that she looked ill. ‘She has a weak heart and amongst other things she suffers panic attacks—really bad ones. A legacy from my father, I’m afraid.’ None of this was a lie; she was not making excuses to avoid the truth. ‘She needs me. I should never have come away. I blame myself for this.
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