Marriage by Deception by Sara Craven

he knew it as well as she did, she thought uneasily.
    She swallowed. ‘I’m not a great fan of alfresco dining.’
    ‘There’s an indoor option as well,’ he said, worrying her even more. ‘We can decide when we get there.’
    ‘I suppose so.’ Her hands, which had been lightly clasped in her lap, now seemed welded together.
    ‘I made an early raid on the local deli,’ he went on. ‘We’ve got pâté, French sticks, olives, cold meat and Californian strawberries among other goodies.’
    ‘It sounds—marvellous.’ Ros forced a bright smile, then gasped as Sam suddenly pulled the wheel over and brought the car to a standstill at the side of the road.
    He said, ‘So what’s the problem?’
    ‘I don’t know what you mean,’ Ros defended.
    ‘That’s not true.’ He shook his head, half reproving, half exasperated. ‘In the space of a couple of minutes you’ve gone from relaxed and smiling to a fair imitation of a coiled spring. God, I can actually feel the tension in you from here. Why?’
    There was a fleck on one of her nails. She examined it closely. ‘Your change of plan has thrown me a little.’ She attempted a laugh that broke in the middle. ‘I don’t think I’m very good at surprises.’
    ‘Especially when they entail being alone with me? But you took that risk the first time we met.’
    ‘That was a calculated risk,’ she said. ‘And I didn’t intend to repeat it.’
    ‘Yet you did,’ he said. ‘When I asked you. And here you are again now.’
    ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘But for the last time—as we both know.’
    ‘Of course.’ He was silent for a moment. Then, ‘Would it make any difference if I told you there was nothing to fear? That I swear I won’t do anything thatyou don’t want. That I won’t make a move—lay a finger on you—without your permission—your invitation. Does that reassure you?’
    He waited for a moment, then his voice hardened.
    ‘Tell me, Janie, are you most scared of me—or yourself? Be honest.’
    She stared ahead of her through the windscreen, seeing nothing. She heard her voice shake a little. ‘I don’t know. Is that honest enough?’
    His tone was quiet. ‘I guess it is.’ There was another brief silence, then he said with a touch of harshness, ‘Look at me. Do it now.’
    Ros turned her head reluctantly and met the piercing turquoise gaze. Saw the cold set of the firm mouth.
    He said, ‘Shall I eliminate the risk factor? Turn the car round and take you back to Chelsea and your safe, comfortable life? Is that what you want?’
    She only had to nod in acquiescence and it would be done. She was sure of that.
    And equally certain that, for better or worse, it was the last thing she wanted to happen.
    She found herself lifting her hand, brushing a finger across that unsmiling mouth, hearing his sharply in-drawn breath.
    She said huskily, ‘I’d like to go on.’ Adding, ‘Please.’
    He captured her hand, held it while his teeth grazed the soft pad of the marauding finger.
    ‘Be careful,’ he warned softly, as he released her. ‘Because that might be construed in some circles as a definite step on to the wild side.’
    Ros let her eyes widen, the lashes veiling them provocatively. ‘I was simply thinking of all that food. It would be a crime to waste it.’
    ‘By the time we get there,’ Sam said, restarting the car. ‘You should have quite an appetite.’
    I think, Ros told herself, as she sank back into her seat, that I have one already.
     
    ‘You might as well have blindfolded me,’ she said half an hour later. ‘I’ve no idea where we are.’
    ‘You don’t know this part of the world?’
    ‘I don’t know many places at all outside London,’ she admitted ruefully. ‘Except those I visit in connection with my work, of course.’
    ‘Good,’ he said. ‘I’m glad I’m the first to bring you here.’
    ‘So—where is “here”?’ Not even the signposts meant much.
    ‘It’s not far now.’
    It was turning into a