A No Risk Affair

by Carole Mortimer

  ‘Not yet. He didn’t want to do anything about that until he’s spoken to you.’

  ‘You mean I have a choice in the matter?’

  ‘Everyone has choices, Robyn,’ he spoke quietly.

  She had the feeling he wasn’t talking about doing his research at that moment. And she couldn’t for the life of her think what he was talking about! ‘Caroline will not be pleased,’ she stated with certainty.

  Sin shrugged. ‘From what Henry told me she doesn’t have a lot else to do around here.’

  Robyn spluttered with laughter. ‘She doesn’t want anything to do!’

  ‘Doesn’t she get bored?’

  ‘I have no idea, we aren’t exactly into those sort of confidences,’ she derided, sure that Caroline was never bored, even though she never so much as read a book or did anything more strenuous than enjoying herself. ‘Why don’t you ask her to help you with your research?’ an imp of devilment urged her to suggest.

  Sin’s mouth twisted as he guessed at her mockery. ‘Henry assures me his daughter isn’t into reading anything deeper than a woman’s magazine.’

  ‘Surely that depends who the author is?’

  The blue eyes gleamed as he smiled. ‘I wish I could believe your flattery was genuine,’ he drawled.

  Her brows rose. ‘You don’t think it is?’

  ‘I know it isn’t,’ he chuckled. ‘But—’

  ‘Sorry about that,’ the Colonel came into the room, a small portly man with a red-flushed face and silver-white hair, the neatly trimmed moustache adding to his image, the pale blue eyes bright with a shrewdness that had kept the estate intact for Caroline and any heirs she might have. ‘Ah, Robyn,’ he smiled at her. ‘I hope you’ve kept our guest entertained?’

  She glanced over at the laughing blue eyes, thinking crossly that Sinclair Thornton never seemed to be anything else; the whole of life seemed to be one big game to him. ‘I’ve tried to,’ she murmured softly.

  ‘And you’ve succeeded,’ he mocked her as he seemed to read her thoughts.

  The Colonel looked from one to the other of them, as if sensing there was more to the conversation than at first appeared. He shrugged his wide shoulders in dismissal of the idea at their bland expressions. ‘What do you think of the idea of helping Sin, Robyn?’ he enquired briskly.

  ‘I’m not really sure I would be much help—’

  ‘You’re being modest, Robyn,’ Sin put in smoothly. ‘Henry tells me you were a history student before your marriage.’

  She looked accusingly at the older man, not appreciating being discussed in this way in her absence. ‘Three months’ study hardly qualifies me as a history student,’ she snapped her displeasure.

  ‘It means you’re interested in it,’ Sin insisted.

  ‘But not in glorifying the less pleasant parts of it,’ she met the deep blue eyes in challenge.

  ‘You won’t be writing the story, Robyn, I will,’ Sin reminded her softly, the atmosphere suddenly very tense in the small room. ‘All I’ll require from you is clearly written dates and facts from the Colonel’s diaries.’

  She had seen those huge volumes in the extensive library, had shuddered to think of all the needless pain and suffering chronicled between their covers. To have to actually read them filled her with horror. The Colonel could be a kind and understanding man, was obviously lovingly indulgent with his only child, but when it came to matters of the world war he had served in he was truly of the old school, had never forgotten a battle or a campaign in all the following years.

  ‘You’ve read them?’ she asked Sin quietly.

  ‘Several months ago,’ he nodded, his eyes narrowed on her pale face. ‘Henry very kindly sent them to me in London.’

  ‘Robyn is a little squeamish when it comes to the war,’ the Colonel told him with amusement.

  ‘Perhaps it’s understandable—in the circumstances,’ Sin was still watching her closely.

  ‘Circumstances?’ the Colonel frowned. ‘Oh you mean Brad’s escapades all over the world,’ he dismissed. ‘Hardly the same thing, old boy. We were out there making history, Brad simply reports it.’

  ‘Would you rather not do this, Robyn?’ Sin ignored the older man’s callous dismissal of her emotions. ‘I’m sure I can find the time to do it myself if you—’

  ‘Nonsense,’ the Colonel once again dismissed, his voice authoritative. ‘Can’t bury your head in the sand like an ostrich all your life,’ he told them briskly. ‘It’s time you grew out of this, Robyn,’ he ordered. ‘Maybe if you did that husband of yours would come home where he belongs.’

  ‘Ex-husband, Colonel,’ she reminded awkwardly, giving Sin an uncomfortable look from beneath lowered lashes. ‘Brad and I are divorced.’

  ‘Don’t believe in them myself,’ he shook his head, as if that made them null and void. ‘A marriage is for life, not to be discarded when it doesn’t suit you.’

  She couldn’t agree more, unfortunately Brad didn’t feel the same way, and no one could even try to keep a marriage alive when only one of the partners was participating.

  ‘I’m sure you’re pleased about his visit next weekend, whatever you say,’ the Colonel beamed.

  Robyn deliberately didn’t look at Sin Thornton this time, although she sensed his quickening interest. He had the answer to last night’s questions after all, compliments of the Colonel! Sometimes she felt as if she were living her life in a goldfish bowl. ‘The twins will be pleased to see him,’ she evaded giving her own views on the subject, sensitive to this man’s relationship to the man who had once been her husband.

  ‘The twins, bah,’ her uncle-by-marriage scoffed forcefully. ‘There’s no shame in admitting you’ll be glad to see him too,’ he chided.

  After the way Brad had let her down repeatedly in their marriage she didn’t particularly care if she never saw him again, but she could hardly be so blunt to his uncle. ‘I’m sure we will all have a pleasant time,’ she was still evasive, conscious of their avid audience. ‘When do you want me to start work for you, Mr Thornton?’ she enquired coolly, her gaze steady on his as she turned to look at him.

  ‘Monday—if that suits you, Henry?’ he turned to the other man.

  ‘Fine, fine,’ the Colonel beamed, his pride obvious in being chosen as the subject for one of the famous author’s books.

  Robyn could understand his feelings even if she didn’t share them, more and more convinced that she herself could appear as a particularly colourful character in one of Sin’s books.

  She gave a cool inclination of her head. ‘Until Monday, then, Mr Thornton.’

  As she left the room, moving with quiet dignity, her head held high, she was very conscious of questioning blue eyes following her every movement.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  ‘WHY the hell didn’t you tell me?’

  Robyn watched in open-mouthed amazement as Sin pushed past her into the cottage after she had answered his imperious knock, following him dazedly as he went through to the lounge. He looked furious as he turned in front of the unlit fireplace to face her, although the sight of how handsome he looked in the black evening suit and snowy white shirt momentarily robbed her of speech. Even Caroline, for all her affected sophistication, would have had to have been impressed by the wide shoulders shown to advantage beneath the expensive material, his tapered waist and thighs, his legs long and lean.

  But Caroline’s feelings about this man weren’t important to Robyn right now, the reason he had arrived on her doorstep at almost eleven o’clock at night breathing fire was! ‘Why the hell didn’t I tell you what?’ she demanded. ‘And will you kindly keep your voice down,’ she hissed. ‘I have two children asleep upstairs. At least, they were,’ she added pointedly, his arrival several seconds ago in the silver-grey Porsche in the adjoining driveway not exactly done quietly, neither had his exit from the car been, as he slammed the door behind him.

  ‘Sorry,’ he bit out impatiently, although he lowered his voice considerably, his jacket p
ushed back as he thrust his hands into his trouser pockets. ‘And why didn’t you tell me about your ex-husband?’

  ’Brad?’ she realised dazedly. Whatever explanation she had been expecting for his strange behaviour it certainly hadn’t been this! If he had wanted to discuss Brad’s proposed visit for next weekend that the Colonel had revealed why hadn’t he come over earlier, instead of barging in here this late at night? The answer to that was all too obvious; the twins had still been up when Sin left in the Porsche for dinner at the main house, allowed to stay up later on a Friday evening. But what made Sin think it was any of his business in the first place she had no idea! ‘I don’t know what right you think you have to question me on such a personal subject,’ she bit out icily. ‘My ex-husband’s visits to our children are none of your business. And if you think that kiss of last night makes it your business then you couldn’t be more wrong! I—’

  ‘What are you talking about?’ he interrupted tersely. ‘Who mentioned the damned visit?’

  ‘You did—’

  ‘No,’ he shook his head.

  She frowned her puzzlement. ‘But just now—’

  ‘I wanted to know why you didn’t think to mention the fact that your ex-husband is the Colonel’s nephew!’

  ‘Oh.’ The colour slowly ebbed into her cheeks as she realised how stupidly vain she had been. Of course Sinclair Thornton hadn’t seen more into the casual kiss they had shared than there really was, it certainly hadn’t been enough for him to assume he had any rights in her life.

  Sin’s mouth quirked as he correctly assessed her embarrassment. ‘Flattering yourself, weren’t you?’ he mocked, the laughter back in his eyes.

  ’I was—mistaken,’ she admitted awkwardly, feeling ridiculous for her assumption. ‘And I didn’t mention Brad’s relationship to the Colonel because it didn’t seem relevant.’

  ‘It’s very relevant when I’ve been shooting my mouth off about what a swine your husband was to have left you alone to cope as he has!’

  Now it was Robyn’s turn to enjoy his discomfort, smiling broadly. ‘Did you do that?’

  ‘Yes,’ he scowled. ‘And don’t look so amused, I could have lost the Colonel’s co-operation because of it!’

  Robyn instantly sobered. ‘I don’t think so,’ she shook her head. ‘He’s enjoying revelling in the past.’

  ‘You can’t blame him and every man like him for Brad’s chasing of the next big story,’ Sin said gently.

  She turned away. ‘I don’t, I’m not that neurotic, no matter what impression the Colonel may have given you. It just seems to me that enough has already been written and said on the subject of war.’

  ‘Considering you have no idea of the theme my book is going to take don’t you think that’s rather a sweeping statement to have made?’ he rebuked softly.

  Once again he had succeeded in making her feel small and petty. ‘Probably,’ she conceded. ‘I hope my omission about Brad didn’t put you in too awkward a position.’

  ‘Do you?’

  ‘Yes,’ she snapped at his lack of faith in her.

  ‘I managed to smooth it over,’ he shrugged.

  She was sure he had, Sin had enough charm to get himself out of any situation. ‘I didn’t think you would be back for hours yet,’ she changed the subject, grimacing at his mocking expression. ‘If I thought about it at all,’ she added dismissively, realising too late that she had revealed her interest in his movements.

  Sin crossed his arms across the broadness of his chest. ‘Admit it, you thought about it.’

  ‘Now who’s flattering whose self?’ she drawled.

  His smile deepened, and Robyn was relieved to see he was one of those people who didn’t hold grudges. ‘Do you have any coffee made?’ he asked hopefully.

  ‘Didn’t Caroline provide you with any?’ she returned bitchily.

  ‘Jealous?’

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ she denied agitatedly, wondering why this man persisted in flirting with her when everything she said and did rejected him.

  ‘Wishful thinking,’ he grimaced ruefully. ‘You didn’t answer my question about coffee,’ he reminded.

  ‘Instant?’ she returned reluctantly.

  ‘Fine.’ He followed her as she set about preparing it. ‘I live on this stuff when I’m actually working,’ he admitted.

  Robyn turned to look at him. ‘Aren’t you writing now?’

  He shook his head. ‘Not for months yet. I write one book a year, and I make sure it’s thoroughly researched first.’

  The reminder that this time she was to help him with that made her mouth tighten. ‘Have you broken the news to Caroline yet that she’s to become a tour guide in the afternoons?’ she raised her brows questioningly.

  ’I can’t see what you were worried about,’ he shrugged. ‘She took it very well.’

  She would, in front of this man, but no doubt Robyn would hear more on the subject after the weekend.

  ‘For a girl who was silently gnashing her teeth,’ Sin added with amusement.

  Robyn looked at him in surprise, finding Sin grinning back broadly, unable to repress her own humour as she burst out laughing. Their shared laughter eased what little tension there was left between them, and as if by mutual consent they carried their drinks into the lounge and sat down next to each other on the sofa.

  ‘Miss Masters isn’t a girl who likes to be told what to do,’ Sin mused, still smiling.

  ‘She isn’t usually so revealing of her feelings.’

  ‘I think we took her unawares.’

  ‘As you did me!’ she recalled irritably, her humour fading fast.

  ‘You were even more obvious than Caroline was.’

  ‘I meant to be!’

  ‘I know it,’ he sipped at his coffee. ‘What time shall I call for you tomorrow?’

  ‘I don’t work Saturdays.’

  ‘I don’t mean to work. My, how you misunderstand me. I—Do you mind if I take off my jacket and tie?’ he ran a finger beneath his buttoned collar as if to demonstrate its un-comfortableness. ‘It’s a warm night.’

  She only just held back from pointing out the fact that it was almost morning, not night! It might be late, but she couldn’t be that impolite. ‘Go ahead,’ she invited, and then wished she hadn’t as he proceeded to peel the jacket from his body, revealing just how fitted to his muscular physique the white silk shirt was, the bow-tie at his throat quickly following the jacket over the arm of a neighbouring chair before he released the top three buttons of his shirt. The skin on his chest was deeply tanned, the wiry hair there made to look even more golden against its darkness.

  ‘That’s better.’ His arm moved along the back of the sofa behind her as he turned to face her. ‘Now where were we?’ he looked thoughtful. ‘Ah yes,’ his brow cleared. ‘Tomorrow. Have you forgotten we’re all going swimming together?’

  She had tried to forget the casually mentioned invitation, although Kim and Andy had made that impossible, reminding her of it even as she had put them to bed this evening. ‘Don’t feel you have to be obliged to take us,’ she assured him. ‘The twins did put you in a corner.’

  ‘One I could quite easily have got out of if I had wanted to. Don’t be deceived by the easygoing man you see before you,’ he grinned. ‘I’ve never been made to do, either by force or coercion, anything I didn’t want to do.’

  She could believe that, was already aware that the charm and humour hid a will of steel, that this man would always find a way of achieving exactly what he wanted to do.

  ‘Are you going to try and stop me doing something I desperately want to do now?’

  Her head rose sharply at the husky query, suddenly finding herself drowning in the sensuality of deep blue eyes that were only inches from her own. She moistened her lips nervously. ‘That really depends on what you want to do,’ her own voice came out huskily too.

  ’Kiss you.’

  She had known that before she asked the question, had merely hoped to dela
y the moment. ‘Could I stop you?’ she said inevitably.

  ‘No,’ he chuckled, his face suddenly going out of focus as he moved close enough for his mouth to totally possess and claim hers.

  His kisses had exactly the same effect as they had the previous evening—they were devastating! And this time he had no intention of being satisfied with one kiss, parting her lips to deeply plunder the warm recesses of her mouth, his arms like steel about her until he sensed her lack of resistance, tasting her mouth now, sipping deeply from the nectar even as one of his hands moved to cup her full breast.

  She felt her body melt at the intimacy of his touch, could feel his warmth through the thinness of her cotton shirt and lacy bra, groaned into his mouth as her nipple tautened against his palm, a temptation to his questing fingertips.

  ‘I’ve wanted this since the moment I first saw you,’ he muttered against her throat, releasing the top two buttons of her shirt to smooth the material away from her heated flesh. ‘Robyn? Do you want it too?’

  Did she want what? This wildfire excitement, the intimacy of his kisses, his sensual caresses? Yes, she wanted those things so badly, but she didn’t want the emotions that went with them. And she certainly didn’t want any more than caresses from him; she had only met the man yesterday!

  Even as she realised that she was pushing him away, unaware of her flushed beauty as she looked up at him with shadowed brown eyes. She was behaving like a wanton with a complete stranger, and—

  ‘Hey,’ he chided softly as the tension left his body. ‘Nothing happened,’ he reassured her as she remained pale.

  No, nothing had really happened—except in her mind! God, how she had wanted in her mind, had never known such instantaneous desire, her body still trembling with it! ‘No,’ she acknowledged shakily. ‘How about earlier?’ she looked at him with challenging eyes.

  His brows rose as he took his time about answering. ‘Earlier?’ he prompted.

  ‘Were you any more successful with Caroline?’ she bit out insultingly.