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want. You must see that. I—I can't...'
    He studied her for a moment, brows raised, then reached into
    his jacket for a mobile phone.
    'What are you doing?'
    'Calling Matt at the hotel, to tell him tomorrow's site visit is
    cancelled.' His voice was clipped. 'You can tell the residents
    why any deal's off. You have the rest of the night to plan your
    explanation. I suggest you make it a good one, because
    according to your boyfriend a lot of lives are going to be
    devastated. I'd hate for them to blame you, but I suspect they
    might.'
    'No.' It hurt to breathe suddenly. 'Wait.'
    'Well?' The response was uncompromising, the phone still in
    his hand.
    She looked down at her fingers, laced lightly together in her
    lap.
    'Gunners Terrace is precious lo me,' she said tautly. 'Perhaps
    more than I'd even realised. And so is my eventual freedom.'
    She paused. ‘I presume you're also prepared to guarantee
    that—in writing?'
    'If that's what it takes.' Nick put the phone back in his pocket.
    She lifted her head. Met his gaze directly. Unflinchingly.
    'Then I'll— do what you want. But you have to give me some
    lime—some space—to adjust.'
    'And why should I do that?' He sounded almost casually
    interested.
    She said, quietly and clearly, 'Because I don't want my only
    child to be— made in haired. And I don't believe you'd want
    that either.'
    'You really think you hale me?' Faint, galling amusement in
    his voice.
    She nodded. 'I know it.'
    'So what are you suggesting instead?' he drawled. 'Surely
    not—love?'
    She winced. 'I thought—some kind of compromise. After all,
    you were prepared once lo make allowances— you said so
    earlier.'
    'How unwise of me.' He was silent for a moment. 'Very well.
    I've had a year to practise restraint, so I suppose I can go on
    being patient for a while.'
    He signalled for the bill, then turned back lo her, the grey eyes
    merciless. 'But be warned, darling. Don't push your luck.
    ‘I have no intention of waiting for ever. Do I make myself
    dear?' Somewhere a long way off she heard herself say, 'As
    crystal." How she found herself getting up from the table and
    going with him out into the night.

CHAPTER THREE
    The car he drove was new to her—low and sleek, with deep
    leather seats into which she sank almost helplessly. Music
    played softly, and she recognised that it was Bach-one of me
    Brandenburg concertos. It was all persuasively, beguilingly
    comfortable. And she was nearly, but not quite , lulled into
    acceptance...
    She struggled to sit up straight. 'Where are we going?' she
    demanded huskily.
    'To the hotel,' he said. 'Where else?'
    'I'd prefer lo go back to my own flat.'
    'Which I'm sure has only a single bed,' Nick returned. 'We'll
    be marginally more comfortable at the Majestic, as I'm sure
    you'll appreciate.' Cally drew a quick, angry breath. 'But you
    said—you promised... Oh, God, I should have known I
    couldn't trust you.'
    'And I feel the same about you, darling. Did you really think
    I'd let you out of my sight?' He shook his head. 'No, Cally.
    You're spending the night with me. And, it's not lust, merely a
    safely precaution,' he added drily.
    'But I have to go to the flat,' she protested. 'There are things I
    need—clothes and stuff.'
    'If the clothing bears any resemblance lo what you're wearing
    now, I suggest you leave it there,' he told her coolly. 'Besides,
    I've brought you everything you need. You once had a
    trousseau—remember?'
    Cally smoothed the cheap material of her skirt over her knees
    in a defensive gesture. 'Yes— I remember.' 'You also had a
    wedding ring,' he went on. 'Is it still around?'
    She stared through the windscreen into the night. 'I—threw it
    away.'
    'How dramatic,' he said mockingly. 'Wiser to have sold it,
    perhaps. You must have needed the cash.'
    But I wasn't feeling very wise. Just betrayed, confused and
    angry. The words trembled in her mind, but she did not utter
    them.
    He said, 'I shall have to buy you another.'
    She lifted