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onto the narrow seat beside Ian. Ian tucked the fur-lined robes around her and slid a hot brick under her feet.
    “It’s perfectly warm. See?” he said. And he kissed her lightly, his lips sliding over hers.
    Indeed it was. She couldn’t remember ever being so warm, so tingling with heat, before. Everything else vanished.
    But when she reached for him, he slid away with a teasing grin. “I have a surprise for you,” he said. He flicked the reins and set the magical little sleigh into motion. Silver bells rang out in merry music as they glided over the snow.
    “I’m not sure I like surprises,” she said as she snuggled down into the blankets. The scenery flashed by in a glittering white blur.
    “You’ll like this one,” Ian answered. “Though probably not quite as much as I liked my surprise last night.”
    Cassandra felt her cheeks turn warm, and she ducked her head to hide her blush. How could she tell him she hadn’t meant to surprise him last night? That it had all been a fortunate mistake?
    One surprise at a time was surely enough for now.
    They drove down a narrow track through a wooded area, where the ice sparkled on the tree branches like diamonds. It was so quiet there, so magical with the snow piled all around and not another living being in sight. Cassandra put her arm through Ian’s and rested her head on his shoulder as they continued their journey.
    At last he turned down a circular drive and drew up in front of a cottage. It looked as if it belonged in a fairy tale with the sleigh, a tiny dwelling of rosy-red brick with old-fashioned mullioned windows gleaming in the light, reflecting back the gray sky and the snow. In the summer it was probably covered with climbing roses, but even in the depth of winter it was charming, so cozy and inviting. A gray plume of smoke curled from one of the chimneys, but there was no other sign of life.
    “Who lives here?” she asked as she studied the windows.
    “We do,” Ian said. “At least for today.” He came around to help her from the sleigh, but instead of putting her down on the snowy ground he swept her up in his arms. He carried her through the garden gate and up the path to the front door. “It belongs to Melisande and happens to be between tenants at the moment. She loaned it to me.”
    Cassandra laughed and held on tight to his neck as he swung her down a narrow corridor and through a low doorway into a sitting room. She gasped when she saw what was there. A bright fire burned in the grate, and spread before it was a picnic arrayed on a fur-edged blanket. Bread, cheese, cakes, hothouse strawberries and wine, with flower petals scattered across the floor to cast their sweet scent into the air.
    “Oh, Ian,” she whispered. “Is this the surprise?”
    “I thought it was time we were properly alone at last,” he said, and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek. “Is this a surprise to your liking?”
    “Oh, yes. Very much to my liking.”

Chapter Five
    “That was the most delicious meal ever,” Cassandra sighed as she lay back on the fur-edged blanket. She felt so warm and content, with the heat from the fire dancing over her skin and the wine she had drunk winding through her body. How long had it been since she had felt so deeply content, so very right ?
    Never, she realized. She had never felt like this before, as if she was exactly where she was meant to be. And it was all thanks to Ian.
    She rolled onto her side and propped her head on her arm to study him as he lay stretched out beside her. He was the very picture of indolent, masculine grace, a jungle panther stretched out to sleep in the sun. He had shed his coat and cravat and his shirt fell open to reveal a deep vee of glistening, smoothly muscled skin and the strong column of his throat. In one hand he held a half-full glass of wine while the other stroked the folds of her skirt.
    A half-smile touched his lips. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. So you decided you like surprises after