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Talik had no such compunction. The hot desire in his flashing dark eyes was naked to anyone’s view as he propelled himself forward again, eager to get closer to Jayne, touch her, woo her with all he had at his disposal. Dan’s free hand instinctively clenched into a fist.
    ‘Mr. Drayton you know,’ Lin Zhiyong said with a graceful wave and a respectful nod.
    ‘Omar,’ Dan acknowledged, unclenching his fingers and holding out his hand.
    He barely restrained himself from crushing the bones of the slim, brown, beautifully manicured hand of the oil-rich sheikh who had pursued him to China, still puffed up with the power of hiswealth and unable to accept Dan didn’t have a price.
    ‘All is revealed,’ Omar replied with arrogant certainty. ‘Cherchez la femme !’
    Not as simple as that, old son, Dan thought savagely, watching with jaundiced eyes as the charm started oozing toward Jayne.
    ‘Miss Winter, may I present Sheikh Omar El Talik,’ Lin Zhiyong continued, completing the formalities.
    Jayne’s politely offered hand was enveloped by both of Omar’s, his long, soft fingers caressing her skin as though valuing a precious piece of merchandise.
    ‘I am honoured to meet you, Miss Winter,’ he gushed. ‘Never have I been so privileged! A woman who outshines the sun. You have entranced…no, enslaved me on sight.’
    ‘Sorry to interrupt your enslavement, Omar, but I think I’m getting a cramp in my left arm. Would you mind holding Baby for a while, Jayne?’
    Dan congratulated himself on catching her unawares, holding Baby out in such a way that the automatic reaction was to take the offered child. Jayne looked startled but she quickly settled Baby on her hip, balancing her there as though she had been doing it for years. Women’s hips were obviously made to accommodate babies.
    Dan shook and flexed his arm a few times to give veracity to his statement, observing withconsiderable satisfaction that Baby took up both Jayne’s hands and Omar didn’t have a chance in hell of continuing his seductive ministrations.
    ‘It’s a journey wasted, Omar,’ Dan said coldly. ‘I gave you my answer in Casablanca.’
    ‘I understand completely,’ came the magnanimous reply. ‘And I assure you my trip is not wasted. I have not visited China before. Clearly there are opportunities for investment.’ He smiled at Lin Zhiyong who nodded sagely. The smile sparkled more brightly as it moved to Jayne. ‘And it contains a treasure that is brighter and more beautiful than any I have seen. You, Miss Winter.’
    ‘You are very gallant, Your Excellency. Thank you for the compliment,’ Jayne said without any marked enthusiasm. Which demonstrated she had not lost her good taste!
    Baby reached up to explore the elaborate pearl and gold necklace that dangled provocatively above a shadowed hint of cleavage. Jayne gently prevented her from tugging it by guiding the little fingers over the beaded mesh. It was perfectly plain to Dan that Omar desired his fingers in the same place.
    ‘You should be draped in diamonds, Miss Winter. And sapphires to match the flashing brilliance of your eyes,’ he raved on, determined to recapture and hold Jayne’s attention. ‘To pay you the homage you deserve I would lay the world atyour feet. Anything you desire, Miss Winter. All you have ever dreamed of.’
    ‘I don’t believe any one person can give another all that is desired,’ Jayne replied with an edge of irony. ‘Complete satisfaction is hard to come by. It seems to me that compromises always have to be made and men expect women to make them.’ She looked directly at Dan, her eyes blue slashes of mockery. ‘While they do as they wish.’
    Dan gritted his teeth, biting down on a cutting retort. He hadn’t deceived her about the kind of life he led and she’d been perfectly happy to marry him. It wasn’t his fault she’d changed her mind about what would make her happy.
    ‘You are right,’ Omar agreed with fervour. ‘You are a