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he’d probably choose a glamorous model or actress. After five years or so he’d divorce her and marry a nice girl from his own strata of society—whatever that was—who’d give him the required couple of children. And in his fifties he’d divorce the second wife and marry a trophy one thirty years younger.
    And she wouldn’t want to be any of those wives.
    That thought made her grin ironically before she slid back into the water.
    Half an hour later she’d showered and reluctantly got back into her smelly shirt and shorts, emerging from the luxurious cabana to meet Cade, his muscled elegance defined by clothes that made her feel like a ragamuffin.
    Only for an instant. The appreciative gaze that skimmed her bare legs did considerable damage toher composure. How on earth could he convey leashed interest with one swift glance—a glance that set her treacherous blood fizzing?
    Possibly she’d misread his attitude, because his voice was coolly impersonal when he asked, ‘Would you like a drink?’
    ‘No, thank you,’ she said at once, squelching a pang of regret. ‘I smell of smoke and I really want to get out of these clothes.’
    And could have bitten her tongue out. Would he think she’d made an unsubtle proposition? If he said something about a Freudian slip she’d have to bite back an indignant reply in case he guessed what she’d been thinking.
    But he was too sophisticated to take her up on her clumsy choice of words. Not a muscle in his face moved when he said, ‘Then some other time, perhaps.’
    ‘That would be nice.’ Taryn thought in self-derision that platitudes were so useful for filling in awkward moments.
    Then Cade’s smile hit her like a blow to her solar plexus. It turned her thoughts into chaotic, disconnected responses—all of which indicated,
He is utterly gorgeous …
    And he knew the effect that smile had on the opposite sex too.
    Calmly, he said, ‘If you want to swim, come and do it here. Nobody is going to want to swim in the next bay for a while.’
    ‘I … That’s very kind of you,’ she said automatically. Yet another platitude.
    Of course she wouldn’t accept. Yet some traitorous part of her couldn’t help wondering if this surprising invitation was the first step in—what?
    Nothing, she thought sturdily, but heat scorched her cheeks and she hastily bent to pick up the bag containing her togs.
    ‘So that’s agreed,’ he said calmly.
    Taryn had never met another man with his uncompromising aura of authority and controlled, potent sensuality. She preferred her male companions to be interesting and unthreatening.
    Like Peter.
    That memory drove the colour from her skin. She produced a meaningless smile and said, ‘Actually, it isn’t, but it’s very kind of you to offer, and I’ll probably take you up on it.’
    She got into the car, frowned as the engine took a sluggish couple of moments to power, waved with one hand and drove off.
    Cade watched the elderly vehicle, its persistent rattle deepening his frown. It certainly didn’t look as though she had all Peter’s money; if she did, she’d have been able to buy a brand-new car. The amount he knew for certain she’d received wasn’t enough for that.
    Perhaps she was canny enough to save it.
    Unfortunately, he didn’t know enough about her to make any reasonable judgement.
    But that, he decided, could be dealt with. If she needed a job, he could provide her with one for long enough to find out whether she was a money-grubbing opportunist …
    Taryn stopped at the top of the hill to look down into the next desolate bay. One fire engine remained there and a couple of the firemen were checking the perimeters of the burn but, although wisps of smoke still drifted up, the fire had clearly been controlled.
    No little red car, either, she noted. Her frowndeepened. Jason was becoming rather too pressing, a nuisance.
    But not dangerous.
    Unlike the man she’d just left.
    Dangerous? She gave a snort and muttered,