‘Without you, I hope. Your holiday isn’t up yet.’

‘Dominic’s going on to London without me. I’ll meet him in Paris later. We’ll see if Miss Hart goes with him or goes home.’ He nodded at her computer. ‘You can hit send on your email list now. Then email Leo a detailed inventory of what’s needed for the party; he’ll take care of the rest.’

‘It’s very sweet of Dominic to agree on such short notice.’

‘He always comes through.’ Max grinned, thinking of Dominic’s grudging assent. ‘Even when he’d rather not. So if you’ll go out of your way to be pleasant to Miss Hart, I know he’ll appreciate it. Dominic’s strangely protective of her.’

‘You said she’s young.’

‘Just out of college.’

Olivia’s gaze narrowed faintly. ‘And she’s keeping him interested?’

‘Who knows why? She’s bright as anything. Definitely a change for him.’

‘IT, you said. That is different. Not sleek and finished like the others.’

‘Greta’s dressing her.’

Olivia sat back in her chair, her hand to her breast in a small gesture of surprise. ‘Julia’s designer.’

‘Yes, Julia’s designer.’

‘My heavens.’ She dropped her hand, her blue eyes sparkled. ‘I can hardly wait to meet this fantastic woman.’

Kate slept through the dinner hour. Dominic cancelled their sail on The Glory Girl with a bland explanation.

‘You have to treat the sweet young things with more respect,’ Danny teased. ‘It’s solitaire and whisky for you tonight, my man. If you ever need any advice on handling the newbies, just ask.’

‘As if. The only sweet young thing you know is your sister.’

‘Want me to ask her what women like who don’t charge by the hour?’

Dominic laughed. ‘Fuck off.’

‘Seriously, if the lady wants a sail – we’re here any time. Day or night. Leo says you like her.’

‘You say that like it’s strange.’

‘Hey, man – who you talkin’ to? It is strange, OK?’

Max and his friends had come on board after Julia’s death. They’d only seen one Dominic Knight.

‘But nice strange.’

Danny could hear the smile in Dominic’s voice. ‘There you go. Life’s good. Take pictures for your photo album.’

Dominic chuckled. ‘I’ll call you if Katherine wants to go out on the water.’

‘You know my number. Cheers.’

Dominic went into the bedroom every half hour, checking to see that nothing was wrong, that Katherine was still breathing, that he hadn’t harmed her in some way. But she was always sleeping peacefully, curled up and cocooned in green silk with red dragons. He finally brought in his laptop rather than continually come and go, pulled up a comfortable chair near the bed and worked on his email.

He started getting hungry by eight and went to his study to order dinner.

‘Just send me two sandwiches now. I’ll call you when we’re ready for dinner. No, nothing elaborate. Not tonight. Something simple. You know what I like. And if you’ll set the table and put out the food, I’d appreciate it. I’ll give you a ten-minute heads-up. Thanks, Deshi.’

He’d eaten his sandwiches, spent another hour on his laptop and had just gotten up to check on Kate again when the phone in Kate’s messenger bag started ringing.

He made a dash for the chair where the bag had been dropped, managed to pull out the phone and was just about to shut it off when it stopped ringing and a text popped up. Hey, babe. Remember me? The guy who makes you smile?

Dominic’s temper spiked, every muscle in his body tensed. What did the asshole mean – makes you smile? A heartbeat later he quickly locked away his anger because Kate was looking at him with faint bewilderment. ‘Your phone.’ He tossed it on the chair. ‘I didn’t catch it in time. Sorry it woke you.’

‘What time is it?’ She pushed her tousled curls off her forehead.

‘A little after nine.’

Eyes wide. ‘It can’t be.’

‘It’s not a problem. We don’t have to go anywhere. You were tired.’ He smiled. ‘My fault. I kept you up all night and this afternoon was’ – another quick smile – ‘fatiguing.’

She smiled back. ‘Is that what you call it?’

‘Call it anything you like.’ A dip of his handsome head, another gorgeous smile. ‘It was grand. Would you like a bath – a shower – some food?’

She grinned. ‘No band tonight?’

‘Any night, Katherine. Just say the word.’

‘How sweet, but I’m starved.’

‘Good. Me too. I had two sandwiches sent up but …’ A small shrug. ‘So any time you’re ready …’

He made a heads-up call to the kitchen while Kate quickly washed up in the bathroom, then he found her another robe – a magnificent padded silk bathrobe in azure silk, embroidered with pale yellow iris, wrapped her in it and carried her into the dining room.

‘I’m never going to leave if you keep being this nice to me,’ she teased as he stood in the doorway, surveying the flower-filled room, the table set for two, the lit candles, the chilling champagne.

He looked down at her and smiled. ‘That’s the idea. Now stand here for a minute.’ He set her on her feet near the door. ‘I’m going to move your chair closer to mine. You’re too far away at the other end of the table.’