When she relaxed back into his arms once again, he gave her an odd look because her kiss had been different, baffling. Leaving him off balance. ‘Just so we’re clear,’ he said, his gaze even in the dark, sharp. ‘As long as I’m the only man doing them to you, we’re good.’

‘We’re good. Tell me why you like that song?’

The world that he hadn’t known had tipped, righted itself. The shark in him went back to sleep. He ignored that brief shift. ‘Dunno. I just always have. It hits something somewhere. All the layers of white noise vanish, the jagged edges smooth.’

She smiled. ‘You’re a romantic.’

‘Yeah, right. How about it’s just nice?’

‘Nice like me?’ she whispered, her smile close, sweet, tempting.

‘Not quite that nice, baby,’ he softly said, leaning over to brush a kiss down her nose. ‘Nothing’s that good.’

It was Sunday night, 3:38 glowing bright green on the bedside clock, when Kate suddenly woke. The fact that Dominic was gone must have wakened her. Anywhere else but in the middle of the ocean, she would have panicked, her unease about losing him having intensified as their holiday came to a close. She hadn’t been able to make up her mind whether to stay or go. Dominic had been patient, not pressing her to make a decision. But life without him would be unbearable. Living with him as difficult. A dilemma with no clear answer. How much of herself would she have to give up? How important was her emotional and professional independence? Was a handful of days enough to know someone? Particularly someone like Dominic who closed himself off from the world.

Confused, filled with doubt, she’d become increasingly clingy and weepy, like some lovesick fool.

Which in itself might be an answer.

Putting on a robe, she left the stateroom and, following the sound of a guitar, moved down the passageway.

Dominic was sitting with Danny high on the bow, both men dressed in jeans and T-shirts as though the weather was balmy when it wasn’t, both men playing guitars, several empty beer bottles on the deck at their feet. The Glory Girl had dropped anchor in a cove at sunset, the air was still, the ocean like glass.

Dominic looked up, saw Kate standing in the doorway at the stern and stopped playing. He smiled and called out, ‘Would you like to come up?’

She didn’t answer.

‘I’ll come down then. How about that?’

She nodded.

Rising, he handed his guitar to Danny. ‘Later,’ he said. ‘Drink one for me.’ He walked across the deck, leaped down the steps to the deck below and strolled across to Kate. ‘Hi, baby, couldn’t sleep? Maybe I can help you out.’

He was extra sweet that night, like he’d been since they’d left Hong Kong, indulging her every whim, satisfying her desires with ravishment and delight, offering her pleasure with both tenderness and soul-stirring passion, exerting all his masterful sexual skills and talents to assuage her insatiable lust.

And his.

With morning, however, their holiday came to an end.

A bittersweet, melancholy time for Kate with the future uncertain.

His plans in place, Dominic viewed the day with delight, the beginning as it were of something uncommonly good. He was taking her with him.

After The Glory Girl docked at noon, they were driven to Dominic’s home on The Peak, and once lunch was over they went upstairs to dress for the meeting that had been rescheduled the night of the charity event. Dominic insisted Kate accompany him.

‘You can sit out of the way. I just want to know you’re there.’ He smiled at her. ‘I’m going nuts, as you can see, so humour me. Do you want me to find you something to wear?’ She hadn’t followed him into his dressing room but was standing in the doorway.

‘I shouldn’t come, I’ll be in the way.’

‘Not in the least. It’s a big room. You can sit over by the windows. Or beside me if you wish,’ he added, smiling at her over his shoulder as he flipped through her clothes that had been hung in the wall of wardrobes. ‘I’d be pleased to have you sit beside me. How about this?’ He held up an ivory wool suit with a short military-style jacket belted in green lizard, a slim skirt and a pale green silk shell.

‘Is that new?’

‘I have no idea.’

She still hadn’t moved, other than the faint wrinkling of her brows. ‘Did you order more clothes for me?’

He smiled. ‘I might have. Look, I’d wrap you in sables if I could. Although, fur is still PC in most places outside the States, so if you’re interested, give me the word.’

‘Are you trying to change the subject?’

‘Desperately. This is my least favourite fight.’

‘Then you shouldn’t keep ignoring me,’ she grumbled.

‘I apologize,’ he said, moving toward her. ‘It’s just fun to dress you. You look good in everything,’ his voice softened ‘or nothing. Come on, give me a smile, put this on and let’s get this meeting over with. We’ve got better things to do.’

She sighed, But she was deep in love, only content when he was near. ‘Will it take long?’

‘I’ll see that it doesn’t. An hour at the most. Tomorrow we leave Hong Kong. You’re coming with me. Don’t give me any shit. You are. We can argue on the plane. But I need your game plan. You can key it in on my laptop at the meeting. Be demanding, then I won’t feel guilty about abducting you.’