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‘No!’

Riccardo put up both his hands in mock surrender His curiosity was now seriously piqued

‘I’m fine to drive back unescorted, thank you very er trips’

‘And travelled back to London on the sa-machine of yours?’

‘It’s very reliable!’

‘But not exactly equipped for long-distance driving’

‘I don’t believe in great, big gas-guzzlers’ She looked uzzler parked behind him

‘Yet in the event of an accident, on a dark road in thethat you cared more about the planet than your own safety Is that a company car? If it is, then I think I shall have a ith that boss of yours, find out what he thinks he’s playing at, sending you all over the country in so…’

‘Don’t you dare!’

‘You know, you should never mention my name and the word “dare” in the same breath…’

Charlotte wondered whether he was joking It was hard to tell, because the light was so poor and she couldn’t read the expression on his face, but still a little whisper of danger fluttered along her spine

‘Why are you so jittery?’ he asked curiously Riccardo knew that this was a conversation that was going nowhere She would drive off and so would he, and later he would just think of their e coincidences But for theto her ‘I ant movement that she remembered well ‘So where’s the rush? Why don’t I take you out to dinner? You can continue ranting at h we can do so up’ Riccardo liked his use of the word ‘civilised’ It made hi suspicion that for the first ti to a situation with his head His head was definitely not telling hi him like an infectious disease

‘Sorry, can’t’ She opened her car door and flung her bag and briefcase in the passenger seat, then she clambered in But before she could sla it open with one lean, brown hand, and bending down to stare at her And unfortunately for her, with the car light on, there was no way she could conceal the agitation on her face She kne she looked: red faced and as guilty as hell Naturally he wouldn’t knohy she looked guilty, but he would be curious, and even after all these long years she knew hih to realise that there was one trait he possessed which would surely not have changed—tenacity He had always found pursuit in the face of a challenge very invigorating

‘My boyfriend Well, fiancé…’ She sat on her hands and crossed her fingers

‘Ben with the nothing job’

‘Actually, he’s a chartered surveyor And—and you were right He’s actually waiting for me He’s cooked me a meal He always does that whenever I happen to be on one of these jobs…you knohen I won’t be getting back until late He’s a great cook Loves it’

Riccardo frowned heavily, and Charlotte, feeling a lot more comfortable now that she had established an alibi for her red face, laughed lightly and started her engine ‘Yes, I know you’d probably disapprove I guess, co from that traditional Italian family of yours, you probably think o! Ben is a fantastic cook, and there’s nothing he enjoysafter me!’