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‘Where are we going?’ she asked with interest as he took control of the high-powered machine

‘I haven’t decided yet What kind of food do you like?’

‘Anything, pretty much’ She was curious to see if Antonio’s was open The restaurant was situated in this direction and was one she knew Antonio’s was fa the serious up-market restaurant quarter in London with Italian sunshine and some much-needed joie de vivre It had been in the sa one of the first to bring spectacular ice creahetti around a fork to London So it should be a bustling concern in the sixties, Magenta reasoned, peering expectantly out of the‘But this isn’t the way to Antonio’s,’ she said with concern as Quinn took a turning that led to a leafy and exclusive London suburb ‘Antonio’s?’

‘Sorry, I was just thinking about an Italian restaurant I used to go to round here So…’ She tried for light, and predictably ended up with an anxious wobble in her voice ‘Have you decided where you’re taking me yet?’

‘I thought I’d show you enta’s sharp intake of breath ‘I thought we’d go to my house’

‘Your house?’ Her mouth dried ‘Should I be worried?’

‘Do you want to be?’ Quinn threw her a glance

‘Of course not,’ she said, crossing her legs

‘Good—but reserve judgement Remember, you haven’t tasted my food yet’

‘You’re going to cook for me?’

‘Is that a problem?’

‘No’ Just a surprise Genghis Khan in a pinny was quite a thought

What was she getting into? Magenta wondered as Quinn swung into the drive of a grand, porticoed house Was this where he usually brought his business associates for a chat? She’d had him down as a very private man ould never mix business with his private life

She tried not to act like Quinn’s country cousin as he showed her round his house Magenta’s father lived in so close to this The music room on the first floor, with its full-sized harp and selection of valuable period instru out of a palace Quinn was a connoisseur as well as a warrior in business The thought of how that coht translate in the bedroom made her senses roar When Quinn slipped her coat froers brushed her neck, she betrayed herself by shivering

‘Are you cold?’

She stared into Quinn’s aaze They both knew the opposite was the case Why was she feeling so embarrassed and unsure of herself? Sexual attraction between a man and a woman wasn’t unheard of, was it? Whatever their respective positions in life and whatever the era

To the sex-starved it was She moved a sensible distance away from him

Shrugging off his overcoat, Quinn left her for a lasses of aned lighting