His Blackmailed Bride

Paige felt the press of his body, hard and solid, against hers. Her eyes closed and she let herself lean back against him, resting her weight on his chest and encircling arms. She could feel the heat of him spreading over her, smell the scent that was his alone. His lips brushed her hair and a tremor raced through her. The next step was hers. All she had to do was turn to him, lift her mouth to his…

You’re going to need a man—and I’ll be here.

The ugly words leaped into her mind. But Quinn had said that before they knew each other. Surely it was all different now?

I’ll make love to you until you beg me to stop. And then I’ll be free of you at last.

She felt as if a cold hand had clamped over her heart. ‘It’s late, Quinn,’ she said. ‘And I’m tired.’

‘Juliet…’

She closed her eyes, grateful that he couldn’t see her face. ‘Please,’ she whispered.

His fingers bit into her shoulders and then his hands slid from her.

‘Yes, of course,’ he said, and suddenly she was alone in the hallway.

* * *

He was gone by the time she came down to breakfast the next morning. It was the first time in weeks that they hadn’t begun the day together, and she was surprised at how empty the house seemed without him. When the phone rang at mid-morning, she snatched it up, smiling when she heard Quinn’s voice.

‘I missed you this morning,’ she said before she had time to think.

There was a silence. ‘I told Norah to let you sleep in,’ he said after a while. ‘You said you were tired last night.’

Paige swallowed. ‘Quinn, about last night…’

‘Forget it,’ he said brusquely. ‘It’s tonight I want to talk about. A client’s in town—his wife wants to attend a concert at Albert Hall.’

‘Do you want me to arrange for tickets?’

He sighed. ‘They insist on company, Paige. I tried to talk them out of it, but—look, would you mind very much if we went along with them? This guy’s a pain, but he’s placing an enormous software order, and…’

‘I don’t mind at all,’ she said quickly, grateful for the safe company of strangers. ‘Shall I meet you?’

His voice softened. ‘Thanks, Paige. See you tonight.’

She dressed for the evening with more care than usual. By the time she left the house, she was running late. When she stepped from a taxi outside the Albert Hall, she looked around eagerly for Quinn. Crowds milled about the steps that led to the building, but it took only a moment to see that he wasn’t there yet. There would be no mistaking his presence—they were attuned to each other again, just as they had been the night they’d met at the All Hallows’ Ball. Her heart tripped over. Quinn, she thought, Quinn…

She started as an arm slid around her waist. Quinn smiled down at her.

‘Hello,’ she said. ‘I didn’t see you coming. I must have been daydreaming.’

He grinned. ‘That’s an understatement. You looked as if you were a million miles away. What were you thinking about?’

About last night, when I was foolish enough to step out of your arms and send you away.

The realisation came with stunning swiftness. Somehow, she managed a little laugh.

‘I was wondering if you were ever going to get here,’ she said. ‘What’s your client going to say if we’re late?’

Quinn sighed as he led her towards the door. ‘We’re not late enough,’ he murmured, glancing at the tickets in his hand. ‘They’ve yet to begin.’

‘What an awful thing to say,’ she whispered for the benefit of the ticket taker, but it was impossible to keep a straight face, and she began to laugh. There was something about laughing with him, she thought, looking at his smiling face. Her heart soared. Everything was wonderful, when she was at his side. ‘Actually, I agree. It’s Mahler tonight, isn’t it? God, I hate Mahler!’

Quinn nodded. ‘Only Jack Ward likes Gustav,’ he said. Paige looked at him and he made a face. ‘The client we’re meeting inside.’

‘Ah, yes, the man who’s going to commission a million billion computer programs.’ She shuddered as the discordant strains of the Fifth Symphony reached out to them. ?