Hot Surrender

She looked at her brother-in-law suspiciously. Mark had an amused look now. 'Your food must be getting cold—get some salad and eat your meal before it's ruined, Zoe!'

'I'll talk to you later,' she threatened him, and turned to grab a pile of salad, then went to find her sister, who was sitting on the grass talking to a neighbour, Martha Adams.

Sprawling beside them, Zoe said, 'Hi, Martha—how are you? You look terrific in that outfit; red really suits you.'

'Thanks. You look great, yourself; I love the suit.' Marsha smiled. Barely five foot, she was as slim as a girl, despite being in her early forties. 'Bet I can guess who made it,' she added, naming a world-famous designer.

'I'm impressed—you're absolutely right. You've got a good eye!'

'I just remember when you bought it,' confessed Martha.

'Cost me an arm and a leg!'

'It was worth it I love the cut, only wish I could afford it.'

'It's a classic design—I've had it for a year and I shall wear it until it falls to pieces. The style won't go out of fashion, so it was worth the money. But your red jeans are beautifully cut, too.'

Martha gave her a delighted smile. 'I made them myself.'

'You're kidding!' Zoe slowly examined the older woman's clothes. 'Did you make the grey shirt, too?'

'No, that was a Christmas present, from Sancha and Mark! I love your brown top, by the way—it's so sleek and yet it almost glitters like gold.'

'It's not brown; it's bronze,' corrected Zoe. 'Yes, I love it, too. I hope that will last for years, too.' She glanced at her sister. 'How long have you known Connel Hillier?'

'I don't know him at all. He's the head of Mark's new firm.' Sancha stared curiously. 'Do you know him?

You never mentioned him. Don't tell me he's your new guy? That's amazing!'

'He's nothing of the kind! I only met him once, and it wasn't a pleasant experience. Remember that terrible storm we had earlier this week? I was driving home after a very long day filming, and while I was waiting at the crossroads to turn down my lane he tried to get into my car.'

'What do you mean?' Startled, Sancha and Martha both watched her incredulously.

'Tried to get into your car?' Martha asked.

In between eating mouthfuls of her food, Zoe told them what had happened that night, and they listened open-mouthed.

'He actually broke into your cottage?' asked Sancha in disbelief.

'Yes, I was just about to get into bed when I heard him creeping about downstairs.'

Martha murmured, 'Seeing you here tonight must have been a big shock for him!'

'He didn't turn a hair! The way he acted you'd have thought we were old pals. He actually made fun of me for being offhand with him.'

Sancha said uneasily, 'The trouble is, Zo, Mark loves his new job. I don't know if he would tell him to go!'

'Tell who to go?' enquired Mark, and they all looked round at him as he joined them with a plate of food and curled his tall frame up on the grass beside them.

'Connel Hillier!' Sancha said anxiously. 'I know you think he's a great guy, but wait till you hear what he did to Zoe! Zoe, tell Mark what you just told us.'

Zoe looked past Mark at Connel Hillier, who had just strolled up, a glass in his hand, and was eying her with sardonic amusement.

'Yes, do tell us, Zoe,' he drawled.

'You've got a nerve!' she snapped at him, her hands screwing into fists. 'Coming here, laughing at me, after what you did to me!'

'I'm still waiting to hear exactly what he did do!' Mark said, fork poised to put steak into his mouth, and clearly not at all worried by the threatened disclosures.