‘Why are you here, Sara?’ His eyes narrowed. ‘Really here, I mean.’
‘I told you—–’
‘The real reason,’ he persisted, his blue eyes intent on her pale features.
She flushed, resentful of his perception. ‘I came to tell you I didn’t appreciate your visit to my aunt and uncle,’ she mumbled.
‘No,’ Dominic shook his head, ‘that isn’t the real reason, Sara.’
Her head went back in challenge. ‘Then what is?’
His face was suddenly harsh. ‘Would you like me to tell you—or show you?’
‘Sh-show me?’ she repeated with a gulp.
His burning gaze on her mouth was almost like a caress, his masculinity at once overwhelming, his sensuality a tangible thing. ‘Yes, show you,’ he said throatily.
‘I—No.’ She broke away from the spell he was weaving about her senses, once again looking at the books, but still dangerously aware of him standing a few feet away from her.
‘You’re right.’ He drew in a controlling breath. ‘Michael wants to see you.’
‘No!’ She turned round, and at once wished she hadn’t, his gaze burning her at a glance as he seemed to be holding some fierce emotion in check. Sara looked away again, thrown into confusion by—she didn’t know by what! She only knew it frightened her, but not in a terrifying way, in a—a moral way. This man was engaged to her sister, and yet—and yet—–
‘Sara!’ he groaned achingly.
She swallowed hard. ‘I don’t want to see Michael Lindlay,’ she answered his statement of a few minutes ago, although they had both passed beyond that, and a wild emotion was building up between them, an emotion that threatened to spiral, out of control. And that must not be allowed to happen!
Dominic received her silent plea, at once the cool businessman, almost as if Sara had imagined that momentary lapse. But she knew she hadn’t imagined it, the wild beating of her heart told her she hadn’t.
‘He doesn’t just want to see you, Sara,’ Dominic told her calmly, his raw passion of a moment ago completely erased. ‘He wants you to go and live with him, with him and Marie.’
CHAPTER FIVE
‘Is he mad?’ she cried scornfully.
‘No, just a father who wants to get to know his daughter.’
‘I surely don’t have to go and live with him for that,’ she dismissed scathingly.
‘It’s surely the best way?’
‘Not for me! I’m going back to the States in two days’ time. I intend resuming my career.’
‘You aren’t well enough for that.’ His voice was sharp. ‘Your legs—–’
‘Are healed.’
‘Beautifully,’ he nodded. ‘As far as it goes. But they aren’t strong enough for the arduous job of a model.’
‘I’m strong enough to do what I damn well please,’ Sara snapped, resenting his bossy behaviour.
‘I forbid you—I ask you not to do it,’ Dominic amended with a shake of his head. ‘I’m sorry, I think the last few days have got to me too. You have no need to work, Sara. As Michael’s daughter—–’
‘Will you stop saying that!’
‘All right, then,’ he bit out angrily, ‘as Marie’s sister, won’t you do this?’
Her mouth twisted. ‘Because you like to see Marie happy?’ she taunted.
‘Partly,’ he admitted grimly.
‘And the other part?’
‘For you. I’m sure you can’t feel happy about turning your back on your own sister.’
She wasn’t. He knew she wasn’t. This man knew her, knew everything about her, and it wasn’t just because he was close to Marie. ‘You aren’t being fair,’ she choked. ‘I don’t owe Michael Lindlay anything, least of all loyalty.’
‘But you think he owes you something.’
‘Yes! No—I don’t know,’ she said miserably.
‘Well, he doesn’t. You were happy with your mother, weren’t you?’
‘Very,’ she nodded, frowning.
‘Then Michael gave you all he owed you when he let you go. He did, Sara,’ Dominic insisted as she went to protest. ‘Just think for a moment. Your mother left your father to be with her lover. She shouldn’t really have been allowed to take either of her children, and yet Michael let her have you. Why did she never have any other children?’ he asked shrewdly.