When she finally heard his key in the door her heart gave a nervous leap. It was two weeks since they had last seen each other and she had no idea how she should greet him. She stood up in jerky movements, hearing the sound of male voices as Max greeted his employer.
‘I’m glad your trip was successful, sir. Dinner will be ready in ten minutes, if that’s suitable?’
‘I don’t think I can—’
‘That will be fine, Max,’ Helen interrupted, her eyes on Leon as he looked up and saw her. He had the look of a drowning man just thrown a lifeline.
It had only taken one look at Leon’s drawn tense face as he answered Max’s polite query about his trip to know that the knowledge that she hadn’t been here had hit him hard. He looked haggard, his face pale beneath the tan. Max tactfully disappeared back into the kitchen, leaving them along together.
Leon swallowed hard, his tawny eyes devouring her. ‘Max told me you hadn’t come,’ he said dazedly.
‘I arrived after your call,’ she told him softly.
‘I—Oh God, Helen,’ he choked, dropping his briefcase and walking towards her like a man in a trance. ‘Helen,’ he groaned, gently touching one of her cheeks. ‘My sweet Helen!’
She gave him a shaky smile. ‘Max has put me in the blue room, I hope that’s all right?’
‘It’s where I told him to put you. It’s the room next to mine.’
She looked startled. ‘But that’s a bathroom!’
‘I’m on the other side of that,’ Leon murmured, his gaze locked on her lips. ‘I’ve thought of nothing but kissing you again the last two weeks.’
Helen b
lushed. ‘I’ve thought of that kiss too.’
‘You have?’ A strange light burnt in his eyes, making them fever-bright.
‘Oh yes.’
‘Helen,’ he breathed softly. ‘You’re too much of a temptation for me.’
‘And are you tempted?’
Leon’s breath caught in his throat. ‘Helen?’ he asked uncertainly, searching her features avidly.
‘I—Sorry.’ She turned away. ‘I’m not being fair.’ She forced a smile. ‘I suppose you want to shower and change.’
‘Not if you have something else to offer?’
‘No! No, I’m sorry, I don’t. Thank you for the roses. They’re beautiful.’
‘Not even a kiss hello, Helen?’ He ignored her thanks.
She gave him an impatient look. ‘Last time it was a kiss goodbye,’ she complained.
‘Give me the chance and I could find reason to kiss you any time of the day—or night.’
She spluttered with laughter. ‘You’re impossible, Leon!’
His eyes became opaque. ‘You’re laughing, Helen,’ he said softly. ‘You’re laughing for me.’
Her humour suddenly stopped and she looked selfconscious. ‘Go and take your shower before Max gets fed up waiting to serve dinner,’ she told him.
‘I really didn’t think you were going to be here, you know,’ he said wonderingly, ignoring her words. ‘I nearly didn’t bother to come back here at all, I was going to go to the nearest bar and get drunk. Then I thought, what the hell, if she won’t come to me I’ll go to her.’
‘But you said you wouldn’t!’