The Husband Dilemma

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What was she doing, letting a virtual stranger kiss her like that, touch her like that? As for telling him they were bound together for ever, just because he’d saved her life... She’d only just met him, for pity’s sake! She didn’t even know his full name.

‘I’m sorry,’ she croaked, blinking furiously. ‘You—you must think—’ She gave a choked sob and tried to tear herself free, clawing at his gripping hands with wild fingers. But his strong hands simply tightened round her arms, dragging her back to face him.

‘You’ve nothing to be sorry for, Kate.’ His voice was a throaty growl. ‘Just be grateful I didn’t take advantage of you. Heaven knows, I was tempted.’

He was? She swallowed, her bewildered gaze fluttering to his. Was he saying it was because he liked her so much—because he respected her—that he’d pushed her away? Were there still men like that around?

‘Will—will I see you tomorrow?’ she faltered, hiding the burning hope that she was sure must be there for him—for anyone—to see.

But what if Diana wanted to go home first thing in the morning—or even tonight—now that her beach-house had been burgled? Or what if she wanted to visit a different beach tomorrow—a safer beach for swimming? Or what if she didn’t want her young friend meeting up with Jack again—a stranger she’d met on the beach? What if she wanted to keep Kate to herself?

As she waited for Jack’s answer, Kate felt a sick ache in her chest at the thought of never seeing him again, never having the chance to know and experience more of him, never again feeling his gentle, heart-stopping touch, those powerful arms around her, those warmly sensual lips on hers.

Worse...what if she and Diana did meet him on the beach tomorrow, and he had eyes only for Diana?

She gave herself an impatient shake. If he was that fickle—if he could transfer his affections so easily—Diana was welcome to him! But in her heart she didn’t believe he would be...not her Jack. Not the man who’d risked his life to save hers, and who’d taken such good care of her since...who’d even told her she was threatening to turn his life upside-down.

Not the man who’d had the chance to take advantage of her, who’d been tempted to, but hadn’t.

‘There’s a woman crossing the sandhills,’ Jack said suddenly, diverted for a second. He was looking beyond her through the trees. ‘Is that your friend?’

Kate turned her head, following his glance. Her heart gave a flutter as she recognised the tall, slender woman striding across the grassy sand dunes...heading back from the beach, not towards it. It was more a flutter of guilt than dismay. Guilt that she hadn’t been down on the beach when Diana had come looking for her. Guilt that she’d been enjoying herself with Jack while Diana had been dealing with the police and the aftermath of the robbery.

Guilt that she could actually have been jealous of Diana, even for a second! She liked Diana. Very much. In many ways, she liked her better than she’d liked her own sister. Besides, jealousy was such a futile, destructive emotion.

She leapt away from Jack with a gasped. ‘Goodbye, Jack!’ and broke into a run, leaving him standing. ‘Di!’ she called out, waving a hand as she emerged from the trees. ‘Here I am!’

‘Where have you been?’ Diana shouted back, adding as they came closer, ‘I thought you’d been kidnapped!’

Kate reddened. She had...in a way. ‘Sorry, Di.’ Her teeth tugged at her lip as she came to a halt, facing the older woman. ‘I...er...met someone down on the beach.’ She raked her fingers through her hair, deliberately dragging her tangled curls over one eye. Her black eye. The longer she could hide it from Diana the better. She hadn’t thought of a convincing story yet.

‘And there I was, thinking you must have gone for a long walk...on your own.’ Diana’s dark eyes twinkled. ‘Male or female?’ she asked.

‘Male.’ Kate flushed. ‘A real gentleman,’ she said righteously. An incredible hunk with the strength of a tank, the sexiest lips in the world, and the gentlest touch she’d ever known.

A man she would trust with her life.

She had trusted him with her life.

‘He wouldn’t happen to be sun-tanned, dark-haired and built like an Olympic athlete, by any chance?’ Diana was looking past her now, her eyes blatantly admiring.

Kate’s head spun round, her cheeks blazing hot. Jack was heading their way, on his way to the beach.

‘Er...yes, that’s Jack.’ She would have to explain a few things, quick smart. ‘I...we went swimming,’ she babbled, ‘and he accidentally bumped me on the cheek and gave me a black eye and he—he insisted on putting an ice-pack on it, back at his...his... Have the police been yet?’