The Trouble with Valentine's

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‘Welcome,’ she offered, and dragged her gaze away from Nick and turned her attention to his wife – hoping upon hope that Hallie Bennett-Cooper would attribute Jasmine’s lack of speech to English-as-a-second-language problem rather than an acute attack of embarrassment and guilt.

Hallie’s gaze met hers and Jasmine coloured, because awareness was there in the other woman’s eyes. Nicholas’s wife knew. He’d told her, and any minute now Hallie was going to make mention of it.

Sickness rose up in Jasmine like the tide.

Don’t, she wanted to beg. Please don’t say anything. Can’t we just pretend it never happened? I didn’t know. I didn’t know he already had a wife.

Hallie Bennett-Cooper’s smile was surprisingly gentle. ‘Nick neglected to mention how beautiful you were,’ she murmured, and leaned forward to brush her cheek gently against Jasmine’s before pulling back and narrowing her eyes. ‘Or how young. Men. Show me one who can give you all the necessary details.’

‘Kai can,’ said Jasmine, before her brain could catch up with her mouth.

‘Okay, I’ll give you that one,’ murmured Hallie. ‘But I stand by the statement that my husband’s powers of observation need work. I swear; he and I are going to have words.’

‘I’m quaking,’ said Nick dryly.

Jasmine had no idea what they were talking about, not that it mattered. First and foremost, it beat talking about that night. ‘Please,’ she said, remembering her role and trying not to let anxiety render her useless. ‘Would you care to come inside?’

Jasmine Tey was nothing like the brazen teenage seductress Hallie had imagined. Never mind the exquisite jewel-coloured sundress she wore. Never mind the waist-length black hair held away from her face with a bamboo clasp in a style both youthful and inspired because it drew attention to both face and hair and both were stunning. Hallie didn’t even mind the wide, shy eyes Jasmine turned on Nick – Hallie was fast coming to the conclusion that most women did have big eyes for Nick … No, what bothered Hallie most was that Jasmine Tey seemed to have not one scrap of confidence in her own appeal and no idea whatsoever of the guilt and mortification that was currently stamped on her face for anyone with eyes to see.

Whatever Jasmine had done the last time Nick was here, boy did she regret it.

‘I—I trust your flight went well?’ asked Jasmine as Hallie tucked her hand through the crook of Jasmine’s elbow and turned the younger girl towards the villa and away from driver Kai’s all-seeing eyes.

‘It was good,’ said Hallie. ‘Well, apart from this one woman who fell into Nick’s lap on purpose. And it wasn’t me.’ Hallie rolled her eyes. ‘She simpered. She swooned. You can imagine.’

A tiny smile tilted Jasmine’s lips. It seemed she could.

‘I don’t blame him,’ Hallie continued, warming to her theme. ‘He can’t help the effect he has on us. Of course, he doesn’t have to enjoy it quite as much as he does.’

‘But darling—’

‘Don’t you darling me, Nicholas Cooper!’ He’d wanted possessive, requested jealousy. Hallie stopped and turned around to see if he was following. He was, and so was John Tey. Driver Kai stood by the car, watching impassively. She contemplated a head toss and decided against it. Too dramatic – this was a very restrained household, no need to overplay it. Jealous words would more than suffice. ‘I’ve had quite enough of women falling over you for one day!’

‘You could always try trusting me.’ Nick’s voice was dry, very dry, as he reached where she stood, bent his head and touched his lips to hers in the merest whisper of a kiss.

They were in a public place. They were making a point for Jasmine’s benefit. Role playing, that was all. But the quiet intensity in his gaze made her heart race and her body want more. Had she really been married to this man she’d want him in her bedroom now. So he could show her with his body and with his eyes just how much he loved her. Not the pretty little flirt on the flight today, not any one of the women who’d tried to engage his interest, but her