Heading upstairs.

Richard had barely opened his book when Mara leaned towards him again. "Richard?"

"Yes, Sugar Plum?"

"Would you like to go upstairs?"

He looked over his sunglasses. "We've only just settled down."

"I know."

"And I thought you were enjoying the pool."

"I was." She smiled. "But I think I'd rather spend some time alone with you."

Richard studied her expression. The playful innocence was still there, but he was beginning to recognise when Mara was being deliberately provocative. "Mara..."

"Just for a little while," she said. "We can have a drink, talk, enjoy that enormous suite of yours. Unless you've suddenly become terribly busy."

Richard glanced at their joined hands. He'd spent the morning enjoying her company, and the kiss they'd shared had left him feeling considerably less certain of himself than he'd care to admit.

He knew exactly what she was suggesting. Nevertheless, after a moment's hesitation, he closed his book. "All right. But I think we've established that neither of us needs another vodka."

Mara grinned. "You're no fun."

"That's not what you were saying five minutes ago."

She laughed and stood, offering him her hand. "Come along, Mr Arnett."

The journey upstairs was almost comically ordinary. They passed the reception desk, exchanged pleasantries with another guest in the lift and discussed whether the hotel restaurant would be worth visiting for dinner. Yet Mara was acutely aware of Richard standing beside her. Every time their eyes met, she remembered the kiss by the pool, and she found herself wondering whether he'd allow another. Richard, meanwhile, was beginning to question the wisdom of inviting her back to his suite. He'd intended to spend a pleasant afternoon with her, nothing more. Somehow, matters had become rather more complicated.

When they reached his room, he opened the door and stood aside. "After you, Sugar Plum."

Mara stepped inside, smiling at the familiar luxury. Sunlight streamed through the enormous windows, illuminating the leather sofa where she'd sat the previous evening.

"Much nicer than downstairs," she announced.

"I thought you liked your room."

"I do. But yours has better company."

Richard chuckled as he closed the door. "Flattery will get you everywhere."

Mara turned towards him. "Will it?"

He stopped smiling quite so confidently. "Within reason."

"There's always a condition with you, isn't there?"

"Experience has taught me to be cautious."

She approached him slowly. "And what does experience tell you now?"

Richard looked down at her. "That you're about to do something mischievous."

Mara smiled. "You're getting very good at reading me."

She reached up, rested a hand against his cheek and kissed him.

This time Richard didn't freeze in surprise. He returned the kiss gently, one hand settling at her waist as she moved closer. When they parted, Mara remained standing against him, looking rather pleased with herself.

"That was nice," she whispered.

Richard smiled faintly. "Yes. It was."

"Would you like another?"

He laughed softly. "I suspect you're going to give me one whether I answer or not."

"You're learning."

She kissed him again.

For several minutes, the outside world seemed remarkably unimportant.

Mara slipped her arms around Richard's shoulders, and he drew her into a closer embrace. Their kisses became longer and less tentative, interrupted occasionally by a smile or a quiet laugh when one of them remembered just how unlikely this situation would have seemed yesterday.

Richard was surprised by how natural it felt to hold her. He'd expected awkwardness, perhaps even immediate regret, but instead found himself enjoying the warmth of her company and the unmistakable affection in her expression.

Mara, meanwhile, was delighted. Her body was responding in ways it never did with Hugh. The reserved, impeccably mannered Mr Arnett was kissing her, properly kissing her, and she was no longer having to invent excuses to get close to him. Her damp bathers became even damper.

When they finally separated, she looked up at him with a triumphant smile. "Well, Richard Arnett."

"What?"

"You're full of surprises."

He laughed. "I could say precisely the same about you."

Mara brushed a stray strand of silver hair away from his forehead. "I've wanted to do that since last night."

"Kiss me?"

"Among other things."

Richard's smile faltered slightly. "Mara..."

She recognised the warning in his voice, but this time she wasn't particularly inclined to retreat. "Richard, I'm not a little girl. I know what I'm doing. This isn’t my first time."

"I know you're an adult."

"Then stop looking at me as though I'm about to make some dreadful mistake."

He considered her words carefully. "That's not what I'm thinking."

"Then what are you thinking?"

Richard sighed. "That I like you very much. That I probably shouldn't have let this happen quite so quickly. And that you're making it remarkably difficult for me to remember all the reasons I intended to be sensible."

Mara smiled. "Perhaps you could forget them for an afternoon."

She kissed him once more, pressing her body hard against him, and Richard returned it before gently drawing back. "Mara, wait."

Something in his tone made her stop. He wasn't angry or embarrassed. If anything, he looked disappointed to be interrupting them.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing's wrong. But we need to talk."

Mara groaned. "Oh, Richard. Please don't tell me you're about to give me another lecture."

"Not a lecture."

"Because your lectures are terribly long."

He smiled despite himself. "Then I'll try to keep this one brief." Richard guided her towards the sofa and sat beside her, taking her hand. "Mara, I enjoyed kissing you."

She brightened immediately. "Good."

"Very much, actually."

"Even better."

He chuckled. "But there's something we haven't dealt with."

Mara's smile faded. "Hugh."

"Yes. Hugh."

She looked away. "Richard, I told you what happened."

"You told me what you believe happened."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you've had an argument with your boyfriend, and you're convinced he's been unfaithful. But from everything you've told me, you haven't actually established that."

Mara frowned. "He came home late. He smelled of another woman. And he turned his phone facedown when Elaine messaged him."

"I remember."

"Then what else do you need?"

Richard considered his answer. "I need you to speak to him."

Mara stared at him. "You're joking."

"I'm afraid not.”

"After everything that's happened between us?"

"Especially after everything that's happened between us."

She withdrew her hand. "Well, that's a wonderful way to ruin the afternoon."

Richard sighed. "Mara, listen to me. I'm not saying you should forgive Hugh, or that you have to stay with him. If you decide the relationship is over, that's entirely your decision."

"Then what's the problem?"

"The problem is that you haven't made that decision properly. You left after an argument, blocked him and came here. Since then, you've refused to read his messages or hear what he has to say."

Mara folded her arms. "Perhaps I don't want to hear his excuses."

"Then tell him that. But at least have the conversation."

She stared at the carpet, clearly displeased.

Richard gave her a moment before continuing. "I won't pretend I haven't enjoyed what's happened today. I have. But I'm not prepared to take things any further while you're still involved with Hugh and haven't spoken to him."

Mara looked up sharply. "Any further?"

Richard met her eyes. "Yes."

She studied his expression. "You mean..."

"I mean exactly what you think I mean, Sugar Plum."

For a moment, Mara was speechless. She'd spent so much of the previous evening wondering whether Richard found her attractive that hearing him acknowledge the possibility of something more felt almost overwhelming.

"So you do want me?" she asked quietly.

Richard hesitated. Then he nodded. "I'm attracted to you, Mara. I think that's become rather obvious."

She smiled despite herself. "Rather." She’d felt just how much in the brief moment they pressed themselves together.

"But attraction isn't the only thing that matters."

Mara leaned back against the sofa. "You're impossibly honourable."

"I've been called worse."

"You're also incredibly frustrating."

"That too."

She shook her head, but the anger was already fading.

Richard wasn't rejecting her. That was the important thing. He'd kissed her, held her close and admitted that he was attracted to her. He simply wasn't willing to let the situation progress while Hugh remained unresolved. It was maddening. And, in a peculiar way, it made her respect him and crave him even more.

Mara sat quietly for a while before turning towards him again. "So what happens if I talk to Hugh?"

Richard raised an eyebrow. "That depends on what you decide."

"And if I tell him it's over?"

"Then at least you'll both know where you stand."

She edged closer. "And what about us?"

Richard smiled faintly. "One conversation at a time, Sugar Plum."

Mara groaned. "You really do enjoy making things difficult."

"I'm beginning to suspect you enjoy a challenge."

She laughed. "Perhaps I do."

Richard reached for her hand again. "I don't want you doing anything because you think it's what I want. If your relationship with Hugh is over, it needs to be because you've decided that for yourself."

Mara nodded slowly. For all her teasing, she understood what he was saying. Richard wasn't offering to replace Hugh or promising her some wonderful future. He was simply refusing to become part of a decision she hadn't properly made. And that, she supposed, was rather decent of him.

"All right," she said eventually.

Richard looked pleasantly surprised. "All right?"

"I'll talk to him."

"Good."

"But I'm not promising I'll like what he has to say."

"I wouldn't dream of asking you to."

Mara smiled, then leaned against his shoulder. "Can I at least have a cuddle, or is that against your terribly strict rules too?"

Richard laughed and slipped an arm around her. "I think we can manage that."

She settled comfortably beside him, resting her head against his chest. "Richard?"

"Yes?"

"One last kiss?"

He regarded her with amused resignation. "You did promise to talk to Hugh."

"And I will. But I haven't done it yet."

"That's a rather questionable argument."

"It's the best one I've got."

Richard shook his head, smiling. "One."

Mara grinned."One."

She leaned up and kissed him gently. Richard returned it, but this time he was the one who ended it, resting his forehead briefly against hers.

"Now," he murmured, "go and sort things out."

Mara sighed dramatically. "You're a terribly difficult man, Richard Arnett."

"So I've been told."

She rose from the sofa and collected her bag, pausing at the door to look back at him. "Just so we're clear," she said, "I'm not going to forget what happened today."

Richard smiled. "Neither am I, Sugar Plum."

Mara left the suite with a mixture of deep body-aching frustration and excitement. Richard had stopped them from going any further, and she knew perfectly well that he meant it. There would be no persuading him otherwise until she'd faced Hugh and decided what she wanted.

But he'd also admitted something she'd scarcely dared hope for the previous evening. He wanted her. And as Mara stepped into the lift, she realised that the conversation she'd been avoiding since yesterday could no longer be postponed.