The Helen Bianchin And The Regency Scoundrels And Scandals Collections. Louise Allen

on the edge of sleep.

      Beautiful, glorious, heart-wrenching sex. Affection, fondness, respect. But not love.

      She, who had sworn never to become emotionally involved with another man, had no choice.

      Her heart belonged to Miguel. It always had, always would, whether he wanted it or not.

       CHAPTER SIX

      ‘WONDERFUL,’ Elise murmured as she relaxed beneath the canopied section of the comfortable cruiser Miguel had hired for the day.

      Hannah adjusted her sunglasses and smiled as Elise pulled the brim of her hat down to shade her face from the sun’s strong rays.

      Together they’d driven down to Williamstown at ten this morning, where Miguel had organised to hire a luxury cruiser and captain to cruise the sparkling waters, then return mid-afternoon.

      ‘It’s nice to get away somewhere quiet,’ Elise said appreciatively. ‘No phones, no visitors, no one-hundred-and-one things to do.’

      And no way a certain very persistent Frenchwoman could intrude, Hannah added silently, unable to prevent herself from wondering what Camille’s next move might be.

      Miguel and Alejandro were seated at the stern, both casually attired in pale chinos and a polo shirt. Both wore sunglasses and baseball caps, and resembled, Hannah decided, two businessmen relaxing on a rare day off.

      All she had to do was look at Miguel to feel her insides begin to melt. Traitorous desire flared, and spread stealthily through her body, heating her blood and sensitising every nerve-end into pulsing life.

      It was impossible not to relive the cataclysmic passion they’d shared less than twelve hours before, and, as crazy as it seemed, she was willing to swear she could still feel him inside her. Sensitive tissues throbbed a little from his possession, and there was a part of her that ached for his touch.

      At that moment he turned and cast her a long measured glance, and for an instant she could almost imagine he’d read her mind. Then his mouth curved into a slow, infinitely sensual smile that tore her composure to shreds.

      ‘Lunch,’ Elise stated with evident relish, ‘might be a good idea.’

      ‘Junior is hungry?’ Hannah queried musingly, and found herself laughing at Elise’s expression.

      ‘Little missy has very definite ideas on when and what I should eat.’ She stood to her feet and smoothed her hands over her barely perceptible bulge. ‘Today, I have a craving for ham, mayonnaise, gherkins and pineapple.’

      Fortunately Sofia had packed a wide selection into a picnic hamper, together with crunchy bread rolls, salmon, chicken, and a variety of salads.

      Hannah went inside the cabin and retrieved the hamper, then with Elise’s help she set it out on the table, added bottled water, soft drinks and wine, and called the men to eat.

      The fresh air, the faint breeze, made for a very pleasant few hours, and they disembarked and then took the coastal road down to the Port Phillip before returning to Toorak.

      A seafood barbecue as the heat of the afternoon sun began to wane completed a relaxing day in good company, and Hannah stacked plates and dishes onto a tray and carried them indoors.

      Elise followed her, and together they rinsed and stacked them into the dishwasher in record time.

      Hannah wiped down the bench, then paused as Elise touched her arm.

      ‘May I say something?’

      ‘Of course.’ Hannah turned and gave Elise her full attention.

      ‘Alejandro had a woman chase him when I was pregnant with our first son. Savannah made a complete nuisance of herself and caused me immeasurable grief at the time.’ She smiled a little at the memory. ‘Unless I’m reading things wrong, you have a similar nemesis in Camille.’ She drew in a deep breath, then released it slowly. ‘One thing I learned that might help. The Santanas men are one-woman men.’

      ‘So don’t worry about Camille?’ Hannah queried wryly.

      ‘Don’t worry about Miguel,’ Elise corrected gently. Her features momentarily clouded. ‘Here we go again,’ she groaned, rolling her eyes an instant before she quickly exited the kitchen.

      Miguel and Alejandro entered the house as Elise returned from her mercy dash, and Hannah set the coffee filtering as she extracted cups, sugar and milk.

      ‘Tea for me,’ Elise requested, and Hannah extracted a tray.

      ‘Why don’t you go sit by the pool and I’ll bring it out in a few minutes?’

      It was pleasant to relax in the quiet evening air and watch the sun go down. The garden lights sprung to life by automatic control, and recessed lighting around the pool area added a luminous glow that was highlighted by underwater pool lighting.

      A private fairyland, secluded, peaceful, and a relaxing way to end a lovely day.

      Elise voiced the words, and Hannah had to agree.

      ‘Time to go, querida,’ Alejandro commanded quietly as he stood to his feet. ‘You’re tired.’

      ‘I am?’ Her eyes assumed a musing gleam. ‘If you say so.’

      How many years had they been married? Hannah posed. Six, seven? Yet the intense passion was there, burning just beneath the surface. Somehow she could imagine it would always be so. Yet it hadn’t been in the beginning, she reflected as she stood with Miguel at the front door and watched the tail-lights of their hire car glow in the darkness. An arranged marriage that had gone wrong, with Elise escaping only to find herself involved in a car crash and suffering memory loss.

      ‘More coffee?’ Hannah queried as she turned away from the door.

      ‘No,’ Miguel refused as he locked up and set the security alarm. ‘I need to pack. Alejandro is picking me up at seven-thirty en route to the airport.’

      Where the Sanmar company Lear jet would fly them across the vast Australian continent to Perth.

      Without a word she crossed the foyer with him and ascended the stairs to their room where she watched in silence as Miguel extracted a leather holdall and rapidly tossed in a few shirts, a pair of trousers, together with other essentials.

      The thought of him being absent for a few days didn’t thrill her at all, and she gathered up a silky nightshirt, then entered the en suite to shower.

      Miguel joined her there minutes later, and she felt acutely vulnerable as he took the soap from her hand, using it gently over every inch of her body before extending it to her to return the favour.

      For a second she hesitated, and the breath caught in her throat as he cupped her face and slanted his mouth down to cover her own in a kiss that was so tender it was all she could do not to cry.

      It was a while before they both emerged, and towelled dry, re-entered the bedroom and slipped beneath the covers.

      He reached for her, and she went to him willingly, curving her arms round his neck as she pulled his head down to hers.

      Miguel indulged her, allowing her to take the initiative, until he stilled her hands and held them.

      ‘Amante, no. As much as I want you, last night—’

      ‘Was wonderful,’ Hannah assured. ‘Earth-shattering.’

      ‘I don’t think—’

      ‘Don’t,’ she pleaded. ‘Think, I mean,’ she added quickly. ‘Just feel. Please.’ She extricated her hands and ran light fingers down his chest, traced a pattern over his navel, then moved low. ‘I want to make love with you.’

      And she did, with exquisite care, rising above him as she took