Mike supposed he should have been grateful that his friend had stopped him from kissing Natalie.

But, damn it all, she’d felt so good in his arms. A few more seconds and he’d have found out what she tasted like. And what she kissed like.

Now he’d never know.

‘Hi there, Rich,’ he said, frustration still fizzing along his veins. ‘Guess what? Natalie and I are engaged. Thought we’d come and tell you the good news personally.’

Richard, who looked his usual banker self in a navy pinstriped suit, didn’t turn a hair. ‘Really. How nice. My congratulations to you both. We’ll have to have a celebratory drink together. You can have an early mark, Pattie.’

‘I won’t say no to that,’ his secretary replied with a quick smile and some instant bustle. ‘Thanks, boss.’

‘My pleasure. Come on inside for a sec, you two. I have a few things to finish up before we can leave.’

As Mike pushed her ahead of him into Richard Crawford’s office Natalie was wishing that the floor would open up and swallow her. She knew her face was still burning. And so were her nipples.

What would have happened if Richard hadn’t interrupted them?

The prospect didn’t bear thinking about.

Thankfully, Mike steered her over to a chair before pulling one up for himself. She really needed some breathing space from him. He was still fairly close, but not as close as he’d been out there in front of Pattie’s desk.

Natalie sucked in some deep breaths whilst Richard closed the office door and walked round to sit behind his own impressive desk.

The whole office was impressive, Natalie finally had the presence of mind to notice. And the view through the window behind Richard’s desk was second to none, overlooking Hyde Park and the Botanical Gardens.

‘Did you have a reason for telling Pattie that you and Natalie were engaged?’ Richard said straight away. ‘I thought you would both want to keep your marriage confidential.’

Natalie couldn’t have agreed with Richard more. She glanced over at Mike for his explanation.

He seemed annoyingly unperturbed by everything. ‘If Helsinger is having me investigated, I thought it best that everyone—other than my closest friends, of course—thinks this is a genuine love match.’

‘I see,’ Richard said. ‘So you and Natalie were just pretending out there.’

‘Of course.’

Natalie just stopped herself from staring over at him. Because what she’d felt pressing into her stomach hadn’t felt like pretence.

Richard turned his businesslike gaze on her. ‘Natalie? You don’t mind pretending you’re in love with Mike?’

‘Only when it’s necessary,’ she replied, pleased that she sounded nicely composed.

‘Which it will be when we’re on the yacht with the Helsingers,’ Mike pointed out. ‘So we need a bit of practice beforehand. By the way, Natalie wants a proper pre-nup.’