‘Just twisted, I think.’ She tried to make a joke of it. ‘It only hurts if I move it.’ What a clumsy idiot she was! Now what was she going to do? Her ankle was throbbing and she’d have to hop around like the Easter Bunny! That’d charm the socks off him.

‘Then you’d better stop moving it, hadn’t you?’

He made certain of that by scooping her up into his arms. She squeaked in panic and flung her arms round him.

‘I won’t drop you, Megan! Don’t strangle me!’

They were almost nose to nose. ‘I’m too heavy!’ she breathed.

‘Nonsense!’

‘It’s not nonsense. I’m five foot seven!’

‘And I’m six foot two. What’s more, Megan, I keep myself very fit. I promise faithfully not to drop you.’ His eyes were warm with amusement.

‘I feel such a fool,’ she muttered.

‘You’re no fool, Megan.’

The skin of his face was beautiful, damp with rain but glowing with health and a golden tan that made him look so un-English. She had a most irrational urge to stroke his cheek.

Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion as he kissed her.

‘I—’ she began, but he made a shushing noise, then gave her a long, curiously gentle kiss. When he drew away, she heard herself sigh in protest. She didn’t want him to stop.

‘You aren’t wearing make-up,’ he said huskily, his eyes seeming darker and full of mystery. ‘You’ve no idea how attractive your skin is. I’ve been longing to touch it all morning.’

She closed her eyes for a moment then had to look at him again to make sure he really meant what he was saying. And his expression said he did, said he found her attractive. So she gave in and leaned her cheek against his shoulder. ‘You’re one hell of a kisser, Ben Saunders.’

‘So are you. And I’d love to go on kissing you, but I must admit I can’t carry you like this for much longer.’ He stared round. ‘Ah, there’s a bench over there. Let’s go and check out that ankle of yours.’

He put her down gently and Megan watched a passer-by, plump and middle-aged, stop to stare at Ben and sigh quite visibly for what she could never have.

‘Now, let me look at your ankle.’ He knelt down and very gently palpated it.

She couldn’t help wincing.

‘I agree, it’s just strained. It’ll hurt for a few days, but you don’t need medical attention.’

She’d reached the same conclusion herself, because the pain was easing a little already. ‘Thank you for coming to my rescue.’

‘It was my pleasure. Look, I’ll bring the car here. I shan’t be long. Sure you’ll be all right?’

‘Of course.’ She watched him stride off and sighed.