She rolled over, intending to go and get dressed, but he pulled her back into his arms. She had expected one of his devouring kisses that set her whole body tingling, but he simply pressed his lips against her cheek and said softly, ‘You have beautiful skin, Megan and I’d like to kiss every inch of it. Believe me, if I had my way, we’d stay here and order room service.’ Then he put his hands on either side of her face and pressed another very gentle kiss on the tip of her nose. ‘Come on, then, Mrs Saunders. Let’s go and do our duty!’

Gentle as the last kiss had been, she could feel its imprint for several minutes and it had just as much effect on her as one of his passionate mouth-bruising kisses. More perhaps, because it offered the tenderness she craved.

But it occurred to her as she finished dressing that she’d wound up agreeing to do what he wanted. She always did. And, unless she mistook what was going on, he was getting better at managing her.

She didn’t like being managed.

Cynthia and Nick were waiting for them in the foyer and Nick was looking very tired. Megan found herself paired off with him as they walked across to the restaurant while Cynthia draped herself possessively over Ben’s arm and shoulder.

Gritting her teeth, Megan chatted to Nick with determined cheerfulness, keeping her eyes away from the others. Well, most of the time.

Throughout the meal, Cynthia continued to sparkle and address all her remarks to the two men. Megan decided there was an amusing side to all this – if you could keep yourself detached – if you didn’t feel like scratching the other woman’s eyes out. After all, Cynthia was working very hard indeed to keep herself the centre of the two men’s attention and if one were honest, one had to admit that she seemed able to hold a light and amusing conversation with ease.

You didn’t get passionate diatribes about conservation and global warming from her, but a cynical amusement at the vagaries of the world, which had even Megan chuckling several times, though she was annoyed at herself for that.

When the meal was over Nick excused himself. ‘I still get a bit tired,’ he said with an apologetic glance at his wife. ‘I’d like to have an early night.’

It made Megan’s blood boil to see displeasure showing so clearly on Cynthia’s face. That woman had no sense of loyalty! Ben’s expression, as usual in public, betrayed nothing.

Megan decided that she had had enough of this charade, more than enough. ‘I’m tired, too. I’ve still not adjusted fully to the time change. Let’s go up now as well, Ben.’ She pushed her chair back without waiting for his answer and was relieved when he stood up, too.