It occurred to him that she blushed more than any female he’d ever met.

‘Oh—Good morning. We made breakfast—I hope you don’t mind.’

If he hadn’t been so stunned he would have laughed. She’d invaded his house and here she was checking that he didn’t mind that she’d used the facilities? She was like a child at a party, desperate to be on her very best behaviour.

‘You’re obviously not a very experienced squatter,’ he observed dryly. ‘You’re not supposed to apologise for making yourself at home.’

‘I’m not a squatter.’ She lifted her small chin and her tone was incredibly dignified. ‘But I know I’m not your guest either. I’m aware that I’m here under sufferance.’

‘You’re here because frankly I was too knackered to throw you out last night,’ Alex told her bluntly, eyeing the rolls and wondering why he suddenly felt like eating breakfast. He never ate breakfast. ‘You made them this morning?’

Jenny nodded. ‘Daisy woke early. She often does. We didn’t want to wake you up so we came downstairs. Help yourself.’

‘I don’t eat breakfast.’ The warm, freshly baked smell teased his nostrils and he gritted his teeth.

‘Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,’ she said, looking at him calmly. ‘You ought to eat.’

‘When I want your advice on my eating habits, I’ll ask for it,’ he growled, forcing himself to ignore the delicious smell and focus on the issues in hand. ‘I’ve just spoken to my lawyer.’

She stiffened, the spoon poised in mid-air. ‘Do lawyers always start work this early?’

‘If you pay them enough,’ Alex observed dryly, reaching for a mug and pouring himself some coffee. ‘He’s confident that he can find out who your sister was with that night.’

Jenny put the spoon to Daisy’s lips. ‘She was with you.’

‘So you keep saying. I disagree.’ He took a sip of coffee and almost groaned with pleasure. It was delicious. He hadn’t known that he possessed coffee this good. Where the hell had she found it?

‘Dr Westerling…’ She rested the spoon on the bowl and looked him in the eye. ‘I know you slept with my sister so all this denial is pointless. I’m sure your lawyer will confirm the truth soon enough.’

‘I’m banking on it,’ he said softly. ‘I just hope you don’t learn something about your sister that you’d rather have not known.’

She tensed. ‘What exactly is that supposed to mean?’

‘Only that I’m almost totally sure I never slept with your sister—which means that someone else did.’

Her lips tightened and she picked the spoon up again. “‘Almost totally sure”. Which means you’re not sure at all. Has anyone ever told you that your morals are extremely questionable?’

‘I’m thirty-four years of age and my morals are nobody’s business but my own,’ Alex said, wondering why her words irritated him so much. Usually he was totally indifferent to people’s opinion of him. ‘I’m as sure as I can be that I never had any sort of relationship with your sister, but it was fifteen months ago!’