He shifted so he was facing her. Gently, he took the cup from her hands and placed it on the table. ‘The least I could do for the woman who has reminded me that it’s possible to laugh.’ He leaned forward and kissed her.

Carol tried to find the appropriate response. She could taste brandy on his breath and it revolted her. But she dared not show that. Equally, she dared not allow herself the luxury of relaxing into an embrace that she found hard to resist. Her body’s response to him was automatic, animal. In spite of herself, she found him attractive, and her hormones were responding independently of her brain. She was kissing him with as much heat as he was kissing her.

His hands were on her body now, pulling her closer. She didn’t resist, running her fingers over the long muscles of his back. Still they were kissing, tongues flickering in and out of each other’s mouths, breath coming harder and faster. Now he was moving on top of her, his hand moving under her dress, a burn against her skin. She didn’t want him to stop, she realized with a shock.

Her reason staged a rearguard action against her body’s desire. Images flashed across her brain. The corpses spilling out of a shipping container. Morgan’s mouth telling her Radecki’s human trafficking had to be stopped. The assassinated man on the steps of the GeSa. Then Tony’s face, the eyes reproachful, the mouth rueful. Suddenly, Carol Jordan was back in control of Caroline Jackson. She pulled away from Tadeusz’s eager mouth. ‘No, wait,’ she gasped.

He froze, his hand halfway up her thigh. ‘What’s wrong?’ he panted.

She closed her eyes. ‘I can’t. I’m sorry. I just can’t.’

He leaned into her more closely, his fingers pressing more firmly into her flesh. ‘You want to, I know you do.’

Carol squirmed as far as she could get from him, thrusting his hand away from her leg. ‘I did. I mean, I do. It’s just … I’m sorry, Tadzio, it’s all too fast. Too sudden.’

He smacked the palms of his hands hard on his thighs. ‘I don’t understand. You kissed me like you wanted me.’ His voice was raised, his eyebrows lowering over narrowed eyes.

‘It’s not that I don’t. Please don’t think that. But … this is very strange for me. I’ve never had a relationship with someone I’m doing business with. I’m not sure if I can handle it. I need time to figure this out.’