Flight of Fantasy. Valerie Parv

poles apart in our thinking. What made you choose me to convince your friend you’re married?’

      He tossed back his liqueur and set the glass down. ‘It was partly convenience. When you told me where you planned to go for your holiday, I had a word with the travel agent to ensure he made this date available to you.’

      Momentarily she forgot all about not holding grudges and shot him a look laced with venom. ‘You actually manipulated my choice of holiday dates so I’d pick the one which suited you?’

      ‘It suited you as well,’ he pointed out, unperturbed by her hostility.

      ‘What would you have done if I hadn’t been available at all?’

      ‘Probably showed Bob the photos of Katie I brought with me, and tried to convince him she was my daughter, at home with her mother.’

      Her throat dried as she cast about for words to describe his behaviour. ‘Do you always use people so callously to get what you want?’

      He stirred cream into his coffee before answering. ‘You’re forgetting, this isn’t what I want, it’s what Bob Hamilton needs.’

      ‘You’d know best, I suppose?’

      His strong fingers closed around the delicate coffee-cup until she feared he might crush it. ‘In this case, I do. He needs that money and won’t accept it any other way.’ He leaned closer, lowering his voice. ‘Actually, I’m surprised that you find my methods so disagreeable, considering you use them yourself.’