Second Time Loving. Penny Jordan

to be emotionally and sexually involved with a man. It was too dangerous—too painful.

      Giles had made her all too acutely aware of how dangerous it was to allow herself to love. She was lucky she had discovered the truth about him before she had committed herself too deeply. As it was she had been hurt, but thankfully not fatally, and with hindsight she could see that her pride had been more bruised than her heart.

      Even so it had been a salutary lesson, and one which had made sharply clear to her the dangers of allowing the vulnerable feminine need within her to take control of her life.

      ‘There,’ Daniel told her when they reached the bottom of the stairs. ‘I told you you’d be quite safe.’

      Quite safe. Odd how the words caused a tiny pulse to jump in her throat and her heart to thud warningly.

      ‘If you don’t mind, we’ll eat in the kitchen. I tend to live in there.’

      He nudged open the door with his foot and carried her into the warm, food-scented room, placing her carefully into a comfortable Windsor chair next to the Aga.