Australian Affairs: Taken. Miranda Lee

again she wished she could be like other girls. Most would jump at the chance of going to New York with him, even if it didn’t lead to anything permanent.

      But maybe it would; she started hoping as she ate. How would she know unless she agreed? She’d gone to bed with Ben initially because she knew she’d regret it if she didn’t. Maybe she’d regret not going to New York with him and not giving their relationship a chance.

      But it wasn’t a relationship, her more pragmatic side argued. It was just a fling, or an affair, for want of a better word. Ben had never said he loved her. Not that he would. It was way too early for a man of his natural wariness to make such a declaration. She certainly wasn’t about to tell him she was close to falling for him either. That would only give him power over her. He had enough of that already.

      No, she wouldn’t be foolish enough to admit that. But she would think about going to New York with him and, when he asked her again, she probably would say yes.

      ‘That steak was quite good,’ Ben said, wiping his mouth with a paper serviette.

      ‘My dad cooks much better steak on the barbecue,’ Jess told him. ‘And Mum’s salads are way better.’

      ‘In that case, I’m in for a treat later today.’

      ‘Just don’t let my brothers give you too much beer.’

      ‘Why? You’re worried I might not be able to perform when you take me home?’

      ‘What? No, of course not! Ben De Silva, haven’t you had enough sex for one weekend?’

      ‘There’s no such thing as too much sex.’

      ‘There is if it involves getting your bottom spanked,’ she whispered so that the people at the next table couldn’t hear.

      He frowned. ‘Sorry. I did get a little carried away last night. In that case, you can have today off.’

      She tried to be annoyed with him but she simply couldn’t. Instead, she smiled. A slightly wry smile, but still a smile. ‘One day, some woman is going to tell you where to go, Ben De Silva.’

      He nodded. ‘You could be right there. And I have a feeling she’s sitting across the table from me.’

      I wish, Jess thought. But she just laughed, then finished off her coffee. Ten minutes later, they were back on the road and heading for home, turning off the motorway just after three-thirty.