Sarah's Secret. Catherine George

tell him that if she’d followed her instincts she would have let him kiss her as much as he wanted. Because with him she wanted it too. But that way danger lay. As she knew better than most, instincts had to be reined in, not followed blindly. Yet even on such short acquaintance she was sure that Jake would never force her to anything. And she wanted to see him again. She always felt a bit down after taking Davy back to school. Time spent with Jake Hogan would be the perfect antidote to her usual Sunday evening blues.

      ‘Yes. I’d like that,’ she said at last.

      ‘That took a long time,’ he said dryly. ‘What shall we do?’

      She smiled at him. ‘If it’s fine I’d like a drive to somewhere pleasant with a view, then a long, leisurely walk.’

      ‘That’s a first,’ said Jake, laughing. ‘No lady in my past ever asked to go hiking before.’

      ‘No hiking—just a Sunday evening stroll, please!’

      ‘Whatever you want. What time do you get back from Davy’s school?’

      ‘About six.’

      ‘I’ll be here soon after, then.’ He looked down at her for a moment, then bent and kissed her forehead. ‘Goodnight, Sarah Tracy.’

      ‘Goodnight, Jake Hogan.’ She stepped back, her eyes suddenly serious. ‘Thank you for this evening. I enjoyed it very much.’

      ‘So did I.’ Jake followed her to the front door. ‘Next time you can introduce me to your grandmother,’ he said with a grin, and crossed the pavement to his car.

      Sarah watched him get in, raised her hand in response to his wave as he drove off, then went back in the house and closed the door, her eyes wistful. The man was a charmer. Unlike comfortable, friendly Oliver, or staid, unimpassioned Brian, it would be all too easy to fall in love with Jake Hogan.