Trust In Summer Madness. Кэрол Мортимер

had deceived her. The day Jarrett left Swannell with Nina Marshall she had known it was the end as far as they were concerned.

      And now Bethany was out with him. Her young sister couldn’t have forgotten their father’s fury when Jarrett had let Sian down so selfishly, or the pain he had caused Sian. She had to be made to see that he would only hurt her too. And preferably before their father learnt that she was seeing him!

      It was almost twelve when she heard the sound of a powerful engine roaring to a stop outside the house, guessing Jarrett still had a liking for fast cars; he had had a Jaguar sports-car three years ago. He had been rich enough in those days, the firm he ran for his uncle was very successful, but being head of the King Construction Company had made him into a multi-millionaire; he probably drove a Ferrari or Lamborghini now!

      The front door closed softly as Bethany let herself into the house, and Sian was drying her hands from washing up as she went out to meet her young sister, her voice a soft whisper so that they didn’t disturb their father. ‘Bethany, I—’ the words lodged in her throat as she saw the man standing confidently at Bethany’s side. Jarrett!

      She was sure her face lost some of its colour. To see him here in her home again, after all this time! She glanced nervously up the stairs, although there was no sound from her father’s room.

      Jarrett’s mouth twisted derisively as he saw that worried glance. ‘Shall we go into the lounge?’ He led the way with a confidence that spoke of past familiarity, his welcome assured then.

      But it wasn’t now! Dear God, did Bethany have no sense? It seemed not; her sister still had that dreamy enthralled look in her eyes.

      Jarrett seated himself in an armchair with a confidence that knew no limits, resting the ankle of one leg on the knee of the other, his gaze steady and assured as he looked up at the two standing women.

      ‘I—er—I invited Jarrett in for coffee.’ Bethany at least seemed compelled to talk.

      ‘Really?’ Sian said stiffly, having no intention of going to bed and leaving Jarrett alone down here with her sister. She remembered too many occasions in the past when she and Jarrett had been stretched out side by side on that sofa, their lovemaking silent but impassioned while her father and sister slept on unaware upstairs.

      Jarrett’s gaze was narrowed on her face, his brows raised questioningly as her thoughts made her blush. ‘I suggest you go and make that coffee, Bethany,’ he said deeply. ‘For three.’

      ‘None for me,’ Sian refused abruptly. ‘It’s getting rather late, Bethany,’ she added pointedly.

      Her sister flushed resentfully. ‘Jarrett?’

      ‘I’d like coffee,’ he drawled challengingly.

      With a defiant look in Sian’s direction Bethany went off to the kitchen.

      Sian was very conscious of being completely alone with Jarrett, of him sitting only a few feet away. And she didn’t like it, she had a feeling of being manoeuvred.

      ‘Your fiancé has gone?’ he asked softly.

      She kept her face stiffly averted. ‘Yes.’

      ‘He knew about us.’ It was a statement, not a question.

      ‘Yes.’

      Jarrett stood up, at once seeming predatory, and Sian took a wary step backwards. His mouth twisted derisively. ‘I never needed to use force on you, Sian,’ he drawled mockingly.

      ‘You would now,’ she snapped.

      ‘If I were interested,’ he watched with satisfaction as she paled, ‘and I am,’ he added softly. ‘I telephoned you earlier tonight, as soon as I got to town, but you weren’t at home,’ he told her huskily, suddenly very near, the heat of his body, the seduction of his aftershave, reaching out to her.

      Sian refused to look at him. ‘Why on earth would you telephone me?’ she asked jerkily.

      Suddenly he was more than just close, he was dangerously so, the lean length of his body curving into the back of her as his arms came about her waist and pulled her into him. ‘Guess,’ he murmured throatily against her earlobe.