Read Online Just for a Night by Miranda Lee - Free Book Online Page B

such thoughts about you. You’re going to be married, as I am.’
    â€˜But I’m not,’ she whispered, then gasped in self-horror.
    His eyes lifted. Pained, beautiful blue eyes.
    â€˜You’re not…what?’
    â€˜Not…not going to be married,’ she confessed shakily. Having said this much, she felt compelled to elaborate. ‘I was already having doubts before I came. The trip away has cleared my mind, and now…now I know I can’t go through with it.’
    He just stared at her, his horror almost as great as her own at this conversation. ‘Not because of me , I hope,’ he groaned, with a wealth of distress in his voice.
    She said nothing, but his telling words sent tears pricking at her eyes. Henry had been so right. She would be going home with a broken heart. All she could ever mean to James was a passing fancy.
    His fingertips on her chin turning her slowly back to face him sent a shiver of agonised desire all through her. It did things to her conscience which would afterwards shock her.
    Yes, touch me, she willed wildly as their eyes met. Kiss me. Make me yours, at least this way. I don’t care if you don’t love me, I tell you. I don’t care…
    â€˜Dear God,’ he whispered, his face shaken as he stared into hers. His hand dropped away and he withdrew from her across the seat, his fingers raking his hair as he did so.
    He fell broodingly silent, leaving Marina to herguilt and her remorse. She wished now she’d never said a thing. It had been wrong of her. And wicked. She’d been warned, but she hadn’t heeded that warning. She’d blindly gone ahead and as good as told James she was his for the taking. Henry had practically begged her not to put temptation in his path and what had she done? Told him she’d broken her engagement then looked into his eyes like a love-sick cow.
    She felt sick with shame.
    She had to do something—undo the damage which had been done.
    â€˜You’re mistaken,’ she said quietly into the thickening silence, hoping William was concentrating on the traffic. He seemed to be, as it was horrendous. ‘My decision has nothing to do with you, other than that you showed me the kind of man I would like to marry. As I said, I was already having serious doubts about Shane before I left Sydney.
    â€˜I will not deny I am attracted to you. You’re a very handsome and charming man, James, as I’m sure you are well aware. Henry sensed this…attraction…between us, and it worried him. But an attraction can stay just that, can’t it?’ she told him, with far more conviction than she was feeling. ‘We don’t have to act on it. We can just be friends, can’t we?’
    His eyes were sardonic as they turned to her. ‘Not if you look at me as you did a moment ago.’
    She swallowed, then steeled herself. ‘Granted. But you were touching me at the time. If you give meyour word as a gentleman that you will keep your hands off, I will give you my word as a good Aussie girl not to do anything equally provocative.’
    His laugh was rueful. ‘I’ve met some not so good Aussie girls in my day.’
    â€˜And I’ve met some not so gentlemanly gentlemen,’ she countered. ‘But they are other people and this is us. I would like to think we have a sense of honour. I know I have.’
    He sighed. ‘How unfortunate.’
    â€˜You don’t mean that, James.’
    â€˜No,’ he said wearily. ‘I don’t suppose I do.’
    â€˜And I think we will just forget my going down to Winterborne Hall. That would not be a wise move.’
    â€˜True.’
    â€˜Now I would like to put my mind and energy back on the reason I came over here in the first place,’ she said as a large hospital came into view on their right. ‘We seem to have arrived and I happen to be feeling quite nervous.’
    He glanced over at her and his