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erupted through her last night. ‘The baby we could have shared?’
    ‘It’s not a career,’ she protested.
    ‘You don’t see yourself working your way up some business ladder, stamping your own individuality on the work you do, wielding power over others?’
    She flinched at the taunting barbs. ‘I never said I wanted that, Dan,’ she answered with quiet dignity. ‘I never did.’
    ‘Then what’s the plan, Jayne? How do you intend to establish your own identity?’
    ‘By staying still. And putting down roots.’
    He grimaced and swept her with a derisive look. ‘Your credibility is in dire need of propping up. What the hell are you doing in China with Monty Castle if your heart’s desire is to stay still and put down roots?’
    ‘I needed to find my feet before choosing the best place for me to stay. And buying a home is expensive. Monty promised me a substantial bonus at the completion of this contract if I accompanied him to China.’
    His eyes narrowed. ‘No me, no bonus. It must have been quite a dilemma for you.’
    Enough was enough. He wasn’t listening to her. He just wanted to hurt. ‘I don’t have to account to you for what I do or don’t do, Dan, except in so far as the job is concerned.’
    She walked back to the bed and deposited Baby on her pillow. ‘I’m sorry I intruded on your private life,’ she added, quickly pulling away from the child and straightening up to meet Dan’s gaze with steady, relentless determination. ‘Believe me. It won’t happen again.’
    She was almost back at the door when he softly asked, ‘Why haven’t you put a divorce in process, Jayne?’
    Because she hadn’t wanted to think about it…about him…about the end of what had once been beautiful. She had needed more distance between them, not in place but in time before confronting the contact that would have to be made. That contact was here and now. She should take decisive action here and now. Instead she turned and challenged him.
    ‘Why haven’t you, Dan?’
    A primitive flare of possession blazed into his eyes. ‘You’re my wife. Till death do us part.’
    A man of his word, of his vows.
    It shamed her.
    It goaded her into bitter rebellion.
    ‘So what’s your plan, Dan? To railroad me into sharing your life again on your terms? Am I togrovel for your forgiveness first? Admit that I was wrong to give up on our marriage? Beg you to take me back?’
    His jaw tightened.
    Jayne knew she’d hit a nerve. She plowed on, laying her position on the line for him. ‘If that’s what you want, forget it. The wife you had is dead. I’ll never be that woman again. Not for you. Not for anyone.’
    She was shaking as she closed the door behind her. She heard Baby crowing, ‘Da-da, Da-da…’ She shut her eyes tight to stem a rush of tears. She couldn’t let Dan get to her like this. Control…control was the key.
    She’d let him do all the running in there, answering questions as though she was in the dock and he had the right to play the part of grand inquisitor, probing and punishing in his judgements. He wasn’t God Almighty. He had flaws, too. And he could do with a strong dash of humbling.
    Jayne steeled herself to set the record straight and opened the door again. Dan was propped on his side, gazing down at the child who clearly adored him. Which reminded Jayne of another issue she felt very strongly about.
    He glanced up with a brooding look at Jayne and she burst into speech, giving him no chance to start on her again. ‘For your information, I wasn’t indulging myself in getting Baby up. Chunz, the Chinese woman who cooks and cleansfor us, is out in the kitchen making a special breakfast for her. She would have loved to have a little girl of her own and she’s so happy at the prospect of looking after Baby while we’re here, I didn’t see any harm in giving her the pleasure of doing what she wanted.’
    Jayne paused for a quick breath before firing another salvo in her own defence. ‘I