‘Only one,’ Debra told him soberly. Immed
iately he tensed and frowned, leaning protectively towards her. ‘Debra...’
‘Why did that woman from the London office spend so much time with you that day when she came down from London with those papers?’ she asked mock seriously, smiling at him. Immediately he relaxed.
‘So, jealous, were you?’ he teased her. ‘Certainly not. Remember, I thought you were a philanderer chasing after dozens of different women.’
‘And I thought you were the most beautiful, the most desirable woman I had ever seen Marsh whispered huskily to her. ‘And the most infuriating. I didn’t know whether to shake you or kiss you, you made me so angry.’
‘Mm. I wonder what would have happened if you’d shaken me.’
‘Don’t,’ Marsh advised, his voice deepening as he told her, ‘Believe me, there really was no contest. And, if I hadn’t kissed you then, sooner or later...’
‘Come on, you two, I want to take a photograph,’ Leigh interrupted them, but neither of them had heard. They were too intent on one another.
‘Oh, well, perhaps later,’ Leigh murmured good-humouredly, grinning to herself as she heard Sally remarking, awestruck, to her elder sister,
‘I didn’t know people could keep on kissing for such a long time, did you?’
‘Course I did,’ Bryony told her scornfully. ‘That’s what people in love are always doing.’
‘But how do they do it?’ Sally demanded plaintively.
‘Well, I suppose they just have to take a deep breath and hold it... like when you go swimming.’
Behind her Leigh heard Jeff asking whimsically, ‘I don’t suppose you feel like taking a deep breath, do you, Leigh?’
‘Why?’ she asked him mock innocently. ‘Do you want to go swimming?’
‘Well, despite all those protests about not wanting love or passion in your life, you don’t seem to have any regrets,’ Leigh teased Debra half an hour later as she helped her to get changed into her going-away outfit.
‘I was wrong,’ Debra told Leigh sincerely. ‘I was afraid. I thought security was more important than love, but now I know.’ She paused, struggling for words, and then said shakily, ‘It’s a bit like being afraid of deep water, isn’t it, but all you need to do is to take a deep breath and... ? What are you laughing at?’ she demanded indignantly as her stepsister collapsed in gales of laughter.
‘Nothing,’ she assured her. ‘Just remind me some time to give you Bryony’s description of how “grown-ups” kiss.’
Soberly she reached out and hugged Debra, telling her quietly, ‘It won’t be the way it was with me and Paul for you, Debra. Marsh isn’t like Paul. You can trust him as well as love him.’
‘I know that,’ Debra told her huskily, returning her hug. ‘I know that.’