A challenge? she wondered, and felt her nerve-ends tingle in temptation. The old Madeline had always possessed a weakness for challenges.
‘And just think how it would throw all those vicious gossips into a flat spin seeing you and me together again.’
‘All those poor matchmaking mamas,’ she derided, ‘groaning in despair.’ Nina had told her about the way Dominic was haunted
by ambitious mothers pushing their pretty daughters at him.
‘Vicky as pleased as punch,’ he went on after sending her a withering look for that remark. He always had hated his ‘eligible bachelor’ status. ‘The parents would be so afraid that we might fall out again before they could get us married off that they would be around at each other’s houses planning the wedding before either of us could draw breath! It could be—’
‘Quite frightening.’ Madeline said dampeningly. ‘The next thing you’ll be suggesting is that we got engaged again!’
‘Why not?’ he said, and it was his turn to be withered with a look.
‘And what do we do when all the fuss is over, and everybody is liking everybody else again? When Nina is safely married—in the presence of the whole Stanton clan,’ she mocked, ‘and Vicky no longer feels pulled in two directions. Which just leaves you and me, with a sham of a romance to wriggle ourselves out of.’
‘Can’t we cross that bridge when we come to it?’ he dismissed carelessly. ‘Unless of course,’ he then added silkily, ‘you’re afraid you may fall in love with me all over again.’
Madeline bristled instantly, lifting her fine brows at him in haughty disdain. ‘Do you want this—pretend romance to go ahead or not?’ she demanded.
‘Sorry,’ he smiled, ‘but I just couldn’t resist the taunt—I expected you to throw it right back in my face, but you didn’t, did you?’ Her tight-lipped refusal to make any comment on that last gibe made him laugh softly. ‘Do we have a pact to play the besotted lovers to make our families comfortable again, or not?’
Madeline eyed him levelly for a moment. He was playing with her like a big cat with a defenceless little mouse. But she wasn’t defenceless. Never had been, and Dominic knew that. So, what was he actually trying to manoeuvre her into here? She knew he still wanted her; he had said as much when he’d offered her the painting. And she knew that if she had any sense at all she should be turning around and walking right out of here before she found herself flailing in some very dangerous water. The trouble was, though, she couldn’t help but feel a tingling buzz of excitement for the game.
It could be worth the risks, just to see all those condescending masks slip.
She took a deep breath. ‘How do you propose to get this—deception off the ground?’ It was an agreement, and they both knew it. ‘And don’t suggest the party at the Prestons’ again,’ she warned, adding sourly, ‘I’m not into public reconciliations any more…I was put off them after a bad experience once.’
‘A low hit, Madeline,’ he admonished, then stood up straight, flexing his broad shoulders in a way that made her suddenly aware of just how tense he had been. ‘You’re having lunch with Vicky tomorrow, aren’t you?’ he enquired, and at her nod went on, ‘I’ll gatecrash, if you don’t mind. And we’ll take things from there, I think.’
‘Fine,’ she agreed, and turned suddenly to walk towards the door.
‘Where are you going?’ he shot at her, genuine consternation in his voice.
‘Home,’ she informed him coolly. ‘We’ve discussed all we intended to discuss, and now it’s time for me to go.’ In truth, she was more than ready to escape from his proximity.
Too much of Dominic Stanton is bad for your health! she warned herself drily.
‘Still infuriating when you want to be, I see,’ he muttered, reaching her in three long strides. ‘I like it, by the way,’ he added.
‘Like what?’ she asked blankly.
‘The new you,’ he explained. His gaze ran slowly over her, lighting warning signals as it went. ‘A sophisticated witch,’ he mused. ‘The mind boggles at the concept.’
‘Dominic…’ she warned, not in the mood for his brand of back-handed compliments.
‘I’ve just thought of something,’ he said, setting her nerves really jumping as he moved closer to her so that she was trapped between him and the closed door behind her. ‘We’d better get in some quick practice while we have the privacy to do it.’
‘W-what are you talking about?’ she demanded warily, watching that old roguish glint enter his lazy dark eyes.
‘Touching,’ he said with a casual shrug. ‘Kissing, that kind of thing.’
Latching on stupidly late, Madeline tried to push by him, only to find herself folded tightly against him.
‘Don’t!’ she cried, but he ignored her, the smile on his lips half playful, half passionate. And it was the passion that set her struggling to get away. He simply waited for her to stop, eyes mocking her puny strength.
‘You have the most delicious figure it has ever been my pleasure to hold,’ he told her softly. ‘This dress should carry a danger warning with it, it’s so damned provocative.’ His hands did a sensual slide down the side of her body from soft breast to firm hips, and Madeline couldn’t hold back a small gasp of pleasure at his touch. ‘And that mouth,’ he murmured, ‘that gorgeous raspberry mouth…’
‘No—!’