‘Hmm.’
‘If there really had been a date.’
Her heart skipped a beat and just like that the jealousy vanished. Which would have worried her had she had the time or the inclination to analyse it, which she didn’t. She was too giddy with relief. Disproportionately giddy, actually, which was something else that probably needed analysis. ‘There wasn’t?’
‘Nope.’
She stared at him as she computed this. ‘So why let me think there was?’
His grin deepened and a wicked glint appeared in his eyes. ‘I couldn’t resist. You’re so determined to think the worst of me.’
She frowned and slowly rotated her tumbler between fingers. ‘I don’t think the worst of you at all.’
His eyebrows rose. ‘No?’
She shook her head. ‘No.’
‘Wow, when did that happen?’
‘I think it’s been happening gradually. And then, of course, I heard about the drought.’
Now it was Marcus’ turn to frown. ‘The what?’ he said, his smile fading.
‘Your six-month period of abstinence.’
‘How the hell did you hear about that?’
‘Dan.’
His mouth twisted. ‘Of course.’
‘No wonder you were so desperate when I basically ordered you to ravish me amongst the runner beans.’
His dark eyes glittered and she shivered at the desire suddenly flaring in their depths. ‘That had nothing to do with the drought and everything to do with you.’
She swallowed and sought a way to stop her body responding. ‘I imagine you’ve been making up for lost time.’
‘Why would you imagine that?’
‘I’ve seen the photos.’
‘Photos of what?’
‘You and countless women.’
‘Where?’
‘In the press.’
‘Right.’
He fell silent and she bristled with indignation. ‘Is that all you have to say?’
‘In these photos were me and these women naked and horizontal?’
‘No, of course not.’
‘Well, then.’