'That was the worst night of my life, Martha. First the accident, then the shock of finding out about your husband. In the space of a few hours I saw all my newly fledged dreams shattered. I decided to go back to Australia and forget about you but, as you can see, I wasn't successful. You were already in my heart and in my blood, Martha. There was no possible way I could make myself forget, no matter how hard I tried. But one thing you must understand is that I was never at any time involved with Margaret, or anyone else, in the way you imagined.'
'I know,' she said quietly. 'After you left I realised that I couldn't carry on with the case, so I rang Johnson up and he told me what had been going on, that you had been advising his wife and her friends on some investments. The strange thing was that it didn't come as a shock. Somewhere along the line I'd already realised that I'd been wrong and that you weren't capable of doing such a dreadful thing.'
'Thank you. It's a relief to hear it, and I know my mother will feel the same way too.'
'Your mother?' Dumbstruck, Martha could only stare at him, seeing the laughter lying deep in his eyes.
'Now, don't sound so surprised, my love. Even gigolos have mothers, you know. Surely you remember mine... the lady at the gallery who was so dead set on buying me that painting.'
'That was your mother? I thought . . . Oh, Quinn, you can't possibly let her know what I believed about you. She'll never forgive me!' Martha jumped to her feet, her face flaming at the very idea.
'Well, maybe I won't. . . just yet.'
'What do you mean "just yet"?' Hands on hips, she glared down at him.
'Well, if you agree to my terms, Ms Clark, then I really don't see any need to tell her what a dreadful mistake you made.'
'Why, that's blackmail!' she declared hotly.
He grinned up at her, his lips curved into an utterly sensuous smile which raised Martha's blood pressure several notches just to see it. 'You're right, of course, honey. It is blackmail, sweet, delicious blackmail, but then, you haven't heard the terms yet. You might like them.'
'What are they?'
'That you marry me, immediately, to buy my silence. What do you say?'
It was the answer to every one of her prayers, and Martha smiled at him, her face alight with joy.
'Yes . . . oh, yes, please, Quinn.'
'Are you sure, now? I mean, I have to be quite certain that you fully understand the terms of the deal, be utterly convinced about it.'
Reaching out, he caught hold of the tie-belt of the robe to pull her down on to his knees, and Martha nestled against him, her lips just a hair's breadth away from his as she whispered softly, 'Just give me a minute, then I'm sure you'll be well and truly convinced!'
Tender Pursuit Page 14