didn’t just pass out of my mind, Joanna.’
She gave a shaky laugh. ‘Your memory’s faulty. One look at Crystal and everyone passed out of your mind.’
‘For a while. It was a madness, but it was soon over. And then there was nothing but the memories. Today was full of them.’
‘Did they upset you?’
‘No, I wasn’t upset. That’s all done with.’
‘I hope it is.’
‘Do you?’ he asked quickly.
‘It made you so unhappy, of course I’m glad it’s over. There has to be some happiness waiting for you in the future, I’m sure of that.’
‘Good,’ he said quietly. ‘If you’re sure of it, well—let’s talk later. The music’s starting again. I’ve wanted to dance with you for hours. I’ve been patient, and waited my turn, but now I’m not going to be patient any longer.’
‘But suppose I don’t want to dance with you,’ she teased, smiling.
He took her glass and set it down with his own, taking her into his arms.
‘That can’t be helped. You’ll just have to put up with it.’
They were on the floor, spinning faster and faster so that she could barely get her breath. His arms about her were firm, drawing her close. The sedate, restrained young man she’d once known would never have held her like this, but this was another man, with a different agenda. Just what that agenda might be, she felt she was beginning to understand.
They might have been born to dance together, their bodies blending like fluid, anticipating each other’s movements. She felt her excitement mounting, but it was an excitement of the heart as well as the body.
When the dance ended he didn’t release her, but swept her straight into the next one.
‘I can’t breathe,’ she laughed.
‘Neither can I. Do you mind?’
‘No—no!’ She was giddy with joy, full of sweet sensations at the feel of his body pressed close to hers.
The music changed again, became a slow waltz. She watched his face, close to hers, and couldn’t take her eyes from his lips, which were parted slightly. His warm breath touched her face.
‘Joanna—’
‘Yes…’
He began to move faster, dancing her towards an open door. As they went through it he kicked it closed. Then she was in his arms, drawn close while his lips sought hers, found them, covered them fiercely.
And in a moment all questions were answered. Everything in her yearned towards him. She had waited years for this moment, and she was going to relish it to the full.
In her mind she’d kissed him a thousand times but the reality was far sweeter. His lips were warm and firm on hers, urgent, demanding, and it was that demand that thrilled her most because everything in her longed to give to him. She would give him anything he asked—if only he would ask…
He cupped her face in his hands, looking into her eyes with an expression she wanted to see there forever.
But this was only a dream. She knew that because she’d dreamed it so often before. At any moment she would awaken, because nobody was allowed to be this happy. It would all be taken from her, but while it lasted she would revel in it.
‘I think I’ve gone slightly mad,’ he murmured.
‘Yes, I think I have too, but I don’t care. I don’t mind being mad. I’m tired of being sensible.’
His smile was gentle. ‘So am I. Joanna— Joanna—’
‘Yes,’ she whispered against his lips.
She closed her eyes as his mouth covered hers again and this time she let herself go completely, yielding to the joy of the moment as though nothing bad could ever happen again.
‘Hello? Hello there? Is anyone here?’
She tried to blot out the man’s voice but it reached her insistently.
‘Hello!’
It was reality. It would not be denied.
‘Anyone there?’
‘Oh, no,’ Joanna said despairingly.
‘Let’s get away before he sees us,’ Gustavo whispered. ‘It can’t be us he wants.’
‘But it is,’ she groaned. ‘Or at least me. That’s Freddy, my ex, turning up like a bad penny.’
Gustavo cursed softly. Joanna wanted to rail against fate. It was too cruel that, at the moment when her heart yearned for Gustavo as fiercely as in the past, the miracle should be shattered so harshly. She was trembling, and she sensed the same in him.
‘Hello!’
‘It’s no good,’ she said. ‘I’ll have to talk to Freddy.’
‘Tell him to go to hell.’
‘I’ve tried that in the past. He just bounces back.’
Reluctantly they released each other and turned to see the man standing just inside the door. For the first time she realised that they were