Love Islands…The Collection. Jane Porter

      Ten minutes later, her blood pressure had been checked and she had been discharged by a junior doctor who, in Ben’s opinion, had a hell of a lot to learn about professional distance. Now they made their way to the main entrance.

      Lily read out loud the sign above the space near the main entrance where Ben had parked his long sleek silver car.

      ‘Reserved for the Chief Administrative Officer.’

      ‘What can I say? I’m a rebel.’ Torn between irritation and amusement, because she seemed genuinely outraged at the rule infringement, he made a placatory gesture. ‘Trust me, you’re more likely to see a flock of pigs fly past than see an administrator at work on a Saturday.’

      Lily had forgotten it was the weekend, slightly alarming, but she wouldn’t let it go without making her point. ‘What would happen if we all went around breaking the rules?’

      ‘You think a bit of illegal parking is going to trigger the downfall of society?’

      She gave a sudden grin. ‘No, but it’s fun winding you up.’

      ‘You little—!’

      Heart pounding, she waited, but before Ben reached her a man in a porter’s uniform appeared, almost hidden behind the enormous elaborate flower arrangement he carried.

      ‘Miss Gray?’

      Lily nodded, then, realising he couldn’t see her, said, ‘Yes?’

      ‘I’m on the front desk today, thought I saw you leaving.’ A head appeared around the side and she recognised one of the porters who had taken Emmy down to the X-ray department a few times. ‘This arrived for you.’

      ‘I’ll take that.’ Ben took the package by the handle of the massive wicker basket that the flowers were arranged in. He handed Lily the card without comment.

      Lily paused to thank the porter before tearing the envelope open. ‘Who on earth?’ Then she smiled, thinking, Lara.

      Her twin had sent a daily text to ask after Emmy but they had not spoken at all. It had been their mother who had broken the news to Lara—the double news.

      Watching her, Ben saw the smile and then saw it fall as she said, ‘It’s from your grandfather.’

      ‘Who did you think it was from?’

      Still frowning, she looked up from the card she had read twice now. ‘What...? Oh, I thought it might be from Lara.’

      It took him a few seconds to recognise the emotion that fell away when he realised the flowers weren’t from an admirer—jealousy. Aware that Lily was looking expectantly at him, he pushed through the sense of shock and pulled himself together enough to respond. ‘Of course, it would be.’

      Ben had said little after he had told his grandfather, but it had gone a lot better than he’d anticipated.

      ‘He says he’s looking forward to meeting his great-granddaughter...’ An old-fashioned sort of man, the elderly landowner was not the type of person who was relaxed about single parents. ‘And he is happy to welcome me into the family...wow!’ The sentiment was almost as over the top as the flowers.

      ‘Aren’t you surprised?’ she persisted, talking to Ben’s back as he stowed the flowers in the boot of the car before coming round to open the passenger door for her.

      ‘Not really—he had about given up on me having children.’

      ‘I really thought it would be awkward. I’m so relieved,’ she admitted. ‘I was worried that Mum might lose her home and job.’

      Ben looked shocked by the suggestion. ‘Good God, Lily, he’s a stubborn old sod but he’s not a monster. He’d never punish your mother for the sins of—’

      ‘Me,’ she completed, sliding into the car with a face set like a carved cameo to hold back the sudden desire to cry.

      Cursing fluently, Ben went round to his side of the car and got in. The car purred into life and he turned to Lily.

      ‘That wasn’t what I was about to say. I was just mixing up my metaphors and if we are talking sin...fair enough, bring it on!’

      The invitation brought her head around. Ben was looking straight ahead, but she sucked in a tiny breath as he turned to face her. The blaze of sheer hunger in his eyes sent a deep shudder from her scalp to her curling toes.

      ‘Because I for one—’ she froze, unable to move a muscle as his long, warm fingers curved around her jaw ‘—enjoyed it, very much.’

      If her brain hadn’t shut down she might have guessed what he meant to do, but it came as a total shock as, still holding her eyes, he fitted his mouth to hers.

      Lily sighed, her eyes closing, her fingers clutching at air. The sensual caress deepened and her sigh became a soft moan in his mouth. He tasted so— Then it was over. His face stayed close to hers; she could feel his breath on her cheeks, on her eyelids.

      ‘It felt like that, and it gave us Emily Rose. If you want to call it sin, fine. I call it something...rare, very rare.’

      She felt his hand brush against her breast as he straightened away from her. The next moment the big car was moving with a low growl out of the illegal parking space.

      ‘Damned roadworks!’

      How did he do that? Her world had just shifted on its axis and he was acting as though nothing had happened between them. Layers of confusion on top of layers of fatigue meant that five minutes later she was wondering if any of that had actually just happened or had she fallen asleep and dreamt it all?

      She was also wondering where she was. Lily held her tongue but as they turned into an affluent-looking tree-lined road of large private houses that overlooked a pretty park she had to say something. ‘You’re going the wrong way.’

      ‘No, I’m going the right way.’

      Lily sighed. What was it with men and admitting they were lost? ‘I know I’m a mere woman but—’ Her voice raised a panicky octave. ‘Why are we stopping here?’

      They had drawn up at the end of the road outside the last house. The largest by far, and Edwardian-looking, it was set back a long way and screened from the road by mature trees.

      Presuming he was looking for some place to turn around, Lily twisted in her seat. As she did so the big high gates of the house opened and Ben drove through them. He brought the car to a halt on the cobbled forecourt.

      He glanced at his phone. ‘Fifteen minutes, not bad.’

      ‘I suppose you’re going to tell me what you’re doing some time soon? Or am I meant to guess?’ she asked crankily as she stifled a yawn. Weirdly the erotic incident felt as though it had happened to someone else.

      ‘Didn’t I say?’ He held out a bunch of keys and dropped them