‘That’s stupid and you know it. For you, for me, for your philharmonic friends who will be delighted to spread salacious rumours.’

‘Fuck.’

‘Is that a promise?’ she teased.

‘It’s a goddamn guarantee. In two hours. Oh, shit.’

‘I felt that.’ She rubbed against his rising erection. ‘Ummm … nice. I remember him well.’

‘I’m going to see that you don’t forget him. Damn, I wish I could have refused this reception.’

‘You couldn’t, it’s important. Thank you for bringing me.’

‘As if I wouldn’t.’ He spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world for him to bring his current playmate to a public function. When he never had. No more than he ever questioned his actions. ‘Although I warn you, if I see anyone looking down your dress, I’m going to punch him out.’

‘Don’t you dare. It’s your fault I’m wearing this bra. Not only is it white, but it’s cut too high … so if I move even a little the wrong way it shows.’

‘Then don’t move the wrong way,’ he said gruffly, ‘or I’ll spank you when this party’s over.’

‘In that case …’

He groaned. ‘I haven’t felt like I was sixteen since, Christ – even when I was sixteen, ready to fuck every second, ready to fuck you every second.’ He blew out a disgruntled breath. ‘It’s going to be a long two hours.’

But once they returned to the reception rooms, time passed swiftly, the crowd descending, as predicted by Max, earlier than seven, the noise levels escalating as the liquor flowed. The rich, powerful, beautifully dressed and bejewelled people milling through the enfilade of magnificent rooms, air-kissing each other, exchanging gossip only those in the small incestuous world of moneyed Hong Kong were privy to, taking our their chequebooks in response to either Liv’s or Dominic’s smiles, doing their duty to the cultural universe.

Kate deliberately stayed in the background, or at least tried to. But dressed as she was, beautiful as she was, men converged on her like bees to honey. She looked up from time to time from one inconsequential conversation or another, saw Dominic watching her and, if possible, discreetly met his gaze.

It wasn’t always possible. She’d see him frown and her body would begin to heat up, as though his authority reached across the room, imposing its will, expecting compliance. She’d quickly look away, force herself to ignore the tumult warming her senses, concentrate on whomever was talking. She could have left; Dominic had offered her that option. But she didn’t – jealous, perhaps, of all the women besieging him, filled with doubt and suspicion whenever he smiled at one of them. Then he’d catch her eye and grin and everything was beautiful again.

Like him.

He was, literally, the handsomest man in the room.

But the women surrounding him all wrote cheques or had their escorts write cheques while Dominic charmed and flattered them with hugs and kisses, a light arm around their shoulders, a whispered comment in their ear – before politely moving on. He was truly masterful, Kate thought, faced with the stark reality of Dominic Knight’s seductive charm. Each discarded female was left with a smile on her face.

Something to file away in her mental database.

Well into the second hour, Liv hove into view carrying a fresh drink for both of them, shooed away Kate’s admirers and handed over a gin and tonic. ‘Dominic follows you with his eyes when you walk around the room,’ she said with a smile. ‘I find it quite lovely.’

‘Hardly,’ Kate shrugged faintly. ‘He’s just a control freak.’

‘Heavens, no. Not in public like this. Beyond the superficialities, he’s indifferent to women.’ She smiled. ‘Present company excluded.’

‘He doesn’t look too indifferent right now,’ Kate murmured, eyeing the crowd of women vying for his favours.

‘Nonsense, my dear. He’s always polite but totally disengaged. It’s habit, of course. There’s been so many.’ Liv’s pale hair swung on her shoulders as she glanced at Dominic, her diamond earrings caught the light. ‘Although you can see why. He’s outrageously good-looking.’

Olivia spoke in an offhand way, Kate decided, as a friend, not an admirer. ‘I agree, he’s definitely dazzling.’

‘You’re good for him, you know.’ Olivia half lifted her glass in Dominic’s direction. ‘I haven’t seen him smile like this for’ – she shrugged – ‘since Julia’s death.’

Kate was momentarily speechless.

Olivia seemed not to notice Kate’s lack of response; perhaps she’d had more than one gin and tonic. ‘Julia challenged Dominic to think about more than just himself. Made him better for it. She was deeply committed to her charities and causes and she adored adventure sport as much as Dominic. They holidayed in the most dangerous locations. They climbed Everest together – he actually met her on that trip. She was unstoppable. That’s why it was so crushing for him when she died so unexpectedly.’

‘A traffic accident, wasn’t it?’ Kate found her voice because she desperately wanted to hear more, why he loved his wife, how much he loved her; she wanted to know everything about him. And until tonight she’d had no one to ask. Dominic had offered her a temporary place in his life a short time ago, but that didn’t mean he was going to immediately bare his soul to her after only a few days. He was the most private person she knew.