" They must think I'm on a diet or something , " he complained , eyeing his tiny portion with disfavour .sx " I could do with a big , juicy burger right now - with fries !sx " .sx " Just the all-American boy , " Abby mocked lightly , but she had noticed that he ran an expert eye over the wine list and selected an unpretentious label which none the less perfectly complemented the meal .sx She took a sip now and eyed him over the rim of her glass .sx " Do you deliberately cultivate your image ?sx " .sx He grinned .sx " What image is that , Abigail ?sx " .sx " You're so .sx .. American .sx " .sx Nick leant forward , suddenly serious .sx " As far as I'm concerned , I don't have an image , Abby .sx I like hamburgers , I like fine wines .sx I don't see that those things are mutually exclusive .sx I happen to like wearing fun clothes .sx I'm afraid that's just me .sx The problem is that you have an image of me based on some prejudices you have against Americans - I don't know why .sx I am not ashamed of being American , but it's not something I cultivate deliberately as you're suggesting .sx The fact is that I grew up like any normal boy in Colorado .sx I always wanted to be an actor , but I sure didn't get discovered overnight like they always do in the books .sx I had to work hard to get where I am today .sx " He shrugged .sx " The fact that Carver took off unexpectedly was a lucky break .sx If it hadn't I'd still be looking for an agent , but I'd be the same guy - I just wouldn't be able to afford the good wines !sx " .sx Reaching across the table , he took her hand and Abby felt a jolt that was becoming uncomfortably familiar .sx She tried to draw her hand away , but he held it tightly against the pale green linen tablecloth .sx " Would you feel differently about me if I threw away all my shirts , Abigail ?sx " .sx " I might if you could learn to call me Abby instead of Abigail !sx " Unreasonably flustered , she tugged her hand away .sx The intent look vanished from his eyes , and he sat back with a grin .sx " Couldn't you at least be like other girls and learn to love me for my money ?sx " .sx " That's probably exactly what Peter will think .sx " .sx " He ought to know you better than that , " Nick said gently .sx At the warm smile in his eyes , Abby's heart began to thump slowly and painfully against her ribs and she was relieved when he looked away to catch a passing waiter's attention with the barest lift of an eyebrow .sx " What about something else to eat - or would you prefer just coffee ?sx " .sx " I'd like pudding and coffee , please , " she said with determined brightness .sx " The chocolate cake sounds wonderful !sx " .sx Nick sounded amused .sx " Most of the girls I take out just want to push a lettuce leaf around their plate .sx " .sx " I wish I had that kind of self-control , " Abby confessed as she dug her spoon into the deliciously moist cake , not wanting to know about all those other girls he had taken out .sx " But I've got to go to the dentist tomorrow morning , so I'm eating extra now in case I can't tomorrow .sx " .sx " You don't need to make excuses .sx I like a girl with a healthy appetite .sx There's something kind of erotic about seeing someone enjoy their food !sx " .sx Abby paused with the spoon halfway to her mouth .sx She glanced up , knowing that he was joking and trying to laugh back at him , but as their eyes met , and looked quickly away again , the laughter faded and trailed away into silence .sx Abby put down her spoon uncertainly , unprepared for the rush of molten desire that dissolved her bones and left her burning with an aching need to reach across and touch him .sx She wanted to run her hands over him , she wanted to trace the laughter lines at the corner of his eyes , she wanted to wrap herself round him , breathe in the warm , masculine smell of him .sx There was a place where the pulse beat below his ear ; she wanted to press her mouth to it .sx Horrified , Abby pushed her plate away with unsteady hands .sx Her appetite had gone .sx The candle cast flickering shadows on Nick's face as he stirred his coffee with a brooding expression .sx Abby found her gaze dwelling on the firm contours of his face , at once peculiarly familiar and exciting .sx She felt as if the two of them were marooned together at this table , with only the warm candlelight and the soft silence between them .sx A dribble of melted wax slid down the candle .sx Abby moulded it with her fingers , trying desperately to think of something to say , but her tongue felt dry and awkward .sx She swallowed , and , despite herself , her eyes slid back to Nick's mouth .sx Why choose this time to remember the feel of his lips ?sx She picked up her wine glass and drained it , realising too late that it was already empty .sx Setting it down again with unwonted care , she ran her finger down the stem while her gaze skittered back to the hard line of his jaw .sx Without warning , Nick lifted his head and looked straight into her eyes .sx Abby could not have turned away if she had tried .sx For long moments they stared at each other while the silence seemed to stretch and crackle with sudden tension .sx In the end it was Nick who spoke first , softly .sx " Shall we go ?sx " .sx Outside the night air was cool against Abby's face .sx They kept a good distance between them as they walked to the car in silence .sx Abby was preternaturally aware of everything :sx the whisper of silk against her legs , the click as Nick unlocked the car , the blue whiteness of his shirt against the dark jacket , the haunting scent of honeysuckle adrift in the darkness .sx .. There was silence as the Rolls nosed its way out of the car park and into the dark country lanes , until Nick spoke suddenly out of the darkness .sx " That guy who hurt you before - in the States - what was his name ?sx " .sx " Stephen .sx " It was easier to talk about him than she had thought .sx " I was very young , very unhappy .sx My mother had just remarried and I was still missing my father .sx " Abby's voice was distant as the memories crowded back .sx " He worked for an international bank , and we always lived overseas , but he used to promise that we'd come back to England one day to live in the country .sx We used to come here for holidays .sx They were always such golden times .sx " I couldn't believe it when my mother married Zack so soon after my father died and we went to live in Washington .sx Selfish of me , I suppose .sx My mother has a right to happiness as well , and she loves the parties and the social life there .sx I just wasn't prepared to try to like it .sx " It was the first time Abby had admitted as much to herself and she glanced at Nick .sx She knew he was listening , but he said nothing , so she went on .sx " Stephen .sx .. " She paused .sx " Well , Stephen was charming and good-looking , and I amused him for a while .sx I suppose I was different from the other girls he knew .sx I'd never been in love before , and I obviously didn't know how to play the game properly .sx " .sx " What game ?sx " Nick asked .sx Abby sighed .sx " The dating game .sx The career game .sx The Washington game .sx Zack was - is - an influential man , and Stephen was .sx .. very ambitious .sx I was too na i-trema ve to realise that .sx Unfortunately for Stephen , my mother's marriage broke up quite soon .sx I think she probably married Zack on the rebound after Dad died .sx Anyway , she and Zack were divorced quite amicably .sx Poor Stephen !sx " Abby's smile was crooked .sx " It turned out that he'd been wasting his time after all .sx And unknown English widow's daughter is not quite the same thing as Zack's stepdaughter .sx Stephen just vanished from my life overnight .sx " .sx Didn't you ever see him again ?sx " .sx " Once .sx Just before - " Abby broke off .sx " Just before what ?sx " Nick prompted .sx " It doesn't matter .sx " She stared out through the windscreen , but she wasn't seeing the road .sx " It doesn't matter , " she said again .sx " OK .sx " Nick's voice was gentle .sx " Thank you for telling me , Abby .sx I'm sorry it had to happen to you .sx Nobody needs a lesson like that .sx " .sx Abby turned to look at him , surprised at her own sense of relief at having told him .sx " Actually , I think it helped to talk about it .sx I didn't think it would , but it does .sx " .sx " Good .sx " That was all Nick said , but Abby knew that he wouldn't ask her any more .sx Obscurely grateful , she burned back to look out of her window as Nick leant over to slot a cassette into the machine .sx Music from La Traviata came spilling out of the speakers and Abby raised her eyebrows .sx " Opera's not your usual style .sx " .sx " No .sx " He glanced at her and his smile gleamed briefly in the reflected lights on the dashboard .sx " But then , neither are a lot of the things I like most .sx " .sx The car gathered speed as the languid , irresistible voice rose and fell , the music swelling to fill the car .sx Abby let it wash over her , and the blood began to beat insistently in her veins .sx When the last notes died away , she sat , excruciatingly aware of Nick so close beside her .sx He was only a matter of inches away .sx She could stretch out her hand and touch him now .sx Fiercely , Abby clasped her fingers together .sx This was madness !sx .sx He's American , this is just a game he's playing , you don't like him , not really , she repeated to herself , risking a sidelong glance at Nick .sx He was staring straight at the road ahead with a slight frown , almost forbidding in his immaculate diner-jacket .sx Abby felt a desperate need to shore up her crumbling resistance .sx Was she just like all those other girls , a pushover for the price of a meal and the warm light in a pair of green eyes ?sx She longed to be home and away from the dangerous attraction of the man beside her .sx As the car drew up outside , the light in her doorway seemed to beckon as a safe harbour .sx Nick switched off the engine and in the echoing quiet turned in his seat to watch her profile .sx Despite herself , Abby tensed .sx " Relax , " he said softly .sx " I grew out of making passes in the front seat years ago .sx " .sx It was easier to deal with the familiar , mocking Nick .sx Abby lifted her chin proudly .sx " I'm glad to hear it .sx " .sx " Quite apart from anything else , English cars just aren't designed for it .sx It must have been some moralist who thought of putting the shift in between the seats like that !sx " He opened his door , but forestalled Abby as she reached for her own door-handle .sx " Wait , let me .sx " .sx Moments later he opened her door for her with a flourish .sx " You see , we Americans do have some manners !sx " .sx Unable to think of a suitable reply , Abby gave a stiff smile .sx " Thank you .sx " .sx Nick was very close , blocking her way to the gate , and unconsciously she stepped back against the car .sx Pushing the door shut with a click , he moved to place one hand firmly on either side of her .sx Pinned as she was against the bodywork , Abby's heart was pounding so loudly she was sure that Nick must hear it , but she said bravely , " I thought you'd grown out of kissing girls in cars .sx " .sx " I have .sx " Green eyes glinted in the moonlight .sx " But only in the front seat .sx I didn't say anything about kissing them against cars !sx " .sx She had plenty of time to move .sx She could have pushed him away if she had tried .sx But instead Abby stood , ensnared by desire , while Nick's hands slid slowly up her arms and lingered on her shoulders as he looked down into her eyes .sx " Your skin is like silk , " he said , his voice deep and warm , and then his hands were cupping her face and he was bending his head with agonising slowness to capture her mouth with his own .sx At the first touch of his lips , so warm , so sure , all of Abby's carefully constructed defences collapsed , scattered like straws in the wind .sx