"Then I'll escort you to your door." He kept pace with her, the glasses still in his hand.
Acutely embarrassed about her appalling accusations, all Laura wanted was to be left alone so she could let the ground swallow her up in peace. When they reached her room, she rummaged in her bag for the key.
"Aren't you going to invite me in?"
She faced him. "Daniel, I'm well aware of how wrong I was, and again, I apologise, but I am tired," she said honestly. If he thought she would be fool enough to let him in her room . . .
"Then have a drink out here with me. It's the least you can do to make amends. You never know, it might relax you, help you sleep," he said, steering her to the bench under her window. When she resisted, he added, "I won't leave you in peace until you do."
"Oh, for crying out loud!" Far too tired to argue with him, she sank onto the bench and kicked the hateful sandals off into the dark. The quicker she got this over with, the better. Snatching her wine from his hand, she took a large gulp. "There, are you happy now?"
"You appear to be rather tense," Daniel commented mildly.
Laura glared at him in the subdued glow from the rooms. "I don't suppose it occurred to you that might have something to do with you being here?"
Daniel's hands moved to Laura's neck and started to massage the stiffness there.
"What do you think you're doing?" she grumbled, but it was half-hearted. His fingers were already working wonders on her tense muscles.
"If I'm to blame for the tense state you're in, the least I can do is try to alleviate it," he murmured, his breath warm on her neck as he spoke.
Laura opened her mouth to protest, to tell him the only way he could alleviate her stressed state was to go away, but she closed it again as his hands moved downward, slipping beneath the soft fabric of her neckline to knead her tired shoulders. His movements were skilful, finding the bunched muscles and massaging the knots away, and with a sigh, she gave in to the magic.
"Better?" he asked gently.
She nodded. "Much better. Thank you."
When Daniel stood, a confused knot of disappointment tightened in her stomach. Laura was no longer sure she wanted him to go. But instead of leaving as she expected, he held out his hand to tug her to her feet.
"Dance with me," he said, pulling her closer.
"What?"
"We have distant music, a little moonlight and, cheesy as it might sound, I want to dance with you," Daniel explained, as though to a child.
He pulled her tight to him, one arm around her waist and the other lightly caressing the nape of her neck as they swayed to the slow, rhythmic music drifting down on the breeze from the wedding party. Laura exulted in the soft feel of the cool grass under her tired, bare feet. Hypnotised by the music, hardly conscious of her actions, she wound her arms around his neck, her fingers resting in the thick, soft hair at his collar, then lowered her head onto his shoulder, allowing herself to drift as she moved in his arms. It was a long time since she'd allowed herself to feel this close to someone; such a long time since she'd been held this way. Half asleep, she murmured a sigh of contentment.
As they moved, Daniel deftly pulled out clips until her hair tumbled to her shoulders.
"That's more like it," he whispered, lifting thick waves of it and lightly kissing her neck. It was a heady sensation, his breath feathering across her sensitive skin. His lips moved slowly back up to hover inches from hers.
"Daniel . . ."
"Shhh," he whispered. "You didn't let me get going the last time. I can do better . . ."
And to prove it, he brought his lips to hers, soft and seeking, until Laura ached with a need that made her feel dizzy.
Breathless, she pulled away a little, her eyes wide and vulnerable in the dark. "I don't think this is such a good idea," she murmured.
"Is anything that might be considered remotely spontaneous ever a good idea to you?" he asked her as he placed light kisses on the racing pulse at her throat, causing it to throb faster. "Or do you always have to weigh up the pros and cons first?"
"I can't help it," she sighed. "That's just the way my brain works."
"Maybe it is, but your lips are telling me something quite different," he said softly, working his way slowly back up to her mouth to prove his point. "Your lips are telling me you could be wild and impractical if only your brain would allow it. Why not let that annoying head of yours have a rest for a change?"
He pulled her close again, this time deepening the kiss, until Laura wasn't sure her legs would hold her up anymore. Finally, he moved back and held her at arm's length, studying her face.
"What's wrong?" she asked him, the cool breeze making her shiver now she was no longer in the warm circle of his arms.
He stroked his finger along her cheek. "The music finished a good few minutes ago."
Laura blushed. She hadn't even noticed. An orchestra was still playing in her head. Acutely embarrassed, she moved away, fumbled for her key, and opened her door, thinking only of escape. She certainly had no intention whatsoever of allowing Daniel into her room, but when she heard voices coming down the path and realised there would be no time for Daniel to reach his room before whoever it was reached them, she had no choice but to allow him
