A Question of Love by Gwen Kirkwood Read Free Book Online

you there, see how you feel about going further?’
    ` Fine,’ he said solemnly. He kept Saturn in check behind her but it was clear the horse was used to leading.
    ` What do you think? Want to turn back?’ Roseanne asked as she brought Bella to a gentle halt.
    ` Could we gallop to the top for Saturn’s sake?’ he said with a show of humility. `The last one to reach the top pays a forfeit. How about that?’ Roseanne’s eyes widened then sparkled. `All right. Let’s go.’
    They clattered across the bridge to where the ground was bare. The horses were obviously used to having their heads on this stretch and for the first half of the hill Euan held Saturn in check, then he let him have his way and they surged forward. Roseanne gasped. Euan had seemed competent enough but he hadn’t sounded as confident as all that. She spurred Bella on but she knew once Saturn was ahead she would never catch him up. At the top Euan sprang from the saddle beneath a clump of trees, grinning triumphantly.
    ` That was wonderful!’ He had a most attractive smile with his white even teeth and the crinkles around his eyes. Roseanne wondered why she hadn’t paid attention before. She slid to the ground beside him.
    ` I’ll tether the horses for a minute or two,’ he suggested, `While I get a look at the view and…’ his eyes met and held hers; she couldn’t miss the wicked gleam even before he added, `and claim my forfeit of course.’
    ` F-forfeit?’ Roseanne heard herself stammering like a schoolgirl. She’d forgotten about the forfeit. She hadn’t expected to be the one to pay.
    `We had a deal . Remember?’
    ` What sort of forfeit had you in mind?’ Roseanne asked determined to keep her voice even.
    ` Depends what’s on offer?’
    ` I’ll cook you a big breakfast before we leave,’ she suggested, knowing they would both be ready for that anyway.
    ` Mmm, or you could agree to stay until tomorrow morning?’
    ` I can’t do that,’ she protested. `I did warn you. I’ll get William to drive me to the train and you can stay…’
    `That wouldn’t be any fun.’
    `I didn’t realize fun was what you had in mind when you insisted you wanted to see Ashburn. Anyway I must get back so you’ll have to settle for something else,’ Roseanne said firmly, aware of the laughter in his eyes and the way they moved over her and came to rest on her face. This was a very different man to the one who had arrogantly taken over Mr Kershaw’s office a week ago and whom she had managed to treat with icy disdain since the moment he arrived.
    ` It’ll have to be a kiss then.’
    Roseanne stared at him, then she shrugged. Oh well there was nothing to a kiss. He was probably letting her off lightly. She let out a breath she hadn’t known she was holding. Better get it over. She stepped forward and reached up to plant a kiss on his cheek, but his arms swiftly fastened around her, pressing her close to the whole hard length of him. She gasped.
    ` I said a kiss,’ he growled softly, `not a peck like an old woman.’
    ` I…’ His mouth came down on hers, silencing whatever words she might have uttered. Her lips were already parted in speech and he took full advantage, moving gently against them, parting them further, taking her by surprise. He deepened the kiss, holding her closer as he did so, one hand cradling her neatly rounded rear. She felt powerless to resist. It was a shock to realise she didn't want to stop. Robinia often teased her about being an ice maiden but she didn’t feel so cool now with the blood coursing through her veins.
    ` You're so intense in everything you do, Ros. You'd enjoy making love if only you'd let yourself go.’ Her sister’s words echoed in her memory.
    ` I'll let you know when some man tempts me enough,’ she always retorted lightly. Robinia, on the other hand, had been a model since she was in her teens, dressed in everything from Ski suits to the briefest bikini's. She had travelled to all sorts of interesting