Alanna’s first thought on waking was how great she felt.

      Then she remembered. Everything.

      ‘Oh, God,’ she groaned aloud, clutching at the sheet as she glanced around the bedroom, wondering where Reece was.

      Shock joined her agitation when she saw the time on the bedside clock. Twelve-fourteen! It was afternoon! She’d never slept in so late in all her life.

      Admittedly, it had to have been the early hours of the morning by the time she’d passed out last night. Through utter exhaustion.

      Alanna grimaced, then shuddered. What on earth had she been thinking about to act the way she had?

      Of course, she hadn’t been thinking at all. That was the problem. For the first time since their marriage Reece had broken through all her personal and sexual defences, whisking her away to that wild, wanton place that a much younger Alanna had enjoyed so much, but which she had subsequently learned could be a dangerous place for a wife to go.

      When she’d married Reece, she’d vowed not to make the same mistake twice. Any man could fall victim to sexual jealousy, she’d worried, even a laid-back husband who wasn’t in love with you.

      And she’d been right! Look what had happened with Mike at the wedding reception. Reece had reacted, if not jealously at that stage, then very possessively. And that had been before her performance last night.

      What would he start thinking now? Might he start imagining she was having affairs behind his back. She did have a lot of spare time with Reece working such long hours.

      Alanna groaned aloud. What a fool she was to have let her husband open her Pandora’s box. A stupid, stupid fool.

      Alanna shook her head in dismay over the possible consequences of last night. No way could she live with any man who started acting even remotely like Darko. If Reece began questioning her about her movements, or doubting her word, or—God forbid—having her followed, then their marriage was history.

      Maybe it was as well she hadn’t fallen pregnant yet. She was still a couple of days away from entering her most fertile time so she doubted last night would have changed the status quo.

      As much as the thought of leaving Reece distressed Alanna terribly, she refused to tolerate any scenario where her hard-won self-esteem and much valued in dependence was threatened. She’d come too far back from the abyss to be propelled back in that direction again.

      But maybe she was worrying for nothing. Maybe Reece would be quite happy with the way things had turned out last night. After all, he was totally opposite to Darko, both in looks and personality. And he didn’t profess to love her.

      Now why didn’t she find that last thought comforting?

      Shaking her head, Alanna tossed back the sheet and made a dash for the bathroom. Afterwards she wrapped a towel around herself and returned to her walk-in wardrobe where she gathered together some clothes. Just jeans and a light jumper today. They weren’t going out anywhere. Or entertaining, which might be good news or bad news, depending on Reece’s reaction to her this morning.

      Fifteen minutes later—Alanna never bothered with makeup or an elaborate hairstyle when alone at home—she was showered, dressed and on her way downstairs to the kitchen for some much-needed coffee. At the bottom of the stairs she made a brief detour to peek in Reece’s study, but he wasn’t in there. Possibly he was out on the back terrace. That was his favourite place when the sun was shining.

      As soon as Alanna entered the foyer, she could see that she was right. Reece was out on the terrace, semi-reclining on a banana chair, wrapped in his white towelling robe, sunglasses on, sipping a glass of orange juice and reading the Sunday paper. At his elbow sat an empty cereal bowl and spoon, along with the various inserts from the paper.

      Alanna momentarily toyed with the idea of boldly going out there and saying good morning to him as if nothing had changed. But she was low on boldness this morning. She must have used all of her boldness quota last night.

      Her stomach tightened as another memory assailed her. Had she really said those words to Reece when he’d first carried her from the garage to the bedroom?

      Oh, yes, she definitely had. Maybe it was a rebellion thing. Darko would have washed her mouth out with soap. Literally.

      But Reece had just laughed. Oh, how she loved him for that laughter.

      Reece must have finally sensed her standing there, watching him, for his golden head suddenly whipped round. He waved the glass of juice up at her, then waved at her to come outside.

      Taking a gathering breath, Alanna proceeded down the wide step that separated the foyer from the living area, bypassing the kitchen on the right as she headed for the sliding glass doors, and the terrace.

      ‘Have a good sleep?’ Reece asked as soon as she stepped out onto the flagstones.

      ‘Wonderful, thanks. And you?’ Oh God. She sounded awfully polite. As if they were hotel guests, meeting over breakfast.