CHAPTER FOUR

      MAXI could still feel that kiss as she prepared for bed. It had been the merest brush of his mouth over hers, but the effect had been astonishing, like being hit by lightning. Her lips had tingled as if they were frozen, yet burned with heat, and every single thought had rushed out of her head. Yet in the midst of it, she had had the strangest feeling of stepping back in time. As if those lips were known to her—and she was sure it wasn’t just a reaction to that punishing kiss earlier. But just as she was on the point of understanding, the contact had been broken, leaving her stranded in space.

      When, a second later, Kerr had escorted her to the table, she had still been bemused. She must have functioned, though, because she couldn’t remember anyone looking at her oddly, and she knew she had spoken, but for the life of her she couldn’t recall a word she’d said. Not for those first five minutes. She hadn’t danced with Kerr again, but she hadn’t refused Andy when he’d asked her to. Not from any sense of defiance, but because, with everyone keeping an eye on them, it would have looked odd if she hadn’t.

      Unfortunately Fliss hadn’t liked it one bit, and showed a regrettably childish inclination to sulk. The evening had broken up soon after that. Kerr had driven her home without comment, accepting her mother’s offer of a nightcap when they reached the house. Maxi had refused one herself, choosing instead to say goodnight and go to her room.

      Now she slipped out of her dress and reached for the silk robe she had draped across the foot of the bed when she unpacked earlier. Cleaning off her make-up, she heard footsteps mount the stairs, doors open and close, and then gradually the house grew quiet. She was in the act of brushing her hair when she heard a soft tap on her door. Almost she thought she had imagined it, until it came again and she swivelled on the dressing stool.

      ‘Come in,’ she invited cautiously, not really surprised to see her sister slip inside and close the door behind her. Fliss was still in the same yellow dress, and had clearly only been waiting for the others to go to bed before paying this visit.