CHAPTER ONE
âWE SHOULDNâT really be doing this,â Sabrina told Garth nervously.
âWhy ever not?â He leaned across and poured her some more wine. âI think that bringing you out for dinner was a lovely idea.â
âYes, but, Garth, we have got to be sensible.â Her eyes flickered over the intimate booths lit by candlelight, searching for any face that she might recognise. This was one of Londonâs most expensive restaurants and it was a well-known haunt of many famous people... including MPs like Garth Fraiser. It was not the type of place to have a secret meeting. âIâm sure you donât usually bring your ex-secretaries to places like this.â
âWell, you are not the usual kind of secretary,â Garth answered with a smile.
Bright blue eyes swung back on to his attractive face. Despite his advancing years Garth Fraiser was still a good-looking man. His strawberry-blond hair was thick and vital, the deep lines on his face emphasising his strong, stubborn character.
âExactly.â She said the word quietly but with meaning. âAnd we donât want to start people talking.â
âIâm sorry, Sabrina... I donât want to place you in an awkward position.â He sighed and leaned back in his chair. âYouâve been through so much recently... what with the death of your mother and... everything. Itâs just that we need to talk; I have so much to explain to you.â
For a moment her blue eyes clouded with sadness. âI know,â she said softly. âBut itâs you Iâm worried about. What would your wife say if she knew that you were out having dinner with me?â
He smiled. âShe would think it was business. Anyway, Nadine is in Paris visiting Marc. She wonât be back until tomorrow.â
âAre you going to tell her?â Sabrinaâs beautiful face was etched with strain as she waited for his answer.
âI donât think I could face it.â Garth shrugged helplessly. âI do care about you, Sabrina. I know you must find that hard to believe. Iâve made a lot of mistakes. The main one being that I should have told Nadine years ago.â He raked a hand through his hair in agitation. âLook, come back to work for me, Brina, and weâll work things out. I miss you.â
âThank you, Garth.â She swallowed down a sudden lump of emotion in her throat. âI miss you too.â She did miss him; she also missed the cut and thrust of political life at the Palace of Westminster. âBut having me as your secretary could cause you problems.â She forced herself to be practical. âPolitics is your life and, as you have said yourself, people expect you to be whiter than white. If word got out about me it could bring you down...it could certainly go against your moving to Brussels next year.â
He sighed. âI certainly donât want to risk ruining my . political career. This job as Euro MP next year means a hell of a lot to me.â
She nodded. âYouâve worked very hard for the posting.â
âI suppose I have...â He paused thoughtfully. âSo has Nadine. She has always been wonderfully supportive.â
Sabrina nodded her head. She had met Garthâs wife on a few occasions. Nadine was French, extremely beautiful and very intelligent. People liked and respected her and she was certainly an asset to Garthâs career. âBut she is not stupid, Garth. Itâs only a matter of time before she notices something is amiss. I donât want to pressurise you, but I think you should either tell her or cut me out of your life altogether.â
Although she said the words firmly, there was a tremor inside her body. She hated the thought of losing Garth out of her life... especially now, in the light of what she had found out. She wanted to get to know him better, to talk things through... to deepen their relationship.
âSurely you donât mean that?â He frowned and for a moment his face turned pale as he reached across the table to catch her hand.
Her eyes clouded and she shook her head. âNo... no, of course I donât. I was just trying to be sensible.â