Free In the Mists of Time by Marie Treanor Page A

her lips.
    â€œSlow is good too,” he said huskily. And then his hands fell away as he straightened and started the car.
    Louise swallowed. She’d never been so turned on from a mere kiss. She wanted to jump him in the supermarket carpark, or tell him to drive straight to a hotel. Or just stop by a roadside ditch. She wouldn’t feel the cold any more than she had on the misty hill two days ago.
    But she said nothing, just sat beside him, watching his capable hands turn the wheel and shift gears while her lips, her whole body, tingled from his kiss. And that was nice too.
    * * * * *
    As they approached Ardknocken, Thierry said casually, “I can build your computer up at the house if that’s easier. Or I can do it at yours, get your files off the old computer for safekeeping while I’m building the new one.”
    â€œThe faster the better, I suppose.”
    â€œOkay. I can come down later this afternoon.”
    â€œThanks,” she said breathlessly.
    As Thierry drew to a halt at the B&B, she said, “Don’t get out. I’ll grab my bags from the boot.”
    The village would see her get out of the car, but with luck, they wouldn’t register who was in it. She’d conducted romances in the village spotlight before. In Ardknocken, there wasn’t really another way to do it, but she was determined that this, whatever this was with Thierry, would be as private as she could make it. She still smarted from all the people who’d asked her about Dave the television cameraman after he’d stopped coming.
    It didn’t strike her until she’d put the key in the door that what she’d actually wanted to do before she got out was lean over and kiss him again. A promise. Oh yes.
    What the hell am I doing? she thought wildly. And that was before she found Aidan waiting for her in the living room.
    â€œAidan,” she said in surprise, dropping her bags on the floor. “I thought you’d be down at the cottage.”
    â€œI was and I will be,” Aidan replied. He sat on the sofa opposite their napping parents, his laptop open on his crossed knee. “I let Cerys go early, since I was around. Thought you’d like to know there’s no whisper of sexual misconduct against our Ron. On the other hand—”
    â€œOn the other hand, he broke into Thierry’s caravan up at the big house,” Louise blurted. “We have to get rid of this guy.”
    â€œMaybe. I’d certainly keep the doors locked.”
    â€œHe actually asked me where Nicole lived.”
    Aidan frowned, pushing the computer onto the sofa beside him. “Really? I wonder if Nicole’s not telling us the whole truth? Surely he can’t be as unperceptive as that.”
    â€œUnperceptive? Seems he is! As well as being a creep.” She narrowed her eyes. “Why? What did you find out about him?” She threw her jacket over a chair and walked towards him.
    â€œHe’s a private investigator,” Aidan said wryly. “Like me. Reputable firm, retained by a large insurance company, which is where virtually all their work comes from.”
    â€œMaybe he’d be happier in some sleazy resort for his holidays,” Louise muttered.
    â€œHe isn’t on holiday,” Aidan said. “He’s working. The insurance company that’s paying him is London and Scottish Life, based in Edinburgh. They’re the guys Thierry Duplessis ripped off.”
    Louise sat down too fast, staring at her brother. “But he’s done his time, hasn’t he? He gave the money back.”
    â€œMost of it,” Aidan agreed. “But London and Scottish think there’s more. There was another fraud, one they can’t even link to him positively, but they’re sure he did it and they want that money back.”
    The silly fantasy she’d been creating began to crumble around her ears. It felt a bit like the world falling in on her. She stared