Free A Dangerous Arrangement by Lee Christine Page A

he was probably planning this the whole time and I had no idea. I thought he was some introverted gamer.’
    â€˜Don’t worry about it now, you should enjoy the time you have in Taormina. What’s your next port of call? Sorrento?’
    â€˜Yes. I disembark in Sorrento.’
    His eyes widened in surprise. ‘The itinerary said the ship goes all the way to Portofino, then Livorno and Rome.’
    â€˜It does, but we’re only booked for half of it. A saxophone trio takes our place in Sorrento.’
    â€˜I didn’t realise that.’
    The men up ahead wandered off, and they covered the remaining distance to the bike. Dean leaned against the seat of the machine and drew her to him until she stood between his legs. ‘Why don’t we pick up lunch and take it to one of those deserted little bays we saw from the amphitheatre?’
    Marina rested her forehead against his and smiled. ‘Have you seen the length of my hair? It takes forever to dry, and I have a performance. Can we have lunch in the town square instead?’
    He pressed his face into her hair and inhaled deeply. ‘I’d love to, but I wouldn’t take the risk. If the paparazzi spot us, your face will be splashed across the front page of every tabloid in Europe.’
    His words doused the heat in her veins like a splash of iced water. ‘What?’
    He gave her a strange look as she stepped back, breaking his hold.
    â€˜I’m well known here, more so than in Australia. At home, no-one cares if I’m rich or famous. All they care about is whether I can captain the country to an America’s Cup win.’
    Sweat broke out on Marina’s brow, the thought of her photograph being plastered across every rag in Europe too awful to contemplate. She needed to get away.
    â€˜You know. I really should catch up with the others.’
    â€˜ Hey .’ He frowned and snagged her hand. ‘I’ve scared you.’
    â€˜Horrify would be a better word.’ She hadn’t realised he was so high profile, and she was already jittery someone would recognise her without parading around with Mr Eligible.
    â€˜It’s not that bad. Rask is my head of security. Outmanoeuvring the paparazzi’s his favourite pastime. They rarely get near me.’
    When she didn’t say anything, he turned and put the iPad in the storage compartment then took out his helmet.
    â€˜Without Rask, this is a great disguise. I’ve ridden across Italy without any problem, but sitting in a cafe in the middle of Taormina is asking for trouble.’
    Marina nodded, and her heart squeezed at what she was about to do. ‘I understand. Please don’t hesitate to send through any further images that you’d like me to look at. In the meantime, I’ll see if I can try and remember more.’
    His eyes narrowed. ‘Well, that was formal.’
    â€˜Bearing in mind what you said, I think it’s best.’
    â€˜Best for who ?’
    â€˜Both of us.’
    She knew she sounded like a bitch, but she’d gone to extremes to keep the entire trip a secret, and to blow everything now because she found Dean Logan dangerously attractive would be foolish. She could lose her career over something he probably looked on as a dalliance.
    â€˜There’s no need to give me a ride back into town. I’ll sightsee on the way. It’s not far.’
    He opened his mouth to say something, then stopped, cool annoyance flashing in his eyes. ‘Whatever you say.’
    Marina looked at him one last time, committing him to memory. Tall, broad and athletic, he looked every bit the rugged Australian male he was. Outdoorsy—eligible—successful.
    Unable to say ‘goodbye’, even though she knew this could be the last time, she forced her lips to form the words, ‘Well, thanks again.’
    There would be no shortage of women where Dean Logan was concerned.
    To her surprise, he took her by the