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he said, and continued along the corridor to his own room.
    Puzzled by his attitude, Laura prepared for bed, but tired as she was she could not sleep. ^She lay awake watching the patterns cast on the ceiling by the moon as it shone through the branches of the trees.
    She ran over in her mind the events of the day— from the thrilling moment when Brad had kissed her to the tenderness he had shown a few minutes earlier. Even though she now knew his concern was not entirely for her own sake, even though she knew she would never be anything more to him than his secretary—hadn’t he made that clear by the way he’d apologised for kissing her, by the way he’d shortly said good-night just now when she herself had anticipated another kiss? Despite all this, she, came to the startling conclusion that she was in love, completely and irrevocably in love.
    ‘But I can’t be,’ she whispered aloud, sitting bolt upright. ‘How can I fall for such an insufferable person?’ Rather than feel comforted by her discovery Laura was tormented by the distressing position in which she now found herself and it was several hours later before she finally fell into a fitful sleep, waking with a start when her alarm told her that it was seven-thirty.
    Laura mused for a moment at the warm glow that filled her, then flushed almost guiltily as remembrance of the previous evening returned. Whatever happened she must not let Brad guess at her feelings. She could imagine his. amusement. His complacency that she was following the same pattern. Had he kissed any of his other secretaries? she wondered. Had he given them any encouragement? Finding the thought distasteful, she pushed it firmly from her.
    She showered and dressed, choosing with care a jade green woollen dress which enhanced the slim perfection of her figure, recalling that today she was leaving for London and realising with something approaching dismay that she did not want to go. Although there was little likelihood of Brad ever returning her love she wanted to be near him, to hear his deep voice, watch the changing emotions cross his rugged face. I don’t want to go with Helen, she told herself, mildly angry that this should happen now. I want to stay here with Brad. Then the knowledge of how much his sister’s health meant to him came flooding back. By accompanying Helen she would be pleasing Brad, and after all, it would not be for long, a month or two at the most, and surely he would visit them occasionally? Knowing how fond he was of the other girl Laura knew he would not leave them there without frequently checking on Helen’s progress.
    Entering the dining-room, Laura was surprised to see Brad seated at the table, apparently waiting for her. Her shock must have been apparent, for he laughed. ‘I thought I’d give you the pleasure of my company this morning, as it will be the last time you eat here for a while. You don’t mind ?'
    ‘N-no, of course not. It will make quite a change.' Her heart hammered painfully as she slid into her chair. How handsome he looked this morning, his white, roll-necked shirt causing his tan to appear even darker.
    His grey eyes watched her closely. ‘No after-effects? You seem a little shaky .'
    Thank goodness he’d put down her reaction to the events of the night before, thought Laura. She would have to be more careful in future, or he would soon guess the way she felt. ‘No, I’m fine. I didn’t sleep too well, that’s all.'
    Brad passed her the milk, their fingers touching for one electric moment as she took it from him. How true was the saying that hate is akin to love, thought Laura. She had detested Brad intensely at the beginning, and now here she was head over heels in love. If only he felt the same way about her! But she knew how unlikely that was. She was his employee and as such must try and remember her position.
    Waiting until she had poured the milk on to her cereal, Brad said, 'I've been walking in the woods this morning. I