Yet when he pulled her close she did nothing to stop him. On the contrary, she met him more than halfway. She’d never believed that magnetism between people could actually exist but here she was, pressed up against him, one hand on his shoulder, the other clasped in his. They were touching everywhere from chest to hip, and wild horses couldn’t have dragged her away.

‘How have you been?’ he said, his voice low and gravelly as he began to slowly move her around the tight space they occupied, hemmed in by others lured by the hits Europe’s number one girl band was banging out.

‘Fine,’ she replied, strangely husky. ‘You?’

‘Busy.’

‘How was the ceremony?’

‘Uneventful.’

‘That must have been a relief.’

‘You have no idea.’

His gaze roamed over her hair and her face before settling on her mouth, which instantly dried while her pulse raced. He was so close all she’d have to do was lift herself onto her toes, lean forwards an inch while exerting pressure on his shoulder to draw him down and then she’d finally know what it would be like to kiss him.

‘Lovely party,’ she said, battling back the temptation to do exactly that since it would be wildly inappropriate and no doubt cause a scandal he certainly wouldn’t welcome.

‘Hmm.’

‘Dinner was delicious. Your brother is charming.’

Leo’s hand tightened around hers and a quick frown creased his forehead, but only for an instant. ‘That’s why he’s in charge of drumming up new business.’

‘I imagine he’s very good at it.’

‘He is. As are you.’

Willow’s heart thudded. Had he been watching her in action? For some reason, the thought of his eyes on her as she worked the room heated her blood. ‘I try.’

‘Everyone is talking about you.’

‘At least I’m not the mother of the bride and naked in a frame.’

‘A blessing indeed,’ he murmured, but something in his expression made her wish she’d kept her mouth shut because not only did she have the unnerving feeling that he was somehow mentally undressing her, but also all she could think of now was how good he’d looked in a wet shirt and how much better he might look without anything on at all.

Swallowing hard to refocus, Willow reined in her imagination and determinedly sought refuge in manners. ‘Thank you for my invitation.’

‘I wasn’t aware I had much choice in issuing it.’

‘That’s a fair point,’ she had to acknowledge with the hint of a smile. ‘I did blackmail you into it.’

‘You did. But actually, if anyone’s owed a thank-you, it’s you.’

‘For what?’

‘I understand you’re the one responsible for my mother’s restraint today,’ he said. ‘And, I’m guessing, both her outfit in church and the dress she has on this evening.’

‘You’re welcome,’ she said, a shiver of pleasure and relief rippling through her. ‘Although I did wonder if I was overstepping by intervening.’

‘You were.’

‘Sorry.’

‘Once again, you have no need to apologise. You have my gratitude. And Daphne’s.’ He leaned back an inch and tilted his head, his hold on her loosening a fraction. ‘What’s your secret?’

‘There’s no secret,’ she said, relaxing a little now she was on safer conversational ground. ‘I like to get to know my clients so I encourage them to talk while I work.’