CHAPTER FOUR

Mark saw Imogen trying very hard not to gape at him and tried his best not to smile. He'd been looking forward to seeing her, of course. It was the main reason he was there. Which meant he'd had more of a chance to anticipate the idea than she did and thus more of an opportunity to formulate a coherent response. "Miss Willis and I know each other,"he explained, putting her out of her misery when it became clear she'd temporarily lost the power of speech.

Spiro nodded. "Well, I guess you are both Australian."

That caused Imogen to shoot him an irritated look…and thus look more like her old self. "There's twenty-five million people in Australia! We don't all know each other!"

"Imogen's my sister-in-law,"Mark explained. "My estranged wife's sister." He looked at Imogen as he said it to see if him describing Paige that way was news to her. She didn't react so he assumed she knew.

"I'll catch up with you later, Mark,"Imogen told him, having obviously recovered her composure. She turned back to Spiro. "But for now, I'd like a word alone with my client."

Spiro nodded. "Of course. This way."

Mark had to admit to feeling disappointed as Imogen followed Spiro away. He hadn't exactly expected her to fall into his arms in the middle of a police station but he'd expected some sign that she was pleased to see him. Thinking about it rationally, of course, it made sense for her to be businesslike when meeting him in that situation, disheartening as it was. He just hoped to get a chance to see a different side to her soon.

Imogen tried to put what had just happened out of her mind. It wasn't easy. She'd often dreamed about Mark turning up and sweeping her off her feet. In fact, she'd been dreaming about it for longer than she could remember and longer than was appropriate. But she had no idea why he was there and there were other things she should be focusing on. Including the client sat in front of her. "How did you end up flying the plane?"she asked.

"I'd advertised my services,"Kevin Durant explained. "I'm a qualified pilot but I can't afford my own plane. I got contacted by a client in Adelaide saying he needed someone to fly a craft to LA. There was meant to be a cargo of electronic goods on board."

"This client have a name?"

"Ted Branwick."

Imogen noted the name down. "You have contact details for him?"

"A phone number I was meant to call when I got here."

"How were you meant to be paid?"

Kevin looked awkward. "Cash in hand."

Imogen sighed. "Not helpful. Okay, the first priority is to get you out of here. Once we've done that, then we can get on to the office and see if we can find anything to back up your story."

It was two hours later and they were still in the same room, now with Mark and Spiro sat across from them. "My client's offered an explanation for his part in this,"Imogen argued.

"Your client was found in possession of thousands of dollars worth of Class A drug,"Mark pointed out. "You can't expect us to just drop that."

"What about the plane?"Imogen asked. "That's not registered in his name, surely?"

"No, it's not,"Spiro confirmed. "Someone tried to disguise it but it was stolen from an airport in Sacramento two months ago."

"I've never even been to Sacramento!"Kevin protested.

"Do you have enough evidence to charge my client?"Imogen asked. "Because if you don't…"

Spiro sighed. "All right, he can be released pending further enquiries on condition he surrenders his passport, provides us with an address and reports regularly to the police station."

Imogen nodded. "Fine. I'll organise an address for him through the firm."

"All right. Once we've sorted out the paperwork he's free to leave for the moment."

Imogen let Spiro lead the way out of the room, giving Kevin a reassuring smile as he remained behind under guard. Mark quickly placed a hand on her arm and passed her a piece of paper. "Imogen? That's my room number. Come and see me later."

Imogen met his gaze, saw he meant it and nodded.

Mark waited in his hotel room all evening, only ordering a quick meal from room service. He was beginning to think he was going to be disappointed when there was a knock at the door. He opened it and a moment later Imogen came barreling into the room past him. Somewhat bemused, he let the door swing closed and then turned to face her.

"What are you doing here, Mark?"she demanded.

"You know why, I'm on a case. American drug barons shipping produce in from cultivations in South Australia." He paused before adding,"And I wanted to see you."

"Why?"There was a slight nervousness to her tone now.

"I think you know that as well. I'm not with Paige anymore…"

Imogen looked pained. "Please tell me you haven't left Paige for me."

Mark had hoped Imogen would be pleased at the prospect, that she'd felt the same pull towards him that he had towards her. He wondered if he'd been mistaken, but he needed to put his cards on the table. "Paige and I were in trouble already,"he pointed out. "We were going to break up anyway. But you and me…"

"There is no you and me,"Imogen argued.

"But don't you want there to be?"Mark fired back. He was relieved to see her hesitate. "Imogen, I think we've got a chance here. I think we could be good together. Don't you want to find out?"

Imogen lowered her gaze, unable to look him in the eye. "I shouldn't have come here,"she declared, walking past him.

"I'm glad you did,"Mark answered. He turned round and saw that she had paused and was facing him again. "I really really wanted you to come,"he told her, looking at her with longing.

And somehow that was enough to make her crumble. Because next minute she was kissing him and he was kissing her back. He practically threw her onto the bed, joining her there a moment later, with them kissing again and struggling to release each other from their suddenly inconvenient clothes.

It was, after all, what they had both been dreaming would happen.