She shook her head. 'I don't even want to think about her,' she said softly.

'So what ethics?' he asked.

She paused for a moment, feeling her throat become dry and her pulse quicken. Just say it, she told herself.

'I mean, as my boss. What would you do if I kissed you?'

He smiled and pulled her towards him.

'Let's find out, shall we?' he said, as his lips brushed softly against hers, tender and soft. He pulled away, then kissed her again, harder. And as she kissed him back, their mouths joined, bodies entwined, she felt every nerve ending shiver with both desire and belonging. Finally the music stopped and she opened her eyes. Her hands were trembling between Matt's big palms.

'Shall we go somewhere a little quieter?' he said as they reluctantly pulled apart.

She nodded, and they walked out of the courtyard hand in hand, following a path down towards the gardens.

'I think I've been wanting to do that since about the first day I saw you,' said Matt.

'The day of the lunch?'

He shook his head, smiling.

'At the lunch I wanted to kill you.'

'I wasn't that impressed with you either.' Anna smiled.

'Well, I hope you've changed your mind.'

'Maybe,' she said. 'Probably.'

They walked away from the party until they found a stone bench hidden in an alcove.

'So why didn't you?' asked Anna. 'Kiss me, I mean.'

He laughed.

'Where should we start? My ex-wife back in the picture, your Hollywood romance, the fact that when I joined Donovan Pierce I was ever-so-slightly aware that the last Mr Donovan at the firm had been a terrible lech.'

Anna pulled a face.

'Good point. Although what are we going to do now? I mean, you're still my boss. Are you going to call me in to sit on your knee?'

Matthew grinned. 'That doesn't sound too bad, actually.'

'You are are your father's son,' said Anna playfully. your father's son,' said Anna playfully.

His expression turned tender. He reached out his hand and touched her face.

'Are you ready for this? Working together? Being together?'

Anna slipped her arms around his neck and pulled him close.

She'd never been more ready for anything in her life. Ever.

Acknowledgements

Continued thanks go to all the team at Headline for their sterling work: Sherise Hobbs (a wonderful editor with great taste in biscuits), Lucy Foley, Jane Morpeth, Jo Liddiard, Vicky Cowell, Emily Furniss, Aslan Byrne and his fantastic sales team, plus Patrick and Yeti in the design department and to the copyeditor and proofreaders.

To the brilliant Eugenie Furniss and Cathryn Summerhayes it's such a pleasure working with you. And Dorian Karchmar and Matt Hudson in New York make me feel as if I can take on the world! Thanks also to the lovely Claudia Webb.

To everyone else who has helped with the research of Private Lives Private Lives thank you so much for the nuggets of information you let me take away. The complex area of privacy law is one that takes place behind closed doors so I'm particularly grateful to those who let me have a peep behind the curtain. This book couldn't have been written without you. thank you so much for the nuggets of information you let me take away. The complex area of privacy law is one that takes place behind closed doors so I'm particularly grateful to those who let me have a peep behind the curtain. This book couldn't have been written without you.

It's been a tricky year so my heartfelt grat.i.tude goes to those who have made it easier. To all those at Kingston Hospital and RMH, including Alan Thompson, Mr Khan and Hannah Petty thank you so much for all the incredible work you do. To my friends, especially Kay for the writers' villa and the hill walks. And much, much love to my wonderful family for all their support, especially my mum, and John, my rock-and-roll rock, my hero, the best husband a girl could ever ask for.