Excerpt of Monsoon Mists by Christina Courtenay

The smile Mr Kinross sent her this time was nothing short of
dazzling. Zar was glad she was sitting down as it definitely
did something strange to her innards. Then a teasing glint
flashed in his eyes.

‘So have you thought any more about my proposition?' he asked.

‘Which proposition would that be?' Zar frowned, caught
off-guard by his question.

‘To, er ... amuse you if you're in need of a diversion.'

Zar couldn't stop her mouth from falling open, but shut it
quickly again as she sent him her most quelling glance.
‘Really, Mr Kinross, I don't know to what you are referring.'

‘Oh, I think you do.'

He was still smiling and Zar felt unaccountably hot all of a
sudden. But she was also outraged. She would make it clear
to him she was not that kind of woman.

‘I'll have you know I'm a respectable widow. Neither you,
nor anyone else, will ever set foot in my bedroom and I'd
thank you not to refer to such things again.'

She turned to stare out the window while she tried to force
her breathing to return to normal. For some reason she was
having trouble inhaling enough air and it was making her
chest heave unbecomingly.

‘Now that sounds distinctly like a challenge to me. Would
you like to bet on it?'

‘What?' Zar swivelled round and stared at Kinross. The
effrontery of the man.

‘I'll wager one hundred rupees that I will. Set foot in your
bedroom, that is.' He raised his eyebrows at her, as if
daring her to accept. ‘Say, within the next two weeks?' he
added, a teasing note in his voice.

‘I don't believe I'm hearing?'

‘Very well, two hundred rupees. Deal?'

‘Now see here, Mr Kinross?'

‘You drive a hard bargain, Mrs Miller. Three hundred it is.'

Zar almost stamped her foot in frustration, but managed to
restrain herself at the last minute. ‘I'm not making a wager
with you!'

‘Ah, you're afraid you'll lose. I thought so.'

His smug expression made Zar see red. She clenched her fists
by her side and scowled at him. ‘I am not.'

‘Well, then, you almost certainly stand to gain three
hundred rupees. That can't be bad, can it?'

Zar took a deep breath and tried to think, but Kinross's quicksilver gaze held hers and jumbled her thought processes. He was right. It would be the easiest money she'd ever earned. But then why was he even proposing such a thing? There must be a catch ... For the life of her, she couldn't think of one though. ‘Oh, very well, I accept your wager. But I'm not meeting you anywhere private for you to hand over my winnings, is that clear?' ‘Perfectly.' He bowed. ‘I will allow you to decide entirely. If you win, of course.'