Sharon sighed, kissing her husband again, letting herself be warmly cuddled in the fold of his strong arms. No, she needed nothing else from life except this man – and he needed nothing else except her; these next few days, even though they had been promised to be both adventuresome and relaxing by Lena Alvaro, would be empty for Sharon until Neal returned.
She had become good friends with Lena, the wife of Rodney Alvaro, the Vice-President in charge of Sales at Greater Continental and Neal's immediate superior, during the past year. Lena, young and vivacious and beautiful, twenty years her husband's junior, had that kind of magnetism which made you instantly like her. Sharon, who was much quieter, much more conservative, didn't really approve of some of Lena's habits or traits, but she liked the English woman nonetheless.
Two days ago, when Neal had told her he was flying to Athens with Rodney Alvaro on business, the beautiful young wife had experienced a sense of great disappointment at the proposed separation. But then Neal had said that she would not have to be alone during his absence in Greece, that she and Lena could spend the time together at the estate of Mark Marlowe – Marlowe Manor – in Dartmoor. Marlowe, a wealthy young man of aristocratic background and long-time friend of the Alvaros, had invited the two wives – and Neal and Rodney when they returned from Athens – to be his house guests for as long as they cared to stay.
Sharon had met Mark Marlowe on two separate occasions at small cocktail gatherings in the Alvaro home, and had found him a charming, intelligent, attractive man; the invitation had been appealing to her, and later, when she had spoken to Lena and learned the facts surrounding Marlowe Manor, she had readily accepted the gracious proposal.