Lucy Gordon - Rescued by the Brooding Tycoon

‘Dance with me,’ he said, taking Freya’s hand.

She was too astute to mistake his motive, especially when she realised how determinedly he steered her in the direction of the other couple.

‘Is this near enough for you?’ she asked.

‘Only just. Can you hear what he’s saying?’

‘Something about a shop on Herringdean-an antique shop-since when was he interested in antiques?’

‘Since he found out she owned one,’ Darius growled.

‘Now he’s talking money-how much is the shop worth?’

‘Damn him!’

‘Don’t act surprised. That’s always his first thought. Hey, he’s watching us. Let’s teach him a lesson.’

‘How?’

‘Look deep into my eyes, then he’ll think what a good son you’re being. You never know, he might solve all your problems with one cheque.’

‘Yes, but he’d post-date it so that I’d have to marry you first.’

‘Never fear. I’ll avoid that catastrophe with my last breath.’

‘So will I,’ he assured her cheerfully.

They finished the dance with no hard feelings on either side.

When Amos had bid her farewell and departed, Harriet went to quench her thirst with an orange juice. Standing beside a large potted plant, she was only vaguely aware of movement from the other side until she heard Mary’s voice say, ‘Wherever did you find that marvellous girl?’

And Darius’s eager reply. ‘Harriet is marvellous, isn’t she? I’m glad you like her.’

‘Are you surprised? Did you think I’d be jealous? On the contrary, she’s doing me a great favour. If you’ve got her, I don’t have to feel guilty about leaving you. And the children like her, so I can send them to stay with you with an easy mind.’

‘Do you really mean that?’ Darius demanded urgently.

‘I know you thought I was trying to separate you from them, but I wasn’t. It’s just that you hurt them so often with your stupidity.’

‘There was a lot I didn’t understand, but now-’

‘But now things are beginning to change, and they’ll go on changing as long as you stick with her. She’s good for you, Darius. You’ve become almost human.’

‘I never thought to hear you say that, Mary.’

‘I never thought to be able to say it. That’s why Mark and Frankie will be going to my mother while Ken and I are on honeymoon. They’d much rather have come to you in Herringdean, but I honestly didn’t think you’d cope on your own. Now it’s different.’

‘Too late to send them to me?’

‘My mother is so looking forward to having them. I can’t disappoint her now. But there’s plenty of time in the future. Keep up the good work. The kids are really happy about Harriet.’

‘I know, and I can’t tell you how much that means to me.’

‘Well, make sure you keep her for good. You’re a clever man and, believe me, that’s the clever thing to do.’

They moved away, leaving Harriet deep in thought.

The evening was drawing to a close. Bride and groom withdrew and reappeared in outdoor clothes. Cars were at the door. Mark and Frankie said their farewells to Darius and Harriet before being scooped up by their grandmother and swept off to her home on the other side of London.

‘Are you tired?’ Darius asked Harriet, who was yawning.

‘Mmm, a bit sleepy. You did say we’re going early tomorrow, didn’t you?’

‘That’s right. Time for bed.’

On the way up in the elevator he slipped his arm around her. ‘Did you enjoy it?’

‘Oh, yes, it was lovely. Everyone was so nice to me, especially your father.’

‘Yes, I saw the two of you dancing.’

‘I couldn’t believe it when he asked me, but he was terribly gallant and charming.’

‘You should beware my father’s charm,’ Darius said wryly.

‘Oh, I know he was just being polite but…I don’t know…he was nice. He asked me about my antique shop, said he understood antiques were very profitable these days. I had to admit that it’s as much of a souvenir shop for tourists as an antique shop. He laughed and said that was life and nothing was really the way it seemed, was it? Hey, careful. Don’t squash me.’

‘Sorry,’ he said, relaxing the arm that he’d tightened sharply about her. Listening to her innocent pleasure when he knew how misguided it was brought a return of the rage that had attacked him earlier. But now it was a million times more intense, nearly blinding him with the desire to lash out against her enemy.

From the start he’d known of her strength, her defiance, her ability to cope, essential in a lifesaver. Suddenly he was discovering her other side, the one that could be slightly naïve, that believed the best of people, the side she hid behind cheerful masks.

But the face she turned up to him now wore no mask. It was defenceless, the mouth soft, the eyes wide and trusting. He knew it would be a sin to betray that trust by kissing her, no matter how much he longed to. So he contented himself with brushing her cheek with his fingertips, and felt her relax against him.

What he might have done next he never knew, for the elevator reached their floor, the doors opened and the world rushed in on them again.

Now she was smiling brightly in a way that set him once more at a distance.

‘Sleep tight,’ he told her at her door. ‘We have to be up with the dawn.’

‘I’ll be there,’ she promised. ‘Goodnight.’

He thought she would give him a final look so that the sweet connection they had established might live again. But he was facing a closed door.

Inside her room, Harriet stood in darkness, listening as his footsteps moved away to his own door.

Her heart was heavy. Midnight had struck and Cinders had been forced to leave, not running away and leaving a shoe, but escorted by the Prince who’d been tempted only briefly before his common sense had rescued him.

It’s over. All over. Finished. Done with. Get undressed, go to bed, and stop indulging in fantasies. Didn’t you learn anything from last time?

Switching on the bedside lamp, she stripped off her beautiful attire with ruthless fingers and replaced it with plain cotton pyjamas. Her packing was done at top speed, and then she was ready for bed. Defiantly, she got under the duvet and switched out the light.

There was a knock at the door.

‘Who is it?’ she asked without opening.

‘It’s me.’

H ARRIETopened the door a crack and saw him. He’d removed his jacket and bow tie and his shirt was torn open at the throat.

‘Can I talk to you?’

She stood back as he went past her. She would have turned on the bedside lamp but he stayed her hand.

‘Better just let me talk. I owe you an apology for my behaviour tonight.’

‘Do you? You didn’t offend me.’

‘That’s very sweet of you, but I got a bit possessive in a way that I promised not to. Just friends we said but I didn’t really stick to that, did I? I hadn’t expected you to look so beautiful-’

‘Thanks,’ she said wryly.

‘No, I didn’t mean that,’ he said hastily. ‘Oh, heavens, I’m making a mess of this. I only wanted to say that you were a hundred times more wonderful than I’d dared to hope and… Harriet! ’

Then his arms were around her, pulling her tightly against him, and all the sensible restraint drained out of her as she received the kiss she’d been longing for, never completely admitting her own desire. Now there was no chance of denying it to herself or him. She felt herself soften and fall against him, reaching out so that he was enfolded in her arms as she was enfolded in his.

Her hands were exploring him, the fingers weaving into his hair before drifting down to his face. He raised his head from hers, looking down with a question in his eyes, as though wondering if he only imagined her passionate response.