Lucy Gordon - Rescued by the Brooding Tycoon

Suddenly Phantom had changed course and raced into the sea. Mrs Bates ran to the water’s edge and called him but he took no notice.

‘Oh, no!’ Harriet wailed.

‘He’ll be all right,’ Darius said. ‘He’s swum often enough.’

‘Yes, when I was with him. But without me he’ll do something idiotic like going too far. Oh, look how far out he is! Come back, you stupid dog! ’

‘Land as close to the beach as you can,’ Darius told the pilot quickly.

Down they went, finishing in almost the same place as on that first day, a lifetime ago, leaping out and running down onto the beach where Mrs Bates was wailing, ‘I can’t swim, I’m sorry-he’s never done that before-’

‘No problem,’ Darius said. ‘I’ll go and-’

He’d been about to say that he would go after Phantom, but Harriet was way ahead of him, powering her way through the waves, calling Phantom urgently. He heard her and looked around, woofed in delight and began to paddle back to her. They met in deep water, greeting each other ecstatically with much crying and barking.

Darius remained where he was, knowing he wasn’t needed.

As they emerged from the water Phantom recognised him, yelped joyfully and began to charge up the beach, spraying water everywhere. Quick as a flash, Harriet hurled herself onto the hound, taking him down to the sand.

‘Oh, no, you don’t,’ she said breathlessly. ‘Let the poor man have at least one suit that you don’t ruin.’ She looked up at Darius. ‘You’d better run for it. I can’t hold him much longer. Hurry up! Go quickly. Thank you for a lovely time, but go before he gets away from me. Go! ’

There was nothing for it but to do as she said, so he returned to the helicopter. As it took off he looked down and discovered that history was repeating itself in that she was totally absorbed in Phantom, without even a glance to spare for himself.

It was only when he reached home he discovered that he still had her luggage. Briefly, he considered returning it in person, but settled for sending it in a taxi. He knew if he took it himself she would greet him politely while longing for him to be gone so that she could be alone with the one she really cared about.

And he couldn’t face that. He could have dealt with her hostility, but her cool politeness would flatten him.

Coward, he thought wryly.

Amos would be ashamed of him.

But Amos could go and jump in the lake.

For a while things seemed peaceful. Harriet slipped back into her old routine, bathing in the mornings, sometimes seeing Darius on the beach for a few minutes, chatting about nothing much, cracking a few jokes before saying a polite goodbye.

One evening, while she was working late in her shop, a knock at the door made her look up and see him through the glass. She unlocked the door.

‘Sorry, sir, we’re closed for business,’ she said cheekily.

‘Thanks for the welcome. Hiya, Phantom. Careful not to knock any of these antiques around.’

‘He doesn’t need you to tell him to behave perfectly,’ she said indignantly. ‘He’s always perfect.’

‘Sure, that’s why you pinned him to the ground when we landed.’

‘Oh, well, that was different. What brings you here at this hour?’

‘I’ll be honest; I have an ulterior motive. And don’t say it.’

‘Say what?’ she asked innocently.

‘That I never do anything without an ulterior motive.’

‘I wasn’t going to say that.’

‘No, but you were thinking it.’

‘Very perceptive of you. All right, what’s the ulterior motive?’

He held up his mobile phone.

‘The kids call me every evening and they always ask to talk to you. I have to invent excuses why you’re not there.’

‘But surely they don’t think we’re living together?’

‘Well…no, but they’re surprised that you’re never around.’

‘But when they call tonight I will be around?’ she hazarded.

‘Exactly.’

‘Unless I make a run for it.’

‘You’re too good a friend to do that.’

Before she could answer, the phone rang. Darius answered and his face lit up.

‘Frankie, lovely to hear from you, darling. What have you been doing today?’

Harriet studied his face, taking in its warmth and pleasure. Her resolution to keep him at a polite distance was fading with every moment.

‘What’s that?’ Darius asked. ‘Harriet? Well…I’m not sure if…’ He looked at her with pleading eyes. ‘I’ll see if she’s here,’ he said. ‘I’m just going looking now.’

Silently, he mouthed, Please. Harriet relented and took the phone.

‘Hi, Frankie! Boy, am I glad you called and gave me a chance to sit down! Your dad and I are working our socks off. I’ve just had a delivery at my shop and he’s helping me unpack and put things away-he’s doing very well.’

From the other end of the phone Darius could hear his little girl chuckling. He grinned.

‘Yes, I’m really making him work,’ Harriet said. ‘He’s surprisingly good. Let’s face it, he looks like a wimp-oh, dear, I shouldn’t have said that. If you could see how he’s glaring at me-’

‘I’m not,’ Darius said indignantly.

‘Anyway, he’s not as much of a wimp as he looks. He can manage heavy weights-much to my surprise-’

Darius’s indignation had faded and he was looking at her with resigned amusement. She laughed back at him, sending a silent message. That’ll teach you! And receiving his message in return. Just you wait!

Harriet rattled away for a while, enjoying the sound of Frankie’s delight. Then Mark took over, wanting to know if she’d been sailing. She’d taken her little yacht out only that morning and had plenty to tell him. It was a happy conversation.

At last she handed the phone back to Darius.

‘It’s a conspiracy,’ he told his son. ‘She’s as bad as you are, or you’re as bad as she is. I’m not sure which.’

Sounding relaxed and happy, he bid his children goodnight, then turned to her, laughing and exasperated in equal measure.

‘Harriet, you little wretch! What are you trying to do to me? Wimp, indeed!’

‘Shame!’ she soothed him. ‘All those hours spent in the gym, for nothing.’

‘All right, enjoy your laugh. I suppose I asked for it. And thank you. You did far more than I hoped for.’ He looked around at the large boxes. ‘You really have just had a delivery, haven’t you?’

‘Yes, a big one. Hey, what are you doing?’

‘Well, I’ve got to prove I’m not a wimp, haven’t I?’ he said, beginning to unpack. ‘Call it my gratitude.’

He wouldn’t let her refuse, but worked for two hours fetching, carrying, lifting weights, finally breathing out hard and saying, ‘I’m ready for a drink. Come on.’

The glass of ale in the pub that followed was in the same spirit of cheerful friendliness, and when they finally said goodnight she was able to feel confident that she’d successfully returned their relationship to safe territory.

She was to discover her mistake.

It was three days before she saw him again, racing towards her on the beach as she and Phantom emerged from the water, seizing her shoulders as soon as he reached her.

‘You’ve got to help me,’ he said. ‘I know you won’t want to but-’

‘Why wouldn’t I want to?’

‘Well, I never stop asking for things, do I? It’s always you giving and me taking-’

‘Darius, calm down and tell me what it is.’

‘Mary called me. The kids can’t stay with their gran; she’s gone down with a bug. It’s not serious but they have to leave, and they want to come here.’

‘Of course they want to be with you.’