Kate Hardy - Seduced By The Boss

‘—a huge apology,’ he cut in. ‘I know.’

She hugged him. ‘You’re my youngest son, Hugh, and I love you, but I don’t like you very much today.’

‘I don’t like myself very much, either,’ he admitted.

‘She isn’t Jessie,’ Libby said softly.

‘I know.’ Jessie would never have offered to help prepare the vegetables. Yes, musicians had to look after their hands, because an accidental cut or burn would affect their ability to play an instrument—but Jessie wouldn’t have offered to do something that didn’t risk her hands, either. She wouldn’t have played with Sophia. He knew that his family hadn’t taken to her—they’d been polite but reserved. But everyone had instantly warmed to Bella, from his great-aunt to his brothers and even his father. ‘I need to go and talk to her.’

‘Be nice,’ Libby said softly. ‘She’s got a good heart. She didn’t break your trust. She found a better way to deal with things than any of us did.’

Hugh hugged his mother back. ‘I know.’ And he’d messed this up. Big time.

He went outside to find Bella. She looked as if she’d been crying, and he felt a total heel. How could he have been so unkind to her?

‘Bella. I’m sorry,’ he said.

‘Hmm.’ She didn’t look in the slightest bit mollified by his apology.

‘You were right and I was wrong.’

She folded her arms. ‘That’s rather stating the obvious.’

‘And I’m sorry I was obnoxious to you. I shouldn’t have said any of that.’

‘Also stating the obvious,’ she said.

‘I can’t even blame it on Monday morning-itis.’ He sighed. ‘How do I make it up to you?’

‘You’ve made it clear that you don’t trust me. So, actually, I don’t think you can,’ she said.

He blew out a breath. ‘I don’t have a clue what to say or what to do. Only that I’m sorry for hurting you. And, without you, I don’t think my family would ever have understood what Insurgo means to me. And I wouldn’t have understood how they really feel, either. I appreciate that.’

She shrugged. ‘Even so, I’m not your personal punchbag. Hugh, I don’t enjoy people lashing out at me. I was only playing Miss Ditzy because you asked me to. I’m not an actress. Your mum saw right through the whole thing. And I did tell you it was a stupid idea.’

‘You were right,’ he said again. ‘I know you probably want to be a million miles away from here right now, so if you want me to drive you straight home, then I’ll do it. But I think my family would like you to stay for lunch. They like you. And I mean they like the real Bella Faraday,’ he clarified. ‘The one who looks out for elderly aunts, cuddles babies, plays ball with the dogs, is an amazing artist and brings out the best in everyone. The woman who really is the life and soul of the party—because I’ve never seen my entire family get up on the dance floor before you came along.’

Her eyes sparkled with tears; he brushed away the single one that spilled over her lashes.

‘They don’t hate me for lying to them?’ she whispered.

‘No. They really, really like you.’ And so did he. Though now wasn’t the time to say so. After the way he’d hurt her, she wouldn’t believe him—and he couldn’t blame her.

‘Come and have lunch,’ he said.

‘For your mum’s sake. Not yours.’

‘I know,’ he said softly. ‘And thank you.’

Although Bella didn’t say much to him once they were back in the house, she sparkled all the way through Sunday lunch. She insisted on helping to clear things away and on cuddling Sophia again when his niece had another fit of the grumps. And when his family said goodbye to her, it was with a warm, heartfelt hug rather than the formal handshakes they’d always given Jessie.

‘Come back soon,’ Libby said. ‘And I mean really soon. You have to see the bluebells when they’re at their best.’

‘I’d love to,’ Bella said, hugging her back. ‘Thank you so much for having me.’

His brothers and their partners all got hugs, too, along with the baby. And so did his father, who then shocked Hugh immensely by saying, ‘Come and paint the bluebells for my study, and I’ll cook you my famous chicken biryani.’

Since when had his father ever cooked? Let alone something as exotic as biryani?

Hugh was so stunned that he didn’t say a word until they were halfway home. And then it was only because Bella was the one to start the conversation.

‘I think we need to talk,’ she said carefully.

‘Talk?’

She took a deep breath. ‘I’m sorry I messed up your plans. If you want me to resign and go quietly from Insurgo, I’ll accept that and write you an official resignation letter as soon as we’re back in London.’

‘No, that’s not fair.’ And he didn’t want her to leave.

‘You asked me to play your unsuitable girlfriend, and I didn’t do it right.’

‘I also told you to be yourself,’ he said. ‘And you were. Though I don’t get how you do it.’

‘How I do what?’ she asked, sounding confused.

‘Fit in so effortlessly. When you joined Insurgo, within a couple of days it was as if you’d been one of the team right from the start. And my family. They took to you like they never did to—’ He stopped abruptly.

‘Never did to whom?’ she asked softly.

‘Never mind.’

‘The girl who broke your heart? The one you worked with?’

He gave her a sidelong glance. ‘Fishing, Bella?’

‘No—but I can hardly ask you straight out about it, can I? You’re not exactly approachable.’

‘My past isn’t any of your—’ he began, then stopped, knowing that he was being completely unfair to her. ‘Sorry. That was rude and unkind. Especially as you’ve just given up your whole weekend to do me a favour, and I’ve already treated you badly. I apologise unreservedly. And you have the right to stamp all over me in spike heels.’

‘Spike heels?’

‘Your “three strikes and you’re out” rule. I’ve broken that several times.’

‘That’s bravado,’ Bella said, sounding sad. ‘I don’t really stomp on people.’ And he felt even guiltier when she added, ‘Besides, you’re right. Your past isn’t any of my business.’ She sighed. ‘Did you hear everything I said to your mum?’

‘Only from when she asked you if you were my real girlfriend pretending to be my pretend girlfriend.’ He gave her another swift look. Guilt was written all over her face. ‘Is there more I should know about?’

‘I told her that you’re Insurgo’s heart—and joining the family firm would break your spirit and make you resent them instead of loving them and being exasperated by them as you do now.’

If Hugh hadn’t been driving, he would’ve closed his eyes in horror. ‘We never talk about that sort of stuff.’

‘I think you might do, in future,’ Bella said softly. ‘But, as I said earlier, I understand if you want me to resign.’

‘Right now,’ Hugh said, ‘I think the best thing would be if neither of us said another word until we get back to London.’

‘OK,’ Bella said, and lapsed into silence.

Which made Hugh feel even more mean and guilty. He knew she’d said everything with the best of intentions. But his head was in a whirl. Bella Faraday knocked him seriously off balance, and he didn’t trust himself to say what he really meant. He wasn’t even sure what he really felt, other than being completely mixed up, so it was better to say nothing.

It didn’t help that he could still smell her perfume, and that made him remember kissing her in the orangery last night. That kiss—and what had happened afterwards—was something he really couldn’t dare to repeat. So it was better to put a little bit of metaphorical distance between them. Wasn’t it?