Liz Fielding - British Bachelors - Tempting & New - Seduction Never Lies / Holiday with a Stranger / Anything but Vanilla...

She could only hope now that Jago’s email correspondence had been more involved than expected.

Because if he’s not here, she thought, I’d be perfectly justified in saying that I’m not prepared to hang around waiting for him to show up. And if Charlie won’t drive me back, I’ll simply use my escape money.

And then she saw the dark figure standing on the stone steps in front of the main entrance and knew, with a sense of fatalism, that there was no way out.

‘So you have come after all.’ She heard that loathsome note of amusement under his drawl, as he opened the car door. ‘I was afraid that a migraine, or a sudden chill brought on by unwise bathing might have prevented you.’

‘And I was afraid you’d make me produce a doctor’s note,’ she said, lifting her chin as she walked beside him into the hotel, hotly aware of the candid appraisal that had swept her from head to toe as she emerged from the car.

Resentful too of the light guidance of his hand on her arm—the first time, she realised, that he’d touched her—but reluctant to pull away under the benevolent gaze of the commissionaire holding the door open for them.

He took her across the spacious foyer to a bar, all subdued lighting and small comfortable armchairs grouped round tables, most of which were occupied.

‘It’s very busy,’ Tavy said, praying inwardly that the Grange was too expensive and too distant from Hazelton Magna to attract anyone who might recognise her.

‘Weekends here are always popular, I’m told,’ Jago returned as a waiter appeared and conducted them to an empty table tucked away in a corner. ‘I considered ordering dinner in my suite, but I decided you’d probably feel safer in the dining room. At least on a first date.’

Tavy, sinking back against luxurious cushions, sat upright with a jolt. On several counts.

‘Suite?’ she echoed. ‘You have a suite here?’

‘Why, yes.’ He was leaning back, supremely at ease in his dark charcoal suit and pearl grey collarless shirt. ‘I’ve been here on and off for several weeks. I thought it would be easier to deal with the purchase of the Manor from a local base, and this proved ideal.’ He smiled at her. ‘And you were quite right about the food,’ he added lightly.

‘You knew all about it already—and you didn’t say. You let me ramble on...’

‘Hardly that. You were quite crisp on the subject. And I was impressed. I’d anticipated being directed to the nearest greasy spoon.

‘And as you’d suggested eating here, I couldn’t be suspected of any ulterior motive. Better and better.’ He nodded to the still-hovering waiter. ‘I’ve ordered champagne cocktails,’ he added. ‘I hope you like them.’

She said in a small choked voice, ‘You know perfectly well I’ve never had such a thing in my life.’

‘Then I’m glad to be making the introduction.’

‘And this is not a first date!’

The dark brows lifted. ‘You feel we’ve met before—in a previous existence, maybe? Wow, this is fascinating.’

‘I mean nothing of the kind, and you know that too.’ She drew a shaky breath. ‘I’m here because I didn’t have a choice. For some reason, you’ve made my father think you’re one of the good guys. I don’t share his opinion. And I’d like to know how the hell you came to be sitting in our kitchen anyway.’

‘That’s easy,’ he said. ‘I’d invited Ted Jackson up to the Manor this morning to give me a quote on clearing the grounds. As he was leaving, I simply asked him the identity of the gorgeous redhead I’d seen around. I admit his reply came as something of a surprise, so I decided to pursue my own enquiries.’

The drinks arrived, and he initialled the bill, casually adding a tip, while Tavy stared at him, stunned.

‘You—asked Ted Jackson?’ she managed at last.

‘Yes,’ he said. ‘I want to use local labour for the renovations as far as possible. Why? Isn’t he any good?’

‘Yes—I think... How would I know?’ She swallowed. ‘I mean—you actually asked him about me.’

‘It’s a useful way of gaining information.’

‘He will tell his wife that you did,’ she said stonily. ‘And June Jackson is the biggest gossip in a fifty-mile radius.’ Although she doesn’t seem to know I’m seeing Patrick, she amended swiftly. So she’s not infallible.

He shrugged. ‘You may be right, but he seemed to be far more interested in the prospect of restoring the gardens to their former glory.’

‘Until she makes him repeat every word you said to him,’ Tavy said bitterly. ‘Oh, God, this is such a disaster. And if anyone finds out about this evening...’ Her voice tailed away helplessly.

‘Single man has dinner with single woman,’ he said. ‘Sensational stuff.’

‘It isn’t funny.’ She glared at him.

‘Nor is it tragic, sweetheart, so lighten up.’ He glanced round. ‘I don’t see any lurking paparazzi, do you?’

‘You think it won’t happen? That the press won’t be interested in notorious rock star suddenly turning village squire?’

‘I like the sound of that,’ he said. ‘Maybe I should grow a moustache that I can twirl.’

‘And perhaps you could give up the whole idea,’ she said passionately. ‘Put the place back on the market, so it can be sold to someone who’ll contribute something valuable to the community, instead of causing it untold harm to satisfy some sudden whim about being a landowner, then walking away when he gets bored.’

She paused, ‘Which I suppose was what happened with Descent.’

‘No,’ he said. ‘Not exactly.’ He picked up his glass. Touched it to hers. ‘But here’s to sudden whims.’ Adding ironically, ‘Especially when they come at the end of a long and fairly detailed property search. Because I’m staying, sweetheart, so you and the rest of the neighbourhood will just have to make the best of it.’

He watched her fingers tighten round the stem of her own glass. ‘And if you’re planning to throw that over me, I’d better warn you that I shall reciprocate, causing exactly the kind of furore you seem anxious to avoid.

‘It’s up to you, of course, but why not try some and see that it’s too good to waste on meaningless gestures.’

She relinquished the glass, and reached for her bag. ‘On the whole, I’d prefer to go home.’

‘Then I shall follow you,’ he said silkily. ‘Begging, possibly on my knees, for very public forgiveness of some very private sin. How about, “Come back to me, darling, if only for the sake of the baby.” That should get tongues wagging.’

Tavy stared at him, assimilating the faint smile that did not reach his eyes, and unwillingly subsided, deciding she could not take the risk.

‘Very wise,’ he said. ‘Now, shall we begin the evening again? Thank you so much for giving me your company, Miss Denison. You look very lovely, and I must be the envy of every man in the room.’

The tawny gaze held hers, making it somehow impossible to look away. She said shakily, ‘Do you really think that’s what I want to hear from you?’

‘No,’ he said, with sudden curtness. ‘So let’s discuss the menus they’re bringing over to us instead. And please don’t tell me you couldn’t eat a thing, because I noticed you only picked at your lunch. And the chef has an award. You told me so yourself.’

‘Tell me something,’ she said, her voice barely above a whisper. ‘Why are you doing this?’

His smile was genuine this time, and, in some incredible way, even disarming.

‘A sudden whim,’ he said. ‘That I found quite irresistible. It happens sometimes.’

He added more briskly, ‘And now that I’ve satisfied your curiosity, let’s see what we can do for your appetite. Why don’t we begin with scallops?’