by Anne Mather
‘She must have been desperate,’ he said flatly.
And the amazing thing was he honestly didn’t care.
Recovering a little, Sean tugged at his collar. ‘She was crazy, too.’ He took several shuddering breaths. ‘She drove like a maniac, you know. I thought I was done for when that petrol tanker turned the corner!’
Jack was about to say he didn’t care whether the other man had suffered because of the accident or not when Sean’s expression abruptly changed. His attempts to defend himself were silenced by the look of absolute horror that crossed his face.
He was looking beyond Jack, towards the doorway into the hall, and, judging by the contortion of his flushed features, Jack suspected they were no longer alone.
He was guessing Grace had decided to join them after all, though he hadn’t heard her enter the house. But the room behind him was empty and there seemed no reason for Sean’s behaviour, for the unmistakeable terror in his gaze.
Sean blinked several times, his mouth opening and shutting as if he wanted to say something, but couldn’t quite get the words past his trembling lips.
Then, almost hysterically, he said, ‘What the hell is that?’ He swallowed convulsively. ‘How— No! No, this isn’t happening.’ He shook his head as if by doing so he could deny what he was seeing. ‘I know what you’re trying to do to me. You want me to think I’m going out of my mind.’
And then Jack knew.
He didn’t need to hear Lisa’s voice or see her slender form wavering in the doorway. Sean’s reaction was answer enough. His late wife had chosen to show herself to someone else as well as him.
And although he knew he shouldn’t, he couldn’t prevent himself from saying innocently, ‘What are you talking about, Sean? As far as I’m concerned, our conversation is over. I never want to see your miserable face again.’
‘But—Jack—’
Clearly Sean needed some reassurance, but Jack didn’t see why he should comfort someone who had abandoned Lisa when she needed him most.
‘Just go,’ he said, and Jack guessed Lisa hadn’t made it easy for him when Sean practically fell over the coffee table in his haste to get out of the room.
Jack was still standing, hands balled at his sides, when Lisa said wistfully, ‘You’re never going to forgive me now, are you?’
Jack shook his head. ‘I forgave you a long time ago, Lisa,’ he said ruefully. ‘I just hope Grace understands.’
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
GRACE HAD HAD a particularly tiring day at the agency and she was looking forward to getting home and taking a nice long bath. It hadn’t helped that William Grafton had turned up again, asking about a property in Rothburn. He said he’d heard she was looking for an apartment and he was planning on turning an old house on Rothbury Road into three separate units.
As if she’d want to live in some apartment he owned, thought Grace with a shiver. She’d never feel safe from his intrusion, no matter how many locks she had on the door.
She only hoped her father wouldn’t hear of it. Knowing that he liked the man would make her position very difficult if that was so. And her heart sank when she arrived home that afternoon, and Tom Spencer asked if he could have a word with her.
He and Grace’s mother were having a cup of tea in their living room. The family quarters were at the back of the pub, away from the public rooms and kitchen.
Grace’s anxiety lessoned a little when she saw that Susan Spencer looked positively radiant. Surely her mother wouldn’t be so pleased if she thought Grace was leaving and getting her own place?
‘Would you like some tea, Grace?’ she asked, when her daughter came into the room. ‘Your father’s just made it.’
‘No, that’s okay, Mum.’ Grace wasn’t really in the mood for chit-chat. Then a wonderful thought struck her. ‘Have you had the all-clear from the hospital?’
‘Not yet.’ Mrs Spencer pulled a wry face. ‘But soon, I hope.’ She looked up at her husband, who was hovering in the doorway. ‘Do come in and sit down, Tom.’ Then, to her daughter, ‘We’ve got some good news for you.’
It was the proposed apartment, thought Grace miserably.
Oh, God, how was she going to get out of this?
‘Do you mind if I go and get changed first?’ she asked, trying to sound positive. ‘It’s been a long day.’
‘Well, this won’t take long,’ said Mrs Spencer. ‘Tom, why don’t you spit it out? I have the feeling Grace won’t be half as disappointed as you think.’
Disappointed?
Grace frowned. ‘Is something wrong?’
‘Well, from our point of view, something’s very right,’ said her mother shortly. ‘Tom, for heaven’s sake, be grateful that you haven’t lost all that money. All right, you haven’t made any money, either, but, from my point of view, that’s a blessing.’
Grace blinked. ‘What money are we talking about?’ she asked, hardly daring to believe what her brain was telling her.
‘The money I lent that no-good boyfriend of yours,’ said her father, shocking her anew. ‘Apparently he’s had a change of heart. He’s not going ahead with the website.’ He paused, glancing significantly at his wife, and then added ruefully, ‘I hear he’s leaving the country and trying his luck in the States.’
Grace’s jaw dropped. ‘Are you saying you’ve got your investment back?’
‘Every penny of it,’ agreed her mother proudly. ‘I told your father that I didn’t think you’d be too broken-hearted, but he thinks you’ll blame him for not kicking up more of a fuss.’
‘A fuss about what?’
‘Well, you’re in love with the man, aren’t you?’ her father demanded. ‘Why do you think I got the money for him in the first place?’
‘Oh, Tom, don’t blame Grace.’ Mrs Spencer regarded her husband with some resignation. ‘You know you could see yourself as a company director. Not to mention the fortune you thought you were going to make.’
Grace’s father looked a little shamefaced. ‘Anything I did, I did for all of us,’ he protested, and his wife gave him a reassuring smile.
‘I know, Tom. You’re a star,’ she said mischievously.
‘But I can’t say I’m sorry Grace isn’t going to marry Sean.’
Grace was shocked and stunned. And hardly able to believe it.
‘You mean, you’ll be able to pay off the mortgage?’ she asked weakly. And when her mother nodded, ‘Oh, thank goodness. I was so afraid you’d never get your money back.’
‘I was afraid of that, too,’ confessed her mother honestly. ‘So you’re not heartbroken at Sean’s change of heart?’
* * *
Jack entered the bar of the Bay Horse, not without a trace of apprehension.
It was a week since Sean had left and Jack was sure now he wouldn’t be coming back.
Sean had driven away from Lindisfarne House ten days ago as if the devil himself were at his heels. Or perhaps a she-devil, Jack decided drily, remembering how he’d felt when Lisa had first appeared to him.
Now, however, Jack had decided to take control of his life and speak to Grace. She might not want to speak to him. He could easily have misread the signals she’d been giving him. But learning about the Spencers’ involvement had certainly given him hope.
When he’d asked Sean whether there were any other investors, he’d already known that Grace’s father was heavily involved.
Despite his conceit, Sean knew little about business, and he’d had no idea his financial dealings would be so easy to expose. When Jack had first given him the one hundred thousand, the firm of advisors who worked for him in London had immediately investigated the viability of Sean’s proposal. That was how Jack had learned how Sean was spending the money; including the trip to Las Vegas and the fact that Sean hadn’t been alone.
Jack was praying that, while there were no guarantees that the fact that her parents had been involved explained her reasons for staying with Sean, now that he’d returned her father’s money, she was not committed any more.
Or was he only clutching at straws?
He’d chosen a time when he thought the pub might not be crowded. Even visitors staying overnight tended to be gone by afternoon. And it was a nice day; ideal for the beach. He should have been at Culworth himself.
Pushing open the door into the bar, Jack paused to get his bearings. As he’d expected, the place wasn’t busy, only a couple of regulars shooting balls around the pool table.
And Tom Spencer polishing glasses behind the bar.
Great!
Jack had hoped to avoid Grace’s father. He had no desire to have another argument with the man. But he was here and—oh, joy!—he’d seen him. Jack allowed the door to swing closed behind him and moved across the floor.
‘Hi,’ he said pleasantly, laying a folded jacket on the counter. He paused, and when the other man didn’t say anything, he went on, ‘Sean left this at my house a couple of weekends ago. Perhaps you’d give it to him the next time he’s here.’
Tom Spencer put down the glass he was polishing and folded his arms. ‘Nesbitt won’t be coming here again,’ he said flatly. ‘But I can ask Grace to send it on to him, if you like.’
‘Okay,’ Jack said, with a shrug of his shoulders. ‘That’d be good. Thanks.’
He was turning away, deciding he’d try to speak to Grace some other time, when Tom Spencer spoke again. ‘May I offer you a drink, Mr Connolly?’ he asked civilly. ‘I feel I owe you an apology. I was somewhat less than courteous the last time we met.’
To say Jack was taken aback would have been an understatement. The last thing he’d expected from Grace’s father was civility. He’d been fairly sure the man didn’t like him, and getting cosy with him now seemed slightly hypocritical somehow.
But he was Grace’s father, and time and events had certainly blunted his dislike of the man. So he said, with equal courtesy, ‘Thanks. I’ll have a bottle of beer.’
Tom Spencer nodded and bent to take a German lager from the chilled cabinet. Then he set the beer and a glass on the counter, levering off the cap with professional ease.
‘Do you mind if I join you, Mr Connolly?’
Jack managed not to show his surprise. ‘Please,’ he said, and the other man drew himself a half of bitter from the tap.
There was silence for a few moments while they both swallowed a mouthful of beer. Jack didn’t use the glass, but drank his straight from the bottle.
Then Tom Spencer spoke again.
‘Grace won’t be seeing Nesbitt again,’ he remarked evenly, wiping foam from his upper lip with the back of his hand. He paused, eyeing Jack closely. ‘Did you know?’
Jack wanted to say, How could I? But this wasn’t the time for provocative questions.
So he said, ‘No,’ with what he hoped was just the right amount of interest. ‘I haven’t seen Sean since he left my house over a week ago.’
Tom Spencer frowned. ‘His choice or yours?’
Jack didn’t want to answer that. ‘Does it matter?’
The other man sniffed. ‘But you’re not sorry they’ve split up?’
‘No.’ Jack decided to tell the truth. ‘Are you?’
‘Me?’ Spencer grimaced. ‘Hell, no. I’ve known for some time that he wasn’t to be trusted.’ He paused. ‘But I thought Grace loved him. That was why I acted the heavy father that night on the yacht.’
Jack was taken aback. ‘Well...’ He was surprised at the man’s honesty. ‘I don’t know what to say.’
‘You could tell me if I’m wrong in thinking you want Grace for yourself,’ Spencer remarked drily. ‘If you don’t, then I can only thank you for what you’ve done for Susan and me.’
Jack caught his breath. ‘I beg your pardon...’
‘I’m not a fool, Mr Connolly. I know I behaved foolishly in lending Sean all that money, but, believe me, I’ve paid for my mistake. These past few months have been tough, for all of us. The Bay Horse makes us a living, but, you must know, pubs aren’t as popular as they were.’
Jack stared at him. ‘I still don’t...’
‘I’m fairly sure you gave Sean the money to pay us back,’ said Grace’s father quietly. ‘I’ve not told anyone, but I heard him talking to Grace when he was here that weekend. He as good as told her he’d lost my money, that I wouldn’t be getting it back.’
‘I see.’
‘He wanted her to go with him to see you, but she refused. He said he’d tell her mother and me what was going on, but for once she didn’t give in to his threats.’
He paused. ‘He never came back. I couldn’t understand it, but Grace said he had to get back to London.’
Jack nodded. ‘I guess he did.’
Tom Spencer frowned. ‘What did you say to him, Mr Connolly? Did you tell him you knew where all the money had gone?’
‘I don’t remember,’ said Jack, taking a mouthful of his beer. ‘But I’m glad things have worked out well for you. I wouldn’t have liked to see you lose this place.’
‘Nor would I, Mr Connolly. Nor would I.’ He hesitated.
‘But I warn you. I’m not going to allow you or anyone else to hurt my daughter again.’
‘Dad!’
The shocked exclamation startled both men.
Jack looked beyond her father’s determined stance to where Grace was standing in the doorway to the private quarters beyond.
‘Dad, what on earth do you think you’re doing?’ she demanded. ‘Accusing Jack of hurting me!’ She swallowed, avoiding Jack’s eyes and the look of condemnation she was sure she would see in them. ‘He didn’t. He—he wouldn’t. Don’t judge all men by Sean’s standards.’
Jack tried to catch her eye, but she wouldn’t look at him. And before he could say anything, Tom Spencer turned to speak to his daughter.
‘What are you doing home, Grace?’ he asked in surprise. ‘It’s barely half past three.’
‘I had a viewing near here and Mr Hughes gave me the rest of the afternoon off.’
She made a helpless gesture. ‘It’s just as well he did. What have you been saying to Jack behind my back?’
Her father gave Jack an appealing look. ‘We’ve been having a civil conversation, Grace. That’s all.’
‘I brought Sean’s jacket,’ Jack broke in. ‘He left it at the house. And I don’t have his address.’
Grace looked at him then, her beautiful green eyes dark and cloudy. She’d apparently worn a pantsuit to work today, and the slim-fitting trousers emphasised the sexy length of her legs.
‘Well—I’m sorry,’ she said, shifting a little nervously beneath his disturbing gaze. ‘My father had no right to speak to you as he did.’
Her father sighed then. ‘You weren’t supposed to hear this conversation, Grace. And I have no intention of apologising for speaking my mind.’
He paused, casting another glance in Jack’s direction. ‘Mr Connolly hasn’t had to listen to you crying yourself to sleep every night for over a week now—’
‘Dad!’
Grace wanted to die of embarrassment, but her father wasn’t finished yet.
‘You can’t deny it, Grace. We’ve heard you, your mother and me. And I have to say, we’ve been worried sick.’
Grace closed her eyes for a moment. And then, holding on to the door frame for support, she said tightly, ‘My—my crying myself to sleep has nothing to do with...with Jack.’
‘I know.’ The older man evidently surprised her with his words. ‘But I hope to God you haven’t been crying yourself to sleep because Nesbitt has apparently dumped you. I thought you had more sense than tha
t.’
Grace didn’t know where to look. Jack was staring at her, she knew it. She could feel those intent dark eyes searching her face.
Oh, God, she thought, what must he be thinking? That the humiliation she was suffering was well-deserved.
‘He didn’t.’ Grace’s lips trembled. ‘If—if you must know, I dumped him weeks ago.’
Jack felt an incredible sense of relief. Dear God, he did have a chance, after all.
‘Well, thank heaven for that!’
Jack’s statement came out of nowhere, and Grace rubbed her hands along her forearms under the sleeves of her jacket, feeling the nervous chill in spite of the heat of the day.
Her eyes widened. What was he saying? Had he come here to see her? Dared she believe such a thing?
She was struggling for words, when Jack continued, ‘Surely you realised I would want to know?’
Grace’s tongue circled her upper lip. ‘Why—why would I think that? We haven’t even spoken to one another since that night you showed me...your boat.’
And that was such an understatement. But she could hardly say, the night you almost seduced me in the cabin. Not in front of her father.
‘Well, I wasn’t sure you’d want me to get in touch with you,’ exclaimed Jack drily. ‘You must have known I’d want to see you again.’
Grace lifted her shoulders. ‘You didn’t try very hard to stop me from leaving with Dad.’
‘Because I thought you were still involved with Sean.’ He sighed, giving her father a rueful look. ‘I felt bad enough as it was, knowing how I felt.’
‘How did you feel?’ she asked a little breathlessly, and at last Mr Spencer realised this conversation wasn’t for him.
‘I’m going to get a couple of crates up from the cellar,’ he said, earning Jack’s gratitude. ‘If you’d like to stay for supper, you’re welcome.’
As soon as he’d gone, Jack groaned. ‘You know how I feel about you,’ he said savagely. ‘Dammit, Grace, I haven’t exactly kept it a secret, have I?’
Grace looked at him uncertainly. ‘Do you think we should continue this conversation up in my room?’