Trust in Me

by Suzanna Ross

  “I just can’t believe it.”

  A frown marred his perfect features. “I assure you it’s true.”

  Even though she’d always known exactly how selfish Harry could be, she still couldn’t accept he would let her down to this extent – especially with Evie on the scene. Despite Rosie having taken over responsibilities, Evie was still every bit as much Harry’s sister as she was Rosie’s. And he knew exactly why Evie was so desperate to stay here.

  “Can I call someone for you?”

  Dazed, Rosie shook her head. She’d taken care of herself for so long the idea of Theo calling someone to look after her made her recoil.

  She looked down to where her hands still rested in his, hers looking ridiculously small and pale by contrast. His thumbs moved in hypnotic circles on her wrists, making her feel...strange. She looked up and allowed her bemused gaze to linger on his all too perfect face – the haughty cheekbones and strong jaw hinted at male model looks. The hardness of his very male face was softened by his mesmeric gold eyes, fringed with the longest, blackest lashes known to humankind. His hair was thick and dark and her fingertips tingled at the thought of how it would feel to touch. Her eyes settled on his full lips – it would be so easy to tilt forward and brush them with her own. She couldn’t help wondering what it would feel like to kiss him...

  “What’s going on here, then?” Evie arrived just in time to stop Rosie embarrassing herself completely in front of this stranger.

  Horrified, she forced herself from her daydream, a flush of awareness warming her face. How, in the name of all that was holy, had she let it happen? Rosie had seen at first-hand what happened when people gave into their longings rather than facing up to their responsibilities – she’d no intention of going anywhere near that particular can of worms. And even if she were to be so tempted, the man who had come to evict her and Evie from their home would have to be at the bottom of her list of suitable playmates.

  “Well?” Evie demanded.

  Rosie was aware of Theo as he glanced across and acknowledged the teenager with a brief nod. “My name’s Theo Bradley, I’m here to discuss a business matter with Rosie. And you are?”

  “Evie Farnham, Rosie’s sister.”

  Theo gave a short laugh. “The second Farnham sister,” he muttered, almost to himself. “And even younger than the first. Well, that figures.”

  With every beat of Rosie’s heart, the numbness flowing through her veins slowly seeped away to be replaced by red-hot anger. Anger because Harry had done this to her. Anger because everyone expected she’d roll over and comply with the situation. Anger because this great big man thought he could waltz into her home and tell her he’d just bought the roof she’d lived under all her life. Most of all, anger that in the midst of her distress this stranger had sought to offer her comfort by holding her hands.

  She snatched away from him and stood so abruptly, Theo Bradley very nearly toppled backwards. To her complete annoyance, he regained his balance with the grace of an athlete.

  She risked a glance over at Evie – who was watching the scene with great interest. All Rosie needed. Heaven only knew how she was going to explain this to her sister. “I’ll speak to you in a minute,” she muttered before turning her attention on Theo Bradley and glowering up at him with all the fury she could muster. He had to know she wouldn’t be pushed around like this. “I’ve had enough. I think you’d better leave.”

  “I’m not going anywhere until we’ve discussed the matter in hand.”

  She was aware of Evie listening to every word, watching each action – Rosie couldn’t allow herself to lose control in front of her little sister. “Evie, the computer’s free now – why don’t you go and get started on the research you needed to do?”

  Evie hung back, reluctant to leave, obviously knowing there was something happening and keen to find out what, exactly. “It can wait.”

  “Evie, please,” the warning tone in Rosie’s voice was unmistakeable. She rarely used it but when did, Evie knew not to argue. Rosie waited until she had left the room before rounding on her unwelcome visitor. “I refuse to discuss anything with you. This is my home. You have no business here. Please leave.”

  He gave the most annoying grin in history, showing perfect white teeth in the process. “I don’t think you understand. You can’t order me to leave my own property.”

  Arms folded, she cast him a withering glance. “I thought I just had.”

  “Rosie, ignoring the issue won’t make it go away. Even if I were to leave now, it wouldn’t change the fact my company owns the Farnham Estate. And it would be impossible for me to write off an asset of this value – however much I might want to.”

  He sounded so reasonable. She knew what he said made sense. And yet she couldn’t think further than her need to keep this roof over her sister’s head. “I can’t tolerate a stranger strolling in here and taking over my home.”

  “You must realise the place is falling apart. Quite apart from any other consideration, it really isn’t safe for you to live here.”

  Her self-control slipped a notch. She could feel it in the quaking of her fingers, as she lightly touched the cold glass of the vase positioned on the low table next to the chair she’d sat in only moments earlier. It would be so easy to pick it up and throw it at him, to watch as the heavy glass fell and splintered on the floor.

  As close to the edge as she’d ever been, she knew she had to get him out of here before she lost it completely. She took a deep breath. “It’s my home and you have no right to criticize it.”

  ***

  Theo felt like a total louse. It was obvious the manor meant more to her than just somewhere to live. But, as he’d tried to explain, he couldn’t walk away. It would leave too big a dent in his balance sheet and he’d be left having to explain himself – something he always tried to avoid.

  He shrugged helplessly. “I can’t undo what’s been done.”

  “My sister and I won’t leave our home. Is that clear?” she enunciated with precision. “We’ll invoke squatters’ rights, if necessary.”

  “Then we have a problem.” Theo held her gaze; her green eyes were practically fizzing and he wondered how such a tiny package of womanhood could contain so much intensity.

  “I’ll speak to Harry. He’ll give you your money back. That will be an end to it.”

  Theo shook his head. He wasn’t going to be the one to tell her – he’d passed on enough bad news for one day – but he happened to know getting the money back from Harry Farnham would be impossible. “I’m afraid that’s not an option. The contracts have been signed.”

  She paled visibly. “You might legally own the manor, but we won’t leave. We can’t.” Her eyes were bright with unshed tears.

  He ran a careless hand through his hair. “There are some empty properties on the estate. How about you and your sister move into one of those, until you can make other arrangements?”

  She shook her head. “That’s not going to happen. Evie would be distraught if we had to leave. We’re staying here, at the manor.”

  ***

  This couldn’t be happening. In a minute she’d wake up in her own bed and find Theo Bradley had been nothing more than a cruel figment of her imagination. She’d been overworking and her tiredness, combined with eating too much cheese, had resulted in her subconscious conjuring up her worst nightmare. In the meantime, until she woke, she’d argue her case.

  “How do I know you’re telling me the truth anyway?” She threw the question out, the first thing to pop into her head, and for a moment she thought she might have gone too far. Theo Bradley didn’t look happy she was calling his word into question. But she’d made the accusation now and she pushed the point further. “For all I know you could just be some con-man or madman who’s taken some insane fancy to my home.”

  His breath was released in one loud hiss. “I can understand your reaction – you’re in shock. But I’m not the person you should be angry with Rosie. Yo
u have to face the fact your brother sold you out.”

  “Please go. I really don’t want to have to ask you again.”

  “Fine.” He reached into the inside pocket of his tailored grey jacket. “I’ll leave you these papers. When you’ve a mind to read them you’ll see they prove every word I’ve told you is true.” He dropped an envelope onto the table beside the vase. He gave a brief nod and headed for the door. His hand lingered on the handle for a moment and then he turned, his golden eyes meeting hers. “I’ll be back soon.” It sounded like a promise rather than a threat and Rosie was horrified to discover she didn’t mind the prospect of seeing him again. It was only the fact he was trying to evict her she objected to.

  ***

  The sunshine was warm as it hit Theo’s face – a stark contrast to the arctic reception he’d received from the lovely Miss Rosie Farnham. He hadn’t anticipated such a complication – how could he have? No normal person would sell the family home without informing its occupants. It seemed Harry Farnham deserved his reputation as a coward and a lowlife.

  But, despite his irritation with the situation in general, he recognised Rosie had been quite magnificent in the way she’d argued her case, even though she must have known it was hopeless. He admired how she’d challenged him, despite the fact Farnham Manor, in its current state, was hardly worth fighting over.

  He couldn’t in his wildest imaginings picture Gina disagreeing with him so openly – but then Gina’s ways of undermining him had been much more personal. He grimaced as he briefly recalled the disaster zone that had been his last relationship. All his own fault – he should have told her it was over as soon as she’d began to hint about a wedding ring. Well, he’d definitely learnt his lesson – never again would he allow any woman to expect more than he was able to give.

  Those dark thoughts were quickly surpassed, though, as the memory of a pair of sea-green eyes nudged back into his thoughts. Rosie really was extraordinarily pretty.

  As he drove away, he found himself wondering if she was spoken for.

  Chapter Three

  How typical of Rosie’s luck, tall, dark and handsome had come knocking on her door and brought a whole load of trouble with him. No surprises there – men always brought trouble to Farnham Manor. Her father, her brother – each a man who’d proved to be far more grief than he was worth.

  And now, to crown them all, the master trouble maker – Theo Bradley.

  Rosie snatched up the papers he’d left and flicked impatiently through them. She’d have the estate lawyers check them out, but at first glance they seemed to be in order. Of course they did. She’d never doubted him, not really. Despite what she’d said, he exuded such cool, calm control and utter confidence Rosie hadn’t truly suspected for an instant he wasn’t genuine.

  Evie was furiously typing away on the computer when Rosie joined her in the office. She barely looked up from the screen.

  Rosie shook her head as she spotted a familiar grey head peering over her sister’s shoulder. She sighed. “Oh, Evie. What have I told you about bringing Jessie into the house?”

  Evie shrugged. “She followed me in. What could I do?”

  Rosie sighed, only grateful her sister hadn’t treated their uninvited guest to a visit from the little donkey. “You could have made sure she was left securely at the sanctuary with the others.” Rosie softened as Jessie looked across at her with curious eyes, head to one side. She reached out to stroke the soft, grey face, and she couldn’t help smiling, despite her problems.

  Evie fixed Rosie with a perceptive gaze. “He was pretty hot – for an old guy.”

  Rosie feigned ignorance. “Who was hot?” Flustered, she left Jessie and busied herself with tidying up, putting files and folders back on shelves, shuffling bits of paper into neat piles. Anything so she didn’t have to look at her sister.

  “Theo Bradley.”

  “Was he?” She shrugged a slender shoulder. “I didn’t notice.”

  Evie laughed. “Liar – you couldn’t take your eyes off him.”

  Sometimes Rosie was exasperated by just how perceptive her sister could be. “That’s because he was a visitor and I was speaking to him.”

  “And he couldn’t take his eyes off you.”

  “That’s because he was speaking to me. It’s good manners to maintain eye contact with a person when you talk to them. I’ve told you that often enough.”

  “You don’t normally look as though you’re going to throw yourself at the people you’re talking to.” Evie had warmed to her theme and it took all Rosie’s efforts to keep calm and not show how much Evie’s interrogation was rattling her. “It looked to me as though you were about to kiss him when I walked in.”

  “Oh for heaven’s sake.” She slammed a bundle of receipts into a drawer. “You shouldn’t be thinking of a career in law, you should be writing fiction.”

  “I know what I saw.”

  “Then maybe I should take you to get glasses.”

  Evie didn’t look convinced. “What did he want?”

  The change in direction threw her momentarily. Poor Jessie, fed up of being ignored, left Evie’s side and came over to Rosie – obviously thinking she stood more chance of some attention. Glad of the diversion, Rosie took full advantage and patted the animal. “Er, something to do with Harry.” She saw Evie frown and rushed to reassure her. “Nothing to worry about, I’ll sort it out.”

  Evie nodded and glanced back at the computer screen. “Oh-my-gosh,” she shrieked at full volume. “Have you seen this?”

  Rosie walked around the desk, with Jessie patiently following, and peered over Evie’s shoulder so she could see the screen and the source of the excitement. She frowned when an image of Theo Bradley stared back. “You shouldn’t Google people, it’s intrusive.”

  “It’s research. Everyone does it. But look, he’s mega.”

  “Evie, I’m not comfortable with...”

  “The man’s off the scale successful. He’s thirty three and a self-made multi millionaire. Has interests all over the place – including the chain of hotels that owns Chudley House.” Evie mentioned the up-market hotel, only a short drive away, where the seriously wealthy gathered to relax. “Look, there’s even a photo of him with his helicopter.”

  “That’s got nothing to do with us, Evie. And I’m not happy with you snooping on him like this.”

  “He’s not married,” Evie confirmed before looking up to fix her sister with an icy blue stare. “You really should have snogged him while you had the chance. He didn’t look as though he’d have pushed you away.”

  “I don’t snog people I don’t know.”

  “As far as I’m aware, you don’t snog anyone – ever. But perhaps you should. You need to find a man. It’s not good for you to be on your own.”

  Rosie felt the warmth of a guilty blush on her cheeks. If only the thought of kissing Theo Bradley hadn’t occurred to her, she might be in a stronger position to fend off Evie’s ramblings. “I don’t want a man. Besides, I’m not on my own. I’ve got you.”

  “I won’t be here forever. When I leave for uni you’ll be here by yourself. If I knew you had someone to share the running of the estate with I’d be much happier.”

  Flustered, Rosie tidied pens and paperclips from the desk – anything was better than meeting her sister’s perceptive gaze. “It’s kind of you to be worried, but that’s not a good reason for me to become involved in a relationship.”

  “You could do much worse than Theo. He’s gorgeous and rich.”

  Shocked, she stared at her sister. Had she really done such a bad job of raising Evie that she was so cynical at fifteen. “That’s a very superficial way to look at it. Relationships are about caring for and loving someone else,” she said. “Not about going out with someone because they’re rich and good-looking.”

  “Don’t you think you could care for Theo Bradley?” Evie had given up all pretence of working at the computer now and was leaning forward, desperate for Rosie’
s reply.

  Could she care about a man like Theo Bradley? The question was ludicrous – their brief acquaintance wasn’t based on caring, it was based on his demand for vacant possession. “Evie, stop being silly.”

  “Well I think you’d make a great couple.” Evie sat back in her chair, a satisfied grin on her face.

  Enough – time to put a stop to this. She sniffed loudly. “When I want your advice about my love life, I’ll ask for it. Now it’s time you took Jessie back to the sanctuary. And don’t bring her into the house again.”

  It took a while to persuade Evie to lead the little grey donkey back to her furry friends, but eventually – reluctantly – she complied with Rosie’s request. “And when you get back, can you make a start on dinner, please?” she called after her sister’s retreating back.

  As soon as Evie was out of earshot, she reached for the phone. The moment she’d simultaneously itched for and dreaded since Theo Bradley dropped his bombshell.

  Time to call her brother.

  Her hand hovered over the receiver while she thought over what she should say.

  However much she didn’t want to make this call, she needed to speak to Harry and sort this out. If not for herself, then for the other estate inhabitants. What if he planned to evict the tenants, as he was trying to do with her and Evie? They’d been dependent so long she didn’t think they’d manage in the real world.

  She dithered so long that, by the time she’d summoned the courage to dial, Evie was calling to say dinner was ready. Wearily, Rosie made her way to the kitchen. Talking to Harry would have to wait until later.

  “We don’t have much food in,” Evie complained as she passed a bowl of soup and some bread over.

  Rosie made some mental calculations. “I’ll go shopping next week,” she decided. Until then they’d have to live off whatever was there. “Now tell me, did you take Jessie back to the sanctuary?”