by Suzanna Ross
He reached out and uncurled her fingers from where they were tightly wound around the stem of her wine glass. Absently stroking the palm of her hand with his thumb, he looked intently into her eyes. “Do you trust me, Rosie?”
Rosie gulped. She hadn’t expected him to ask her that. She thought for only a moment before she realized that she did trust him – which was very strange seeing as they’d only just met and Rosie’s default setting was to be suspicious of everyone. Mouth dry, she was unable to speak, so she nodded and saw his full lips curve into a brief smile before he brought her hand up to offer a whisper of a kiss against her fingers. An electric reaction ensured she nearly passed out and she closed her eyes against the confusing mixture of emotions assaulting her.
“There are experts on my team who have already effected very sympathetic renovations of some of my older properties,” he assured her quietly. “I only employ the best – the manor will be in good hands.”
She opened her eyes and the promise of a smile played about her lips as it hit her that Theo could be relied on to look after the home that had meant so much to her father. A burden was lifted from her shoulders. For the first time in her life she truly felt that she didn’t need to worry about the manor. And she trusted that Theo wouldn’t let her down.
“How did you end up with responsibility for Evie?” He asked as they ate pudding.
She swallowed a mouthful of chocolate mousse and looked at him in surprise. It hadn’t occurred to her she would have to explain. “There was nobody else.”
“There’s always someone else.”
“Not in this case,” she insisted. “Besides, I wanted to do it. I was there when she was born. In fact, I delivered her.”
“How did you know what to do?” Theo looked as appalled as he sounded and Rosie resisted the urge to laugh at his reaction – it had been no laughing matter. In fact it had been a pretty scary situation for all concerned.
“I didn’t, but Glory hadn’t realised she was in labour until the last minute and by then it was too late to get help. So I had no choice.”
It had been the worst night of her life – two lives depending on her and she hadn’t been remotely prepared. And the shadow of what had happened to Rosie’s own mother had loomed large.
She’d been so scared that Glory and her baby – Evie – might die.
The medical staff, who had arrived shortly after the birth, told her she’d done a great job, but she still wasn’t sure. If she hadn’t panicked, if she’d been more supportive, if she’d known what she was supposed to do... If things had been different, perhaps Glory might have stayed and all their lives would have been better.
Even in retrospect and from the perspective of a grown woman, she was unable to look back on that night without feeling that she was, somehow, to blame for Glory’s decision to leave the family.
“Where was your father that night?”
“Dad had gone out, we didn’t know where. He didn’t come back for days.”
“That must have been hard on you.”
“It was. But, from the moment I first held the baby in my arms I fell in love with her. Everyone used to laugh because I treated her like some sort of doll, took her everywhere, stayed off school to mind her. But with Glory gone and Dad not interested in her, she was more like my child than my sister.”
“You were practically still a child yourself.”
“I was sixteen, but it’s surprising how quickly you have to grow up when you have responsibilities.”
He was quiet for a moment she thought he might confide something, but the moment passed and he reached out instead. “Come dance with me.” He took her hand and rose to his feet, taking her with him towards the dimly lit dance floor.
He drew her into his arms, cradled her against his body and she reached up to link her fingers at the back of his neck, playing absently with the hair that curled into his nape. It was amazing how right it seemed and she knew a moment of satisfaction as he shivered against her. She closed her eyes and leaned closer, feeling an unfamiliar surge of utter contentment begin to carry her away…
“Well, well, look who it is,” a smarmy male voice broke into their world, tearing them apart. “How very cosy. Aren’t you going to introduce me to your little friend?”
The effect couldn’t have been more drastic if the newcomer had thrown a bucket of iced water over them. Theo immediately dropped his hold of her and sprang round to confront the intruder. “What the hell are you doing here? I thought I told you to stay away from me for the foreseeable future.”
“What a way to greet your big brother.”
So this was Theo’s brother. Rosie would never have picked him out because the two could not have been more different. Whereas Theo was tall, muscular and dark, his brother was significantly shorter, slighter and paler. Not surprising really – quite apart from Theo being a definite one off, Rosie knew from her experience that siblings sometimes looked nothing alike: She, herself being a short redhead, Eve being tall and blonde and Harry balding and overweight – three half siblings who looked as though they came from very diverse gene pools.
“Tell me what you want then get lost.” Theo could barely hide his annoyance.
Rosie watched with morbid fascination. It was obvious there was no love lost between the two and seeing their relationship in action was nothing short of chilling.
“I saw Gina yesterday. She told me about your engagement. She’s understandably ecstatic she’s managed to snare you at last. I wonder what she would say if she knew you were being so…friendly with another woman,” Lysander mused maliciously.
Nothing he could have said could have had more of an effect on Rosie. Theo had kissed her, taken her out to dinner and danced with her – all when he already had an unsuspecting fiancée lined up. And it was all her own fault – she knew what men could be like and she’d still dropped her guard and allowed herself to be carried along on the crest of his lies.
He was engaged to another woman.
Revulsion surged upwards from her toes and spread up through her body. When he’d been kissing Rosie, making her believe he found her attractive, dancing with her, he hadn’t been free to do any of those things.
Feeling sick, she tottered on her too high heels towards the exit.
She hated him. Her initial instincts had been right. Thirty six short hours ago she’d been blissfully unaware of his existence. Now, he had torn her peace of mind to shreds and had cast her in the role of the other woman – a role she would rather have died than willingly enter into.
She crashed through the doors and staggered outside where she was grateful to find a breeze brushing against her overheated cheeks. But the area was bustling with arrivals and departures of guests and Rosie needed solitude, so she walked around the side of the building and down into the fragrant and colourful gardens.
Rosie knew, in reality, very little had actually happened between herself and Theo, other than a brief kiss and some scorching glances. But Theo most certainly had no business kissing another woman the way he had kissed Rosie – or holding her so closely as they danced – not when he already had a fiancée.
Despite the cool evening air, her face burned even hotter. She was furious. Why had she relaxed her guard? She barely knew him and yet she’d allowed him to get beneath her armour, closer to the core of her than anyone else had ever done.
She sat on a secluded bench, hidden from the majority of the visitors to the garden by a couple of large bushes. She was too upset to take in her surroundings, and she attempted several deep, laboured breaths in an attempt to ease the pain in her chest.
It hurt. It physically hurt. And she couldn’t believe someone she’d known for such a short time could cause such havoc with her wellbeing.
She was still gasping for breath when he arrived in a fury – six foot four of brooding manhood bearing down on her, his eyes dark.
“I need to be on my own,” she managed. “Go away.”
But he did
n’t. He stood his ground, taking his eyes from her only to acknowledge two elderly ladies who were looking on the scene with interest as they passed nearby. “Good evening.” Theo rewarded them with his killer smile.
“Hello,” they spoke in unison and giggled happily at the attention as they continued on their way.
Rosie turned away from the disgusting spectacle of the ladies very nearly swooning in response, conveniently forgetting the effect Theo’s smile elicited when it was turned on her.
The killer smile faded as though a switch had been flicked as he turned his attention back on Rosie. “Don’t ever run out on me again.”
The warning in his voice was unmistakeable, but Rosie refused to be intimidated. She got to her feet and stood her ground, hands on hips, her lethal heels giving her valuable extra inches. “Don’t ever cheat on your fiancée with me again,” she countered, barely able to form the words.
He raked an impatient hand through his black hair. “I haven’t cheated on anyone with you.”
“You’re engaged to someone else but you kissed me. You brought me to dinner. You danced with me. If my fiancé did any of those things with another woman I’d be pretty upset. How could you not tell me you were engaged to someone else?”
“For a very simple reason: I’m not.”
She snorted. “Your brother just said…”
“My brother is an idiot and a liar. I demoted him because of his incompetence in the business and now he’s trying to get back at me by causing trouble.”
“So there’s nobody called Gina in your life?”
“There was a Gina, once. But that was all over long before I met you. She knows it. I know it. And now, so do you.”
She wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe him so badly. But years of conditioning, years of watching her father treating women badly were hard to forget. “How do I know you’re telling me the truth?”
“I never lie.” He looked her squarely in the eye – liquid gold clashing with sea green. And, despite barely knowing him, she believed him. The realisation overwhelmed her. She inclined her head in the briefest of nods and he relaxed visibly. “Lysander’s now been sacked and escorted from the premises. If we never lay eyes on him again it won’t be any great loss.” His gaze remained unflinching. “Do you believe me?” he asked softly.
She was shocked to realise she did. “Yes,” her voice was barely a whisper.
“Good.” He stared at her for a long moment before giving a short nod and reaching out to tuck his hand beneath her elbow. “Come on, let’s go home.”
Chapter Ten
Evie was waiting for them when they arrived back.
“I’m worried about Flora,” she said, frowning.
“Why? What’s the matter with her?” Rosie struggled out of the passenger seat of Theo’s car and tottered towards the house.
“I’m not sure. She’s lying on her side, groaning. I think it might be colic.”
Rosie bit her lip. This wasn’t good. Evie had been around the donkeys long enough that her instinct about the animals was very good. “Okay, I’ll change my shoes then head up to the sanctuary, see if I can’t get her moving. You give Bob a ring and tell him I’ll meet him there.”
Things looked bad when Rosie arrived at the field. Flora was rolling on the floor in obvious agony. In Rosie’s opinion, Evie’s diagnosis had been correct. She wished Bob would hurry up – Flora needed an injection to relax her muscles, and fast.
In the meantime, she had to get the animal moving. “Come on sweetheart,” Rosie coaxed, still in her little black dress, but now also wearing a fetching pair of wellies. “Let’s get you to your feet.” The other donkeys stood by, watching in silence as Rosie tried to persuade Flora to her feet.
She needed to walk Flora around the field, but the animal refused to budge. She continued to writhe on the grass. “Please,” Rosie whispered in one brown, fury ear. “You need to stop doing that.”
She was still trying to persuade the donkey to her feet when Theo and Evie arrived. “Bob wasn’t in,” she revealed through her tears. “I’ve left a message with Julia. She says she’ll send him over as soon as he gets back.”
Rosie nodded. “I need to get Flora to her feet,” she told Theo. “If I can get her moving we might be able to dislodge the gas that’s bothering her. But if I can’t...”
“What will happen?” For someone who hadn’t been mad keen on the donkeys, Theo was looking very concerned.
Rosie bit her lip. She didn’t want to say it out loud.
“She might end up with a twisted gut,” Evie replied. “And then there’ll be nothing any of us can do.”
Theo got to his knees and began to speak softly to the distressed donkey. It took a while, but he eventually managed to persuade Flora to her feet.
“I don’t believe it,” Rosie muttered. But, despite her words, she couldn’t help smiling. “Are there any females on the planet you can’t charm?”
“There is one who’s intent on resisting me.” He flashed a brief smile back. “But Flora and I are old friends.”
Flora wasn’t out of the woods – not even nearly. But at least she was on her feet and one step closer to being saved. Muttering words of reassurance, Rosie led her around.
“Look at that,” Theo commented in wonder. Rosie turned to find the other the other donkeys followed behind as she walked with Flora. “It’s almost as though they know how ill she is and want to offer support.”
“They understand,” Rosie explained. “We’ve been through this before – and they always behave in the same way.”
Flora was still in obvious pain – her movements awkward and laboured. But, after a while, she seemed a little less distressed. “There’s still a way to go, but I think...” Rosie took a deep breath, hardly daring to articulate her hope. “I think she’s going to be okay.”
“Thank goodness,” Evie sighed in obvious relief.
“It’s going to be a long night. Why don’t you and Theo go back to the manor,” she suggested. “I’m going to stay and keep her walking.”
“It’s okay,” Evie insisted. “I’d rather stay.”
“Evie, it’s late – and it’s a school night.”
“Look,” Theo broke in. “Why don’t the two of you go back and I’ll walk with Flora – at least until Bob gets here. If there’s any change for the worse I’ll ring you straight away.”
“But...” Rosie and Evie complained in unison.
“There’s no point us all being out here all night,” he argued reasonably. “And Rosie, you’re not really dressed for a night out in the fields.”
She didn’t want to go. Theo was a city boy – with a business brain. Leaving him in charge of a sick donkey didn’t seem very fair.
His business brain picked up on her concern. “I’m capable of walking Flora,” he told her quietly. “Trust me.”
She found that she did. Besides, Evie seemed more than happy to leave her beloved Flora in his care, so Rosie went back to the manor with her. But once she’d seen Evie safely indoors, she hurriedly changed into jeans and a jumper, made up a flask of hot coffee and went back out to join him.
Bob was just leaving as Rosie arrived back at the sanctuary. “How is Flora?” she asked the vet anxiously.
“Over the worst,” he replied. “You’ve done a great job.” He looked over his shoulder at Theo. “All of you.”
Rosie glanced over to where Theo still led the processions of donkeys. She clashed with flashing gold eyes and his lips curved in the briefest of smiles. Her response was a smile of relief and thanks.
It scared her how much she was beginning to depend on Theo Bradley.
***
Alicia moved back to the estate the next day.
Theo was impressed. “She didn’t hang around. I thought those arty types would take forever to accomplish anything.”
Rosie smiled and handed him the file he’d requested. “They move fast when they want to – look how quickly they’ve arrang
ed tonight’s party. Besides, Alicia’s not like the rest of them. She’s the sensible one.”
Theo doubted Alicia was as sensible as Rosie would have him believe, otherwise she would have been keen to stay away from her ex husband. Probably a good idea not to say so out loud, though. “I think we should go to this party,” he said instead.
“Oh, no. I couldn’t possibly stand it. It will be awful – there’ll be too many people. I will be rough and noisy.”
“I’ll be there to take care of you.”
“I don’t need taking care of. It’s just that kind of thing’s not my scene. Besides, if we go I’ll have Evie whinging. She’s always desperate to go to these parties.”
He put the file down on the desk and sat back thoughtfully. “We could take Evie.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Why not?”
Rosie stood firm with hands on hips. “Didn’t you hear what I said? Wild crowds. Noise. There might even be fighting. It wouldn’t be a suitable environment for a fifteen-year-old.”
“Have you ever been to any of these parties?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I haven’t.”
“Then how do you actually know the environment will be unsuitable?” He wasn’t being awkward – he genuinely thought it would be a good idea to attend the party and he couldn’t understand her reluctance. It would be a gentle introduction for him to the estate inhabitants. Besides, the prospect of another evening out with Rosie held a massive appeal.
“I know what they’re like,” she argued.
“Okay, how about the three of us show our faces – just for an hour. We’ll leave long before there’s an opportunity for things to get out of hand. You know I wouldn’t suggest taking you or Evie into a danger zone.”
She was thinking about it, he was pleased to see. “Just for an hour?”
“Definitely no more than an hour. They need to see me around the place. I don’t want to make a big announcement – I’d rather slip quietly into estate life. And this will give me an opportunity to do just that. And for us to show we’re a team.”