Chapter Two
I jog past Richard and into the entrance hall. “Sorry, sorry, sorry!”
Richard follows behind, “Made a friend?”
“Not exactly,” I puff and try not to smirk. “More of a colleague. Didn’t you see who it was?”
“You know I didn’t.” His fingers pinch the tiny arms of his glasses as he lifts them slightly. “Even with these, I’m blind as a bat.”
“It was Daniel.” His brows rise.
“Daniel?”
I hold my breath. “Yes, Daniel.”
Then the penny drops and his eyebrows are about to get lost in his hairline. “ The Daniel?”
“If you mean Daniel Grant, then yes.”
“Daniel Grant was under the hat?” I nod sheepishly, feeling slightly sick and only half of my twenty-four years. “What did he want?”
“Nothing. He gave me a tour of the place.”
“Are you sure that’s all it was?”
“I’m sure.” He’s getting at something, but I don’ t know what.
“Well… good.”
I step away, then slap a hand to my forehead and spin back towards him on my heels, “Oh, and he’s asked me to join him at his table for dinner tonight.”
“Hannah.”
“What now!” I can’t deny his exasperated tone bothers me.
“You must have heard.”
“Heard what?” I don’t mean to get huffy, but sometimes he’s so British. I wish he’d get to the point.
“He has… a reputation. The gossip columns are full of it. Don’t tell me you haven’t read about him?”
“I’ve only been in the country five minutes. What do you think?” I snap, then instantly regret it. “I’m sorry Richard, but this is daft. He’s spent a lot of time with me this afternoon. I imagine he feels sorry for me and wants to do the right thing.”
“I bet he does.” I don’t miss the Austin Powers sarcasm under his breath, although he doesn’t realise it. I throw my hands in the air. “I give up. It’s just dinner,” I say more to myself than him.
“There’s that word.”
“What word?”
“ Just .”
My teeth grit together, but I keep my cool. I want this conversation to end quickly.
“So, did you want me for anything or—”
“No, just checking you were all right.”
I bite my tongue, breathe in and smile. “As you can see, I’m great.” I head for the stairs, but I’m stopped in my tracks. “Hannah?” I keep my focus straight ahead as dread fills my insides, “Be careful, okay?”
“Always.”
I run up to my room in a much crappier mood than I was in earlier.
Richard’s words swirl through my mind and I wonder what exactly Daniel has a reputation for.
Could it be for his amazing horsemanship or his business brain?
Who am I kidding? I know exactly what Richard means, but I’ll make my own judgements about Daniel.
I won’t research his ‘reputation’ and I won’t stop thinking about him in an entirely unprofessional way.
I chose my very simple black shift dress and elegant, black patent Jimmy Choo shoes.
They were a treat that I would usually think twice about, but I made an exception for my twenty-first. After today’s conversation with Richard, I need a boost, and these shoes give me two.
They add another three inches to my five-foot-four-inch frame and transform my ordinary, nondescript feet into objects of beauty.
I’ve curled my hair up into a loose bun, smoked my blue eyes and applied a little mascara and lip gloss.
I’m ready, but my stomach has other ideas as it knots into a ball of nervous energy when I leave my room.
I don’t rush to join the party. Instead, I lean over the bannister at the top of the stairs and scan the reception below.
There’s already a hum of voices as men and women of all ages and nationalities cluster together.
They might discuss the business of the day or be meeting a colleague for the first time.
I breathe in through my nose and close my eyes.
Here goes . My heels enhance my confidence as I begin my descent down the stairs, and then I spot him.
Catching hold of the stair rail, I steady my legs while I take him in.
His dark hair is parted to one side, and it suits his now cleanly shaven face and black tie.
Daniel doesn’t spot me immediately, but I watch as his eyes circle the room.
Then I note the moment he finds me. His smile sparks a light to his face which catches and spreads to his eyes.
It’s a look that sends heat to my centre and throughout my entire body.
He heads across the room towards me, but everyone wants to say hello.
He’s delayed several times because of shaking hands or kissing cheeks.
Women eye him from head to toe as he passes by and the men in the room straighten slightly in respect.
I reach the bottom of the stairway as he ends a conversation with a middle-aged woman who holds onto him for as long as possible.
She reluctantly releases his arm when his eyes connect to mine, and he holds out his hand.
Then he is at my side, and his warm breath caresses my neck and ignites my skin.
“You look beautiful.”
A cold, excited shiver runs the length of my body as I smile and gaze into those incredible eyes which never leave mine. He offers the crook of his arm and I slide my hand around his firm bicep.
“Thank you.”
My body is alive with excitement while we walk through the hordes of people.
“We don’t want you to damage those beautiful shoes so you’d better hang on to me tight.”
He noticed my shoes. He gets a limitless supply of brownie points for his observation and because I’ve been a victim of Rob’s neglect for so long; I want to soak in every second of the attention Daniel gives me.
We walk out to the patio and along the pathway to an enormous barn. When we arrive at the doors of the reception room, waiters greet us with champagne cocktails. Daniel takes two from the tray and hands one to me.
“What should we drink to?” He asks with a raised eyebrow, but before I can answer, he says, “How about crazy foreign girls?” His suggestion is firmly tongue-in-cheek and I take it in the spirit it’s intended.
He grins and is about to raise his glass until I say, “Actually, I have a better one. To cowboy heroes, complete with Stetsons?”
“We don’t wear Stetsons.”
“Okay then, heroes in cowboy hats or whatever you want to call them. ”
“Akubra.”
“I’m sorry?”
“The name of the hat, it’s called an Akubra.”
“Oh, I see. Then I’ve learnt something new today.”
With a dangerous smile, he says, “Cowboy heroes, huh? Is that what I am?”
Be careful, Hannah. Don’t be too flirty. “To me you are.”
He smirks as our glasses chime. It’s sexy as hell.
“I consider myself to be more of a part-time farmer, but I’ll go with cowboy if that’s what you want.
” His dark eyes lock with mine. As he opens his mouth to speak, Richard appears from nowhere, causing me to jolt away slightly from this tall, mesmerising man.
All the butterflies which were previously happy dancing inside my stomach take a nosedive.
Richard’s words from earlier shout in my head, but there’s no obvious annoyance as he offers his hand towards Daniel. My breath stops momentarily.
“Daniel, it’s so good to see you again.” He could not be more pleasant if he tried.
“Richard, it’s good to see you too.” I know they’ve met several times in the past, but their handshake seems a little too vigorous, almost rough.
“And I understand you’ve already met Hannah?” Richard says with one raised brow, but it does not faze Daniel. His focus sears into me and his tone is low.
“Yes, I have. She’s excellent company.” Our eyes burn and lock. We don’t move until Richard clears his throat. I realise what we’re doing and a flush creeps over my cheeks. Daniel steps in. “And you must be happy to have your number one PA join you at last?”
“Absolutely,” Richard turns to me. “I’m sure Hannah would agree that this job arrived at the perfect time.” His devious grin has my insides wound up so tight, I may snap at any moment. Oh no. If you dare mention Rob, I’ll…
“Richard, there you are.” Diana’s sudden appearance could not have come at a better time.
I could kiss her. “Peter would like you to join him in his study. I apologise for interrupting.” Richard looks at me from the corner of his eye, “No problem at all, Diana. Can I leave Hannah in your capable hands?” What he actually means is I can’t trust your son.
“I’m sure Hannah doesn’t need me when Daniel seems to have everything under control, don’t you love?
” Daniel raises his glass and Richard’s eyes bulge from their sockets.
He gives a very stoic, “Of course,” before he throws me a look as he walks by.
It screams behave yourself, but his departure from Daniel is nothing but professional. “Please excuse me.”
“Go ahead, Richard,” he gestures. “You’re never off duty with my dad around I’m afraid.” But my boss is already halfway across the hall before Daniel has finished, leaving him to focus his full attention back to me. “Are you all right?”
Diana folds her arms around my shoulders. “You do seem a little flushed.”
“Yes… yes, nothing to worry about.” I glance towards Daniel while Diana continues.
“Good. I want you to have fun and I hope I was right when I presumed my boy was taking care of you?”
“He’s been an absolute gentleman,” I answer. The look he passes my way is anything but gentlemanly. He could melt my panties with those eyes.
I’ve really enjoyed the last half an hour.
It’s been fun chatting and laughing with Daniel and Diana.
So far, they’ve introduced me to the company lawyer, Charles Godwin, and his wife, Meryl, and also Frank Macey, and his partner, Martin.
Frank and Martin work together in engineering, which is interesting.
I wonder how they put up with one another day in, day out.