logs on the fire. ‘What can I give you to drink, Kate?’
‘I should be going home.’
‘Let’s unwind for a bit first. Lucy gave you a hard time tonight. What got into the woman?’
‘She resents me.’ Kate kicked off her shoes to curl up in a corner of the sofa among the new cushions. ‘Before Anna’s party the Beresford dinner table was the only one in town you’d graced with your presence, so Lucy feels possessive where you’re concerned. I’m afraid she took one look at me when she arrived tonight and jumped to the obvious conclusion. She was jealous.’
Jack groaned. ‘Dammit, Kate, the woman’s married to someone I do business with, and has a couple of teenage children. Besides, I don’t find her remotely attractive.’
‘Maybe not, but Lucy lusts after you, Jack.’
‘God!’ He rubbed a hand over his chin, his eyes eloquent with distaste. ‘Next time George needs a lift home I’ll get him a taxi.’
‘In the meantime I’ll take you up on that offer of a drink. I’d like some tea.’
‘You sit by the fire and I’ll make it,’ he said promptly.
‘No, I’ll come with you. I need a chat with Bran.’
‘A fine thing,’ said Jack as they crossed the hall, ‘when a man is jealous of his own dog.’
Kate chuckled. ‘He’s a very handsome chap.’
Bran was wildly delighted to see them and after an interval of greeting and patting Kate perched on the table, swinging her feet, and Bran sat as near as he could get, gazing up at her in adoration.
‘Just a teabag in a mug will do,’ she told Jack as he filled the kettle. ‘Make it strong. I need it.’
‘I need something stronger than tea,’ he said with feeling. ‘I enjoyed my first shot at home entertaining, but next time I’ll ask a different pair to make up the six.’
‘You like Anna and Ben, then?’
‘I do, very much. Though I get the feeling that Anna would cut my liver out with a blunt spoon if I hurt you in any way. I assume she knows our past history?’
‘Afraid so.’
‘Including Dawn?’
‘Yes, but she won’t broadcast it.’
‘She doesn’t have to. The story of my marriage and divorce is well known.’
‘Do you mind?’
‘I was young enough to mind quite at lot at first, but I got over it.’ Jack turned to look at her. ‘Getting over you, Kate, was a damn sight harder. And my way of coping was a hard work no play lifestyle that did wonders for the company but nothing for me socially. At least,’ he added candidly, ‘not until we opened the London office. But that’s all in the past. From now on I’ll do more entertaining at home.’ He touched a hand to her cheek as he handed her the tea. ‘It felt so right to see you at the other end of my table, Katie.’
She sipped carefully, trying to bypass the lump in her throat.
‘Did it feel right to you?’ he asked quietly.
Kate looked up into his intent eyes. ‘Yes, Jack it did. But you can’t expect me to play hostess every time you entertain.’
‘Why not?’
‘I’m not getting into that kind of arrangement with you.’
‘You’re afraid of what people might think?’
‘I’m more concerned with what you might think, Jack.’ Kate put down her half empty mug and slid off the table. ‘Time I went home.’
Jack caught her by the elbow, his touch burning through the velvet. ‘Stay.’
‘No,’ she said flatly.
‘I meant long enough to drink your tea,’ he said impatiently. ‘Come and sit by the fire for a few minutes. Bran can come as chaperon if you like.’
‘Jack, I want to go home,’ she said with such vehemence that he released her and went from the room. She pushed a hand through her hair, blinking hard, and crossed the room to tear a sheet from a roll of paper kitchen towel.
‘Katie!’ said Jack behind her.
She buried her face in the paper towel, but he took her by the shoulders and turned her round until her face was against his shirt. Jack smoothed a hand over her hair and held her until the tears stopped He left her for a moment, then put his arms round her again.
At last she drew away and scrubbed the sodden paper over her face. ‘Sorry,’ she said thickly.
‘So am I. I can’t handle it when you cry.’ Jack smoothed a strand of damp hair from her forehead. ‘I’ve brought your things if you really must go now.’