so looking forward to turning him down.’
‘You still have feelings for him?’
Kate shrugged. ‘If I do, I don’t know what they are. But when I moved back here I knew I risked running into Jack some time. Though I didn’t expect to in this house,’ she added tartly.
‘Tell me about it!’ Anna made a face. ‘Lucy Beresford thought it was such a coup for me, bringing him here, because normally he only graces the official functions I told you about, and corporate stuff. But Ben says he turns up at the occasional golf club dinner.’
‘To please his father,’ said Kate, nodding.
‘I suppose that was his reason all those years ago when he wouldn’t try for a job in London.’
‘Not a bit of it. Jack was pleasing himself.’
‘Do I detect an acid note?’
Kate’s mouth turned down. ‘I was so sure he loved me enough to come to London with me. Anyway,’ she added briskly, ‘that’s all in the past. Now then, you asked me here for a reason. Spill the beans!’
‘OK,’ said Anna, with an odd little smile. ‘I saw my doctor this morning.’
‘Why? What’s wrong?’
‘Nothing, unless you count morning sickness—I’m officially pregnant!’
‘Anna, how marvellous!’ Kate gave a crow of triumph and hugged her friend affectionately. ‘After all these years! How does Ben feel about it?’
‘Thrilled to bits—so am I!’
‘Me, too.’ Kate patted her friend’s cheek. ‘I’m very happy for you. And so is Ben, by the display of flowers in the hall.’
‘Actually,’ said Anna, fluttering her eyelashes, ‘those are not from my husband.’
‘Don’t tell me they’re from someone else’s!’
‘Certainly not.’ Anna grinned like the Cheshire cat. ‘Mr Jack Logan sent them with his apologies and thanks.’
On the way back into town Kate felt oddly restless and wished she’d given in to Anna’s coaxing to stay to dinner. There was no work to catch up on that couldn’t be dealt with tomorrow.
For the rest of the week Kate’s feeling of anticipation dwindled gradually as each day wore on with no word from Jack. By Thursday her sitting room was finished, along with her hopes of hearing from him again. Get over it, she ordered herself.
The chaise longue arrived next morning with perfect timing, just as Kate finished her daily stint at the computer, and tempted by the sunshine she decided to fit in a quick walk in the park before lunch. When she reached the lake path Kate’s heart leapt as she spotted a tall figure with a black dog in the distance, but as she drew nearer saw that the man’s hair was grey. As if Jack would be taking a stroll on a Friday morning, she told herself scornfully, then smiled in sudden delight as the man straightened from unfastening the dog’s leash.
‘Katherine!’ said Tom Logan, with such obvious pleasure as he caught sight of her she felt her throat thicken.
‘Mr Logan—how lovely to see you,’ she said huskily, and ran into the arms thrown wide to embrace her.
‘Jack told me you were back in town,’ he informed her and held her at arms’ length to look at her. ‘How are you?’
‘I’m very well.’ She smiled at him affectionately. ‘No need to ask how you are. You look marvellous.’
‘Semi-retirement suits me,’ he agreed. He whistled, and the dog raced back to sit obediently to have his leash attached. ‘Good boy.’ Tom Logan patted the gleaming black head. ‘Are you in a hurry, Kate, or will you walk a little way with us?’
‘I’d love to.’ Kate bent to pat the dog. ‘What a handsome lad.’
‘Apple of Jack’s eye.’ Tom shot a look at her as they began walking. ‘And good company for him. Other than Bran and me, Jack’s cleaner is the only one to set foot in that house of his.’
‘I thought someone in his position would need to entertain a lot.’
‘He keeps to restaurants for that. But he’s been in London all this week.’ The keen eyes, so like his son’s, surveyed Kate with interest.
‘Has he?’ she said casually.
‘Didn’t he say? Jack told me he called to see you the other night.’
‘The conversation centred on past history.’ She kept her eyes on the path. ‘He told me about Dawn Taylor.’
‘God, what a disaster that was,’ said Tom grimly. ‘But try not to blame Jack too much. After you left he was desperately unhappy, Kate. He missed you so much he worked himself into the ground all day and every day, with a couple of drinks in the Rose and Crown on the way home to help him sleep.