The Millionaire's Rebellious Mistress - By Catherine George Page 0,64
her down against them. ‘Dan was notorious for playing nasty little tricks on people in school. Usually on defenceless types who couldn’t retaliate. This time he chose the wrong target. Though he knew damn well I wouldn’t report him to the police.’
‘Why not?’
‘No money was actually involved, and he could have passed off the rest as a joke that didn’t come off.’ Alex’s smile turned Sarah’s blood cold. ‘So I waited for him to come home from work one evening, and pushed him back inside his smart loft the moment he opened the door. When I confronted him about the Westhope farce he started blustering, then suddenly lost it and punched me in the nose,’ he added casually.
Sarah whistled. ‘I can’t see you turning the other cheek, so you must be the one who blacked his eye!’
‘Oh, yes,’ he said with relish. ‘Don’t worry. I didn’t damage him much. Dan’s main worry, the fool, was the blood on his jacket courtesy of my nose.’
She shook her head in wonder. ‘I heard about a mugging. In the pub they think Dan was set on by a crowd of thugs.’
‘He would say that,’ said Alex, with scorn. ‘The worst part was his stream of invective when I forced him to tell me why he did it. Apparently he hates me because my family’s money got me the pick of the girls at Medlar House. Not my personal charm, you note. My other crime was my prowess at cricket and rugby, and winning too many events at Sports Day.’ Alex shrugged. ‘I pointed out that academically he’d won far more glittering prizes than me, but brains, as he spat at me, are no match for brawn when it comes to attracting women.’
Sarah’s lip curled in disgust. ‘Dan needs to grow up. It’s a long time since you were both in school!’
‘You’re to blame for reviving his old animosity. He’s convinced you were attracted to my family money.’ Alex smiled crookedly and drew her close. ‘Whereas, unknown to Dan, my name and all it stands for did me no good at all where you’re concerned.’
Sarah shifted a little. ‘This floor is hard, duvet or not, Alex.’
Alex promptly got up and pulled her to her feet. ‘And I must go. Mother’s leaving early in the morning.’ He held her close as she tried to break away to pick up her clothes. ‘Not so fast. We haven’t discussed next weekend yet.’
‘And we’re not going to before I get some clothes on!’
When they were dressed, Alex sat down on the sofa and pulled Sarah on his knee. ‘After I see Mother off I’m driving to London to sort out some problems with our restoration work on a riverside warehouse. My father and I have differing ideas on the subject, so I’ll have to stay down for a few days to put him right.’
Sarah’s lips twitched. ‘Or he could put you right.’
Alex shook his head. ‘He always comes round to my way of thinking in the end.’
‘So when will you be back?’
‘Friday night. So drive over first thing on Saturday morning. Please?’ he added belatedly, and kissed her.
‘Saturday afternoon,’ she said firmly. ‘I do things on Saturday morning.’
‘Do them with me.’
‘I’m talking about food-shopping and laundry,’ she said, laughing.
Alex sighed. ‘All right, if you must. Saturday afternoon, then.’ He set Sarah on her feet and put his arm round her as they went to the door. ‘Goodnight. Don’t work too hard tomorrow. I’ll ring you after dinner.’ He kissed her, held her close for a moment, then gave her the crooked smile she’d missed so much. ‘Sweet dreams.’
If Sarah did dream she remembered nothing about it next morning, after the best night’s sleep she’d had in ages. And instead of her usual Monday morning reluctance, she approached work with a zest she knew Harry was wary of commenting on in case her mood changed. For once she ate all her portion of cottage pie at lunch, and even accepted a piece of the cake Ian’s mother had sent with him for their tea break.
‘Ian’s reach will come in handy with the membrane on the highest bits,’ she told Harry on the way home.
‘Reach is one thing you lack, boss,’ he said, lips twitching.
‘I know. So you two can deal with the membrane. I’ll put the cob fixings in to secure it,’ she said briskly. ‘When the first barn is finished I’ll get going with the plastering, while you two put the membrane up in the others.’