A Forbidden Temptation

However, it was the young waitress who looked the most put out.

‘Hi, Grace,’ she said grudgingly. Then, glancing at Jack, ‘Do you two know one another?’

‘Um—a little.’

Grace was offhand, and before Jack could say anything in his own defence the waitress spoke again.

‘Hey,’ she exclaimed disbelievingly. ‘Don’t tell me this is your boyfriend. I thought his name was Sean.’

In the circumstances, Grace was loath to say anything. She felt hot colour rising up into her face. Of all people to run into—again—it had to be Jack Connolly. And, judging from the other girl’s attitude, she wouldn’t be averse to him taking an interest in her.

And why should it bother her? thought Grace crossly.

Meanwhile, Jack was feeling significantly peeved. He was all too aware of how the situation must look to Grace and he didn’t like it.

‘Look, I’m leaving,’ he said, uncaring at that moment what either of them thought of him. He nodded to Grace. ‘See you around.’

CHAPTER FOUR (#ulink_cf00ed02-2e50-5a85-bb82-9a2a312a1d51)

GRACE CAME OUT of the café a few minutes later carrying three cups of cappuccino in a paper sack and a bag containing the sugary pastries Mr Hughes was partial to.

She didn’t enjoy this part of her job. But being the youngest in the agency, she was expected to do the coffee run. She supposed it was better than having to make it herself, but there were days, like today, when she had other things to think about.

Like explaining to William Grafton why his offer for the cottages at Culworth had been rejected.

She wasn’t looking forward to that, either, but Mr Hughes had been adamant that it was her responsibility.

‘You have to learn to handle awkward clients, Grace,’ he’d told her firmly. ‘In an agency like ours, we can’t just pick and choose.’

She could have said that handling awkward clients was the least of it. Handling a man who could lose her her job—however undesirable that job might be—was something else.

She glanced about her a little apprehensively as she crossed the street to the agency. But to her relief there was no sign of Jack Connolly waiting outside.

There was a big Lexus parked across the square that she thought might belong to him. But the vehicle was empty. Which was probably just as well.

Probably?

Impatient with herself for even doubting that scenario, she pushed open the door of the agency and stepped inside.

Only to find Jack Connolly standing in the reception area, showing every appearance of being interested in the properties displayed on the walls.

Not that she’d be expected to deal with him, she saw, with mixed feelings. Standing just beyond Jack was William Grafton, his broad, smug features lighting up when he saw her.

‘Grace,’ he exclaimed, and Grace was aware that his use of her name had attracted Jack’s attention. ‘I’ve been waiting for you. Grant tells me you have some news for me.’

Grace took a deep breath. Then, setting Elizabeth Fleming’s coffee on her desk, she did the same with her own before heading for the private office where Grant Hughes worked.

‘I won’t be a minute, Mr Grafton,’ she said, wondering if her day could get any worse.

By the time she’d given Mr Hughes his coffee and doughnuts, Elizabeth Fleming, Mr Hughes’s assistant, had left her desk to attend to Jack personally. The two of them were currently huddled cosily beside a free-standing display.

William Grafton, meanwhile, had seated himself in the clients’ chair beside her desk.

‘Well?’ Grafton said as soon as she was seated, and Grace took the opportunity to take a sip of her coffee before getting down to business.

She needed the boost of caffeine, and if Grafton didn’t like it, it was just too bad.

‘Grant says you’ve heard from the vendor,’ he prompted, when she didn’t immediately answer him. ‘I hope it’s good news.’

Grace sighed. ‘I’m afraid not, Mr Grafton. The offer you made has been rejected.’ She paused, consulting the papers on her desk, as if she needed confirmation of what she already knew. ‘Mrs Naughton wants considerably more than you offered for the properties.’

Grafton snorted, once again drawing Jack’s attention.

Despite his apparent absorption in what Mrs Fleming was saying, he was evidently listening to their conversation, too.

‘Those cottages are practically dropping to bits,’ Grafton exclaimed, his blunt fist coming down hard on Grace’s desk, dispelling any other thoughts. ‘The old woman knows that. This is just a ploy to get me to offer more.’

He scowled across the desk. ‘I want you to get in touch with her again and tell her it’s not going to work. She’s not dealing with some amateur, you know. When William Grafton wants something, he gets it. You tell her that.’

‘Mr Grafton—’

‘You heard what I said.’

Rudely, Grafton thrust back his chair, the legs scraping noisily over the wooden floor. Then, after adjusting the collar of his oilskin jacket, he leant forward again.

‘You sort this out, Grace, there’s a good girl. I’m relying on you.’ He tapped his nose with his forefinger. ‘No one ever said William Grafton wasn’t a generous man. Know what I mean?’ He started towards the door. ‘Don’t let me down.’

Grace could hardly contain her anger. The patronising man! How dared he call her ‘a good girl’? And he actually expected her to be flattered because he was giving her his business.

She caught her breath and, as she did so, she was made aware that Jack Connolly must have heard what was said, as well. And how humiliating was that?

All the same, she had to wonder what he was doing here. She didn’t believe in coincidence. He must have come here deliberately.

But why?

To see her?

The idea was provocative. And exciting.

But she couldn’t let him see how she was feeling. He had a bad enough opinion of her as it was.

She took a generous gulp of her coffee and got to her feet just as Elizabeth Fleming approached her desk.

‘Have you a minute, Grace?’

Grace blew out a breath. ‘Um—yes. Sure.’ She tamped down a feeling of apprehension. ‘How can I help?’

Elizabeth gave her a rueful smile. A middle-aged woman, in her late fifties, she’d been kind to Grace, easing her introduction to the agency and generally being on hand if she was needed.