The Rich Man's Bride

She fished it from her bag to read the text message. ‘It’s from Dad. He can’t make it today. He’ll ring later. Oh, well,’ she said philosophically, ‘that gives me more time to organise repairs. In which case I needn’t take up any more of your time, Ryder. I’m sure you have loads of things you should be doing.’

‘None of them more important than making sure you’re safe on your own in that house,’ he said flatly.

Anna shot a glance at his obdurate profile. She remembered that look well enough to know it was useless to argue. ‘I’m really very grateful for your help,’ she said at last.

Ryder shrugged. ‘Hector asked me to look out for you.’

‘So that’s why you’re doing it! You’re afraid he’ll haunt you if you don’t.’

He shook his head, keeping his eyes on the ruts in the lane. ‘I’m doing it for your sake as well as his. When we were children you were like a little sister to me—or maybe another brother, because in those days I never really thought of you as a girl.’ Ryder shot her a sidelong glance. ‘In spite of what’s happened between us since, the connection’s still there, Anna. You need help. I can provide it. It’s as simple as that.’

CHAPTER FOUR

RYDER dropped Anna off at the cottage, then took off again to fetch something from the village. When he got back he walked straight past her with a television he set down on the vacant stand in the parlour.

‘Did you buy that for me?’ she demanded, bristling. ‘Tell me how much and I’ll pay.’

He frowned impatiently. ‘It’s not a diamond necklace, Anna—it’s not even new. Brian James does them up in his spare time. Look on it as a present.’

‘Then thank you. It’s very kind of you,’ she added belatedly. She really needed another television. ‘Who’s Brian James?’

‘His father runs the garage in the village. Brian’s a local builder, but he can turn his hand to practically anything. He should be on his way by now to view the damage, so keep a look out for him while I heave mattresses around.’

Anna spotted a white van at the gate as she was finishing up in the parlour. She switched off the vacuum cleaner and called up to Ryder. ‘I think your man’s here.’

Ryder ran downstairs to open the door. ‘Be gentle with him, Anna. He’s a bit shy.’

‘Thank you for coming at such short notice, Mr James,’ she said warmly as the young man reached them.

‘No problem,’ he said, flushing.

‘Good man,’ said Ryder, taking the box Brian gave him. ‘In my opinion Miss Morton needs an efficient alarm system, new locks on all the windows and the two outer doors and a replacement pane of glass in the smallest bedroom, plus a new window ledge and some plastering on the wall below it. Miss Morton will take you up to have a look while I set the television up, and then come down and give me your opinion.’

‘What’s in that box?’ asked Anna suspiciously, after she’d left Brian upstairs assessing the damage.

‘Something else you need.’ Ryder handed it over, then stretched out on the floor to deal with plugs and sockets at the back of the television.

She laughed as she took out a new kettle. ‘Now this I’m really grateful for!’

‘I thought you might be.’ Ryder got to his feet, switched on the television, scrolled through the programmes, then switched it off again and handed her the remote control. ‘All yours.’

‘Thanks a lot, Ryder.’ She eyed him warily. ‘Sorry I was so ungrateful just now. It would have been a bit quiet here tonight without a television.’

He shrugged. ‘My thoughts exactly. Make up for your ingratitude by putting the new kettle on for coffee.’

While he drank his coffee, Brian gave them a rough estimate for the work needed. Anna, secretly amazed that the figure was so reasonable, asked him how soon he could start and, after arranging to begin the following Monday, Brian took off in his van. Anna immediately set to work, aided, to her astonishment, by Ryder, no matter how much she protested that she could manage perfectly well on her own.

‘I was asked to keep an eye on you,’ he reminded her. ‘In my book that doesn’t mean allowing you to exhaust yourself to the point of getting ill again.’