Will He Ask Her to be His Bride?: The Millionaire's Convenient Bride / The Millionaire's Proposal / Texas Ranger Takes a Bride

‘What’s up?’ he demanded, and Hester explained while Lowri demolished her ice cream.

‘Before we go back to the car,’ said Sam, his eyes hard, ‘how about we take a walk through the park, Lowri? If you see the man, point him out to us.’

She shrugged. ‘I didn’t take much notice of him, Sam. But he had smart clothes. He was rather nice.’

‘What’s the matter?’ Hester asked, as Lowri sighed heavily.

‘I suppose you’ll stick to me like glue from now on.’

‘You’d better believe it!’

The child’s mouth drooped. ‘If you tell Daddy, you won’t have to—he won’t even let me come in the park any more.’

Or sack the nanny on the spot.

But Connah was surprisingly calm when Hester reported the incident the minute they got home. ‘Did you know the man?’

‘No.’

‘Would you know him again?’

‘I doubt it. I took one look, and ran to break it up. But he’d disappeared by the time I reached them. I do apologise. I’ll know better another time.’ Hester looked at him squarely. ‘If there’s to be another time. For me, I mean.’

‘Of course there will,’ he said, surprised. ‘My daughter’s become attached to you so quickly there’d be hell to pay if I tried to replace you.’

‘And I to her,’ Hester assured him. ‘In the circumstances, perhaps Sam could take us further afield for our walk tomorrow.’

‘Good idea. Take a picnic lunch.’ Connah’s eyes softened slightly. ‘Relax, Hester. There was no actual harm done.’

She sighed. ‘I suppose not. But in future I’ll be doubly vigilant.’

Connah Carey Jones took so long to get his daughter to bed that night, he felt respect for Hester and for Alice before her, who, like his mother, managed the process so effortlessly. When it became obvious that Lowri was drawing it out to see how far she could go before he lost patience, he kissed her one last time and told her to go to sleep, or else.

‘Or else what, Daddy?’ she said, smiling at him.

‘Try it and find out,’ he growled, and Lowri, knowing she’d pushed the envelope far enough, blew him a kiss and settled down.

Connah smiled to himself as he closed the door. Lowri was growing up fast. The thought gave him a sharp pang as he went downstairs. All too soon she would be a teenager, with all the problems that entailed. Problems he would have to deal with single-handed.

As he passed the lower landing window, he caught sight of Hester’s graceful, athletic figure coming into view and stood still, watching her walk towards the house, suddenly aware of how empty it had felt without her for a few hours. He raised a sardonic eyebrow. Empty, with Lowri and Sam in residence? Lacking, then, rather than empty. After only a matter of days, Miss Hester Ward had become a vitally necessary part of life in Albany Square. To him, he admitted, as well as to Lowri. Which was preposterous in such a short time. But a fact, just the same. He wanted more of Hester’s company than just at mealtimes with Lowri, or a few minutes when the child was in bed. With sudden decision he thought of the ideal way to achieve it, then his eyes narrowed as he saw Hester pause at the foot of the steps to speak to a man who’d been following her along the pavement. Connah craned his neck, but the man was just out of view. After a moment or two Hester ran up the steps to ring the bell and he hurried downstairs to intercept her as she made for the kitchen.

‘You’re home early,’ he commented.

She smiled at him. ‘There’s a film on television I missed at the cinema, so I left after supper to walk back in good time. Robert wanted to drive me, but I felt like the exercise—always a good move after one of my mother’s little suppers.’

‘I saw you from the landing window,’ Connah informed her.

‘You were watching for me?’ The dark blue eyes frosted over. ‘Am I late?’

‘Of course not. I happened to be passing the landing window when I noticed a man following you. Was he someone you know?’

‘No. Just someone asking directions to Chester Gardens,’ she said coolly, and went past him into the kitchen.

‘If you’re making coffee, I’d like some too,’ he said, feeling wrong-footed as he made the request. She was in his employ, dammit. He had the right to ask her to make him a cup of coffee. His jaw set as she promptly laid a tray with a solitary cup and saucer. ‘I want your company while you drink it,’ he informed her crisply.

Hester looked at him for a long moment, then nodded. ‘Very well.’

‘Put another cup on the tray and come up to the study with me. Please. I want to talk something over with you.’

Connah took the tray from Hester and waved her ahead of him up the stairs.

‘Is it something about Lowri?’ she asked, then regretted it. What else could it possibly be?

‘Actually, it’s about Sam. Sit down, Hester.’ Connah put the tray down and sat on the sofa opposite to watch her pour. ‘He’s long overdue for a holiday. If he knew Lowri was safe with me, Sam might agree to take a few days off.’

Her face cleared. ‘In which case, I could make sure she didn’t disturb you when you were working, if that’s your problem.’

‘It’s not.’ Connah gave her a searching look. ‘Hester, had you ever seen the man before?’

‘Which man?’

‘The one asking directions just now.’

She tensed as she saw where this was leading. ‘You think it might have been the man in the park?’

‘Do you?’

Hester gave it some thought. ‘I honestly don’t know. I only saw him fleetingly. He was gone by the time I reached Lowri.’

‘Describe the man tonight.’

‘Tallish, slim, well-dressed, about your age, maybe—’ She put her coffee down untouched. ‘He could have been the same man, but I can’t swear to it.’

‘You probably think I’m paranoid on this subject, but I dislike coincidences.’ Connah drained his cup and sat back. ‘Let’s go back to Sam’s time off.’

Hester shook her head. ‘If Sam feels the same about coincidences, he’ll refuse point-blank to take any.’

‘I know, so I won’t bring it up.’ Connah gave her a very direct look as he played his trump card. ‘But if you and I take Lowri on holiday, Hester, we’ll be well away from this mystery man, whoever he is, and Sam could enjoy some R and R with no worries. Lowri would be delighted,’ he added. And her father could spend a great deal more time in Hester’s company than was feasible in Albany Square.

She returned the look steadily, wondering if he realised how much the idea appealed. ‘Do you normally take Lowri away during her summer vacation?’

‘Yes. My mother comes with us.’

‘But I was a complete stranger until a few days ago,’ she pointed out, playing devil’s advocate. ‘Are you sure you want me along? Wouldn’t you prefer to be on your own with Lowri?’

Connah shook his head. ‘Lowri wouldn’t go unless you came too, Hester. You were the main topic of conversation tonight.’

‘How boring for you,’ she said lightly. ‘More coffee?’