Darkness Into Light

‘No.’

‘I heard his wife died.’

‘A long time ago,’ Pierce confirmed abruptly.

‘How sad. And he never married again?’

‘No.’

‘It seems a pity, I’m sure he must have a lot to give a relationship.’

Pierce’s mouth twisted. ‘He is very rich.’

‘I didn’t mean in that way.’ She gave him a stern look for his cynicism. ‘With all that wealth he must also be a very travelled man. Very interesting, I should think.’

‘To my knowledge no woman has ever wanted him for his mind,’ Pierce drawled drily.

Amusement flickered in warm brown eyes. ‘Now that is disrespectful,’ she teased.

‘But true,’ he rasped, striking out in stronger movements. ‘Let’s speed this up or we’ll be here all night!’

She managed fifteen lengths before hauling herself out and collapsing on the cool marble surround to the pool. By the time she had recovered her breath enough to sit up Pierce was on his final length. He glided easily through the water, obviously not tiring at all, his strokes still strong and smooth, a grim look of satisfaction to his face as he levered out on to the side, picking up a towel to drape it around his neck.

‘I’ve been thinking …’

‘Well, it worked for one of us, didn’t it.’ She grinned.

His brows rose. ‘You have no solution to your problem?’

‘Not yet, but I’ll find one,’ she dismissed confidently. ‘You were thinking …?’

‘When you go on this late night jog of yours,’ he dropped down on to the marble beside her, ‘why don’t alarms go off and the lights come on?’

‘It’s quite a security system, isn’t it,’ she acknowledged. ‘What does your uncle have in the house that he needs to protect?’

Pierce’s mouth twisted. ‘That most elusive possession, privacy.’

Danny grimaced. ‘And an expensive one, too, if the guards and security system are anything to go by.’

‘You didn’t answer my question,’ he prompted hardly.

‘About the bells and lights?’ She shrugged. ‘Dave Benson switches them off while I take my run.’

‘He what?’

Danny frowned at his harsh anger. ‘Don’t panic,’ she teased. ‘There’s still the visual surveillance, and the actual guards. Besides, it isn’t for very long, and—–’

‘Long enough,’ Pierce ground out fiercely, his eyes icy grey. ‘I can’t believe this.’ He shook his head. ‘Are you really telling me that Benson switches off a million pounds worth of highly technical equipment so that you can jog five miles a night?’

‘A million pounds?’ Danny gasped at the figure. ‘Is that really how much it cost? I know he’s a rich man, but—–’

‘Does he?’

She shrugged. ‘I don’t know what all the fuss is about, it’s only for a few minutes—–’

‘Long enough for someone to get in to the grounds and up to the house,’ Pierce snapped, anger etched deeply into his face.

She shook her head. ‘Not with the dogs loose.’

‘Ferdinand and Kilpatrick are with you, remember,’ he bit out tersely.

Danny gave an impatient sigh. ‘In that case there are still the men patrolling the house and immediate grounds.’

‘After learning of the shambles you’ve made of the rest of the security system I wouldn’t be surprised to know that they’re watching you, too! God,’ he exploded into a sitting position. ‘This is incredible!’

She chewed on her bottom lip as she realised how seriously upset he was. ‘Are you going to tell your uncle?’ She grimaced.

His head snapped round, his breathing uneven. ‘You can be sure he needs to be told what’s going on in his own house!’ he told her hardily.

‘What will he do?’

‘Well, I wouldn’t advise any more late night trips into the grounds,’ he warned grimly.

‘Dave Benson isn’t going to get into trouble, is he?’ she asked pleadingly, wishing she had just kept her mouth shut. But it had been something she had never been able to do. Besides, she hadn’t realised it would cause this fuss.

‘Mr Benson is going to get exactly what he deserves!’

His steely tone made her cringe. Pierce Sutherland was obviously a man without mercy, which led her to wonder if he wasn’t his uncle’s hatchet-man; he gave the impression of having to make harsh decisions and seeing that they were carried out.

‘Pierce, I—–’

‘What do you think you’re doing?’ he rasped, looking down at her coldly.

Sherry-coloured eyes widened in bewilderment. ‘Sorry?’

He looked down pointedly at the hand she had placed on his chest as she made her plea.

Danny looked down at the hand too, the skin almost the same colour as his own mahogany, hours spent working in the grounds meaning it wasn’t a pretty or delicate hand, the nails were kept short and square, the long fingers were capable rather than refined, several callouses on her palm. No, it wasn’t a pretty hand, but it didn’t deserve the dissecting regard Pierce was giving it, either.

‘Why are you touching me?’ he asked slowly.

She breathed softly as she realised the reason for his terse query. ‘I talk with my hands,’ she dismissed. ‘My father says that if my hands were tied behind my back I’d be silent.’

‘I doubt that,’ Pierce drawled derisively.

‘It’s true. I—–’ The light explanation was cut off as firmly moulded lips descended almost roughly on to her own.

Surprise was quickly followed by pleasure, and with a low groan of surrender she curved her body in to his, her arms going up about his neck, opening her lips as the rigidity of his tongue probed against them.