Stand-In Mistress

‘Now, clearly your sister isn’t in any position to come, so the job’s yours.’

Knowing he’d noted that touch of panic, and determined to stay cool, Joanne said, ‘Thanks, but I already have a job.’

‘I’m sure that, for the next six weeks or so, your brother could find himself another PA.’

With polite finality, she said, ‘Even if he could, I wouldn’t be taking up your offer.’

The door to the kitchen was ajar, and, glancing in at the comfortable-looking high-backed chairs drawn up in front of the stove, Brad suggested, ‘Rather than stand here, suppose we go through and have some coffee while we talk about it?’

‘I’ve no intention of making you coffee, and I don’t want to talk about it.’

Stepping past him, she held open the front door. ‘Now, if you’ll please leave.’

When he made no move to go, losing her cool, she cried, ‘Go on, get out! If you don’t leave this instant I’ll call Steve and get him to throw you out.’

‘Are you sure that’s wise?’

Though his tone was mild, it was undoubtedly a threat, and she hesitated. There was something about his firm mouth, the set of his jaw that, despite his quiet manner, his veneer of charm, made him formidable.

She shivered.

Steve was far from being a seven-stone weakling, but she sensed instinctively that he would be no match for this man.

As she stood irresolute, Brad Lancing took control once more. Closing the door, he put a hand beneath her elbow and urged her towards the kitchen.

Digging in her toes, she said mutinously, ‘As far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing to talk about. You are the last person in the world I would choose to work for.’

He shook his head almost regretfully. ‘Ah, but you see, you don’t have a choice. At least not if you care what happens to Steve’s company.’

‘What do you mean, “care what happens to Steve’s company”? Of course I care.’ She was aware that the note of panic was back in her voice.

‘Then we do have something to talk about.’

He strode into the kitchen, leaving her to follow in his wake, demanding anxiously, ‘What could happen to Steve’s company?’

Ignoring the question, he asked, ‘Would you like to make some coffee?’

‘I’ve already told you, I wouldn’t.’

He indicated one of the armchairs. ‘Then perhaps you’d like to sit down?’

‘I don’t want to sit down. I want to know what you’re talking about.’

Plugging in the electric kettle, he began to calmly assemble the cafetière and mugs. ‘When we’re both sitting down with a cup of coffee, I’ll be happy to explain.’

CHAPTER THREE

SEEING he meant to have his way, she bit her lip and sat down, watching him with angry eyes.

His movements were deft, assured as he spooned coffee into the cafetière and filled it with water. She wondered abstractedly how such a masculine man could look so at home in a kitchen.

It was the last thing she had expected.

A lot of wealthy men with a staff of servants to wait on them had probably never even seen the inside of a kitchen.

As though aware of her hostile scrutiny, he turned and cocked an eyebrow at her. ‘Milk and sugar?’

‘Just milk, please.’ She forced herself to answer civilly.

He handed her a mug of coffee and, putting his own on the stove where he could reach it, sat down in one of the high-backed chairs and regarded her quizzically.

Because he was well-groomed and smartly dressed, with her hair tumbling round her shoulders she felt dishevelled, and at a distinct disadvantage in what Milly referred to as her ‘little orphan Annie’ garb.

In a reflex action, she tucked her bare feet beneath her voluminous skirts, and saw him smile.

Gritting her teeth, she said as calmly as possible, ‘Now you’ve got what you wanted and we’re both sitting down with a cup of coffee, perhaps you’ll tell me what could possibly happen to Steve?’

Brad answered with a question of his own. ‘I understand your brother’s having a hard struggle to keep his company afloat?’

‘What makes you think that?’

‘It’s true isn’t it?’ 41

‘It was true. But now things are looking up.’

‘Really?’ he drawled.

‘Yes, really! Not only has Steve found an investment company willing to put money into Optima, but we’ve also just secured a contract to install a large new communications network.’

‘For Liam Peters?’

Wondering how he knew, unless Milly had told him about the negotiations, she said, ‘Yes.’

‘What would your brother do if both those opportunities were to fall through?’

A chill running down her spine, she demanded, ‘Why should they fall through?’

As though she hadn’t spoken, Brad went on smoothly, ‘With the house mortgaged up to the hilt, and scarcely enough money in hand to pay the staff their next month’s wages—’

‘Who told you that?’ she broke in angrily.

‘After I’d dropped you off last night I spent a little while checking up—’

‘Well, wherever you got the information—’

‘I got it from the horse’s mouth, so to speak.’

‘I don’t know what you mean.’