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and his grey eyes dancing.
‘I’m really scared!’
‘I mean it!’
He held his hands up, palms towards her. ‘Okay, okay, I’ll be good. Promise, miss.’
She studied his features, hoping he meant it, but not assured by the amused mockery in his eyes, then turned to Tom. ‘I think you’d better go now, Tom.’
Tom was still in a belligerent mood. ‘Why should I leave? Tell him to go.’
‘I will,’ she told him firmly. ‘But first I want you to go. I don’t want you both leaving at the same time. I don’t want a fight starting up outside the cottage; the neighbours have had enough excitement for today. Once you’ve driven off, he can go.’
‘Tell him to go first, then I’ll leave. Why should I be the first to go?’ Tom stubbornly said.
She put her hand on his arm, her eyes pleading. ‘Don’t be difficult, Tom, don’t go on arguing. Just leave, please.’
He hesitated, clearly very reluctant to climb down, especially in front of Randal, but eventually shrugged. ‘Oh, very well, but only for you.’ Averting his eyes from Randal, he marched out of the room towards the front door. Pippa followed, ruefully wondering why men were always so obsessed with their pride, their sense of themselves.
She had the strong feeling that Tom was more concerned with defeating Randal than he was with her.
Tom opened the front door, then paused, looked at her. ‘Will you be staying on here, in the cottage?’
‘No. I’m going to sell it. I’ll contact an estate agent later today, or tomorrow.’
‘Don’t do that. I’ll buy it. You know I’ve always loved it. It will save you the agent’s percentage to sell it direct to me.’
She was taken aback. ‘Are you sure you really want to live here?’
‘Certain. I’ll get the house valued to make sure I’m paying the market price; I don’t want you to feel I’m cheating you. Or you can get an agent to value it, if you prefer. Once we’ve agreed the price, we can complete the deal through our solicitors.’
Slowly, she nodded. ‘Okay, Tom. You have the house valued. I trust you. Get in touch with someone. He can ring me to make an appointment to view the cottage.’ She smiled at him. ‘It will save me a lot of money to cut out an agent.’
He nodded, then shot a look past her into the hall. ‘Are you sure you can deal with him? I’ll sit in my car, if you like, until he goes.’
‘There’s no need, Tom. I’ll be okay.’
He shrugged, smoothing down his fair hair. ‘Very well, if you’re sure. But don’t let him talk you into seeing him again.’
‘I won’t, don’t worry.’
Tom bent and kissed her lightly on her lips, said huskily, ‘I’m going to miss you.’ Then he walked away, got into his car, and drove off.
Sighing, Pippa slowly closed the front door and turned back, starting as she found Randal only a few feet behind her, his graceful body leaning against the wall in a casual manner which did not, disguise his poised capacity to be difficult.
‘Were you eavesdropping?’ she angrily demanded.
He raised one brow mockingly. ‘I wanted to make sure he left without making any more trouble.’
‘It was you who made the trouble!’ She opened the front door again. ‘Now, will you go, please?’
He sauntered back towards the kitchen, saying over his shoulder, ‘Not yet.’
She let the door slam again and ran after him. ‘I don’t want you here! We’ve got nothing to say to each other. We’ve said it all.’
He swung, and the tension in his long, powerful body sent her heart into her throat. ‘I haven’t. Why did you let him kiss you?’
‘I didn’t let him. It just happened! But it’s not your business, anyway.’
