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Jed made an instant decision and stopped her going for the phone. ‘Leave it now, Brooke. We can’t do anything tonight anyway. Pack some essentials for you two and we’ll sort it out tomorrow. I’ll sit in the car with Toby.’
He and Toby went out of the front door and back to the car, leaving Brooke to go up to her room and bundle a few things into a suitcase, her brain numb with shock. What was she going to do now?
She lugged the suitcase downstairs and Jed left the shelter of the car to stow it in the boot.
‘I ought to try and do something about the roof but, frankly, I don’t know who to call. Obviously the company I chose were a load of cowboys.’ She blinked as the rain stuck to her lashes and Jed gave her a gentle push towards the car.
‘Get in. I’ve already sorted it out.’ He slid in next to her, his dark hair glistening with raindrops. ‘You’ll probably kill me for it but I just rang a friend of mine who’s a roofer. He’s going to come and take a look and use a tarpaulin or something.’
‘Thanks.’ Brooke subsided against the comfortable seat and Jed threw her a surprised look.
‘Aren’t you going to say, How dare you interfere, Jed?’
Brooke closed her eyes and gave a weak smile. ‘I tried doing it myself and failed. I know when I’m beaten.’
Jed reached across and squeezed her hand, his voice gruff. ‘You’re not beaten, sweetheart, and, believe me, I’ll be in contact with the people who did your roof.’ His voice held a quiet menace that made her glance at him in surprise. Never in her whole life had anyone fought battles for her and, if she was honest, it felt good. She almost felt sorry for the roofer. Jed could be a formidable adversary when crossed as she already knew at first hand.
Determined not to be a pathetic female, Brooke rallied her flagging spirits and glanced over to the back seat to check on Toby who’d fallen asleep, exhausted by yet another exciting day.
‘Where are we going, anyway?’ She hadn’t even asked that one, simple question.
‘My house.’ Jed reversed the car and turned back onto the main road, his car a haven of warmth and comfort against the lashing rain.
‘Your house?’ Brooke licked dry lips and stared at his very male profile. ‘We can’t stay with you—’
‘You have a better suggestion?’
She didn’t, but somehow it didn’t seem right and her heart raced. ‘Jed, we can’t—’
‘You’ll be quite safe.’ His tone was gently mocking. ‘I’ve got a no touch policy where you’re concerned, remember?’
Brooke bit her lip. He made it sound so easy. The trouble was, not touching Jed was starting to drive her mad.
‘We can’t stay with you. It isn’t right,’ she fretted, the reality of the situation suddenly hitting home. ‘I need to sort things out at home.’
‘And that’s easier done from somewhere dry and warm. Try and forget it now. We’ll contact your insurance company in the morning.’ He swung up a long drive and her eyes widened as she saw the beautiful house, partly hidden by trees. It was built entirely out of wood, with interesting angles and lots of glass with views onto the surrounding woodland and fells.
‘You live here?’ She looked at it in amazement and then at him. ‘This is yours?’
He lifted an eyebrow and, unusually for Jed, looked suddenly unsure. ‘You hate it?’
‘Hate it?’ Her eyes swivelled back to the house which blended so beautifully into the landscape. ‘It’s stunning. Like a sort of up-market log cabin.’
‘Well, come and see inside.’ He switched off the engine and lifted Toby carefully.
She followed him inside, her eyes feasting on the high ceilings, the huge expanse of glass and the warmth of his furnishings.
‘I’ll show you the bedrooms,’ he murmured, taking her upstairs and shouldering open a door. ‘You can sleep next door and then if he wakes he shouldn’t have too much of a shock.’
He carefully undressed the boy and tucked him under the covers, before switching a lamp on next to the bed.
Then he pulled the door slightly and they went back downstairs to the kitchen.
‘Glass of wine or gin and tonic?’
‘Wine would be great.’ She followed him, glancing around her in admiration. ‘It’s fabulous, Jed. Did you do it yourself?’
‘Well, I didn’t build it, if that’s what you mean.’ His eyes gleamed as he walked towards the fridge. ‘But I did all electrics, heating and the interior. Because of the family business we’re all pretty handy at DIY and we know all the local tradesmen.’
