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‘So you keep saying. I didn’t say it was. All I meant was I think you should give him a piece of your mind first,’ said Hope. ‘Make the man squirm.’
‘Oh. I see. Yes. I’ll do that. I won’t be long.’
‘We won’t wait up,’ teased Hope, laughing as Grace hurried towards the front door.
Grace took a deep breath before she opened it, as if building up her courage, and then she stepped outside and marched purposefully to the pub next door.
The Royal Oak was busy as it often was and it took Grace a moment or two to spot Griff. Her heart skipped a beat when she did.
He looked far better than he should have, and Grace had to remind herself that she was cross with him. He lounged in an armchair near the log fire staring into the flames, his long legs outstretched before him in a pair of smart and no doubt expensive trousers. One arm was resting on the table, the sleeves of his crisp white shirt rolled up to his elbow, while the other rested on the wooden arm of the chair and his agile hand fiddled idly with a button at the open neck of his shirt.
Grace couldn’t comprehend the expression on his face but as she studied him from just inside the doorway, he suddenly looked up and met her eyes. The smile that stretched across his face sent tingles to parts of Grace that she had forgotten could react to such attention and the sparkle in his eyes danced as brightly as the flames of the fire.
To her surprise, he stood up, and as she walked towards him his gaze burned into her so intensely that she thought she might melt.
‘Thanks for coming,’ he said. ‘Russell told me about your conversation and I wasn’t sure you would.’
She bristled at his words, and as she took off her coat, she reminded herself that he had lied to her. Or tried to deceive her at least.
‘I said I would. Unlike some people, I’m true to my word.’ She draped her coat over the back of the seat he held out for her.
‘Ouch. But I suppose I deserve that.’ He bent his head close to her ear and the warmth of his breath sent shivers down her neck. ‘You look beautiful by the way. What can I get you?’
For a second she was thrown off guard. Had he planned that?
‘White wine, please. Large.’
He held her gaze for a moment longer than she would have liked and then he smiled the most gorgeous smile she had ever seen on him. He had this down to a fine art.
‘Coming up.’
She took several deep and calming breaths while he was at the bar and when he returned, she felt more in control of herself and her treacherous emotions.
‘I really am sorry Grace. I know you probably don’t believe me but I never intended any of this to happen.’
‘Whatever. I’ve discussed it with my family and we’ll organise the Mistletoe Dance and we’ll decorate your house. But it’s going to cost you. A lot. A huge amount in fact. And not just because of the time constraints, but because we feel we’ll now be working in what might quickly turn into a hostile environment. If that’s a problem for you, say so now.’
A frown formed and his lips pursed. ‘A hostile environment? You make it sound as if Betancourt is in a war zone.’
‘It may very well be so. Russell told me what Bianca did, Griff. And he told me the company could have sued you. That sounds pretty hostile to me.’
‘You sound pretty hostile. But fine. I suppose you might have a right to be. Look. This all happened so fast. It probably shouldn’t have but it took me by surprise. I should’ve been open and honest from the start. But to tell you the truth, Grace, I…’ his eyes scanned her face and his cheeks reddened. He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair.
‘You were saying?’ She sat upright beneath his scrutiny.
His eyes locked with hers. ‘I was saying, I hadn’t seen you for a while and I was enjoying our banter. I suppose I was worried you might … walk away if I told you the complete truth. But I didn’t lie, Grace. And I was going to tell you. I was hoping you would stay for coffee and then, I would’ve had time to explain.’
‘Easy to say that now.’
‘Are you saying I’m lying now?’
‘How can I tell?’
‘Don’t you trust me?’
‘Absolutely not.’
His brows shot up. ‘Why? Have I ever lied to you in the past? Have I ever done anything to hurt you?’
