The Playboy's Proposal. Amanda Browning

entirely welcome.’

      Sitting back in her seat, Kathryn studied the starkly beautiful landscape. They were on a lakeside road, and the view was breathtaking. She liked winter. Everything seemed so sharp and clean. Eventually, though, her thoughts turned back to Joel Kendrick.

      It was as well he wasn’t looking for a wife, because he didn’t sound her type at all. She was looking for that one man she would want to spend the rest of her life with. She knew that one day she would meet a man and fall in love with him in an instant, because love was like that. Whilst she waited, though, she wasn’t averse to having some fun. So what if Drew’s boss wasn’t husband material? As a diversion he fitted the bill nicely. She was well and truly intrigued by the possibility of indulging in some fascinating exchanges with a man who must have flirtation down to a fine art. Really, Drew needn’t worry about her being seduced by this latter-day Casanova. She had her head screwed on, and wasn’t about to become Joel Kendrick’s next conquest.

      ‘So, Joel Kendrick is used to getting any woman he wants, is he?’ she mused thoughtfully.

      ‘Being handsome and rich has something to do with it. Women seem to fall for him in droves,’ Drew added dryly.

      ‘Ah, the pull of sex appeal.’

      She knew its power. Had fallen under its spell once or twice in her search for love and Mr Right. She knew she was as susceptible as the next woman when it came to a hunky male, but that didn’t mean she gave in to it. She had had a grand total of two relationships in her twenty-six years. It was no hardship to keep her relationships platonic. Sex for sex’s sake had never had an appeal.

      ‘What does he do? I mean, he doesn’t simply chase women all day, does he?’

      ‘He’s a business man, with engineering companies worldwide. He can be ruthless at times, but he’s well respected in the City. He took over the original company when his father retired, and has taken it from strength to strength. He’s a force to be reckoned with, but unfortunately it means he’s used to getting his own way.’

      So, he was a strong-willed man. Well, she was used to strong-willed men. Her father and brothers were such men, with a tendency to issue commands to the youngest child and only daughter because they loved her and wanted to protect her. She understood that, but never let them ride roughshod over her. Consequently, their battles had become legendary. She was, after all, her father’s daughter, and equally strong-willed.

      ‘Do you honestly think I’m likely to be interested in him?’

      ‘I hope not,’ Drew responded fervently. There was no knowing quite which way Kathryn would go, but a prudent man expected the worst. He pulled a face. ‘Though it’s been my experience that women can’t seem to help themselves where he’s concerned.’

      She laughed wryly, easily following his line of thought. The trouble with Drew was that he knew her too well. ‘Thanks for the vote of confidence. As it happens, I’m no push-over. Have you given thought to the possibility that I might not like him?’ The law of probability said that there must be some women who were immune to his practised charm.

      ‘No. You’d do something silly just for fun even if you didn’t like him. Just don’t get involved with him,’ Drew commanded. ‘Be kind to yourself, Kathy. He’s not the sort of man you want to play around with.’

      There was no doubting his concern, and she loved him for it, but she felt he was rather jumping the gun. OK, she was thinking of sharpening her claws a little, but she could always change her mind. ‘I tell you what, I’ll take it under advisement. For now, I think I’ll just reserve judgement. After all, I haven’t even met the man!’

      A situation which was about to be remedied some fifteen minutes later, when Drew brought the car to a halt before a large stone-built house, with gables and an extra wing tacked on to one end of it.

      ‘So, this is the wolf’s lair?’ Kathryn declared, tongue very firmly in cheek, as she climbed out of the car. It was beautiful.

      Drew retrieved their luggage from the boot. ‘Come and meet him. I hope you’ve got some garlic handy.’

      ‘Silly, that’s only good against vampires. What I need is a silver bullet, and I’m fresh out of those. I’ll put them on my shopping list.’

      ‘You may joke now,’ Drew responded, seeing her determination to make light of the situation as a bad sign. ‘I only hope you don’t end up laughing on the other side of your face.’

      Kathryn slipped an arm through his and squeezed gently. ‘Don’t worry, Drew. I can take care of myself.’

      He looked at her doubtfully. ‘Hmm. Famous last words. Oh, well, I’ve had my say. It’s up to you now.’

      The sound of footsteps came from inside as Kathryn replied, ‘I’m a big girl. I had my twenty-sixth birthday a month ago, remember.’

      ‘I know; I was there. And, I’m happy to say, you were very well behaved. Perhaps you are getting some sense after all. Am I being overprotective?’

      She smiled at him. ‘Just a bit, but you’re allowed.’

      ‘It’s just that with my flying off to Germany tomorrow I won’t be here to protect you.’

      Would her family ever stop protecting her? she wondered wryly. ‘Stop worrying. I’ll be fine. But if worse comes to worse, I’ll let you say I told you so.’

      The door opened before Drew could respond by telling her it didn’t make him feel any better. Framed in the doorway, a cheerful woman in her sixties smiled warmly at them.

      ‘Good afternoon, Mr Templeton. You made good time, then?’ she greeted Drew, and nodded at Kathryn, stepping back so that they could enter.

      ‘I thought it best not to keep him waiting, Agnes. Didn’t want to make him testy,’ Drew said, urging Kathryn inside ahead of him, where the warmth enveloped them both. ‘Agnes is Joel’s housekeeper, and all-round good egg. This is my cousin Kathryn. She’s come to the rescue.’

      The older woman looked at Kathryn more closely and her face fell comically. ‘Oh dear,’ she said faintly, and Kathryn frowned in ready concern.

      ‘Is something wrong?’

      ‘Not at all, my dear,’ Agnes denied as she closed the front door. ‘You’re very welcome, I’m sure. It’s just…. you’re very pretty.’

      ‘Ah,’ said Kathryn, seeing the light, and couldn’t help laughing, though not unkindly. ‘It’s all right, Agnes. Drew has told me all about our furry friend.’

      ‘Furry friend?’ It was the housekeeper’s turn to look puzzled.

      Kathryn leant down towards the woman, who was a good half a head shorter. ‘The wolf,’ she whispered confidentially. ‘Don’t worry, I had a tetanus booster not long ago.’

      ‘Just lead us to him, Agnes,’ her cousin suggested, setting their bags at the foot of the stairs and removing his coat. He handed it to the housekeeper and Kathryn did the same. ‘My cousin has a weird sense of humour. Don’t try to understand her.’

      Agnes, far from being put out, suddenly had a twinkle in her eye. ‘Something tells me somebody might just have met his match. You’re not at all what he was expecting. For one thing, he was expecting a man. You’ll find him in the library, gnashing his teeth and cursing till the air is blue. I’ll bring along some coffee in a few minutes. Unless you would prefer something else?’

      Kathryn said coffee was fine, and Drew led the way to the back of the house, then along a passage to the west wing. As he opened the door, Kathryn felt her heart rate increase in sudden expectation, and smoothed the blue chenille jumper she wore with leggings down over her hips. As she followed her cousin inside, she heard a husky voice growl a greeting.

      ‘It’s about damn time you got here!’ it said, and she grimaced. It sounded very much as if the wolf had a sore head.

      She