Terms Of Engagement. Kathryn Ross

you the best man?’

      Frazer nodded. ‘I’ve known Mark and Ruth for years.’

      A young woman brought a tray of coffee and put it down on the table. She smiled at Frazer shyly, and blushed when he smiled back at her.

      ‘Thanks, Sandra.’

      She nodded and left them.

      ‘That’s Angela’s young sister. She’s seventeen.’ Frazer reached to pour their drinks. ‘Do you take cream and sugar?’ He glanced up at her.

      ‘No, I take it black, thanks.’

      ‘So where do you hail from, Emma? May I call you Emma?’ he asked casually.

      ‘Please do.’ She noticed how small the delicate cup and saucer looked in his hand. She took the drink from him, being careful not to brush against his skin. Why, she couldn’t have said.

      This man was having a very curious effect on her.

      Emma leaned back in the sofa and crossed her long legs, trying her best to appear relaxed. ‘I was brought up in Kent, but I’ve lived most of my life in London.’

      ‘So you’re a country girl at heart?’

      She smiled. ‘I like to think so, but I’ve still got a lot to learn.’

      ‘You’re determinedly forging your way through those library books?’ He laughed.

      She felt herself colouring with embarrassment. ‘I know it probably sounds silly to you. Obviously there is no substitute for experience. But I’ve got to start somewhere.’

      He nodded. ‘It doesn’t sound silly. I shouldn’t have laughed,’ he said gently.

      The sincere note in his voice made her senses respond to him in a very strange manner. Maybe her first judgement of him had been harsh.

      ‘I was just stunned that you were attempting to run that estate on your own with no real knowledge of even the basics of farming.’

      ‘I’m getting the hang of things,’ she assured him swiftly. ‘And I’ve got farm labourers to help.’

      ‘You’ve got guts. I’ll give you that.’ He leaned forward, an earnest light in the darkness of his eyes. ‘But you know that estate is in a bad state of disrepair. It’s going to be bleak there this winter. Life can be harsh up here at the best of times.’

      She felt the hand of reality settle firmly on her shoulder, and with it disappointment. ‘This isn’t a prelude to you offering to buy the estate from me again, is it?’ she asked warily. ‘Because, if so, the answer is still no.’

      ‘It’s just neighbourly concern,’ he said gently. ‘Ethan’s estate isn’t really the place for a young widow on her own. Especially a woman who is used to the city.’

      ‘Well, I can assure you I’m going to be fine,’ Emma said firmly. ‘And I’m not a widow,’ she corrected him. ‘I’m divorced.’

      ‘Oh!’ He sat back. ‘I’m sorry. The talk in the village was that you were recently widowed.’

      Emma’s eyes widened. ‘I don’t know where they got that idea from.’

      He laughed. ‘Did you ever play that game Chinese Whispers when you were a child?’

      She smiled. ‘Yes, I think I did.’

      ‘Well, Glenmarrin is the home of that kind of gossip. What one person says is distorted as it passes down the chain, until it bears little resemblance to the truth once it reaches the last person in the line. And the trouble is you can’t avoid hearing the rumours even if you try. News of a young widow inheriting Ethan’s place has been the number one subject for weeks.’

      ‘Sounds like the social scene in London. Maybe things in the country aren’t so different after all.’ Emma grinned, then added impulsively, ‘Anyway, they’ll probably all know the truth by tomorrow. I’m divorced, and one of the rooms I’ve just booked was for my ex-husband.’

      Frazer studied her over the rim of his coffee cup. ‘Are you planning on getting back together, then?’

      ‘Heavens, no! He’s just coming up to discuss some business. He’s remarried now, to a very beautiful Italian girl called Gina.’

      ‘But you’ve still got a soft spot for him?’ Frazer hazarded a guess.

      ‘No!’ Emma’s voice was emphatic, and louder than she had intended.

      The man by the fire looked over at them curiously.

      ‘Certainly not,’ she repeated in a softer tone. ‘Jon is a film producer and he’s looking for a Scottish location for his latest production. He’s going to take a look at my estate.’

      Frazer made no reply to that, just continued to look at her with those intense dark eyes. There was something about those eyes that made her feel he could look into her soul. It unnerved her for a minute.

      ‘They pay a lot of money for a good location,’ she continued briskly. ‘And, as you said yourself, the farm is very run down. I could do with an injection of cash.’

      Frazer considered what she had told him for a moment, before saying calmly, ‘It’s none of my business, but it sounds to me like you’re playing with fire.’

      ‘What makes you say that?’ Emma was instantly on the defensive.

      He shrugged. ‘Intuition.’

      Emma didn’t like the analysis, especially as it wasn’t a million miles away from her own feelings, but out loud she said firmly, ‘It just makes good business sense. Jon and I are still friends. What was between us is in the past.’

      ‘As I said, it’s none of my business anyway.’ Frazer shrugged. ‘What would I know? I’ve never been married.’ He hesitated for a moment. ‘I have learned though, that sometimes it’s safer to leave the past behind you. Digging around in it can be a painful experience.’ He finished his coffee and looked out towards the window. ‘Sun is out.’

      ‘So it is.’ Emma wished it would rain again. She would have liked to ask him what had happened for him to draw that conclusion.

      ‘If you change your mind about selling, give me a ring.’ He got out his wallet to pay for their drinks and slid a card with his number on it towards her.

      ‘I’ve already made it clear that I won’t.’

      ‘I’d be prepared to rent some of your lower pastures.’ He smiled, not one bit deterred by her obstinacy. ‘I’ll pay good money. Maybe not as good as your film producer, but it’s an option if you decide you don’t want a lot of strangers trudging around your house.’

      Emma picked up the card and played with it absently in her long fingers. ‘I’ll think about it.’

      He nodded, and then glanced at his watch. ‘I’d better get going. I’ve got a lot of work still to get through.’

      ‘Yes, I have too.’ Emma wondered if his earlier gentle friendliness had just been a ploy to soften her, so that he could get his hands on some of her land. She was surprised by how disappointed that idea made her feel.

      Despite his words, he made no move to leave. Their eyes met. She felt a flare of red-hot heat inside her. Frazer McClarran was just too disturbingly sexy. Suddenly she found herself wanting to detain him, to talk to him some more.

      ‘Can I ask you something?’ she said impulsively.

      ‘Sounds ominous.’ He smiled.

      Emma had never met a man whose smile could arouse butterfly sensations in her stomach. With determination she pushed the feelings away. ‘I’m just curious to know why my uncle fell out with you.’

      ‘Ah.’ Frazer’s lips twisted ruefully. ‘It was an old feud between him and my father. So