Modern Romance April 2015 Books 1-8. Annie West

there’s Annie!’ he exclaimed as he stopped the vehicle at the foot of the steps leading up to the sturdy front door of the ancient manse.

      Hamish’s wife, Annie, the housekeeper at Rottingdean, had offered her services for the night, and was standing ready on the steps, waiting to welcome them.

      ‘You leave no stone unturned, do you, Tiago?’ Danny threw at him as she waved at Annie.

      ‘No,’ he admitted. ‘Annie’s missed you. It’s time you two were brought together. So, what do you think I have in mind for tonight?’

      She firmed her jaw and refused to answer.

      ‘You do remember what isn’t on the menu for tonight?’

      ‘Sex,’ she said, turning her cool stare on his amused face.

      ‘That’s right.’ Tiago’s mouth curved in a smile. ‘Whatever you want, whatever you need—you’re not going to get it tonight.’

      ‘You are such an arrogant barbarian.’

      ‘But you knew that from the start.’

      ‘What makes you think—?’

      ‘Danny, please...’ He gave her a look and saw her eyes darken. ‘We should go in. Annie’s waiting to spoil you.’

      ‘I don’t need spoiling.’

      ‘Don’t you?’ He reached across to open her door and paused. ‘You’ve got shadows under your eyes. Have you been working all hours?’

      ‘What’s it to you?’

      She turned away, shutting him out. He’d done his research and knew without her telling him that she was trying to shore up a failing stable on her own, with no financial input from the landlord whatsoever. Danny was too proud to take money from anyone—even when she’d earned it. She’d seen difficulty and hardship, and instead of turning her back had responded by throwing her heart and soul into the job. No wonder she looked so tired. She had to be exhausted.

      ‘What are your hours?’ he demanded as he helped her down from the four wheel drive

      ‘Whatever’s required,’ she said.

      He believed her.

      ‘I’m building a nest egg. Remember that?’

      ‘You’re not going to build it at that place—there’s not even the money to pay you a fair wage.’

      She didn’t answer this.

      Taking hold of her hand, he helped her down. She let go of him at the first opportunity.

      ‘I hope I’m dressed appropriately tonight?’

      He smiled. She never could resist making a teasing barb. He took it as a good sign.

      ‘You’re dressed perfectly.’

      However tired she was, Danny would always look beautiful to him. However limited her budget, she looked like a queen. Tonight, in a simple dress of moss-green wool, and a pair of shoes that—well, the best that could be said for them was that they weren’t riding boots—she had a natural elegance that would put the society women he’d used to date to shame.

      ‘Let’s get one thing straight,’ she said at the foot of the steps.

      ‘By all means,’ he said pleasantly.

      ‘I only agreed to come to supper with you tonight because—’

      ‘Because...?’ He prompted with an amused stare.

      ‘Because you’re a stranger in town, and because it would be rude to ignore you.’

      ‘Extremely rude, considering you’re my wife,’ he agreed. ‘Come on. Let’s not keep Annie waiting.’

      Annie swept Danny into a hug, and then chivvied her up the steps and into the welcoming warmth beyond the sturdy front door.

      ‘I’ve prepared you both a lovely supper and left it in the library, where you’ll be snug,’ the housekeeper was telling Danny breathlessly as she ushered them down the newly redecorated hall.

      Tiago followed the two women into the library, glad to see them so close and Danny so happy. Asking Annie to come was a masterstroke. Danny had relaxed instantly in the older woman’s company.

      ‘This is a beautiful room,’ she said, turning to him now.

      ‘Thank you.’

      He was very proud of the library. He had dreamed of a room like this—of the adventures contained within the covers of a book—ever since he was a child, and had created a library exactly to that dream design. He’d recoiled at his designer’s suggestion that he buy books ‘by the yard’, and had handpicked each one and had them shipped to Scotland.

      The room was perfection, in his eyes, and never more so than now, with a fire burning lustily in the hearth, a feast prepared by Annie spread out on the table, and the woman he loved standing in the centre of the room. gazing around with wonder at the walls filled with books.

      Yes. He loved her—more than anything on this earth.

      ‘I can’t believe how stupid I was not to realise all this was going on down the road!’

      ‘Not stupid,’ he argued as Annie smiled and left them to it. ‘My people are the best, and they were under strict instructions not to create any upheaval with their heavy vehicles in the village—and I didn’t exactly run a banner across the sky.’

      ‘But still,’ she argued, running her hand across the newly refurbished mantelpiece. ‘You’ve restored everything to its original state. This is wonderful, Tiago.’

      ‘I’m glad you like it.’

      He had wanted to bring the old place back to life again, and now Danny was standing here he felt he had succeeded. The library was large and airy, with French doors leading out onto the newly reformed gardens, and there was a large oak table in the centre of the room, where he could sit and spread out his papers, but it was Danny who held his attention now.

      As she shook her head in surprise at one new discovery after another her hair caught the light and gleamed as if it were coated with gold dust. All the suspicion had gone from her face and all that was left was happiness. He could almost believe they had never been apart.

      ‘What?’ he asked as her head shot up and she turned round to look at him.

      ‘I’m such a fool. I almost forgot.’

      ‘Will you stop saying that? You are not a fool,’ he insisted as she hurried back to the chair where she’d left her bag. Goodness knew what her mother had called her in the past, but he could imagine.

      She delved inside her bag and rummaged around, before handing him a scrunched-up pack of biscuits. Taking care not to touch his hand, she said, ‘I’m afraid they’re a bit broken, but I made them for you. It’s traditional Scottish shortbread. We hand it out to visitors to encourage them to come back.’

      ‘Is that what you’re doing now, Danny?’

      Her cheeks flushed red as he stared into her eyes. Her gift thrilled him. He had been given a full-blood Arabian stallion by the daughter of a sheikh, and a watch beyond price by a princess—both of which he had returned. Well, he had bought the horse for a fair price later, at auction... But nothing in his life had meant more to him than this packet of broken biscuits.

      Broken? They looked as if they had been pulverised between Danny’s wringing hands.

      ‘You do eat carbs?’ she asked worriedly.

      He raised an amused brow. ‘Please...’

      ‘Okay.’ She risked a smile. ‘Only some sportsmen—’

      Danny had stopped talking, as if something in his face had made her think