Millionaire's Woman

The chaise longue arrived next morning with perfect timing, just as Kate finished her daily stint at the computer, and tempted by the sunshine she decided to fit in a quick walk in the park before lunch. When she reached the lake path Kate’s heart leapt as she spotted a tall figure with a black dog in the distance, but as she drew nearer saw that the man’s hair was grey. As if Jack would be taking a stroll on a Friday morning, she told herself scornfully, then smiled in sudden delight as the man straightened from unfastening the dog’s leash.

‘Katherine!’ said Tom Logan, with such obvious pleasure as he caught sight of her she felt her throat thicken.

‘Mr Logan—how lovely to see you,’ she said huskily, and ran into the arms thrown wide to embrace her.

‘Jack told me you were back in town,’ he informed her and held her at arms’ length to look at her. ‘How are you?’

‘I’m very well.’ She smiled at him affectionately. ‘No need to ask how you are. You look marvellous.’

‘Semi-retirement suits me,’ he agreed. He whistled, and the dog raced back to sit obediently to have his leash attached. ‘Good boy.’ Tom Logan patted the gleaming black head. ‘Are you in a hurry, Kate, or will you walk a little way with us?’

‘I’d love to.’ Kate bent to pat the dog. ‘What a handsome lad.’

‘Apple of Jack’s eye.’ Tom shot a look at her as they began walking. ‘And good company for him. Other than Bran and me, Jack’s cleaner is the only one to set foot in that house of his.’

‘I thought someone in his position would need to entertain a lot.’

‘He keeps to restaurants for that. But he’s been in London all this week.’ The keen eyes, so like his son’s, surveyed Kate with interest.

‘Has he?’ she said casually.

‘Didn’t he say? Jack told me he called to see you the other night.’

‘The conversation centred on past history.’ She kept her eyes on the path. ‘He told me about Dawn Taylor.’

‘God, what a disaster that was,’ said Tom

grimly. ‘But try not to blame Jack too much. After you left he was desperately unhappy, Kate. He missed you so much he worked himself into the ground all day and every day, with a couple of drinks in the Rose and Crown on the way home to help him sleep. Dawn was lying in wait for him every time of course, only too willing to console him, so the result was inevitable. I told him he was a fool to accept the child as his but, as you know better than anyone, Kate, my son can be as obstinate as a mule. So he married her.’

She gave him a questioning look. ‘Do you blame me for that, Mr Logan?’

He stared at her, surprised. ‘Good God, no, child. You were young, and it was only natural you wanted to see a bit of the world before you settled down. The two of you could have gone on meeting easily enough now and again.’

‘It’s all water under the bridge now.’ Kate glanced at her watch. ‘I must dash—pressing appointment in town after lunch with some curtains.’ She smiled at him. ‘After your next walk come to my place for coffee. Bring Bran with you. I live in Park Crescent, number thirty-four.’

‘So Jack told me.’ Tom Logan smiled reminiscently. ‘Oddly enough, I know the house well. I did a lot of work for Miss Durant when I first started out on my own. She was one of the old school, a real tartar. But she knew her stuff when it came to maintaining her property. She approved of my work, so we got on well. You inherited a sound house, Kate.’ He smiled and patted her cheek affectionately. ‘It’s so good to see you again, my dear.’

‘Likewise, Mr L.’

‘I think it’s time you called me Tom!’

‘Then I will. See you soon, Tom.’ She hurried off to the park gate and turned to wave as she passed through to make for home.

Jack Logan felt so tired during the drive from London through heavy Friday evening traffic he rang his father from his hands free moible as he turned off the motorway and asked him to keep Bran for another night. But, after hearing about the encounter with Kate, Jack drove straight past the entrance to Mill House and headed into town, cursing himself for a fool as he parked near Kate’s house. The lights were on. But that could mean time switches. The car he’d seen before was parked right outside her house again too, but even if it were hers it meant nothing. She could have taken a taxi into town, or someone—some man—could have picked her up to take her out.

He got out of the car, flexing his shoulders wearily. He rapped on the doorknocker instead of ringing the bell and waited, shivering, until light shone through the fanlight. After a moment Kate opened the door, her face guarded.

‘Hello,’ he said quietly. ‘May I come in?’

Without a word she led the way into the sitting room and switched off the television, eyeing her visitor without visible warmth. ‘You look tired, Jack.’

‘The traffic was heavy. I rang my father during the journey and heard he’d seen you today.’ He gave her a wry, weary smile. ‘So I took a chance on finding you in.’

Kate’s feelings were mixed at the sight of him, her undeniable pleasure marred by anger with Jack for taking it for granted he could just turn up any time he fancied without ringing first. She knew that he’d made a note of her number last Sunday. He’d been leaning on the counter right next to the phone. When the phone call never happened she assumed Jack had no interest in reviving their relationship and had resigned herself to the idea so determinedly that she resented him now, for coming back to unsettle her again.

‘Would you like a drink?’ she asked politely.

‘Could I possibly have some tea?’