The Bride Wore Red At The Ladies Club: Arabella's Story

"Can I come round?"

"I think you better," she told Jack.

Chapter Nine

Jack stood smiling on the doorstep. He looked pleased with himself.

"Come in," she said coolly, standing back. She had to marvel that this infuriating man could make her heart thunder just by existing. But then, even to the most dispassionate of onlookers—which she was not—he was a pretty amazing–looking man.

"You look great, Bella."

"Do I?" Like she hadn't spent the equivalent of a year's mirror–time trying to decide whether or not lip–gloss was a step too far when she was on the warpath. "Would you like to follow me into the library?"

Jack inclined his head.

He followed her into the room that, above all others, she was determined to restore. If she'd had the money she would have had the carpenters in right away to remove the wet bar and replace the paneling. Meanwhile, she had the documents he'd sent with the dress laid out on the table.

"What does this mean?" she asked Jack.

He shrugged, and she only wished she could keep her attention away from the power in his shoulders and concentrate on the documents instead.

"This means you own the Old Hall outright," he said. "There is just one caveat—"

She might have known. "Oh?"

"Yes," he confirmed with a glint in his eyes, "You own it on a one hundred–year lease, which I hold. You'll pay me a peppercorn rent each year. "

"Oh, will I?"

When something seemed to be too good to be true, it invariably was, she reflected, though in this instance, she supposed Jack's terms were more than reasonable. "But I do own it?" she confirmed.

"Free from debt. And you can always sublet part of it back to me—for my center for kids?" he reminded her. "That way you'll cover your leasehold payments with money to spare. There should be enough money to carry out all the repairs and refurbishment necessary."

And she'd keep her pride. Jack had seen to that. "I'll think about it," she said.

"You do that," Jack suggested as she took in the fact that, this way, they both got what they wanted.

"But how will I ever pay you back?" she said, already worrying.

"First off—the bank was glad to get the Old Hall off its hands, so I paid well under the market value. Secondly? I'd be prepared to consider extracting the payments in kind."

"Oh really?" There was humor in Jack's eyes, but she wasn't ready to succumb to it yet.

"You could turn this into a world–class facility, Bella. My charitable foundation will supply everything you could possibly need—"

"Your..." Her jaw dropped. She was out of her depth and sinking fast. There were times when she forgot who Jack was, and what he was worth. He was just Jack to her.

Just Jack?

Okay, maybe a bit more than that.

"I'd like you to help," he said. "I want you to be part of this, Bella."

She frowned. "Do you really think I could?"

"I know you could."

A curl of excitement was growing inside. Maybe this project of Jack's was just what she needed—what the Old Hall needed too. She wouldn't be dependent on him. She could pay her way, and maybe even make a difference.