'Work, work, work.' She glanced across at the pile of files that she had brought home and felt a sudden surge of rebellion. She needed a day out in the fresh air to restore her equilibrium, and that was exactly what she was going to have. She rang her mother just after nine and asked her to have the dogs ready, after checking that Mitch had driven home in one of the company vans the night before. Then she set out on a brisk walk to her mother's house, which took exactly an hour through the deserted streets.
After loading the delighted animals into the back of the van she set out for a country park that she had visited in the summer, arriving just after eleven and spending a wonderful day tramping through the wooded hills and hollows, to arrive back at her mother's house in time for tea with a van full of exhausted and happy dogs, mind and body restored to their normal stability.
She ate a huge meal before plodding back through the dusk-filled streets, Defusing Mitch's offer of a lift home with unusual firmness but feeling more than a little glad as she turned into the street where her bedsit was situated. Her legs suddenly seemed to have gained the consistency of solid lead.
Her car was parked outside the house. As she opened the door to her room she found a note on the floor, which had obviously been pushed under the door. 'Sorry I missed you.' As her eyes fastened on the strong male writing she felt her heart begin to pound. 'Mechanic fixed the car with no trouble and I thought I'd deliver it myself, see how the other half get about.' She could just imagine how he'd written that, tongue-in-cheek and loving the dig. 'Keys are with the delightful blonde girl next door, who very kindly gave me a cup of coffee before I began my weary trek home. See you tomorrow.' There was no signature but she didn't need one.
He'd come here? She glanced round her tiny home and sat down very suddenly. Why? He could easily have let the mechanic deliver the car. What time had he come? Had he expected to spend some time with her? She felt a rush of intense disappointment before shaking her head violently. Don't be stupid, she told herself sharply. This didn't mean a thing—not a thing.
She glanced again at his handwriting. So he thought that Charlotte was delightful did he? And she could just imagine what the tall, slim blonde next door had thought of Reece!
She found that she was clenching the paper tightly in her fist and forced herself to relax her hand, shaking her head at her own thoughts as she did so. He was her temporary employer, that was all, and after what Frank had said she had no excuse to imagine anything more. He might be prepared to have a brief liaison with her, but that would be all it would mean for him. And she wasn't going to be one of his ships that passed in the night. No way.
She stood up, her legs her own again now, and prepared to collect her keys from Charlotte and answer the host of questions that would undoubtedly come her way at the same time.
CHAPTER FIVE
Miriam arrived at Reece's house with her two assistants just before nine in the morning to find that he had already left for the office.
'Mr Vance said I had to give you the keys to the extension entrance,' Jinny the maid informed her after she had knocked on the front door. 'There's a door at the far end of the corridor which makes it nice and easy for delivering stuff to the kitchens and he said for you to come and go as you please. You know you can get through to the main part of the house through the hall?'
'Yes. Thank you.' Miriam smiled at the young girl who grinned back cheerfully.
'Mrs Goode is coming home today,' she said happily. 'Mr Vance is collecting her before lunch.'
'That's good.' Miriam nodded and smiled again as she turned and walked back to the van, in which was packed a whole host of supplies from the wholesalers they used. She hadn't got time to stand and chat today; the work schedule was going to be tight as it was.
After parking the van just outside the extension entrance on the tarmac pull-in, she helped Vera and Dave unload and set up in the kitchens and then the three of than started work in earnest. The up-to-date equipment and beautiful surroundings made cooking a joy, and s
he was just taking a batch of golden quiches out of one of the ovens when some sixth sense made her glance towards the door. Reece was standing in the doorway looking at her, his dark face expressionless.
'Hi.' He nodded to the other two as he introduced himself and shook hands before turning to her again. 'Mrs Goode is home and I thought it might be an idea for you to meet her now; I want her to rest this afternoon.'
'Of course.' She was shocked by how the sight of him had affected her and hoped, desperately, that he hadn't noticed her agitation. 'Thank you for delivering the car yesterday,' she added stiffly as she slipped out of her enormous work apron and pushed a stray strand of hair off her face. 'It was nice to be able to drive to work and pick up the van.'
'No problem.' He walked over to the door without looking at her again. 'Ready?' He didn't speak as they walked down the corridor and through the big hall; indeed, he didn't seem conscious of her presence, Miriam thought silently as she followed him into the main part of the house, clutching the file that she had brought with her.
'Reece?' She stopped him just as they were about to enter the drawing room. 'How much do I owe you?'
'Owe me?' He stared at her in surprise.
'For the car,' she said quietly. 'I'm sure you had to pay the man and I don't expect—'
'Oh, forget that.' He shook his head almost irritably. 'It was nothing.'
'But I must pay you—'
'Don't be silly, Miriam; I told you, it was nothing.' He took her arm as though the matter was finished. 'Now come and meet Mrs Goode—'
'Reece, I always pay my way.' She moved to stand in front of him as he went to open the door, her small face determined and her violet eyes very serious. 'I wouldn't feel comfortable otherwise.'
'We'll see about it later.' Now there was a definite note of irritation colouring the deep voice. 'I might have known you would be the only female of my acquaintance who would insist on refusing a gift,' he added tightly. 'Most of them have no such scruples.'
'It wasn't a gift. Not in the traditional sense anyway,' she added quickly as she felt the words sounded un-grateful. 'And it was very kind of you to arrange everything without paying for it too.'
Most of them, she thought bleakly. Most of them?
'I'm a kind man.' Before she realised what he was doing he had kissed the tip of her nose lightly and moved her to one side. 'As I'm sure you will appreciate once you get to know me better,' he added enigmatically as he opened the door and ushered her through.