Coming Home (27 page)

If you enjoyed
Coming Home
you might be interested in
A Question of Love
by Gwen Kirkwood, also published by Endeavour Press.

Extract from
A Question of Love
by Gwen Kirkwood

One

`Never
underestimate an intelligent woman who is in a position of authority.’ Euan Kennedy recalled his mother’s advice, `especially if she has the respect of her colleagues. Such a woman has to be twice as worthy as a man to have achieved her position. She will not be the sort of bimbo who succumbs to your charming smile, my boy. It might not be good for your ego but it would teach you a lesson. Indeed I hope you do meet such a woman one day,’ she had added with a gleam in her eye, which he might have described as malevolent if she had not been his ever loving mother.

Did
he need a lesson? Had success gone to his head? Surely not. Yet he couldn’t deny he was irked by Roseanne Fairfax and he was beginning to wonder whether she was the type his mother had had in mind. Certainly all the staff seemed to like and respect her. But he was not about to turn his back on a challenge.

`Whew!’ Euan Kennedy whistled in surprise as his gaze travelled over the computer screen at end of his first week at Kershaw & Company. `So Uncle Simon’s P.A. is not the Miss Perfection he believes,’ he muttered to himself, ‘in spite of the aloof, touch-me-not persona she presents.’ He had a strong suspicion Miss Fairfax did not trust him with the firm’s computer systems, but on what grounds he had no idea. Especially considering he had built up a successful IT business of his own from scratch. His eyes returned to the computer screen and he stifled a spontaneous bark of laughter, but a chuckle still rumbled deep in his chest when he glanced through the glass partition at Roseanne Fairfax in the adjoining office. He appreciated the dry wit evident in her email. Maybe time spent at his uncle's business premises would not be so dull after all. He never could resist a challenge and Miss Fairfax’s icy demeanour had already proved resistant to his usual brand of masculine charm, not to mention the fact that she refuted his right to take over his uncle’s office.

It had not taken him long to realize she was popular with all the staff, from the factory foreman to the administration staff in the office
. He had envied the beaming smile she gave the middle-aged door keeper when she arrived in the mornings. They all spoke of her with warmth and respect and he would have had to be blind not to notice she was damned attractive.

`
Not everything is as it seems though,’ he murmured to himself as he re-read the email she had written. Uncle Simon’s Miss Perfect was not without a bit of humour, he admitted, even if it was at his expense – at least this time. His mouth firmed as he resolved to get his own back. Euan knew without conceit that he was reasonably good looking. He was intelligent and he had worked hard and used his abilities, as the success of his business had proved. Above all he was not used to being ignored, especially by women, young, old, ugly or attractive. He was both irked and intrigued by the indifference Miss Fairfax had displayed towards him since he arrived.

He
had volunteered to install the new computer system in the offices of his uncle’s meat processing plant during Simon Kershaw’s absence but he usually left the checking and tweaking to one of his subordinates. The job had been a spur of the moment assignment to occupy him while he was here so there was nothing for it but to attend to any final adjustments to the program himself. He always knew exactly what was required,
whenever he undertook a new program but on this occasion he didn’t exactly have a free rein. For the first time in his life he was not sure why he had changed his plans at the last minute.

He had made careful arrangements so that he could be away from his company for three months while he visited his mother in Australia. It had been a shock to him when he learned she had undergone a major operation without telling him and he was relieved to hear she was making an excellent recovery. Apparently the news had also been a shock to Uncle Simon because he had also made plans to visit his only sister while she was recuperating. There was no doubt her brother’s proposed visit had been a pleasant surprise which his mother was eagerly anticipating. There seemed no point in both of them visiting at the same time so Euan had decided to break his journey to Australia and visit Scotland instead, allowing his uncle and mother time alone together to catch up.

So here he was at Kershaw & Company, his Uncle Simon’s meat processing plant in Scotland while the boss himself was on the other side of the world. Euan’s eyes gleamed with devilish amusement as he re-read the email which had never been intended for his eyes.

In
her own office Roseanne muttered in irritation and wondered why she felt so restless. Why was she so aware of the man across the passage? She had been left in sole charge of Kershaw & Company scores of times while Mr K went off on his meat buying trips. Why should it be any different this time? And why should she be so on edge? During her holidays from university she had wanted to earn some money so at various times she had worked in almost every part of the factory. She had got to know the staff and the different systems. She understood the routines, how the processing and packaging plants operated, and why certain things had to be done to comply with health and safety and hygiene regulations. The experience had proved invaluable, even though her mother had irritably declared at the time that it bore no relation to her degree in accountancy.

She had known Simon Kershaw since she was a child. He had been like an adopted uncle when she was young. They got on well together. When she finished at university he had confessed that keeping records and accounts was not his strong suite, especially now the company was beginning to expand, so he had offered her a permanent position in charge of the office staff and the accounts at
Kershaw & Co. She had accepted. On several occasions she had proved herself more than capable of dealing with problems and she could handle the administration of the business blindfolded – well almost. Perhaps it would be better if she was blindfolded then she wouldn’t be so conscious of Mr K’s nephew now occupying the boss’s office right next to hers; she wouldn’t see his long legs taking the stairs two at a time to Mr K’s spacious flat above the offices either. What right did Euan Kennedy have to come here out of the blue and assume so much authority? She felt he was taking over her space, as well as his uncle's. She had an uneasy premonition he might take her over completely if she was not careful.

No!
She thumped the desk. She didn’t allow anyone to interfere with her work, though plenty had tried. The trouble was Mr K had never travelled half way round the world before, nor been away for as long as three whole months. He had been genuinely upset when he heard the news that his only sister had undergone a serious operation without telling him. Although they kept in touch regularly it was years since they had seen each other and her illness had filled him with consternation and jolted him into action, hence the trip to Australia.

‘
You see, lassie,’ he had explained, `Aileen is all the family I have. She’s had a serious operation and it’s made me realise neither of us will be here forever and I ought to go and see her.’ He had given Roseanne his boyish smile. `I might even give some of your ideas a try if I see their electronic machines in action over there.’

`
I’ll believe that when I see it!’ She had grinned at him. They both knew he hated changes and he avoided anything to do with computers if he could. She hadn’t dared suggest any changes down at Ashburn, the organic farm they owned between them, thanks to her Grandfather Fairfax. One step at a time, was her motto when leading Mr K into the modern world of technology.

`
Aileen has a son,` he had said, `but I havena seen him since he was a wee laddie. He's built up a business developing computerised machinery. He travels all over the world. I’ll give him a ring and let him know I’m going to visit his mother. If I meet him there I might invite him to come over to Scotland for a visit. He could give us his advice on modernising some of the processing plant when I return. It’s time I got to know the boy.’

Euan
Kennedy had responded to his call quicker than either of them could have anticipated. He explained his sudden decision to break his journey and visit Scotland, the land of his birth, now he knew his Uncle Simon was already booked to travel to Australia himself. Uncle and nephew had met briefly at the airport. Roseanne knew all about the plans but now Euan Kennedy was sitting in Mr K’s office as though he owned the place and he had made it plain he planned to stay until his uncle returned. So far he had been too busy installing and checking a new computer system in the offices to interfere with Roseanne’s work overseeing the factory, but she had noticed the way he cast his eye over them all whenever he passed by the glass fronted offices. Annoyingly his speculative gaze always seemed to linger longest on her. Roseanne wondered why, quite unaware that her polite reserve represented an irresistible challenge to any red blooded man, and Euan Kennedy was certainly that. He had one of those assessing sort of stares, as though his eyes could see inside your head, Roseanne thought irritably.
She had never been easily influenced by the opinions, or attentions, of male colleagues, however charming they might be and she made it a rule never to mix business and pleasure.

`
Oh drat Euan Kennedy!’ she mumbled aloud, glad she had an office to herself. That was when she had acted on impulse and dashed off an email to her sister to relieve her feelings. Rob would understand her frustration.

Euan contemplated his uncle’s parting words at the airport. `
Whatever you do, laddie, don’t upset Miss Fairfax. I couldn’t run the business without Roseanne. Together we’re a good team – the best in fact. We complement each other. We’ve almost doubled the business since she joined the company.’

There
hadn’t been much time for chat but Euan could still hear his Uncle’s urgent admonition, making sure he knew how essential his PA was to him and to the company. It had surprised him. His mother had always maintained her brother was a confirmed bachelor who liked to do things his own way.

`
I believe you’re like him in many ways, Euan,’ she'd told him more than once. `You’re both successful in business, but you’re thirty now and you still have no serious girlfriends as far I know.’ He’d heard the wistful note and the faint question in her voice. He knew she longed to see him settle down and provide her with a brood of grandchildren.

Euan’s mental picture of
his uncle’s PA as a middle-aged woman dressed in a smart grey jacket and skirt, and with a hatchet face and grey hair worn in a bun couldn’t have been more wrong. He guessed Roseanne Fairfax was at least five years younger than him, tall and slim, with the fair skin which went with her auburn hair – well not auburn exactly because it shone like a golden halo when the sun came through her office window in the afternoons. If he ever got close enough he could wager there would be a smattering of freckles across the bridge of her small straight nose. Although her face was an almost perfect oval there was a determined tilt to her chin; her mouth tilted upwards at the corners as though ready to smile, except when she stared back at him, then it straightened and her green eyes seemed to shoot sparks at him, even before he began asking her questions about the way his uncle’s business was run. Her thick hair was coiled in a neat pleat around her head. He wondered what it would be like when she let it down to blow free in the wind. He imagined it would be like a glowing flame. If Uncle Simon had ever read his PA’s personal emails he might have changed his opinion about some aspects of Roseanne Fairfax’s character, he mused. His grey eyes glinted as he pressed the print button. He would keep a copy of this particular email and enjoy a bit of sport with Miss Fairfax. He watched as the printer sent out a sheet of paper headed - Kershaw & Co. – Suppliers and Processors of Fine Quality British Meat Products.

Hi
Rob –I’m writing this from work because I shall be busy packing this weekend ready for the move to our new flat. My own computer will be off until I get moved and sorted out again. Four weeks before you get back you said? I wish you were here now.

Euan
frowned. His mother had been at pains to warn him about Uncle Simon’s strict moral standards. What would he say if he discovered his prim and proper Miss Fairfax was moving in with her boyfriend while he was away? He read on.

You’ll
never believe it, Rob. We’re moving into the modern world at last. We’ve even got Broadband, AND a completely new computer system. It came with a hunk of prime meat too! No, not another of Mr K’s prize bullocks. This hunk is Mr K’s nephew. He’s Australian and his name is Euan Kennedy. Mr K. phoned from the airport to warn me of his arrival. He hadn’t expected him to come to visit until he returned to Scotland himself. He- the nephew - has been closeted in Mr K’s office every day so far. I can’t help wondering what he is delving into. Gladys and some of the girls keep casting hungry glances whenever he does come out so maybe he’s afraid of being processed too. I’m too busy to pay much attention to him but first impressions are that he’s a fair looking beast with a fine rump on him. I’d say he’s been around a bit so he could be ripe for a roasting, if you agree? I could do with a bit of fun.

Must
dash now. Miss you lots.

Love
Ros. XX

***

Roseanne stared at Euan Kennedy as he sat behind his uncle’s desk regarding her with a smug expression on his handsome face. She was proud of her reputation for efficiency and integrity, and that of her staff too. He cleared his throat, drawing her eyes back to his face. He was eyeing her like a cat with a mouse before it pounced. What was he waiting for? Why was he looking at her so expectantly? She was not used to feeling at a disadvantage. She frowned. She had learned to control the temper that went with her auburn hair but she knew she was in danger of losing it with this infuriating man. Mr K admired her calmness in a crisis. It was one of the reasons he was happy to leave her in charge when he went on his buying trips.