The Millionaire Falls Hard (3 page)

The smile of recognition she gave Phil lit up her face. Jake didn't think she could have got any more beautiful but he was wrong. Her eyes sparkled brightly from the warmth of her smile. Her lips were lush and full and infinitely kissable. He thought she should carry a government health warning. She was seriously the most stunning woman he had ever seen and his body didn't hesitate to let him know that. At that moment he was pleased he had his overcoat on to hide the tell tale sign of his arousal.

He realised Phil had moved off and that he was still staring. Embarrassed that he had been caught, he hastily moved to catch up with Phil, only registering as he did so that she had a man with her.

Jake stopped and looked back to see the man place his hand at the small of her back as he guided her forward to the check-in desk. Jake seethed. More at himself for finding someone else's woman attractive. From the back the man looked a lot older than her. What could she see in him?

This had definitely turned into a very bad day. Jake took control of himself and with some very deep breaths, strode to catch up with Phil.

*

'Who was that?' asked Detective Inspector Alan Macintosh, the man who was protecting Carrie until the lunatic threatening Carrie, and now her son, was caught.

At fifty two, Alan felt he was getting too old for major heroics and he seriously hoped that the threats were the work of a harmless crackpot. The threats had been coming in for a couple of months and nothing so far had happened, which would suggest perhaps a disgruntled ex-fan. Then again, they were getting more regular and threatening, and now threatened to kidnap Charlie, so it really was beginning to look as if something much more sinister was going on.

Over the last year he'd started to think about retirement and it held ever greater appeal as each day went by.

Still, for now his job required him to keep Carrie safe when she was away from her home.

Carrie was someone he cared for very much, not just because she was a lovely person but because she was the 'adopted' daughter of Moira, the woman he hoped to make his wife and who was also Carrie's housekeeper. Moira had worked for Carrie right from the start and had grown to love her as the daughter she had never had. Alan had known Moira all his life and she had been a good friend, particularly when his wife had died five years ago.

In the intervening years they had become very close and Alan harboured hopes that Moira would agree to marry him once he plucked up the courage to ask her. As Moira had never married, having looked after her parents until they had both died, he wasn't sure if she would be happy to give up some of her independence.

'Sorry, what did you say?' Alan realised he'd missed Carrie's answer. Despite wanting to retire, he was a consummate professional who took his job very seriously and for now pushed all thoughts away to give Carrie his full attention.

'Phil Tennant. He lives next to Lynne and they seem to have become quite close in the last couple of months.'

'And the other one, the one who was staring at us?'

'Jake Calderwood. Owner of Gemmell Estate.' Carrie repeated drily.

'Sounds like you don't like him much,' Alan observed.

Carrie shrugged. 'I don't know him. I just came across him when Charlie and I were out on the Estate a couple of weeks back. He wasn't very pleasant. In fact he was very rude. He made it very clear who the Estate now belonged to, so I've assumed his identity.'

'Hmm. Come on, let's go and find somewhere to sit and wait.' Alan made a mental note to get Jake Calderwood checked out. Until they knew who was harassing Carrie, everyone was a suspect.

They took their boarding cards and made their way to the executive lounge. While Alan emailed back to the station on his Blackberry, Carrie sat with a book in front of her. Neither of them had any interest in the complimentary food and drinks on offer. She found it hard to focus on the words on the page as she found herself reflecting back over the last few days.

Receiving the threat to kidnap Charlie had been the last straw for Carrie, and Moira had found her sitting at the table in the kitchen, completely numb from shock. She hadn't responded when Moira had asked her what was wrong, she'd just continued to sit there with the letter loosely held in her hands. She hadn't even been able to make eye contact with her. She'd never got round to telling Lynne, having decided in the cold light of day that she could cope, but that letter, the one threatening her little boy had just tipped her over the edge and she'd been unable to get herself together before Moira had arrived for work.

She had vague memories of Moira gasping in shock when she'd taken the letter from her grasp and read the contents. Moira, bless her, hadn't asked any questions, she'd just phoned Alan on his personal mobile and asked him to come over.

She didn't know what she would have done without Moira taking charge. She felt disgusted with herself for allowing the situation to get to her. She'd been so strong over the years and prided herself in being able to cope with whatever life threw at her but this constant drip of threats she'd received in the last couple of months had momentarily proved too much for her. Still, now that she and Charlie had protection she felt able to cope again. It was good to have been able to share the burden. It had taken hours to drag everything out of her but Alan and Moira had finally got the full picture from her. To give Alan credit he hadn't let the grass grow. He'd taken all the letters away for analysis, got himself personally assigned to look after Carrie when she was away and had one of his officers assigned to look after Charlie 24/7.

She'd worried about having to say anything to Charlie but they'd concocted a story about Steve, the policeman, needing to spend time working with children. They had thought it best to not even let on that he was a policeman, just a friend of Alan's who was looking for experience. Steve slept in Charlie's room and went everywhere with him. Charlie seemed to view it as one big adventure and loved having his new 'big friend' hanging out with him. She smiled at the memory of Charlie offering Steve one of his teddies to sleep with!

She marvelled at Charlie's capacity for acceptance of people in his life. Steve seemed good with him and was very adept at making out it was all a bit of fun whilst staying on his guard. A couple of times Charlie had tried to give him the slip during a game of hide and seek but Steve at all times had known where he was. Carrie knew she could relax while she was away from home and trust Steve with her son.

She wished she could see it all as a big adventure, maybe one day when it was all over she would. She sighed and glanced up from the book. Her eyes locked with Jake's and she found herself caught in that piercing blue gaze. She was sitting some way away and yet she felt the pull of attraction. This time his other features registered with her. His straight nose, in perfect proportion to the rest of his face; his full lips that were currently set in a straight line, and the dimple in his chin. The front of his hair was flopped onto his tall forehead as if it was impossible to tame. Like hers, she thought. He had the build of an athlete, broad shoulders moving down to a slimmer waist. The look of someone who swam she thought. She wondered what he did now to keep fit. He was tall, she realised, thinking about him stood there in front of her at the check-in desk. At five foot ten, she generally found that she didn't have too much trouble looking most men in the eye, but he must be at least six foot three. He certainly stood taller than Phil and he was just over six foot.

My, but he was good looking and looked like he knew that fact too. It would be dangerous to get too close to him. He looked like someone who would eat a woman for breakfast and then spit her out. It might be nice to be eaten though by those luscious lips. A smile curved her own lips at that thought. He raised an eyebrow to her as if he could guess her thoughts.

Suddenly aware that he knew she was staring, she embarrassingly looked away. How could she have such thoughts of a perfect stranger and someone she didn't even like to boot, she berated herself.

She turned her attention to Alan, engaged in a conversation to hide her embarrassment, and tried not to glance over at him. Tension mounted in her at the strain of not glancing over, and relief flooded through her when the flight was finally called.

*

Carrie and her companion were sat in the departure lounge some distance from Jake and Phil but he had a clear view of them.

'Who's that woman you spoke to at the desk?' Jake casually asked Phil, who was by now engrossed in financial data on his laptop. Jake had lost his appetite for work after the encounter at check-in.

'Hmm?' Phil looked up at Jake and followed his gaze. 'Oh, that's Carrie Gillespie. You know, the famous children's author. She lives on the Estate. Surely you've met her?'

Ignoring his question, Jake continued 'Who's her companion?'

Phil shrugged, 'Don't know. I haven't been here much longer than you remember, I haven't got to know everyone yet.'

'How come you know Ms Gillespie?'

Phil gave Jake a puzzled look. His tone didn't sound as if he approved of her. 'The woman I told you about, my neighbour that I've got quite friendly with? Well she works for Carrie. I've met her a couple of times when she's been at Lynne's.'

Jake now turned his attention to Phil, a man who was not only an outstanding financial director but also his closest friend and confidant. 'And how come you've been at Lynne's house enough times to meet her boss?'

Phil had known this moment would come eventually, but hadn't relished it. 'Oh, er, Carrie is also Lynne's best friend so she's there quite a lot, especially as their two boys are best mates too.'

'You're involved with a woman who has a child!' It was more of an astonished statement than a question. Jake's voice was full of shocked disbelief. He couldn't believe that his best buddy would get himself tied up with someone who had kids, but neither could he get over the fact that Phil had kept it from him.

'Why have you never said? You've only been up here two months! You didn't let the grass grow did you?' Phil had moved up early to oversee the fitting out of the new headquarters.

When Phil didn't reply, Jake tried again, more calmly. 'Why didn't you tell me?'

'Because I knew you'd find it incredulous and probably try to talk me out of it.'

'You're dead right there buddy. Aren't there any other women up here, ones who don't have baggage?'

'Jake,' Phil's tone was warning him off. 'I knew you'd be like this. I know we've talked about women over the years and even compared notes but this time, well, this time it's different.' It was as if that thought had just hit him and he repeated it.

'This time it feels different. This time I think I've met the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.' Phil finished quietly, hardly daring to admit that to himself.

'Wow! That's some speech Phil.'

'And I really don't want to talk about it here,' he indicated, spreading his hands out in front of him to indicate the people round about them. 'It's not the right place.'

'Hey, you're closer to me than any brother could be, I don't want to jeopardise that. It's just come as a shock that's all.' Jake paused. 'When do I get to meet her?'

'Not until I'm sure she won't prefer you to me.' Phil chuckled. Over the years, a few of Phil's dates had made it clear they would prefer it if Jake took them out. Jake never had done of course, he had too much love and respect for Phil to do that. Phil might be over six foot and be considered a reasonable catch with his dark brown hair and eyes set into chiseled features, but he knew he was in the shadow when he stood beside Jake.

'Just make sure I'm your only choice for best man when the time comes.'

'There's no one else I would want by my side Jake.' said Phil, relieved that he was accepting it. He'd have to tell Jake more, probably over a few beers once they got to their hotel, but he felt so sure of his feelings for Lynne and pretty certain that she felt the same way, that now was probably the right time to share it with his friend.

Jake let Phil get back to his figures. Well that was a turn up for the books. He never thought Phil would want to settle down, any more than he thought he did. A woman with a kid too, it must be serious. So long as she made him happy otherwise she'd have him to answer to. She'd better learn that Jake would always fiercely protect his buddy.

He glanced over to where Carrie was sitting. So she was the infamous Carrie was she. Roderick Gemmell had told him all about her when he'd bought the Estate and none of it had been particularly complimentary. Now he thought back to that conversation, he remembered that Gemmell had challenged her right to be on the land, suggesting she'd come by it illegally. Maybe he should get his lawyer to check it out. He also recalled Gemmell saying she lorded it around as if she fancied herself as some kind of lady of the manor. Well, if her exhibition towards him by the loch was anything to go by, Gemmell was spot on with that one.

He felt his body stirring again as he gazed at her. Hell, why did he react every time he saw her. He must be seriously sex starved, and that was something he would have to rectify soon. He didn't like it that he was attracted to someone like her, not only was she not to be trusted if Gemmell was to be believed, she also had a kid. What had he just said to Phil for goodness sake! He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths.