Wild and Willing! (15 page)

‘I’m amazed your uncle suggested it,’ Anna said.

‘So were we,’ Jake said. ‘But I expect he had something in mind; Adam usually does. Is it bad?’ he asked in a soft voice as she straightened up.

‘I’m no expert, but I’d say they’ve got mumps,’ she told him.

‘Mumps!’ he echoed with some relief in his voice. He’d obviously been mentally constructing a worse scenario. ‘I thought they’d been inoculated against stuff like that.’

‘They probably have, but you can still get a mild form.’

‘If this is mild I’d hate to see a bad case,’ he observed feelingly. ‘You should have heard them before they dozed off.’

‘Speaking of bad cases, have you…?’

‘Had it as a babe,’ he reassured her with a grin. ‘You must think I’m clueless,’ he said ruefully. ‘At home I’d have called out the doc, but we don’t know anyone here except you. Did you mind that I gave your name to Gran? She was frantic.’

‘No, I don’t think you’re clueless, and, no, I don’t mind. The only question is, do we ask the doctor to come and see them here or move them to the farm first?’

‘I love dominant women,’ Jake said admiringly.

‘Don’t be fresh,’ his sister advised sternly. ‘Won’t your parents mind being invaded by us?’ she asked.

‘My mum loves a crisis,’ Anna assured them both. ‘Is the phone connected?’

Jake produced a mobile from his pocket and handed it to her. ‘My contribution to the crisis.’

CHAPTER SEVEN

A
NNA
leant back on her heels to relieve the pressure on her knees. Crawling around on the floor was a tiresome business, especially when the said floor was covered in stray fragments of plaster and rubble. She rubbed her hands on the seat of her jeans and gave a sigh.

‘Where can they be?’ she grumbled.

‘My thoughts exactly.’

Anna twisted around with a cry of shock, and succeeded in falling back onto her behind. ‘Adam! Goodness, what are you doing here?’ She frowned accusingly up at the tall figure in the doorway. ‘You’re not meant to be back yet.’ She hoped the sudden acceleration in her heart rate didn’t register on her face. She felt that ‘besotted fool’ must be emblazoned all over it!

‘I know what I’m meant to be—what I don’t know is why you are here and why Jessica and the children aren’t.’

She flushed. He’d made her sound like an intruder, which of course from his point of view she was. He’d obviously been looking forward to seeing Jessica.

‘Didn’t she tell you? Your mother felt sure she would have.’ Surely Jessica had let him know the weekend hadn’t gone exactly to plan?

‘My mother?’ he repeated in a voice that showed his tolerance level, never very high, was pretty low just now.

He looked tired, she noted. His face was pale, with the faintest suggestion of a shadow across his square jawline. Outlined against the doorway he was a tall, powerful figure. The dark formal suit he wore was
creased and his tie was loosened. ‘I think you’d better tell me what’s been going on here.’

‘There’s no need to be alarmed.’ She scrambled to her feet.

‘That sounds ominous.’

‘I don’t know quite where to begin,’ she said, brushing down her dusty jeans.

‘The beginning seems like a logical place. Don’t stand there gawking like an idiot, woman.’

‘I’m not,’ she denied indignantly, knowing she had developed an alarming tendency to stare at him.

‘What, an idiot or a woman?’

‘Jessica didn’t come.’ That wiped the smirk off his face.

A look of anger crossed his tired features. ‘Why the hell does nothing go to plan?’ he asked, raising his eyes heavenwards.

Anna felt a solid lump of misery lodge somewhere behind her breastbone like a lead weight. He’d obviously hurried back, expecting to find Jessica. No wonder he looked pretty gutted at finding her instead, and she looked like a wreck. He’d soon discover that even Jessica wouldn’t have looked brilliant if she’d spent all night soothing the fractious twins.

‘You see, when Jake told her the twins weren’t well—’

‘What’s wrong?’ he interrupted, anxiety flaring in his eyes. ‘Why didn’t anyone let me know?’

‘It all right,’ she soothed. ‘They’ve got mumps, but they’re much better today. Jake thought Jessica was letting you know and she obviously thought he was. Crossed wires.’

‘You mean they’re
here
, not with my mother?’

‘Yes, Jake had already come down; he didn’t really know what to do.’

Adam was watching her with a strange expression. A
faint, sardonic smile curved his mouth. ‘But you did, I take it.’

‘Your mother was very concerned and she couldn’t get down here to help.’ She was annoyed to hear herself anxiously trying to justify her involvement.

‘Why not?’

‘Really,’ she said huffily. She was appalled at this lack of filial concern. ‘She can hardly drive down here if she’s got a bad hip, Adam. It takes hours on the train, and at least two changes. I told her not to bother.’

‘I take it my
poor
, housebound parent explained her circumstances to you on the telephone?’ he drawled.

‘Jake gave her my number. He couldn’t think of anyone else. I took them to the farm; we’ve plenty of room and it’s hardly fit here. What were you thinking of, Adam? The plumbing doesn’t work.’

‘The contractors promised me faithfully it would be finished,’ he said, with a bland indifference that angered her. ‘I suppose there’s a good reason why you’re crawling around on the floor?’ His critical stare took in her creased and dusty garments.

‘Nathan’s left his teddy somewhere and I don’t want to spend another night with him crying for it. Sam has lost his shoe, but that’s replaceable. I’ll find them if it kills me.’

‘That might be a bit excessive.
You
were up all night with them?’ he said critically.

‘Not
all
night,’ she corrected him. ‘And I’m quite capable,’ she added, stung by his reaction to the news that his precious charges had been in her care. ‘I know you think I’m totally feckless, but—’

‘I think no such thing,’ he interrupted her smoothly, and with unusual gentleness. ‘You just look washed out.’

‘Well, so do you,’ she countered, not exactly cheered by this information. There’s no justice, she thought. I look drab, and he looks as sexy as hell with the odd
extra line and shadow on that gorgeous face. ‘Don’t stand there glowering; help me look for Alexander.’

‘Who’s Alexander?’ he asked with an expression of bewilderment.

‘Nathan’s teddy.’ Her expression revealed her scorn for a guardian who wasn’t in possession of such an essential fact.

‘Are you always so cranky when you haven’t slept?’

‘Depends on the reason I haven’t slept,’ she retorted smoothly, casting him a maliciously sweet smile.

‘Do you lose any sleep over me, Anna?’ The husky purr emanated from far too close to her right ear. She stayed rigidly immobile, belatedly regretting her response.

‘In your dreams, Adam.’ She injected as much scorn into her hoarse voice as possible. What was this? Make do with Anna because the beautiful Jessica wasn’t available? He had been insultingly, deeply disappointed not to find the other woman here. Not that I’ve any right to be insulted, she reminded herself firmly.

‘I’m not sure my dreams are an entirely safe subject for exploration,’ he mused, in a husky voice full of sexy significance. ‘But I’m game if you are.’ His soft breath brushed the ultra-sensitive area at the nape of her neck.

‘You’re engaged!’ she cried out. She swung around to face him, her face filled with anger. ‘Or had that fact slipped your mind?’ How simple it would be to be swept away by the smoky invitation in his voice. A wave of self-revulsion swept over her.

‘How could it?’ he returned sharply. ‘When you feel impelled to remind me of the fact every few seconds.’ He closed his eyes and struck the heel of his hand against his forehead. ‘I need to resolve the whole thing as soon as possible. Are you sure the local doctor isn’t in cahoots with Kate and Jake, not to mention my mother?’

Anna stared at him blankly, wondering whether he’d
gone totally crazy. ‘Are you coming down with a touch of paranoia?’ she asked. ‘Why would your mother want the twins to have mumps?’

‘My mother appears convinced I’m incapable of managing my own life without her sage advice. When will everyone learn I will not be dictated to?’

‘I can see you’re pretty put out to have your plans ruined, but there’s no need to take it out on me, or the twins. They didn’t do it deliberately, poor lambs,’ she added, glaring at him.

“‘Put out” doesn’t begin to cover it,’ he snapped. ‘You could make this a whole lot easier if you…’

Anna shuddered involuntarily in response to the subtle slur of arousal in his voice. ‘Slept with you!’

‘That’s not what I mean.’

‘Oh!’ His words cut the ground from beneath her feet.

‘Don’t look so piqued. It doesn’t mean I don’t want to—desperately—but it wouldn’t alter the situation. Things are a little more complex than that.’

‘I am not piqued, I’m relieved.’ She was deeply distracted. The husky intonation of the word ‘desperately’ kept replaying over and over in her head.

‘Liar.’ He spoke with unassailable confidence.

‘Have it your own way, Adam, you’re irresistible,’ she snapped sarcastically. The truth as good a defence as any to defuse this potentially dangerous situation. ‘But in the meantime make yourself useful and look for the damned teddy bear!’

Rather to her surprise he complied with her demand, and eventually he discovered a shoe on a window-sill whilst she found the bear lurking beneath a pile of timber.

‘We make a good team,’ he observed as, with a cry of triumph, she held aloft her prize.

‘I’ve never pictured you as a team player.’ The smile faded from her lips as she fought not to respond to the
suspicious warmth of his smile. ‘More your despot type.’ Adam was the original lone wolf.

‘Benevolent, I hope.’

‘No such animal,’ she concluded in a detached voice. ‘You can follow me to the farm.’

‘That might be beyond my athletic ability, unless you drive very slowly. I came by taxi from the airport.’

‘Then you’d better come with me,’ she conceded ungraciously.

They made their way out to the car and set off for her parents’ house.

‘Do you always drive like this?’ he asked tensely, after several minutes’ silence.

‘I happen to be an excellent driver.’ She wasn’t prepared to admit that his physical presence in the car was making her a little more reckless than normal.

‘I’m in no position to contradict that at the moment.’ He closed his eyes as she negotiated another hairpin bend.

‘I might have known you’re one of those macho types who can’t bear to be driven by a woman!’

‘Uncle Adam!’ the twins cried in unison. Two small bodies flung themselves at him as he walked into the room. Kate was left balancing the board game she’d been playing with them on her knee, and Jake paused, his fingers above the keyboard of the piano he’d been toying with.

‘Back early?’ Jake said casually as he met his uncle’s eyes over the two curly heads.

‘It would seem that’s just as well.’ Adam surveyed the cosy domestic scene with a wry expression. ‘Did you miss me?’ he asked.

His eyes touched Anna as he spoke, and his attention only moved on when he’d acknowledged her uncomfortable blush with a sly smile. What sordid little game was he playing? she wondered angrily.

‘We’ve imposed long enough,’ he added briskly as Beth Lacey entered the room, drying her hands on an apron tied around a slim middle that belied her having three grown-up daughters.

‘Nonsense,’ she said warmly. ‘We’ve been glad to help and they’ve been a delight.’ She laughed as one twin detached himself from Adam and, with a shriek of pleasure, snatched the teddy that Anna had produced from behind her back.

‘I came back with more than I bargained for,’ Anna said awkwardly. ‘I’ve just thought,’ she said suddenly in a horror-struck voice. ‘You have had…?’ Her voice trailed away as the amused glint in Adam’s eyes made her flush.

‘Mumps? Yes, I have, Anna,’ he told her obligingly. ‘I’m touched by your concern for my fertility,’ he observed solemnly.

‘Uncle Adam!’ Kate remonstrated laughingly. ‘You’ll embarrass Anna.’

‘A farmer’s daughter has an early grounding in such matters,’ Beth said. ‘It’ll take more than that to make her blush.’ She glanced at her daughter, who had developed a sudden profound interest in the board game. Anna kept her head bent over it and gave a grunt of assent. ‘Hope was on the phone whilst you were out.’

‘I missed her,’ Anna said regretfully. Just now she really could have done with talking to her sisters. Hope was miles away and Lindy was working ridiculous hours in a London hospital. Just lately she’d been feeling nostalgic about the old days when they were all together.

‘She’s got a starring role in a film,’ her mother said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. ‘With Sam Rourke,’ she said in a tone of hushed awe.

Kate squealed and looked acutely envious. ‘Isn’t he a dream?’

‘That’s marvellous,’ said Anna. She knew her sister’s ambition had always lain in that direction. Hope had
always had her doubts as to whether anyone would ever see beyond her physical presence. She had turned down several roles which would have exploited her reputation and given her nothing to do but look sexy. Anna was happy someone was finally taking her sister seriously.

‘You must be very proud.’ Adam disengaged Sam’s arms from around his neck and placed him on the floor.

‘I’m proud of
all
my girls,’ Beth said warmly. ‘Well, Adam, I hope you won’t mind sharing with Jake; we’ve run out of rooms. Unless you’d prefer the sofa?’

Anna bit back an instinctive denial. The thought of her and Adam sharing the same roof made all her instincts scream in protest. She sighed with relief as Adam replied.

‘We really have imposed long enough on your generosity,’ he asserted, glancing around the comfortable sitting room, which showed very definite signs of the occupation by his brood.

‘I don’t think you’re being very practical, my dear,’ Beth observed in her kindly way. Anna bit back a giggle at hearing Adam so patronisingly addressed although he accepted it without a blink. ‘The children are much better, but hardly fit to travel. They both hit some nasty temperatures in the night.’ She looked to Anna for confirmation. ‘If you don’t mind me saying so, you don’t look up to the journey yourself.’