.'
‘Thank you—Brad. I can’t imagine why I ever thought I’d like London. Today has brought back nostalgic childhood memories .'
He slanted her a quick glance. ‘There’s plenty-to explore round here, but you'd better make the most of it before winter. It's not unknown for us to be snowbound for several days at a time.
Laura closed her eyes, resting her head on the top of the seat. ‘Snow in the country—so white and pure, transforming the trees and fields into fairyland .'
Brad’s laugh rang out, filling the car and causing her to turn quickly.
‘Why, you’re nothing but a little girl at heart,' he grinned. ‘Despite the outward sophistication .'
‘Don’t we all retain some of our childhood fancies?' she laughed back. ‘Even if we’re afraid to admit it?’
‘I suppose so,’ he said thoughtfully, and the frown remained on his face for most of the journey.
Laura would have dearly liked to ask what he was thinking, but even though their relationship had taken huge steps forward she felt that such a question would be regarded as an impertinence.
At last Leastone Hall came into sight and as he turned into the drive Brad said, ‘So endeth a most enjoyable day. If anyone had told me a week ago that I’d be exploring Shrewsbury today with my secretary I’d have called them a liar. You’re a remarkable young woman—do you know that?’
Laura shook her head, slightly bewildered. She could not imagine what was remarkable about her. It had been his idea to spend the day together.
His laugh was easy. ‘You don’t know me very well yet. I haven’t had a day out like this in years.’
The Jaguar’s tyres screeched to a halt on the gravel at the front of the house. Before Laura had time to open her door he caught her hand.
‘Thank you, Laura,’ he said simply.
The pressure was light, but Laura felt a sudden quickening of her pulses and flushed as she saw the warmth in his eyes. In confusion she pulled her hand free, jumping quickly out of the car, not daring to look back.
In the seclusion of her room, she scolded herself for behaving childishly. ‘He must think me frightfully naive,’ she said aloud, ‘acting so foolishly over a simple gesture. It isn’t as if I’m in love with him.’ His other secretaries might have fallen for his undeniable good looks and admirable physique, but not Laura Templeton. Oh, no! Today had revealed an unsuspected charm, but she knew the sort of man he really was. The arrogant, domineering man. The man who had to be master. Not at all the sort of person who would appeal to her.
CHAPTER THREE
ONE look at Brad’s face when Laura entered his study the next morning told her that the easy friendship of yesterday had gone. He was frowning deeply over a batch of papers and scarcely gave her a civil greeting.
She passed quietly through into her own office, took the dustcover from her typewriter and carried on with his book.
Ten minutes later she jumped violently as Brad boomed out, ‘Miss Templeton, bring me the Anderson file!’
She searched hastily through the papers in the cupboard, but although she found a blue folder bearing the name no papers were inside, nor could she find any after a further search through the disordered contents.
‘Miss Templeton!’ the voice roared again.
Laura walked in, showed him the empty folder, inwardly seething at being called in such a peremptory fashion, and said, ‘I’m sorry, but the letters are missing. They must be somewhere in the cupboard. I’ve had a quick look—but it’s in such a mess.’
‘Then sort it out, girl. What do you think I employ you for? Bring me Anderson’s correspondence as soon as you find it.’
Dismissed, Laura returned to her office. It would take ages to sort out all those papers. Far better to do it when the new cabinets were delivered. Otherwise there was the danger of them falling out again, and hadn’t he said his book was of prime importance at the moment?
Systematically
‘Thank you—Brad. I can’t imagine why I ever thought I’d like London. Today has brought back nostalgic childhood memories .'
He slanted her a quick glance. ‘There’s plenty-to explore round here, but you'd better make the most of it before winter. It's not unknown for us to be snowbound for several days at a time.
Laura closed her eyes, resting her head on the top of the seat. ‘Snow in the country—so white and pure, transforming the trees and fields into fairyland .'
Brad’s laugh rang out, filling the car and causing her to turn quickly.
‘Why, you’re nothing but a little girl at heart,' he grinned. ‘Despite the outward sophistication .'
‘Don’t we all retain some of our childhood fancies?' she laughed back. ‘Even if we’re afraid to admit it?’
‘I suppose so,’ he said thoughtfully, and the frown remained on his face for most of the journey.
Laura would have dearly liked to ask what he was thinking, but even though their relationship had taken huge steps forward she felt that such a question would be regarded as an impertinence.
At last Leastone Hall came into sight and as he turned into the drive Brad said, ‘So endeth a most enjoyable day. If anyone had told me a week ago that I’d be exploring Shrewsbury today with my secretary I’d have called them a liar. You’re a remarkable young woman—do you know that?’
Laura shook her head, slightly bewildered. She could not imagine what was remarkable about her. It had been his idea to spend the day together.
His laugh was easy. ‘You don’t know me very well yet. I haven’t had a day out like this in years.’
The Jaguar’s tyres screeched to a halt on the gravel at the front of the house. Before Laura had time to open her door he caught her hand.
‘Thank you, Laura,’ he said simply.
The pressure was light, but Laura felt a sudden quickening of her pulses and flushed as she saw the warmth in his eyes. In confusion she pulled her hand free, jumping quickly out of the car, not daring to look back.
In the seclusion of her room, she scolded herself for behaving childishly. ‘He must think me frightfully naive,’ she said aloud, ‘acting so foolishly over a simple gesture. It isn’t as if I’m in love with him.’ His other secretaries might have fallen for his undeniable good looks and admirable physique, but not Laura Templeton. Oh, no! Today had revealed an unsuspected charm, but she knew the sort of man he really was. The arrogant, domineering man. The man who had to be master. Not at all the sort of person who would appeal to her.
CHAPTER THREE
ONE look at Brad’s face when Laura entered his study the next morning told her that the easy friendship of yesterday had gone. He was frowning deeply over a batch of papers and scarcely gave her a civil greeting.
She passed quietly through into her own office, took the dustcover from her typewriter and carried on with his book.
Ten minutes later she jumped violently as Brad boomed out, ‘Miss Templeton, bring me the Anderson file!’
She searched hastily through the papers in the cupboard, but although she found a blue folder bearing the name no papers were inside, nor could she find any after a further search through the disordered contents.
‘Miss Templeton!’ the voice roared again.
Laura walked in, showed him the empty folder, inwardly seething at being called in such a peremptory fashion, and said, ‘I’m sorry, but the letters are missing. They must be somewhere in the cupboard. I’ve had a quick look—but it’s in such a mess.’
‘Then sort it out, girl. What do you think I employ you for? Bring me Anderson’s correspondence as soon as you find it.’
Dismissed, Laura returned to her office. It would take ages to sort out all those papers. Far better to do it when the new cabinets were delivered. Otherwise there was the danger of them falling out again, and hadn’t he said his book was of prime importance at the moment?
Systematically
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