Read The Firebrand Who Unlocked His Heart for Free Online Page B

problem?’
    A smile, more genuine this time, crossed Daniel’s face.
    ‘Of course not. Burton was just following instructions. Guests normally like to settle in to their rooms when they arrive.’
    ‘But I’m not a guest, sure I’m not.’
    Something glinted in Daniel’s eyes. If she didn’t know better, she would have sworn it was laughter. He regarded her calmly without saying anything. She already that knew that he wasn’t exactly a chatterbox. But if he thought his silence would make her back down meekly, he had another think coming.
    ‘Here’s the thing,’ she continued doggedly, trying to ignore the way her heart was racing, ‘I’m here to do the best job I can for Harry, but in order to do that—what I say goes. Do we understand each other?’ Colleen held her breath as she waited for Daniel to reply. Despite the instant connection she’d felt with Harry, she couldn’t work here unless she had free rein to do what she thought was best for him. She needed to make that absolutely clear from the start. Daniel studied her through narrowed eyes.
    ‘Perfectly. But let me make something clear, too. If, at any time, I feel you are not up to the job, I will find someone else.’
    He was pinning her with that look again. Her heart was galloping like one of the horses in the field backhome. Jeepers, life in this household wasn’t going to be easy.
    ‘Have you forgotten that you were the one who hounded me to take the job and not the other way round? But that’s fine by me, just as long as whatever happens, you don’t renege on your donation to the rehab unit.’
    ‘I never go back on my promises, Colleen.’ The words were quietly spoken, but held a thread of steel. ‘And something tells me you don’t either.’
    Colleen just couldn’t make Daniel out. For two pins she’d insist on being taken back to Ireland. If it weren’t for the fact that Daniel was right—she never backed out of a promise. She’d told Harry she’d be here when he came home and she’d keep that promise.
    ‘Despite the way you went about securing my services, I’ve agreed to care for your son and I would never, ever let my—er—relationship…’
damn, that was the wrong word, but it was too late now to find a better one
‘…with a parent affect the way I treat a patient.’ And that was true. Even if she’d never felt like kicking someone before.
    His smile was catlike. ‘At least we understand each other.’
    Colleen let her breath out slowly, willing her heart rate to return to normal. ‘Okay, now that that’s out of the way, shall we get on?’
    Daniel looked at his watch. ‘It’s okay, Burton, I can manage from here.’ He turned his gaze back to Colleen. She’d forgotten just how green those penetrating eyes of his were—even when he was frowning. ‘I can give you ten minutes. Follow me. Harry’s bedroom is on the second floor.’
    Colleen remained silent for the rest of the way up the curving stairs and along the carpeted hallway lined withold-fashioned portraits of stuffy men in uniforms and aristocratic women in evening dresses. Daniel threw open the very last room at the end of the long corridor.
    ‘This is Harry’s room,’ he said over his shoulder. ‘I’ve installed a hospital bed as you can see. You’re in the suite next door.’
    Colleen glanced round, taking in the bare walls and almost-empty shelves. An electric wheelchair stood in front of the unlit fireplace. She walked over to the bookshelf and tilted her head to the side, reading the titles along the spines:
Great Expectations
,
The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
, a couple of other tomes and a raft of other titles she didn’t recognise. Either Harry had unusual tastes for a twelve year old or these books didn’t belong to him.
    She could sense Daniel’s impatience as he waited until she’d finished.
    ‘Would you like to see your room now?’ he asked.
    ‘There’s plenty of time for that later,’ Colleen replied.
    He