‘You’ll be seared to a crisp if I climb in beside you. Where do you think you are? A racetrack?’
‘Truce?’ Raffa suggested, with a look in his eyes and a curve to his sinfully sensuous mouth that brought a rush of inconvenient memories of the hot kind flooding back. ‘Truce as far as the farmhouse, at least,’ he amended. ‘I’m here to repent.’
Rose hummed.
‘When you’re clean and warm again, I’ll explain. Meanwhile...’ leaning across the cab, he opened the passenger door ‘...jump in.’
She was freezing cold, covered in mud and still furious, but the draught of warm air from the interior of the cab was fragrant with the spicy aroma of Raffa. ‘There’ll be a surcharge for valeting the vehicle,’ she warned.
A smile flickered at one corner of his mouth. ‘I think I can cover it. Get in, Rose...’
Sometimes it was better to admit you needed help and just say thank you. And if ever there’d been a time to be swept into the rock-solid warmth of Raffa’s world, however temporary a stay that might be, this was it.
CHAPTER NINE
HEDROVESLOWLYto the farmhouse with the heater turned up high. It felt good to cross swords with Rose again, good to have her close. He hadn’t forgotten anything, not the way she felt in his arms, or how generous she was in bed, in life, in everything. Or how she’d annoyed the hell out of him by leaving thePegasusso abruptly.
Things were moving faster than expected on the acquisition front, and, from the tense way she was holding herself, he guessed Rose had already spoken to her brother. It wasn’t just the shock of a soaking making that chin jut out or those emerald eyes blaze like jewels. He had wanted to be the one to tell Rose of his plans for the village, but only when everything was settled. Raising her hopes would be cruel. He’d hoped his plans for Declan would reassure her. No one knew the land, or how to care for it, better than Declan Kelly. He’d moved fast to secure her brother’s services.
He glanced across at Rose, sitting bolt upright in her seat. He’d do anything to persuade her not to sacrifice her life for a duty that no longer existed. Rose’s father was going to receive the best possible care, and her brothers could take care of themselves.
Drawing to a halt outside the front door of the farmhouse, he jumped down to help her out. She didn’t wait for that, and pushed past him to the front door. He lingered behind for a moment to give her a chance to compose herself before following her inside.
‘Do you mind?’ he asked, peeling off his jacket. He glanced at the drying rack in front of the hearth.
‘Be my guest,’ she told him in a clipped tone.
‘Shall we sit down?’ he suggested.
‘Of course,’ she agreed. ‘Tea?’
‘Coffee, if you still have some.’
‘Tea it is, then.’
Lifting her chin as she went about her business, Rose reminded him why he was determined to keep this strong, dependable, amusing, quirky and impossible woman in his life.
‘What are you doing here, Raffa?’ she asked him bluntly as she placed a mug of tea in front of him, so strong he was sure the spoon could stand up in it. ‘What are you really doing here?’
‘I’m here on business. If you want to take a shower,’ he added with a relaxed gesture towards the staircase, ‘go right ahead. You must be uncomfortable soaked in mud, and I’m happy to wait.’ The tip of her nose was red, and her cheeks were whipped scarlet by the wind. She had never looked lovelier to him.
Ignoring his suggestion, she launched straight in. ‘Buying the pub, and then the Old Hall. Is the farm next?’
I thought I could trust you, but now I know I can’t.
That was what blazed from her angry expression.
‘I haven’t done anything underhand, Rose. The Old Hall was for sale, and it’s perfect for our needs.’
‘Ourneeds?’ she queried suspiciously.
‘I didn’t want to raise your hopes until everything was in place.’
‘Raise my hopes about what?’ she demanded, frowning.
‘I believe, as does Sofia, that the Old Hall would be perfect for one of my sister’s retreats.’
Rose looked shocked. ‘A retreat in Ireland?’
