Luke got to his feet and Cat waited while he thanked Callum, making arrangements to meet up for a drink later that week. The little group left, with Luke pulling keys from his pocket, Gulliver towing Cat across the car park and Gussie plodding sedately behind.
Opening the door of the pickup, Luke lifted both dogs into the back while Cat climbed into the passenger seat.
‘I’ll drop you back at the hotel,’ he said, sliding in next to her and slotting the key into the ignition.
‘Thank you.’ Cat managed a smile. ‘I don’t know what we would have done without you.’
‘Only too pleased to help.’ He smiled back and then his voice took on a serious edge. ‘Can I just suggest it might be a good idea to keep him on a lead in future? He’s a little boisterous and I can imagine how it didn’t take much for him to set off after that rabbit. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to him.’ He turned around and gave Gulliver a pat. ‘He’s a lovely dog.’
Cat bristled. How dare he make her feel like an incompetent child? The dogs were regularly walked along the cliff without leads by all the family, including her father. This morning’s incident had been a one in a million chance. She sucked in an angry breath. Just as she’d begun to revise her opinion of him he’d gone and opened his mouth and ruined everything. His comments and the tone in which they were delivered reminded her of their first encounter. Despite his help, it appeared he really was an arrogant know-all. And no doubt, any woman in his life would need to be dumb and adoring. Heaven forbid she should have her own thoughts or opinions. She openedher mouth, ready to tell him she’d prefer to walk, then quickly changed her mind. They were over a mile from the hotel; it would be impossible to walk two dogs, one elderly and one injured, that far. Better to suffer in silence than create a problem for herself.
She fastened her seat belt and sat quietly, staring ahead, her hands in her lap. No way did she plan to engage this frustrating man in any form of conversation. Not now. Not ever. Luke started the engine and pulled out of the veterinary car park, turning left and climbing out of the village towards the hotel. If he noticed her silence it didn’t appear to bother him and then …
‘I hear you got an apology from Kieran.’
‘Yes.’
‘And a drink?’
‘Champagne, actually. I …’ She turned to look at him, unexpectedly catching a slight air of satisfaction in his expression.
‘It wasn’t the other techs that made him apologise, it was you, wasn’t it?’
‘I simply told him he was out of order, that’s all. He’s done it before, hasn’t he?’
‘What are you suggesting?’ she snapped. ‘That I’m his regular grope?’
‘No, of course not. I asked around. Being a bit too free and easy with his hands is something he has a reputation for, right?’
‘He mistook me for someone else. I don’t think he would have dreamed of touching me had he known.’
‘A bit like you and me then.’ Luke’s mouth curved up in an amused smile as he took his eyes from the road for a moment.
‘Rubbish.’ Cat felt her cheeks warm. ‘What happened in the service bay? Definitely not the same. Totally different.’
‘I beg to differ.’ His infuriating grin was back again. ‘Not that I don’t appreciate women running their hands over my backside.’ He said, ‘Especially if they’re—’
‘What?’ Cat rounded on him. ‘Desperate? Jeez!’ She shook her head and gazed out of the window, thankful they had now turned off the main road and were heading down the driveway towards the hotel. Keep a lid on it, Cat, she told herself. Only a few seconds more and he’ll be out of your hair.
Luke brought the vehicle to a halt in front of the hotel. As he went to unclip his seat belt, Cat raised her hand to stop him.
‘There’s absolutely no need to get out,’ she said, pushing at her door, keen to escape. ‘I’m perfectly capable of retrieving my dogs. Thank you so much for your help.’ She slammed her door then opened the back, easing Gussie out. However, Gulliver, obviously eager to punish her for having to wear such a horrible contraption around his neck, managed to get wedged in the door. Cat struggled to free him, cursing under her breath. Then strong hands were there, pulling the door open wider, nudging her to one side and leaning in to lift Gulliver out with ease. She stepped back, watching as Luke set the dog gently onto the tarmac.
‘I know what you think of me,’ he said, his eyes darkening as he unlooped her belt from Gulliver’s collar and handed it to her, ‘but you’ve got it all wrong. You believe I’m patronising when I’m only trying to help. I mean, I could quite easily label you aggressive but I don’t, I make allowances.’ He gazed up at the hotel thoughtfully. ‘Working alongside your father and brother …’ His eyes rested on her again. ‘I guess you have to be tough to be part of the team. But you need to cut yourself some slack when you’re off-duty, Cat. Who knows, there might be a real nice girl lurking under all that spit and fur.’
Cat glared at him. God, the man couldn’t help himself.
‘Well, thank you for your wonderful insight into my character,’ she said, watching the dogs as they made their way to the entrance, no doubt eager for their breakfast. ‘Now, if you’ll excuse me.’
After settling the dogs in and relaying events to her father over breakfast, Cat called Jodie.
‘I need someone to talk to,’ she said. ‘I’ve had the most terrible morning and it’s all Luke Carrack’s fault.’ She went on to describe everything, including the conversation she’d had with him about Kieran.
‘You are so ungrateful, Cat,’ Jodie scolded, evidently having no sympathy for her. ‘Boy, what I wouldn’t give to have a man defend my honour. Especially one like Luke.’
‘The point is, I didn’t ask him to do that,’ Cat argued. ‘And it makes it look as if I’ve been having a bitch about it and I haven’t. If he hadn’t been in the service bay that day he would never have known.’
‘But he was, and he chose to do something about it on your behalf,’ Jodie reasoned. ‘And you must admit Kieran is a total pain. He may think his behaviour is hilarious but he’s a complete moron.’
