Read Online The Firebrand Who Unlocked His Heart by Anne Fraser - Free Book Online Page A

him to finish, she hid a yawn behind her hand. Last night, she had tossed and turned, unable to sleep for wondering what she had let herself in for. She kept replaying that moment when he’d let down her hair and her disturbing reaction to him.
    When he saw her in the hall, he came towards her. His eyes were shadowed as if he too had spent most of the night awake.
    ‘As I’m going to be unavailable for most of the day, I spent most of the night on conference calls with America. Thank God, they’re awake when most of the UK is asleep,’ he said as if he’d read her mind. Shehoped to hell he couldn’t. There were all sorts of wayward thoughts rattling around in there.
    ‘Wouldn’t want you to miss out on a business deal now, would we?’ Colleen muttered under her breath, but Daniel had already turned away and was issuing a stream of instructions to Burton who was standing by the door waiting patiently with both their coats in his hand.
    ‘Shall I expect you both for dinner, sir?’ Burton asked in his mournful voice that by now Colleen was realising was the way he always spoke. God, she’d love to see him crack a smile. Did no one in this house have anything to be happy about? Then she felt ashamed. Of course they didn’t. Not too far from here was Daniel’s son, who was severely injured, and as Burton had obviously come with the bricks, he had probably known the late Mrs Frobisher well.
    ‘It’s a two-hour journey to Dorset and another two hours back,’ Daniel said. ‘I don’t know how long we’ll need to spend at the house, but I hope to be back in time for evening visiting at the hospital. Ask Mike to meet us down at the house with one of the cars. Tell him to bring the Bentley. We’ll need the boot space.’
    So Daniel had a Bentley? It wasn’t the kind of car she associated with him. Surely Daniel was more of a Porsche man?
    And it seemed she was almost right. The car waiting outside wasn’t a Porsche—it was some other equally sleek sports car, but it was definitely more in keeping with what she knew of Daniel.
Which was exactly what?
she thought.
A big fat zero, more or less. How many cars did he have, anyway?
She decided to ask him as Burton helped her into the passenger seat of the car as if she were completely unable to move her own legs.
    ‘No idea,’ Daniel answered her question as they spedaway with a spurt of gravel. ‘Six? Seven? I don’t know and I don’t particularly care. I inherited them from my father. He collected cars. They’re mostly kept garaged at the house in Cambridgeshire.’
    ‘How can you not know how many cars you have?’ Colleen said. ‘And Mike told me you have, what is it, four houses? I would have thought that two max was enough for most people.’
    ‘I imagine you have an opinion on most things,’ Daniel said, sounding amused.
    Colleen smiled. ‘My brothers are always saying that I should give people a chance to speak before I rush in and tell them how I see it.’
    Daniel smiled back and the tension in the car eased as he weaved his way through the London traffic, pointing out various landmarks as they went along.
    * * *
    When they reached the motorway, he turned on the radio and fiddled with the buttons until he found a station playing classical music.
    ‘This okay for you?’ he asked.
    ‘Actually I prefer country and western myself,’ Colleen said. She slid him a glance and smiled again. ‘I did admit to having an opinion on most things.’
    Daniel caught her look and his lips twitched.
    ‘But I also like rock—you know, the golden oldies—as well as more contemporary artists,’ Colleen continued hastily. She preferred it when he didn’t look at her like that, as if she were an intriguing creature from another planet.
    Daniel found a station to satisfy them both and for the next hour and half they sat in silence, each wrapped in their own thoughts.
    ‘So you’re getting married?’ Daniel said suddenly. ‘Have you decided on a