“You could be a little more welcoming, Alison.”

Luke’s eyes moved over the softness of her lips and she felt herself tremble.

“What do you want from me, Luke?” she asked huskily, wrenching her gaze away from his in the vain hope of breaking the sudden weakness invading her body.

“I’ve already told you. I want to see my son.”

“And I’ve told you, my life and my child are none of your business.”

Luke shook his head. “I really think you should reconsider….” There was a dangerous warning hidden behind the softness of his tone and it wasn’t lost on her. “I’ve come here today in an act of friendship, to ask you politely about Nathan—”

“And I’ve answered you politely.”

“You’ve answered nothing.” He ground the words out tersely. “And quite frankly, Alison, my patience is wearing thin. I wouldn’t advise you to mess me around any further.”

“I’m not afraid of you, Luke,” Alison replied, her eyes blazing into his now.

“Well, maybe you should be,” Luke said quietly. “Because when I want something I usually get it….”

KATHRYN ROSS was born in Zambia, where her parents happened to live at that time. Educated in Ireland and England, she now lives in a village near Blackpool, Lancashire, England. Kathryn is a professional beauty consultant, but writing is her first love. As a child she wrote adventure stories, and at thirteen was editor of her school magazine. Happily, ten writing years later, Designed With Love was accepted by Harlequin Presents®. A romantic Sagittarian, she loves traveling to exotic locations.

The Secret Child
Kathryn Ross

www.millsandboon.co.uk

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER ONE

HE WAS her ex-lover and he was now a married man. Both were good reasons to try to forget Luke Davenport, except for the fact that Alison had far greater cause to remember him.

She opened the lattice window of her cottage and took a deep breath of the early-morning air, but it was warm and sticky and did little to relieve the stifling feeling of unease inside her. There was a storm brewing, she thought, her eyes moving to the milky mist that hung over the ocean and the Cornish cliffs. It was as if the whole world was holding its breath because Luke Davenport had come home.

Nathan dropped his spoon on the tiled floor and Alison turned her attention back to the kitchen.

‘Oh, dear!’ She smiled at him and he smiled back, a spark of mischief in his big blue eyes. Was her son exceptionally gorgeous, Alison wondered dreamily, or did every mother think that about her child? She bent to pick up the spoon and rinsed it under the tap.

‘Shall Mummy help you with breakfast?’ she asked him, sitting down at the table beside him and spooning up a little of the baby food to hold it out temptingly. Nathan shook his head then reached out and took the spoon from her.

‘OK, Mr Independent.’

Alison sipped her tea and tried to dismiss the fact that Luke was home, but as she watched Nathan in his high chair she knew that was easier said than done. Nathan’s blue eyes and dark hair reminded her so much of his father that sometimes it made her heart squeeze with pain.

In a few weeks he would be two. The way time was flying he would soon be at an age to ask questions about his father, and then what would she tell him? That Luke hadn’t wanted him? That was a lie. Luke hadn’t wanted her…but he knew nothing of his child. For Nathan’s sake she wished things could have been different.

But things couldn’t be different, she told herself firmly. Luke was married and he was only home for a short while to attend his father’s funeral and sort out the family estate then he would be returning to New York again.

Even for Nathan’s sake she couldn’t get in contact with him now. Who knew what demons she would be unleashing? It was two and a half years since she had last seen Luke and that meeting had not been pleasant. She had enough problems at the moment without conjuring up Luke Davenport as well, she thought furiously.

Dragging her mind away from thoughts of Luke, Alison glanced at the clock. It was seven-thirty; soon her child-minder, Jane, would arrive and she could leave for work. Ahead of her lay a gruelling day, including a change-over of guests at the hotel and an important meeting with the bank manager. She would be lucky if she got home in time to tuck Nathan up in his cot. In all probability he would be fast asleep when she got back.

‘I don’t want to go to work today, Nathan,’ she groaned. ‘I wish I could stay here with you.’

Nathan chuckled as if this was a great joke.

But it wasn’t really funny. Work seemed beset with problems these days and she seemed to be spending longer and longer hours there. That was the trouble with a family business, she supposed, it was very difficult to just clock off when you had done the required amount of hours. The hotel was almost like having another child, she felt responsible for it…had a duty of care towards it, because it wasn’t just her own monetary position that was on the line but her brothers’ as well. They all had a stake in the Cliff House Hotel, and if it went under they were all in trouble.

The shrill ring of the phone cut into her thoughts and she reached to pick it up.

‘Hi, sis, how are you this fine morning?’

It took a moment for Alison to recognise the cheerful tones of her elder brother. These days she was so used to Garth’s voice being weighed down with the problems of the business that this was a complete surprise. ‘Hi; you sound happy.’

‘That’s because I am happy, sis… I really am.’ He almost sang the words. ‘I think I’ve solved all our business problems.’

Alison frowned. She had been going over the accounts again last night and knew full well that things were even more serious than they had first feared. ‘Short of a miracle, Garth, I don’t see how—’

‘It is a miracle… I’ve found an investor, someone who is going to make all the difference in the world to us. I can’t give you facts at the moment because I have a few details to sort out first…but as soon as I have a solid deal to put on the table I’ll call a family meeting. Will you phone the bank and see if you can stall this meeting with the manager until the end of the week?’

‘Well, I’ll try… Who is this mysterious investor? You know we have to be careful about bringing in another partner—’

‘I’ll talk to you about it later. Thanks, Alison.’ The phone went dead.

Now, what was that all about? Alison wondered as she put the receiver down. The hotel was in such dire straits that she couldn’t see any investor in their right minds wanting to bail them out. She hoped Garth wasn’t building himself up for a big disappointment.

But there wasn’t time to think about it because Jane arrived and with her usual efficient manner seemed to take over the cottage. Alison picked up her briefcase and kissed Nathan goodbye.

It didn’t take long to drive down the narrow country lanes to the hotel. As she pulled into her parking space the first thing she noticed was the bright red Mercedes sports car parked next to her.

It was such an attractive, head-turning car that she glanced at it again as she walked across the gravel towards the entrance of the hotel. That was when she noticed the personalised number plate. LUKE 1.

A frisson of apprehension shot through her. It couldn’t be Luke Davenport’s car…could it? What reason would he have to come up to the hotel? It was hardly the place he’d choose to drop in for morning coffee with his wife.

She continued on up the steps towards the revolving glass doors. Even Luke didn’t have that weird a sense of humour.

Or maybe he’d found out about Nathan and curiosity had brought him here? The very notion made her feel slightly queasy but she continued walking into the luxurious foyer of the Cliff House.

Luke couldn’t know about Nathan, she reassured herself. The only people who knew the truth were her brothers and her close friend Todd and none of them would break her trust. And anyhow even if Luke did find out about Nathan he wouldn’t care, just as he hadn’t cared about her.

He’d been back home to visit his father a year ago and she had gone through all these same anxieties then, but Luke hadn’t bothered to contact her. He’d returned to the States and married Bianca.

‘Morning, Alison.’ The head receptionist looked up with a smile.

‘Morning, Clare; how is everything today?’ It was her standard greeting and she sounded remarkably cool but that wasn’t how she was feeling; in truth, every nerve-ending seemed to be standing on edge.

‘Everything’s fine.’ The woman smiled back. ‘But you’ve got a visitor.’

‘Have I?’ Her heart was starting to pound heavily against her chest. ‘Who?’

‘I don’t know. He didn’t give his name.’

For a brief moment of giddy relief Alison thought she had got it wrong, that it wasn’t him at all. Everyone in the village knew Luke Davenport.

Clare lowered her voice. ‘But whoever he is, he’s drop-dead gorgeous,’ she whispered conspiratorially. ‘He’s waiting for you in the library.’

Drop-dead gorgeous…yes, that was an apt description of Luke Davenport, she thought bleakly, remembering that Clare was new to the village and wouldn’t know him.

‘OK…’ Alison’s brain was racing. ‘Give me five minutes, then come through and tell me I have an important phone call.’

If Clare was puzzled by the request she didn’t show it. ‘Sure,’ she said easily.

Just keep calm and you’ll get through this, Alison told herself warily as she walked away from the reception area. You’re a twenty-five-year-old woman and Luke Davenport doesn’t have any power over you any more.

But the calm, sensible words were forgotten as she walked into the library and saw Luke standing with his back to her looking out of the windows towards the sea.

She stopped just inside the doorway and stared at the tall, powerful figure. The very way he was standing, his feet slightly apart, the way he was dressed in black jeans and a dark T-shirt…it was all so familiar that she felt a lump rising from nowhere in her throat. For a horrifying moment she was scared to speak in case her voice gave away the fact that her senses were in total chaos.

She wished there was someone else in the room, but the vast library with its deep golden settees and bookshelf-lined walls was depressingly empty.

She cleared her throat and he turned.

‘Hello, Ali.’

She looked into his eyes, hardly able to believe that the man who had haunted her waking thoughts as well as her sleeping ones for two and a half years was actually here.

He was every bit as handsome as when she had last seen him. His thick dark hair held only a few strands of silver at the temples. His features were classically perfect, from piercing blue eyes and a strong, square jaw to lips that had a sensual curve. She remembered how those lips had once captured hers in a sweet torment of desire before wrenching her mind firmly away from that direction.

They were different people now, she reminded herself fiercely, and he was a married man.

‘Luke…this is a surprise.’ Her voice was surprisingly steady.

‘Is it?’ He smiled, that crooked smile that had always done strange things to her insides. ‘I thought that you would have been expecting me.’

She shrugged helplessly. ‘I heard about your father’s death. I was sorry. But why would I expect you to call here?’

He didn’t answer her immediately; instead his eyes flicked over her, studying her carefully, taking in the wide green eyes and the striking strawberry-blonde hair that was tied back in a French plait. She felt the intensity of his gaze almost as if he were touching her as he worked his way leisurely down over the slender lines of her figure in the white linen suit, before his eyes returned to her face, where they remained with a steely kind of force that was really unnerving. ‘How about for old times’ sake?’

Alison suddenly wished that her hair was loose and she had something to hide behind, she had never felt more exposed…more helplessly vulnerable.

‘Quite frankly, the last place I’d expect to see you is here in the Cliff House, on enemy territory.’

He smiled. ‘It was our fathers who were enemies, Alison, not us…as I recall we crossed those barriers a long time ago.’ He watched the flare of colour in her skin with a barely concealed wry amusement that made her temperature soar even higher.

‘So how long are you home for?’ She hadn’t meant to ask that question but curiosity forced it to her lips.

‘Long enough.’

Long enough for what? she wondered. Long enough to sort his father’s estate out and put it on the market? Long enough to cause havoc in her life?

‘I’m rather busy, Luke,’ she said, glancing at her wrist-watch. ‘So what can I do for you? I’m sure you’re not here just to relive the good old days.’ Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

He shook his head. ‘Dear me…after two and a half long years, I thought you might have managed to spare me at least…’ he looked at his own watch ‘…five minutes of your precious time before getting someone to come in here and rescue you with some excuse.’

If the reception area weren’t so far from where Luke was standing she’d have sworn he had overheard her conversation with Clare. ‘What do you want, Luke?’ she asked again, trying not to be disconcerted by how easily he was able to second guess her moves.

‘Well, I would have thought that was obvious… I want to see you, of course,’ he said quietly.

Luke had an incredibly sexy voice. It had always sent shivers of desire racing through her and she was appalled to find that nothing had changed, he could still turn her on with just a word…a smile…

‘I hear you have become a mother since I last saw you.’

The quietly spoken words reverberated through her consciousness as if they had been amplified a million times over. And his eyes seemed to burn now.

‘Yes…and I hear you’ve got married.’ She countered the question as deftly as she could. ‘Congratulations.’

Clare chose that moment to break in on them and Alison had never been so glad to see someone in all her life.

‘Sorry to disturb you, Alison, but you’re wanted urgently on the phone.’ The woman looked from one to the other and then smiled warmly at Luke.

Luke smiled back at her.

‘OK, Clare, thank you.’

Clare didn’t appear to have heard her, because she stood where she was, still smiling dreamily at Luke.

‘I said it was OK, Clare, tell whoever is on the phone that I’ll be along in a few minutes.’ Alison tried again, an edge of impatience in her tone. It had always been the same, women just seemed to fall at Luke’s feet, and it really irritated Alison. He was big-headed enough without more adoration.

‘Oh…right.’ Clare seemed to drag her gaze away from Luke with the utmost reluctance and left the room.

‘Well, it’s been nice seeing you again, Luke, but I really must get on with my work now.’

‘You have a son, I believe,’ Luke continued as if the break in the conversation had never taken place.

‘I’m flattered that you are so interested.’ Her voice was light but it was a tremendous effort to keep it that way. ‘Yes, I’m very lucky; I have a lovely baby boy and I’m very happy.’ She glanced again at her watch, but it was purely an excuse to be able to wrench her eyes away from the intensity of his. ‘I’d better go and take my call. Goodbye, Luke.’ She turned away from him, her heart thudding violently against her chest as she walked towards the door.

She could feel him watching her.

‘So…who is the father of this child?’ He asked the question quietly before she reached the door.

Her steps faltered and stopped. This was it, the moment she had dreaded, the moment she had tried to tell herself would never come.

It was a tremendous effort of will to turn again and look at him, but she forced herself to do it because she knew that everything hinged on her giving the acting performance of her life.

She raised one eyebrow in derision. ‘That’s really none of your business, Luke.’

‘Isn’t it?’

The cool composure of his tone sent an even greater tremor of disquiet racing through her. Back over the years there had been more than a few occasions when she had wanted to contact him, tell him about Nathan, and behind that impulse had always been the daydream of Luke flying to her side, saying, ‘Darling, how wonderful… I’m sorry I hurt you; I’m sorry about the past.’

But the day he got married that fantasy had died. And, looking at the cold disdain in his expression now, she realised just how ludicrously absurd it had been. Luke couldn’t care less about her. ‘No, it’s not. My private life is my own business.’ Her voice lifted, her tone stronger, clearer.

‘Correct me if I’m wrong but I’m informed he will be two years old very soon?’

‘That’s right.’ She met his eyes and then laughed, a tinkling, silvery sound in the tense silence. ‘You’re not thinking…?’

‘I don’t know what to think, Alison.’ He moved suddenly, walking towards her with a gleam of purpose in his eye that made her long to turn tail and run. ‘I only learnt of the child’s exact age last night, and my source of information…a highly reliable source, I might add, informed me that there was an air of mystery surrounding the boy’s parentage.’

‘There is no mystery; I just don’t want my private life bandied around the village, that’s all. I told you, my personal life is nobody’s concern except my own.’

‘And the boy’s father.’

‘Well, that goes without saying—’

‘Does it?’

‘I have no secrets from Nathan’s father.’

‘So this mystery man knows about me, then, does he?’ He asked the question with cold disdain. ‘Knows that there is a question mark over the parentage of this child?’

‘There is no question over the parentage of my son.’ Alison’s voice rose angrily. ‘And if you are trying to suggest that he might be yours, then just forget it because he most certainly is not. For your information, Nathan was born prematurely—’

‘Really?’ Luke didn’t sound fazed, and, more worryingly, he didn’t sound the slightest bit interested in her protestations. ‘So when can I come and see him?’

‘See him?’ She was so shocked by the request that it took a moment to gather her senses and in that time her mask dropped and her vulnerability showed all too clearly. ‘Why on earth would you want to see him?’

‘Why do you think?’ Luke asked calmly.

She shrugged. ‘Quite frankly I haven’t the foggiest. I wouldn’t have thought you were the slightest bit interested in babies. Doesn’t really go with your tough businessman image, Luke.’

‘Doesn’t it?’ He sounded unconcerned.

‘No. What’s the matter, is being back at home so boring that you feel compelled to visit the local baby population?’

‘Just this baby,’ Luke said with a grim determination. ‘And on the contrary, being back at home is turning out to be remarkably enthralling. So, shall I call at your house tonight…say, eight o’clock?’

‘Get lost, Luke.’ She made to turn away from him but he reached out and caught hold of her arm, pulling her back towards him and holding her against his body. The close contact sent a jolt of shock reverberating through her.

The subtle yet familiar scent of his cologne assailed her senses. She looked up at him and couldn’t help remembering that the last time she had been this close to Luke Davenport he had kissed her, stealing her senses from her and turning her on so much that she had been dizzy with need.

The strange thing was that he always seemed to have that effect on her; it was as if he put some kind of spell over her as soon as he came too close, exerted some fascination that made her long to be closer. She felt like a lemming drawn towards the edge of the cliff. Even now, the dangerous, wild side of her liked the familiar feel of his body just a whisper from hers.

‘You could be a little more welcoming, Alison,’ he drawled. His eyes moved over the softness of her lips and she felt herself tremble.

‘What do you want from me, Luke?’ she asked huskily, wrenching her eyes away from his in the vain hope of breaking the sudden weakness invading her body.

‘I’ve already told you. I want to see…Nathan.’

‘And I’ve told you, my life and my child are none of your business.’

Luke shook his head. ‘I really think you should reconsider…’ There was a dangerous warning hidden behind the softness of his tone and it wasn’t lost on her. ‘I’ve come here today in an act of friendship, to ask you politely about Nathan—’

‘And I’ve answered you politely.’

‘You’ve answered nothing.’ He ground the words out tersely. ‘And quite frankly, Alison, my patience is wearing thin. I wouldn’t advise you to mess me around any further.’

‘Is that some kind of threat?’

‘It’s more of a promise. I intend to see the boy and if you continue to obstruct me you will find that I can make life very difficult for you.’

‘I’m not frightened of you Luke,’ she said, jerking her head high, her eyes blazing into his now.

‘Well, maybe you should be,’ he said quietly. ‘Because when I want something I usually get it.’

‘Just go to hell.’ She pulled her arm away from his and he released her easily.

‘That’s not very polite.’

‘That’s because I don’t feel particularly polite.’

‘Well, perhaps you should start working on your attitude problem. We can do things the easy way…or the hard way; it’s up to you. I’ll give you today to think about it.’

‘I don’t need to think about it.’

‘I’m sure you do.’ In total contrast to her Luke sounded very much in control. ‘Maybe you should ask your brother Garth for some advice.’

Alison frowned. ‘What has Garth got to do with this?’

‘A trouble shared is a trouble halved…isn’t that what they say? Or is it a debt shared is a debt halved?’

‘Luke, what are you talking about?’

‘I think you should ask Garth.’ Luke turned away to walk towards the door. ‘I’ll expect to hear from you tonight with an invitation to your house. If I don’t then reasonable negotiations are over.’

The door swung closed behind him, leaving Alison staring after him shaking inside, her worst fears realised. Obviously he strongly believed that Nathan was his; he hadn’t even been sidetracked for a moment by her attempt to lie and say the birth was premature. Who had he been talking to? she wondered. He had mentioned Garth…but Garth was too loyal to let her secret slip…wasn’t he?

She supposed she had been fooling herself that she could keep the identity of Nathan’s father a secret, and that only a few select people needed to know the truth. But it was inevitable that Luke would come back one day and that he would put two and two together.

But it would just be a passing interest for him, she told herself firmly. So if she kept her nerve and her cool and didn’t allow Luke to intimidate her…he would soon grow tired of the subject; after all, Luke was married.

As soon as he had sorted whatever he had come to sort, he would be going back to his wife in New York.

As Alison made her way through the foyer to her office a low growl of thunder outside heralded the approaching storm. She closed the door behind her and put her briefcase down on her desk, noticing as she did that she had been so tense her nails had dug into the palms of her hands leaving deep gouges.

‘This is as bad as it’s going to get,’ she told herself calmly. ‘Luke Davenport can’t hurt me any more.’ Another rumble of thunder loudly penetrated the room and she transferred her attention to the window, watching the white flashes of light out at sea. The storm was still a long way off, and the air was even hotter and stickier than before.

In her mind she heard Luke’s voice again. ‘I’ll expect to hear from you tonight with an invitation to your house. If I don’t then reasonable negotiations are over.’

The words sent a shiver running through her.

Why had he suggested she speak to Garth?

Suddenly she was remembering Garth’s optimism on the phone this morning, his bright assurance that their troubles might be over because he had found an investor for the hotel.

Even as her mind grappled with the possibility that he had been talking about Luke she was rejecting the idea…it wouldn’t be Luke…it couldn’t be. No member of her family would ever do business with a Davenport. Hadn’t she almost been thrown out of the family once for daring to consort with Luke? And Garth had been one of his chief opponents, had hated him almost as much as her father had.

The phone rang on her desk and she snatched it up.

‘Hi, sis, did Clare pass on my message?’

‘No. Listen, Garth, I’m glad you’ve phoned back. I’ve just had—’

‘I don’t have time to chat, Ali,’ he interrupted hastily. ‘I just wanted to say that Luke Davenport might call by the hotel today. If he does, will you show him around the place?’

‘Show him around?’ Alison’s mouth felt dry inside. ‘Why would I do that?’

‘I know it’s a bit of a strange request coming from me, but just trust me on this and show him around.’

‘He’s been here already and I told him to get lost.’

‘You did what?’ The relaxed and affable tone left Garth’s voice. ‘Why the hell did you do that?’

‘Why the hell do you think? Luke isn’t interested in the hotel. He was here to ask about Nathan.’

‘On the contrary, Luke Davenport is very interested in the hotel; he told me he might be willing to invest in the place. You do realise that your actions this morning could ruin everything? He is our one chance of saving the place… Alison, are you there? Alison?’

Alison put the phone down; she couldn’t speak…she couldn’t even think straight any more. All she knew was that this was worse than any nightmare scenario she might have imagined.

CHAPTER TWO

THE office had a strange, darkish green cast to it thrown from the sky outside, but it could easily have been a reflection of her mood, Alison thought grimly as she reached to switch on her desk lamp.

The first thing she’d done after putting the phone down on Garth was phone Jane to tell her that under no circumstances was she to go out with Nathan today and nor was she to open the door to callers.

Jane probably thought she had suddenly turned into a completely neurotic mother, but whatever she thought she wisely kept it to herself.

Realistically speaking, Alison didn’t for one moment think that Luke would go around to her house uninvited. He had issued his ultimatum and if she knew anything about the man she figured he would be sticking by it. But even so she felt better once she’d phoned Jane and played it safe.

Then she sat down in her office chair and tried to think sensibly about the situation. But all she could see were Luke’s eyes as they blazed into hers. And all she could think was how far removed it all was from the way he used to look at her with teasing warmth and deep desire. Of course, she had just been a game as far as he was concerned; there had never been anything meaningful in their relationship…that had all been in her imagination.

The Davenports owned the prestigious estate that neighboured her parents’ farm. Although Luke had grown up next door, so to speak, she hadn’t seen much of him as they moved in separate social circles. And he was eight years older than her and from an early age he was away at a private boarding-school in London. But she had first become aware of him when she was sixteen. It had been a very ordinary incident; she’d dropped a bag of groceries on the way out of the village shop and he had stopped to help her pick things up.

She remembered smiling at him, thinking that she had never met anyone with such gorgeous blue eyes before, and suddenly the ordinary day had turned into something very special.

‘Thank you,’ she had said.

‘That’s OK.’ He grinned at her and then said more seriously, ‘How’s your mother, Alison? I hear she’s been very sick.’

It didn’t surprise Alison that he knew. The village of Penray was tiny and everyone knew each other’s business.

‘She’s in hospital at the moment.’

‘I’m sorry to hear that.’ He patted her shoulder. It was just a brotherly gesture…he was so much older and more sophisticated that he probably didn’t even think twice about it. But Alison did.

‘I’m here for a few weeks before I go back to work in London. Tell your dad if I can be of any assistance I’ll come over.’

Her father, who had been watching from his car, berated her severely once she got into the passenger seat beside him.

‘Don’t ever let me catch you talking to a Davenport again.’ He ground the words out with bitter rancour.

‘He was just being nice and he asked about Mum. Said to tell you if you need anything—’

‘We don’t need anything from the Davenports. Just keep away from them, Alison. They are nothing but trouble. My brother would be alive today if it weren’t for them.’

Alison had heard her father make that statement many times over the years. Her uncle had worked at the Davenport copper mine and there had been an accident resulting in his death. Although an investigation had cleared the mine of any blame and had stated it was just a tragic accident, her father believed the Davenports had used their money and influence to cover up the truth and that really there had been a serious lapse in safety standards.

Even though this had happened over forty years ago and the mine had long since closed, the bitterness in Alison’s family was as strong as if it had happened yesterday.

To Alison’s mind this had nothing to do with Luke Davenport. He couldn’t change or help what had gone on in the past any more than she could. But she knew better than to argue this with her dad. His beloved brother was dead and that was all he could think of where the Davenports were concerned.

Six years after their first proper meeting she met up with Luke again. It was at a birthday party in London, a trendy affair in a wine bar down by the River Thames. Alison was edging towards the door, trying to escape the crush of people and the heat and noise, when she suddenly spotted him across the room. Even though it was several years since she had last seen him, she knew him instantly. There was no mistaking Luke Davenport; he was so attractive, tall and dark with a commanding presence that drew a woman’s attention and held it.

She watched him for a moment, trying to work out who he was with, but there were so many people around him that it was an almost impossible task, so she made her way across to him.

She caught his eye as he turned and for a few seconds she could tell that he recognised her but couldn’t place her.

‘Hello, Luke; you’re a long way from home.’ Alison smiled and quite enjoyed the look of astonished recognition in his eyes as they swept over her.

‘Heavens, it’s Alison, isn’t it…? Alison Trevelyan.’ Along with the note of surprise there was a definite hint of male appreciation in his voice. He seemed to do a double take on her, noting the leather trousers that emphasised her small waist and long legs, and the sparkly halter-neck top she wore. The perusal was very far removed from the way he had looked at her the last time they had met. It was as if he was seeing her for the first time, noting the golden-red of her hair, which lay long and loose around her shoulders, and the soft curves of her body, registering her as a woman, not the gawky schoolgirl he had last encountered. ‘I hardly recognised you. You look fabulous,’ he said, and she felt a thrill of exhilaration unlike anything she had ever known.

‘What are you doing up in London?’ he asked.

‘I’m at university; my flat is just around the corner from here. How about you?’

‘I work for a company called Millington Hays. My office isn’t far from here.’

‘You’re a high-flying executive, aren’t you?’

‘Assistant Director.’

‘Sorry.’ She grinned. ‘The grapevine in Penray obviously isn’t one hundred per cent accurate.’

‘Thank heavens for that,’ Luke agreed with a grin. ‘How do you know Barbara?’

‘Who…? Oh, Barbara, the girl whose birthday party this is! Sorry.’ Alison laughed. ‘As you’ve probably just guessed, I don’t really know her at all. She’s the older sister of a friend of a friend. A whole crowd of us from university have dropped in on the spur of the moment…actually I feel like a gatecrasher because I hardly know anyone.’

‘I don’t know a lot of people here either. Barbara is a work colleague.’ He smiled at her, the kind of smile that made her feel weak inside. ‘Would you like a drink?’

Forgetting the fact that a moment ago the crowds had seemed unbearable, Alison accepted happily and followed him towards the small bar at the far side of the room.

It was hard to have a conversation because of the noise and the loud music and they had to stand very close, Luke leaning down to speak closer to her ear; the husky rasp of his voice and the feel of his breath against her sensitive skin set her pulses racing, and she was hardly able to concentrate on anything except the profound effect he was having on her senses.

Someone bumped into her and jerked her forward. Luke reached out a hand to steady her and for a second he held her close in the confined space.

The touch of his hand sent a thrill of excitement rushing through her, and as she looked up into the depths of his gorgeous eyes she was totally smitten…just as she had all those years ago as a teenager. She could hardly believe her luck that he was here now and that he was looking at her with equal interest.

He walked her home and they talked non-stop. There was this strange feeling of unity; she found herself opening up to him as if it were the most natural thing in the world, as if the divisions that had kept their families apart over the years had never existed.

She told him she was studying accountancy and they talked for a while about living in the city and the places they liked to go.

‘But don’t you miss Cornwall?’ she sighed. ‘I used to love getting up really early in the morning when I lived on the farm. Riding one of the horses across the fields towards the cliffs, breathing in the sea air, watching the fishing boats and just listening to the sound of the ocean pounding against the rocks. There is something magical about Cornwall, the way the mist and the light sparkle as a new day dawns. That feeling of peace and tranquillity…and belonging somewhere.’

As they stopped outside the house where she shared a flat with a fellow student she abruptly fell silent and looked up into his eyes with an acute feeling of shyness.

‘I talk too much, don’t I?’ she said with a nervous laugh.

‘No.’ He smiled. ‘I think you are quite enchanting, Alison Trevelyan.’ The words were said so matter-of-factly that they sounded completely sincere rather than charming. Or maybe it was just the fact that Luke was so good-looking he could get away with any old line. According to the rumours back home, Luke was a womaniser, with one beautiful woman in his life after another.

‘Bet you say that to all the girls,’ she said, trying her best not to be thrilled by the compliment.

‘Only the ones that I’d like to see more of,’ he said, a teasing glint in his eye.

Before she could say anything to that he bent his head and kissed her. She would never forget that first kiss, the sensation of desire, of being overtaken totally by emotion and need. Luke was certainly a master at turning a woman on. When he pulled back from her she was breathless with longing.

‘Can I see you again?’ he whispered, and she nodded, unable to trust herself to speak.

There followed a whirlwind of dates, a time that was so exciting that Alison found herself living for the evenings or the weekends when she would see him.

He always arrived to pick her up in his convertible blue Jaguar and took her out to clubs and restaurants and long drives in the countryside. Everything about her time with him seemed so perfect, so idyllic. She felt as if she could talk to him about anything…and yet they always skirted around the feud between their families; it was like an unspoken pact between them, as if that problem was left behind in Cornwall and was therefore nothing to do with them.

A few weeks after they had started going out together Luke drove her down to Kent. It was a beautiful evening and the countryside was filled with the sounds and scents of summer, the sky a rich, warm blue. She had thought that they were going to a restaurant but Luke surprised her with a picnic. They had a most romantic evening, seated by the banks of a river in the warm spring air. The picnic hamper was from Harrods and filled with fabulous delicacies and Luke had even brought along a bottle of chilled champagne. Alison later remembered it all so vividly that she could almost smell the blossom in the air; she remembered lying on her back in the dappled shade of an apple tree, looking up at the blue of the sky thinking how wonderful life was and that this was just perfect…

‘I’m driving down to Cornwall on Friday night, Ali, to see my father. Would you like to come with me?’

The casual invitation threw her, and suddenly made her face the fact that if she arrived back in the village with Luke in tow her father would find out she was seeing him…and there would be serious ructions. ‘I don’t think I can,’ she refused.

‘Why not? I’ll be driving back to London on Sunday so you’ll be in plenty of time for uni. I thought you’d like to go down and see your family for the weekend?’

‘I would…but…’

‘But you don’t want to go with me?’

The matter-of-fact statement made her sit up. ‘It’s not that, Luke.’ She felt herself going red as she said softly, ‘It’s just…why raise trouble? There isn’t a lot of love lost in our home for a member of the Davenport family.’

Luke inclined his head. ‘Tell me about it…’ he drawled heavily. ‘But it’s time that feud business was forgotten.’

She smiled, happy that he felt the same way as she did. ‘Yes…I agree. But if we arrive down there together they’ll all know we’re seeing each other and it will just awaken all the old animosities again… I’d rather not face all that unless…or until I have to.’

‘If that’s what you want.’ Luke shrugged. ‘But frankly I don’t care much for subterfuge.’

‘Yes, but it’s easy for you to be unconcerned; you live in London, Luke.’

‘So do you.’

‘But only for the time being while I’m at uni.’

There was a small, strained silence for a moment before she continued swiftly, ‘Anyway, maybe your father isn’t quite as…’

‘Dogmatic and domineering?’ Luke supplied the words drily and they irritated her.

‘I was going to say that maybe your father isn’t as angry about the past as mine is,’ she corrected him quietly, her loyalty to her father suddenly rearing up. ‘After all, losing my uncle like that was a dreadful blow for the whole family.’

‘I’m sure it was,’ Luke said softly. ‘But it was a terrible and tragic accident, Alison; it wasn’t anyone’s fault. Your father’s inability to accept that caused a lot of further and unnecessary distress between our two families.’

Whatever else she had been going to say on the subject was abruptly cut off as Luke moved towards her and rolled her gently back against the grass, pinning her beneath him.

‘But that’s all in the past, Alison. It’s here and now that matters.’

As his lips captured hers she forgot instantly what they had even been arguing about. He held her hands high over her head as his lips crushed hers and then as she kissed him back heatedly he relaxed his hold and they lay together in a heated blaze of an emotion that had nothing to do with anger.

‘Mmm, that was nice.’ She stretched languidly beneath him, feeling like a cat that wanted to purr with pleasure.

‘Maybe a bit too nice,’ he murmured, his eyes raking over her upturned face with an intensity that made her heart drum crazily against her chest. ‘I’ve been trying to be a gentleman and not come on too strong these last few weeks.’ His gaze lingered on the softness of her lips. ‘But I’m finding it very difficult.’

‘Maybe I don’t want you to be a gentleman,’ she said, reaching up to kiss him again.

She trembled as the kiss deepened, delighting in the touch of his hands against her body, feeling them as if they were burning through the delicate material of her dress.

When Luke pulled back to ask huskily if they should go back to his place she didn’t even hesitate in saying yes.

It was the first time she had ever been in Luke’s apartment. She thought how ultra-modern it was with its panoramic views out across the docklands of London. She compared it with her basic lodgings and suddenly it struck her how far apart they really were in a lot of ways…she was just starting out, he was already a high achiever with a multinational firm.

But what really had made her nervous was the fact that while he was an experienced lover…she was a virgin.

‘Would you like a drink?’ He smiled at her as if he knew that she was apprehensive.

‘Yes…thank you.’ She watched as he poured them both a glass of wine.

‘Here’s to us,’ he said lightly as he passed her the glass.

‘Yes, to us.’ She took a sip of the wine and then as she glanced up at him uncertainly he reached out and took the glass away from her, putting it down beside them on the table.

‘Now, where were we…?’ he murmured, a gleam of purpose in his eye that made desire and apprehension mix in a shivery way inside her. ‘Oh, yes…I remember. You were telling me how much you didn’t want me to behave like a gentleman…’

‘Was I?’ The seductive gleam in his voice and the heat of his eyes as they swept over her slender body made her temperature soar.

‘So how do you want me to behave?’ he murmured, peppering small butterfly kisses over her face. ‘Am I heading anywhere in the right direction?’

‘Definitely…the…right…path.’

His kisses had always been hard to resist, but that evening as the darkness fell over London she knew that she wasn’t going to pull back. She wanted him, had wanted him for weeks. As he started to undress her she helped him, her body urgently demanding her to get as close as she possibly could. When he swung her up into his arms and carried her through to the bedroom she was beyond any sensible, rational thought; all she wanted was to be next to him, to feel his hands hungrily against her body. Their kisses were so heated that her mouth was swollen from them, her breasts tight with need as he took off her bra. It was a wild coupling as weeks of desire and longing finally gave way and barriers came crashing down in a torrent of emotion.

Afterwards as she lay beside him, their naked bodies pressed close together, she didn’t regret what they had done because it felt so right. But even then she didn’t want to think too far ahead.

Luke didn’t go to Cornwall that weekend; instead they spent it in bed, Luke teaching her the delights of lovemaking. He was a skilled and expert instructor and she was completely addicted, so much so that as the weeks passed in a glorious haze, Alison secretly longed to move in with Luke. But he didn’t ask her and she refrained from making any hints.

At the time she told herself that it was sensible not to see each other too much as she had a lot of studying to do and exams still to take, but also she knew instinctively that Luke was a man who valued his freedom.

The day she took her final exam and knew that she had finished at university there were mixed emotions inside Alison. There was a part of her that wanted desperately to go home to Cornwall; she was a country girl at heart and although she had enjoyed her time in the city she knew it wasn’t really the life she wanted.

However, Luke’s life was in the city. He was ambitious…and he was rising fast within the company he worked for. She was under no illusion that if she wanted to be around him she would have to be the one to make the compromises. So she applied for a few jobs and while she waited for a full-time job she took two part-time ones so that she could afford to stay on in her flat.

On her last evening at Luke’s apartment they made love and then, cuddling together in the deep comfort of his double bed, he broached the subject of the future, asking if she had heard anything from her job applications.

‘I’ve got a couple of interviews next week.’ She hesitated before adding quietly, ‘But I’m starting to wonder if I should go back home.’

In honesty, she was testing the water, wondering if he would ask her not to go. But he didn’t say anything like that, just asked if she missed her family or just Cornwall.

‘Well…both, I suppose.’ She rolled over to look at him. ‘Don’t you miss home?’

‘I like Cornwall but I’ve got other things on my agenda at the moment. To be honest I’m thinking of leaving England altogether. I’ve been offered a posting to New York for a while.’

The statement took her so much by surprise that she lay there aware of her heart thundering against her chest as she waited to see if he’d ask her to go with him.

‘It’s a great opportunity for the future. The company are putting together a new Anglo-American venture and they want me on board.’

When she didn’t say anything to that he continued firmly, ‘It’s just a plane ride away, Alison, and I feel—’

Whatever he was going to say was cut off by the shrill ring of the phone and Luke reached to answer it. ‘It’s for you,’ he said, handing the receiver over. ‘Your flat-mate.’

She knew instantly there was something wrong; Sandra never phoned her at Luke’s.

‘Your brother has been on the phone, Alison.’ There was a moment’s hesitation. ‘It’s your parents—they have been involved in a car crash.’

Luke drove her through the night to reach the hospital. He offered to go in with her but she refused the offer, telling him she’d ring him later.

Garth met her in the corridor and one look at his face told her she was too late.

Grief-stricken, Alison threw herself into helping out at home. Her youngest brother Ian was just fifteen and she felt she needed to be there for him.

Luke came down just after the funeral and they met on the cliff path that ran along the side of their two properties.

‘I’m really sorry about your parents,’ he said gently. ‘I know what you must be going through; I lost my mother ten years ago, and it was a very difficult and emotional time.’

The gentleness of his voice stirred her deeply. She looked up and met his eyes and felt as if he was reaching out to her in a way that made her feel suddenly warmly protected, cocooned…it was the strangest sensation, but at that moment she felt as if she would trust Luke Davenport with her very life. What did it matter that he hadn’t told her he loved her? she asked herself. After all, they were only words…and maybe he wouldn’t take that posting to New York?

She found herself talking more about things at home than she had ever done. The farm had been left equally between her and all three brothers but Garth wanted to sell.

‘It’s the last thing I want. I love the farm and I believe we should keep things as they are at least for a little while…Mum and Dad have only just died and it seems we will be selling in almost indecent haste. But I’ve been out-voted by my brothers, and business-wise I can understand where they’re coming from. Garth is brimming with ideas for the old Cliff House. I’ve looked at the accounts with him and he’s convinced me it would be a viable proposition.’

‘That’s the hotel further along the headland, isn’t it?’ Luke said cautiously. ‘It’s been up for sale for a long time.’

‘Yes, they want a lot of money for it.’ Alison nodded. ‘But even if I don’t go in with them the boys’ share of the farm should almost cover it with an additional bank loan. I just wish I could keep the farmhouse and the stables. But everything will have to go.’

Luke heard the catch in her voice and saw the disquiet in her eyes. ‘It’s not good to be too attached to things, Alison,’ he said quietly.

‘You don’t feel sentimental about your home?’ she asked.

‘Yes, of course I do, and as I’m the only son I suppose I’ll take over the running of the estate one day.’ Luke shook his head. ‘But at the moment I prefer to look to the future rather than the past. I find it exciting to move on, explore pastures new.’

She experienced an ominous feeling of foreboding at those words. ‘Does that mean you’ve decided to take the posting to New York?’

They reached a bit of path that was uneven and slippery and he took hold of her hand. The thrill of his skin against hers sent goosebumps down her spine and made her remember the wild, heady nights in his arms and suddenly she was very afraid that she would never lie with him like that again.

‘They don’t need an answer for another couple of months,’ he said and she had the distinct impression he didn’t want to talk about it.

‘Well, I guess I’m going to be stuck down here for a while anyway until we get everything sorted out.’ She tried to sound OK about it all, as if she were content to let things lie.

‘Do your brothers want you to run the hotel business with them as well as invest in it?’

‘Well…Garth is pushing for that, but I haven’t committed myself. I’ll have to stay around for Ian for a while anyway so I think I’ll just take it a step at a time.’ She supposed what she was saying to him was that if he wanted her to go to New York with him she wasn’t completely ruling it out for the future.

‘It’s good that you’re around for your family for a while,’ Luke said quietly. ‘But don’t let them put on you too much, Alison. You have your own life to live.’

‘I suppose so… Listen, you won’t tell anyone that we are going to sell the farm?’ she asked suddenly.

‘How the heck will you sell the place if no one knows it’s up for sale?’ Luke asked with amusement.

‘Garth is putting the property in the hands of an agent in London.’

‘Oh, I see…’ Luke’s voice was wry. ‘You mean he’d rather sell the land to the devil incarnate than risk the Davenport family buying it?’

She blushed a deep red. ‘Well, you probably know that your father made an offer for some of our land a while ago and Dad turned him down flat. So out of respect for Dad’s memory we thought it would be better to sell to someone from out of town. You know the situation, Luke…’ she added softly.

‘So your brothers are as steadfast on this old feud as your father was?’ Luke shook his head with impatience.

‘Things are a bit raw at the moment and they just want to do things the way Dad would have wanted,’ Alison said soothingly. ‘So I’d appreciate it if you didn’t say anything to your father about any of this.’

When he didn’t answer her immediately she grew anxious. ‘Luke, promise me you won’t say anything!’

He looked down at her and for the first time she saw anger darkening his eyes to midnight-blue.

‘Don’t worry, the precious Trevelyan secret will not be mistreated. Don’t look at me like that.’

‘Like what?’

‘The way you’re looking at me now. All innocent, provocative softness…you know you’re driving me crazy.’

‘Am I?’ She was totally bemused by the sudden turn of the conversation.

‘You know very well what I’m talking about,’ he said, moving closer, and in that heartbeat of a moment as his eyes touched her lips she knew exactly what he was referring to. It was three weeks since they had slept together and the answering ache in her own body was instantaneous as he reached to kiss her.

‘I don’t want to talk about family feuds or sneak around snatching a few moments with you in secret. I want to kiss you, Alison…but you are so damn tied up with the past and so damn young…’

‘I’m not that young,’ she said quietly, lifting her eyes to his.

‘You’re twenty-two and I’m a man of thirty.’

‘So?’ She angled her head to look up at him defiantly. ‘What’s that to do with anything?’

‘Well, for a start I’m your first serious boyfriend.’ He grinned as he watched her discomfiture.

‘I’ll have you know I could have my pick of men,’ she taunted him back. ‘In fact, I’ve been lured to a concert by one next week…Todd Johnson—’

‘Hey,’ Luke cut across her softly. ‘Just remember that you belong to me, Alison Trevelyan.’ He growled the words with seductive, teasing warmth. ‘Who is this interloper?’

‘I’m joking,’ she admitted with a smile. ‘He’s just a friend of Garth’s…I said I’d even up the numbers on an outing—’

‘Well, just make sure that’s all it is,’ he said possessively.

She was to remember that moment so clearly. The mellow warmth of the air and the pounding of the waves on the rocks beneath them, the way he looked at her, the way he reached out and touched her face with such tenderness before drawing her into his arms. As his lips met hers it was almost as if she was at one with the elements…the untamed force of the sea against the rocks echoed the wildness of her response, she tasted the sea spray on his lips, felt the thunder of her blood pounding through her veins as his hands caressed her body. Longing spiralled out of control right there and then. She wanted him so much.

‘How about if I book us into an hotel?’ Luke asked as his lips ground against hers.

‘I can’t, Luke, I’ll be missed at home and…’ She felt his hands caressing her breasts; felt him starting to un-button her white blouse.

‘Maybe I can’t wait for an hotel anyway,’ he murmured seductively against her ear and she had allowed him to take her by the hand and lead her into the corn-field beside them.

She remembered the blue of the sky, the gold circle that surrounded them and the heat of their passion.

Even now, thinking about that moment, she was ashamed to feel the heat of desire rising in her again. How pathetic was that? she wondered angrily. She had allowed herself to hope that Luke had feelings for her, but it had just been sex to him and when it suited him he’d betrayed her.

The farm had been sold, but not to a Mr Delaney, as the family had believed, but to John Davenport, Luke’s father. The deceit hadn’t been discovered until after the contracts were signed and by that time it was too late. Garth’s rage had been profoundly deep. And Alison had been devastated. She had found it hard to believe that Luke had let her down so badly.

As he was returning from the States where he’d been on business, she’d had to wait until the following morning to be able to ask him about it. First thing she’d dialled his apartment in London.

A woman had answered, a woman with a sultry American accent. ‘He’s in the shower,’ she drawled. ‘But I’m his girlfriend. Can I give him a message?’

‘His girlfriend?’

‘Yes, Bianca Summers; who am I speaking to, please?’

Alison was so stunned that she put the phone down.

Her annoyance about the sale of her father’s property faded into insignificance against the greater personal duplicity. Luke had a girlfriend and if she was at his apartment at seven o’clock in the morning it was hardly a platonic relationship! How long had Luke being seeing someone else?

The hurt and pain she felt was almost unbearable. She was in a state of shock.

‘I don’t know why you ever trusted Luke Davenport in the first place,’ Garth growled when she confided in him. ‘God alone knows what Dad would say! Especially as you’ve gone and lost our land to that family!’

‘We didn’t lose it; they paid a very good price for it,’ Alison muttered. But she felt humiliated. And that feeling was compounded a couple of days later by a picture in the local newspaper. It showed Luke arriving at a charity ball in London with a stunningly beautiful woman on his arm. The caption read,

‘There are rumours of wedding bells for Luke Davenport and Bianca Summers. Bianca is the daughter of millionaire Edward Summers, and she is Luke’s counterpart with Millington Hays in New York.’

‘Might have known she’d be the daughter of a millionaire,’ Garth said, reading the article a little while later. ‘Those people always stick together.’

And suddenly it had become abundantly clear why Luke had wanted to go to New York…why he hadn’t thought twice about revealing her secret to his father…why he hadn’t been down to see her in weeks. Their relationship had only ever been a fling to him and now he was settling down.

Alison had felt like a fool. She’d felt cheap and used and so angry. But she’d had too much pride to sit around moping about Luke and she had tried to get on with her life and forget him.

Todd Johnson had helped. He was Garth’s friend and he had also been getting over a broken relationship. His friendship had made things easier…given her strength when she’d had to face Luke for the last time before he went to New York. Her mind skipped over that last painful meeting.

At least she had dealt with Luke and kept her dignity. It was after Luke left for New York that she had discovered she was carrying his child. That and the day ten months later when she had seen pictures of Luke’s wedding had been the worst moments of her life.

But she was on her way up now…things were under control…she was damned if she was going to let Luke ruin her peace of mind now.

Her office door opened and she wasn’t surprised when her younger brothers strolled in accompanied by Garth.

‘What’s this, a family get-together,’ she said lightly, ‘or a lynch mob?’

‘This is no joking matter,’ Garth said as he closed the door with quiet finality. ‘Look, Alison, we are going to have to bite the bullet and work with Davenport…we have no alternative.’

‘You mean I’m going to have to bite the bullet,’ Alison grated angrily. She looked from Garth to her brothers, who looked slightly uncomfortable. But it was Ian, her youngest brother, who stood up for her.

‘I think Alison’s right and she shouldn’t have to see Luke Davenport if she doesn’t want to,’ he said staunchly. ‘We can do without him. If Dad were here he’d be horrified we were even thinking of getting involved with him.’

‘Dad is dead, Ian,’ Garth grated dismissively. ‘And you’re only just eighteen. What would you know about pressure and how difficult it is to start all over again if you lose everything?’

As he spoke Garth held Alison’s gaze. ‘My wife is expecting our first child any day…Michael is just getting engaged and is counting on his job here to pay his mortgage…not to mention the fact that your cottage as well as mine is tied up on this estate, Alison. If the hotel goes under we are all in trouble.’

‘Well, maybe the hotel won’t go under,’ Alison said softly.

‘No, it won’t, not if we except Luke’s offer…’

‘So what is his offer?’ Alison asked tightly.

‘I told you this morning. He’s interested in buying into the hotel; he wants to be an equal partner.’

‘And what does he want in return?’ Alison’s voice was tremulous. ‘Are you really so stupid you are willing to accept Luke Davenport at face value? Have you forgotten how he went behind our backs to buy Dad’s property?’

‘No, of course I haven’t forgotten,’ Garth said dismissively.

‘Was it you who told Luke that Nathan is his child?’

Garth had the grace to flinch.

Alison’s hands tightened into fists as they lay on the desk. ‘You had no right to do that…’

‘Maybe he had a right to know,’ Garth said defensively. ‘And anyway, it’s given him a vested interest to see that our business does well—’

‘You are such a hypocrite, Garth…you hate Luke Davenport.’

‘Well, maybe that should remain in the past, maybe I’m big enough to admit I might have been wrong.’ Garth held her eyes steadily. ‘Ring Luke and ask him to come into the business with us, Alison. Please.’

‘He’s not interested in the business, Garth…can’t you see, he’s just using it as a lever to put pressure on me, because he’s curious about Nathan?’

‘I think we should give him the benefit of the doubt,’ Garth said firmly.

Even as Alison was shaking her head, she was remembering Luke’s ultimatum and wondering what choice she had.

Luke wanted contact with his child and she knew full well he would stop at nothing now to get him. But the question that was really disturbing her was, why?

‘I’ve talked to him at length and I think he’s genuine,’ Garth said again as he met her eyes.

‘And what about his wife?’ Alison asked. ‘How does she feel about Luke’s sudden interest in our business…in my son?’

‘Luke is divorced, Alison,’ Garth told her quietly. ‘He and Bianca have been apart almost a year.’

CHAPTER THREE

NATHAN was asleep in his cot and the only sounds in the cottage were the lashing of the rain against the windows and every now and then a fierce growl as thunder tore the sky.

It was the perfect night for the devil to be out on the prowl, Alison thought, her glance moving towards the window as lightning illuminated the shapes of the trees outside the window, the perfect night for Luke’s visit.

She remembered the sound of triumph in his voice as he had answered her telephone call, the smug, self-satisfied note as he told her he would visit with pleasure that evening. ‘Probably around eight,’ he’d repeated smoothly.

She glanced at the clock on the sideboard. It was quarter past now; he was late. Was he late on purpose? she wondered, because it really was a kind of slow torture to wait like this, pacing around the small rooms of the cottage, tension rigid inside her.

Alison went across to the sideboard to pour a glass of wine and then changed her mind. She needed all of her faculties to face Luke Davenport. Instead she found herself checking her appearance in the mirror.

Her red-gold hair was pulled severely back from her face, and she wore jeans and a plain white T-shirt. There was no way she wanted Luke to think she had made any kind of an effort to look good for him, but now she wondered if that was a mistake. Maybe she needed some feminine wiles to keep a step ahead of whatever game it was he was playing. She felt sure Luke wasn’t really interested in the hotel…no matter what Garth said so heatedly to the contrary.

She thought again about the news that Luke was divorced. From what Garth had said, she calculated the marriage had lasted less than eight short months. What had happened? she wondered. Was it a case of once a womaniser, always a womaniser?

The doorbell rang and she felt her heart pumping nervously as she moved across the room to answer it.

Luke was standing in the porch. He was wearing a long, dark raincoat over a suit, but she couldn’t see his face properly because it was in shadow.

‘You’re late,’ she said tersely.

A flash of lightning lit the sky, illuminating his features for just a second; they looked harsh and ruthless somehow. ‘About two years too late, I would say,’ he said quietly. ‘But you know the old saying…better late than never.’

He brushed past her into the house and took off the sodden raincoat to hand it to her.

‘I’m glad you reconsidered.’

‘I haven’t reconsidered anything,’ she said quickly. ‘I just thought…that we should talk.’

‘Yeah, I just bet you did.’ His voice was dry. ‘Or rather the family did. Garth can be quite persuasive, can’t he, when he puts his mind to it…a bit like your old man?’

‘Just leave my family out of this, Luke. This is between you and me.’

‘I don’t think so.’ Luke grated the words sardonically. ‘I know from experience that you can’t just deal with one Trevelyan, you have to take them all on collectively.’

‘I mean it, Luke; your argument is with me, not them. And I know very well you have no more interest in our hotel than in the star-wars project. So I want you to stop filling Garth’s head with rubbish and I want you to stay away from my brothers.’

‘Still the same over-protective mother hen, I see.’ His eyes moved over her as they had this morning in the library, taking in her shapely body as if he was weighing her up in some way. ‘Just how far would you go to keep your siblings happy, I wonder?’

Something about the way he asked that question made her deeply uneasy, but she didn’t back down and she didn’t break her eye contact with him. ‘I’d go as far as it takes, Luke,’ she assured him with a cool confidence she was in reality far from feeling.

Instead of being rattled in any way Luke seemed to find her show of defiance amusing, and that made her more nervous. She turned away from him to hang his coat up behind the door; she had the horrible feeling that she had just said too much.

‘Nice place you have here.’ Luke moved away from her into the lounge, his gaze moving over the chintz furniture and the log fire that blazed in the stone grate.

Alison followed him into the room. Never had she felt so tense, so on edge; her every instinct was telling her that if she didn’t tread very carefully she was going to be in deep, deep trouble. ‘Would you like a drink?’ She forced herself to be polite.

He turned from where he stood by the fire and looked directly at her. ‘No. I’d like to see my son.’

She didn’t answer him. Now that she knew Garth had told him the truth, was there any point continuing to deny that Nathan was his? The question had plagued her all day. She knew Luke well enough to know that he wouldn’t let this drop…if she continued to fight he would insist on blood tests and that would achieve nothing except to confirm what Garth had already told him. Maybe if she just admitted the truth it would take the fire out of the situation and before long he’d get bored and leave.

‘Where is he, Alison?’

Alison felt as if a great lump had stuck in her throat. She couldn’t find her voice.

‘Alison?’

‘He’s asleep upstairs.’ Her voice was a fierce whisper.

As Luke moved towards the staircase Alison was suddenly galvanised into action, running to the base of the staircase ahead of him. ‘I don’t want you to wake him…it took him ages to get to sleep tonight and—’

‘I’m surprised that you know how long it took him to get to sleep,’ Luke interrupted drily. ‘From what I’ve heard he spends most of his time with a child-minder, because you are busy playing at hotels.’ He brushed past her.

‘How dare you?’ Alison was breathless with rage and it was a moment before she realised that he was striding ahead of her, up the stairs. ‘I happen to be busy making a living, not that it’s any of your business.’

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