LITMIR.BIZ

      ‘Nothing I could say or do could make it up to you, lass…for what Steven did.’ George lifted his head as though determined to face whatever punishment Liadan cared to mete out, and his pale blue eyes went strangely glassy when she merely smiled and pressed his hand warmly with her own.

      ‘You don’t owe me anything, George. You aren’t responsible for what your son did. He’s an adult. I certainly don’t think we should let it come between our friendship, do you?’

      ‘That’s very good of you, lass…more than I deserve. You know Mr Jacobs fired him, of course? I’m only grateful that he didn’t call the police, even though the stupid little bugger deserved it—pardon my language. I just wanted to reassure you that he wouldn’t be bothering you again. I’ve paid for him to go and stay with my sister Marge for a while down in Wales. Her and her husband are farmers and they’ll keep him busy, don’t you worry. He knows if he ever sets foot up here again, I’ll be the first one to call the police.’

      ‘All right, George. I’m sure you must have plenty of work to be getting on with—particularly now when we’re short-staffed. Liadan has work to do, too.’

      Adrian walked up beside her, taking her by surprise, his tone ringing icy command and clearly expecting those commands to be instantly met. As she glanced sidelong at his formidably stern profile her stomach clenched hard at the pain of the little knot that was currently twisting her insides together.

      Placing his cap back firmly on his head, George muttered, ‘I’ll be seeing you then, lass,’ and stepped rigidly back as though every inch of his body were covered in painful bruises. When he had gone, Adrian shut the doors firmly behind him, surveying Liadan with a cool regard as if the intimacy they had shared had never even taken place.

      ‘I’d find a vase to put those in and get on with lunch if I were you. My editor’s coming to see me this afternoon so I’m going to be pretty tied up for the rest of the day.’

      Liadan had trouble swallowing down her shock and outrage—at his cavalier treatment of George as well as at the cold disdain with which he all but ordered her back to work. She felt as though she were having a bad dream. Her hands were clutching the daffodils too tightly, and her candid blue eyes couldn’t disguise her hurt and disappointment.

      ‘Did you have to speak to George so roughly? The poor man is obviously going through agonies over his son.’

      ‘The poor man’s son assaulted you in my house!’ Adrian snapped back through gritted teeth. ‘I would be perfectly within my rights to sack him too, under the circumstances!’

      Unable to bite back the gasp that came to her lips, Liadan stared in disbelief. ‘You wouldn’t be so cruel, surely? George has worked here a long time and as far as I know he’s done a wonderful job. Where would he go? What would he do?’

      ‘That’s not my concern.’

      ‘Then what is your concern, Adrian, if you don’t mind my asking?’ Clutching the flowers tightly to her chest, Liadan finally couldn’t halt the flow of anger that was bubbling up inside her. The man wasn’t an automaton…he had to feel something, didn’t he? It wasn’t human not to feel anything at all. ‘All I can say is that it must be very cold in that empty place inside your chest where your heart should be. You seem to think you can protect yourself from every bit of hurt and trouble by shutting off all your feelings and emotions like a tap. But nobody can pretend not to feel things, Adrian. Not even you!’

      ‘I don’t have time for this pointless conversation. Just get on with your work, will you, and leave my feelings out of this?’ With a contemptuous glare that made Liadan feel as if an icy wind had just swept over her, he strode away as if the matter were completely at an end.