For His Eyes Only(90)

                ‘There’s more?’

                ‘Finally,’ she said, ‘they know Gary; he’s done jobs for them in the past and they will keep him on as caretaker and odd job man with a salary and company benefits that he could never have hoped to achieve from your grandfather’s estate.’

                She could have simply presented Darius with the easy offer, job done. They both had what they wanted. House sold, reputation restored and she’d always known that there was no future in this relationship. It wasn’t his fault that she’d got four-letter-word involved and she wasn’t about to drag it out to the bitter end. Better let go while they were still friends.

                But when the first bid had come in from the IT company she’d immediately seen the possibilities—the value to the village, to the people Darius felt responsible for—and she’d hammered out the best deal she’d ever put together. One she would always be proud of. Not only did it ensure that Hadley continued to thrive, but it would keep a link for Darius with the village that bore his name.

                ‘Their surveyor has just left,’ she said. ‘Say yes and the money will be in the bank by the end of the month.’ She waited. ‘Hello? Am I talking to myself here?’

                ‘No...’ He sounded bemused. ‘I’m simply speechless. You are an extraordinary woman, Natasha Gordon. Nothing left to prove. To anyone.’

                ‘Thanks...’ Her voice caught in her throat. ‘I’ll, um, let Ramsey have the details, then, shall I?’

                ‘I suppose so.’

                ‘Darius? Is this what you want? Only if you’ve changed your mind about selling, tell me now.’

                ‘Why would I do that? Hadley Chase is the last place on earth I’d ever live.’

                ‘I don’t know. It’s just that you seem a little scratchy.’

                ‘Do I? Why don’t you come over and smooth me out?’

                Smoothing him out was something she’d taken great pleasure in doing on numerous occasions while he’d been working twelve-hour days, but there was something decidedly off in that invitation. As if he wanted her, but hated himself for it. Or maybe he wanted her to hate him. Whatever it was, all the pleasure drained out of her day.

                ‘I thought you were working,’ she said. An alternative to the flat no that she knew was the right response. That she couldn’t quite bring herself to say.

                ‘You’ve got me,’ he said. And that had sounded like relief.

                ‘I’ll call Ramsey now,’ she said. ‘Get things underway.’ He didn’t answer. ‘Darius? Is this it?’

                ‘Yes,’ he said. Abrupt. To the point. ‘Job done. Time to think about your fee.’

                ‘The bronze...’

                Tash swallowed. No. He’d said it. Job done. And they both knew that they weren’t talking about the sale of a house but, after all they’d been through, shared, there was no way she could sit for him like a model being paid by the hour.

                ‘You’ve done enough. Your interview with Kevin Rose was above and beyond. Do you need any help clearing the house?’ she asked. ‘There are some lovely pieces of furniture here.’ She was sitting at his grandmother’s desk and if she could have afforded it she’d have made an offer.