didn’t want to keep you waiting,’ she said, standing back as he opened the door for her. ‘Where are we going?’
‘I can’t say.’
‘You can’t say or you won’t say?’
He smiled. ‘You decide.’
‘Maybe I won’t come with you.’
‘You’ll come,’ he said confidently. ‘You never could resist an adventure.’
He would forgive her anything tonight. Just the fact that she had gone to some trouble with her appearance was enough for his groin to tighten with appreciation—though he would take her straight from mucking out a stable if he had to. Fortunately, that wasn’t necessary. Her hair was shining and she was wearing the familiar wildflower scent, and make-up—just a touch, but enough to suggest she wasn’t completely switched off.
‘You’d better not be teasing me with this supper,’ she warned him, frowning in a way that made him want to grab her close and kiss her hard. ‘You tell me where we’re going or I’m not moving another step.’
Maybe the signs weren’t all good, he amended, hiding his amusement. ‘I’m taking you somewhere new.’
‘Tiago,’ she said patiently, ‘there is nowhere new. This is the Highlands of Scotland, where nothing has changed for a thousand years.’
His lips curved with amusement, but he wouldn’t be drawn. Strolling round to the driver’s side, he got into the vehicle.
‘Where is this?’ Danny demanded a short time later, as he swung the wheel to turn the four-wheel drive onto a recently resurfaced driveway lined with majestic snow-frosted pines.
‘You tell me. You’ve lived in Rottingdean all your life—where nothing ever changes,’ he reminded her dryly.
‘But this place has been derelict for years.’ She frowned as she stared out of the window.
‘Not any longer.’
‘When did it become a hotel?’
‘Never, as far as I’m aware.’
She turned ninety degrees to stare at him. ‘What do you mean?’
‘I live here. At least I’m planning to spend a good part of the year here.’
A stunned silence greeted this remark.
‘I apologise if this comes as a shock to you, Danny, but as you haven’t been talking to me lately...’ He shrugged. ‘It’s better that you know. I can hardly be your neighbour and spend time at a house down the road without you noticing at some point.’
‘Let me get this straight. Are you telling me that you’ve bought the Lochmaglen estate?’
‘And the whisky distillery.’
‘You’re going into business here?’ Danny’s eyes widened.
‘I like Scotch.’
‘Tiago!’
‘Lochmaglen will form part of my business empire, but I won’t allow any investment to be a drain on my finances. Everything I put money into has to earn its keep.’
‘Is that what you thought about me?’ she asked him lightly.
‘You sent the money back.’
‘Yes, I did.’ She sounded pleased about that.
Tiago continued without comment. ‘I mostly bought this place for the excellent pasture—or it will be excellent once I’ve reclaimed it from the weeds. I’m going to build a new training facility for my horses.’
‘But you’ve got excellent training facilities in Brazil.’
‘On the other side of the world,’ he pointed out. ‘But now I’m setting up in Scotland—to service my European interests.’
This made perfect sense to him, but Danny was shaking her head.
‘Don’t think I’m coming to work for you. I’m very happy where I am.’
‘Good,’ he said flatly. ‘You couldn’t have said anything to please me more.’
Was that a flash of disappointment on her face?
‘Ah, there’s Annie!’ he exclaimed as he stopped the vehicle at the foot of the steps leading up to the sturdy front door of the ancient manse.
Hamish’s wife, Annie, the housekeeper at Rottingdean, had offered her services for the night, and was standing ready on the steps, waiting to welcome them.
‘You leave no stone unturned, do you, Tiago?’ Danny threw at him as she waved at Annie.
‘No,’ he admitted. ‘Annie’s missed you. It’s time you two were brought together. So, what do you think I have in mind for tonight?’
She firmed her jaw and refused to answer.
‘You do remember what isn’t on the menu for tonight?’
‘Sex,’ she said, turning her cool stare on his amused face.
‘That’s right.’ Tiago’s mouth curved in a smile. ‘Whatever you want, whatever you need—you’re not going to get it tonight.’
‘You are such an arrogant barbarian.’
‘But you knew that from the start.’
‘What makes you think—?’
‘Danny, please...’ He gave her a look and saw her eyes darken. ‘We should go in. Annie’s waiting to spoil you.’
‘I don’t need spoiling.’
‘Don’t you?’ He reached across to open her door and paused. ‘You’ve got shadows under your eyes. Have you been working all hours?’
‘What’s it to you?’
She turned away, shutting him out. He’d done his research and knew without her telling him that she was trying to shore up a failing stable on her own, with no financial input from the landlord whatsoever. Danny was too proud to take money from anyone—even when she’d earned it. She’d seen difficulty and hardship, and instead of turning her back had responded by throwing her heart and soul into the job. No wonder she looked so tired. She had to be exhausted.
‘What are your hours?’ he demanded as he helped her down from the four wheel drive
‘Whatever’s required,’ she said.
He believed her.
‘I’m building a nest egg. Remember that?’
‘You’re not going to build it at that place—there’s not even the
