The Loving Gift Read online

  She looked at him uncertainly.

  He gave a rueful smile. ‘You were right about my behaviour earlier—it was outrageous, and I am ashamed of myself.’

  Jade sighed. ‘That’s something, at least,’ she said tartly.

  He nodded. ‘Of course, it doesn’t change the fact that I do want to marry you,’ he told her lightly.

  ‘Wouldn’t Sara have something to say about that?’ Her sarcasm was unmistakable.

  ‘Sara’s dead,’ he explained softly. ‘She has been for a number of years. And please don’t apologise,’ he drawled. ‘It really was years ago.’

  Jade’s cheeks still burnt from the gaffe, burning anew at his mocking acknowledgement of it. How could she have even guessed that his wife had died, especially as she must have been relatively young? Oh, hell, she should have at least thought of the possibility. Now she really did feel as if she should apologise, which was exactly the disadvantage David Kendrick wanted to put her at, she felt sure. Not that his regret over his wife’s death wasn’t genuine, she felt certain it was; he was just mischievous enough to enjoy her discomfort, whatever the reason.

  ‘That’s how I knew the slap was a sign,’ David Kendrick continued with satisfaction. ‘Especially when the second one resulted in this.’ He ran triumphant fingertips over the slight bruising at his eye.

  Jade frowned, wishing the journey over so that at least Penny and Simon could act as a buffer between her and this strange man. ‘A sign?’ she repeated warily.

  ‘That Sara knew and approved of the instantaneous attraction I felt towards you,’ he nodded. ‘That she understood the time had come for that “other door to open” in my life, that she even accepted you.’

  Understood and accepted—? Dead women didn’t give their husbands ‘signs’ like that! Besides, she didn’t like the idea of possibly being instrumental in that ‘sign’—it made her feel uncomfortable, to say the least. The very least!

  ‘There’s only one problem with that notion,’ she bit out sharply. ‘I have no wish to be in your life.’

  He grimaced. ‘After the stunt I pulled earlier by not instantly correcting you over the mistaken identity, I’m not surprised, but—’

  ‘What were you doing playing Father Christmas instead of Simon?’ Curiosity got the better of her.

  ‘Surprising Penny,’ he explained ruefully.

  Remembering how pale the other woman had gone when she had instantly realised the man behind the Father Christmas suit wasn’t her husband but his younger brother, she would say he had succeeded very well in achieving that!

  He sighed, undeterred by Jade’s silence. ‘You see, we haven’t seen each other for—a number of years. My fault, I’m afraid,’ he admitted heavily. ‘But when the two people you love most in the world remind you too painfully of the one person you ever loved more than them, the easiest—and probably the hardest, too!—thing to do is put them out of your life at the same time as you block out the pain of losing that special someone you loved.’

  Jade felt as if she were being privileged with an insight into this man very few people were ever honoured with. And she, of all people, didn’t want it, drew back from the intimacy of the confidence.

  ‘That’s understandable,’ she dismissed stiffly, once again wishing the journey over.

  David’s mouth twisted. ‘Fortunately Penny and Simon feel the same way about it that you do—otherwise my surprise could have ruined more than one Christmas.’

  And instead only her own plans for the festive season seemed to have been affected. The Kendricks had invited her to spend several pre-Christmas celebrations with them during the next few days, but with David Kendrick obviously now in on those invitations too… She would rather go back to her original plan of spending a quiet few weeks with Wellington than deliberately thrusting herself into this man’s company.

  ‘We all used to spend so much time together,’ David murmured absently, obviously deeply lost in thought. ‘Penny and Simon, Sara and me.’ He gave a wistful sigh. ‘Penny and Sara were more like sisters.’

  ‘I was at college with Penny’s younger sister,’ Jade blurted out as a change of subject, knowing she hadn’t quite succeeded when David smiled his satisfaction.

  ‘Penny somehow seems to have a natural affinity with the women I’m going to marry,’ he said with satisfaction.

  ‘How many of us were there at the last count?’ she felt stung into retorting.

  David gave her a reproving look. ‘Do I look like the sort of man who’s had a string of wives?’

  He looked like the sort of man who had never given marriage a thought, the perennial bachelor, in fact. But that could be because, by his own admission, his marriage to Sara had been so long ago.

  Jade sighed. ‘You look like the sort of man who has had a string of women in his life,’ she taunted challengingly.

  His expression became completely serious, those deep blue eyes looking almost black in the darkness. ‘A few,’ he admitted thoughtfully. ‘Although not necessarily in the way you mean.’ He smiled, as if he couldn’t help himself. ‘Ask me to introduce you to Dizzy and Christi some time. They are the only two women who have been in my life for some time.’

  Dizzy and Christi? They didn’t sound like the sort of women she would like to meet at all—or who would like to meet her either, for that matter!

  ‘I don’t think so, thank you,’ she declined frostily.

  ‘I just know you’re all going to get along well together,’ he said with certainty.

  He was expecting a lot, thinking she wanted to be introduced to his harem. Although maybe she was supposed to feel herself privileged; after all, he had offered her marriage!

  ‘I doubt the opportunity will ever arise for us to “get along” or otherwise,’ she told him drily.

  ‘They’re both good friends of mine,’ he frowned.

  ‘Exactly,’ she said with saccharine sweetness.

  God, was that really her sounding so condescending? She wasn’t usually bitchy like this, but the fact that David Kendrick just wouldn’t accept her lack of interest in him—or his friends!—seemed to have turned her into a shrew.

  ‘What work do you do, Mr Kendrick?’ she quickly changed the subject.

  ‘David,’ he instantly insisted, as Jade had known that he would. After all, they could hardly go on calling each other ‘Mr Kendrick’ and ‘Miss Mellors’ all evening. Penny and Simon might be decidedly uncomfortable about that, to say the least!

  ‘Jade,’ she returned distantly.

  ‘I heard that earlier,’ he said warmly. ‘Looking at your eyes, it isn’t difficult to understand why.’

  ‘The colour of my eyes is purely coincidental,’ she dismissed flatly. ‘They were the usual blue when I was born, and didn’t start to turn green until I was about three months old. The reason I was called Jade was because my father collected it. And I suppose at the time I was born he considered me as precious as his collection. But we were discussing you,’ she reminded him sharply, regretting her lapse in revealing even that much about herself. Had any of the bitterness she felt at no longer being thought worthy of that place by her father shown in her voice or manner? David didn’t seem unduly interested in the comment—thank God!

  ‘The clear colour of your eyes is definitely the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,’ David firmly corrected her first statement. ‘It isn’t in the least coincidental,’ he chided her on the use of the term.

  ‘You were going to tell me what work you do,’ she prompted distantly, making no effort to hide her displeasure at the compliment. Even if it did sound completely genuine. Especially as it sounded completely genuine!

  David shrugged, as if he considered the subject of his occupation well down his list of priorities. It was also obvious what—or rather, who—was at the top of it. ‘I publish books,’ he dismissed uninterestedly.

  Her brows rose with mocking censure. ‘Really?’ she drawled derisively.

  ‘Not those sort of books
,’ David chuckled with emphasis as he correctly read the thought that was going through her mind. ‘Ever heard of Empire Publishing?’ He quirked mocking brows, as if her condescension greatly amused him.

  As well it might! Good lord, it was like asking an Englishman if he had ever heard of cricket, the Dutch tulips, the Americans hamburgers, the Germans— Empire Publishing company was constantly on the top of the best-seller list with its numerous popular authors. And its entrepreneur owner was reputedly responsible for personally recognising the majority of those talents. How could she have possibly known Simon’s younger brother was that David Kendrick?

  ‘Claudia Laurence is one of my favourite authors,’ she admitted in an uncomfortable voice, aware that once again she was at a disadvantage.

  Her admission only made David chuckle even more. ‘Remind me to introduce her to you some time.’ He made an effort to contain his humour, only partially succeeding as he still grinned widely.

  Jade wondered disgruntledly what was so funny about having admitted she admired his most talented author. ‘I thought Miss Laurence liked her privacy.’ Her tone was sharp. Really, his habit of finding her a source of amusement was beginning to rankle! No one had ever found her this funny before, that she knew of.

  ‘She does,’ David nodded, that devilish gleam of laughter still in his eyes. ‘But I think she might make the exception for a close friend of mine,’ he added with certainty.

  ‘Something which I most definitely am not,’ Jade snapped, noticing with relief that their slow journey was almost over, the lights of the Kendrick house coming into sight.

  ‘You’re going to be,’ he told her confidently as he turned the vehicle into the driveway.

  She had learnt a distaste of arrogant men, had found that arrogance was usually accompanied by selfishness, and maybe if David Kendrick had sounded in the least arrogant as he made the statement her wariness of him would have been well justified, but instead he just sounded totally convinced he was right, which wasn’t the same thing at all!

  Jade had her door open and had stepped down from the Range Rover before David had a chance to get around to her, once again finding herself on the receiving end of his amused glance as he easily guessed the reason for her haste.

  ‘I always feel sorry for those chaps this time of year.’ He motioned in the direction of a passing police car as he took a firm hold of her arm, walking towards the house. ‘It must be hell keeping an eye open for all those after-work-party drunks that suddenly take to the roads.’ He shook his head. ‘I think they must have thought I was one for a while; they were on my tail almost as soon as we left your cottage.’

  Jade’s alarmed gaze followed the departure of the police car as it slowly cruised along out of sight, given no real chance to question the incident as Penny opened the door to greet them before taking them into the warm comfort that was the Kendricks’ home.

  Situated in the school grounds, the house had once been the original cottage hospital that existed on the site, and Penny had worked wonders transforming what could have been a barn of a place into a warmly welcoming refuge for all the family and their friends. Lavishly festooned with Christmas decorations, most made for them by the pupils, at the moment it had extra appeal, everywhere bright and glittery, but most of all, warm.

  ‘I hope this clown has apologised for his behaviour earlier,’ Penny lightly scolded as she took their damp coats—although it was obvious by her open affection as she gazed at David that she would forgive this man anything—and probably had during the last few hours.

  ‘Profusely,’ he grinned, more handsome than ever in the intimacy of the hallway.

  ‘He has—explained the situation,’ Jade acknowledged more formally, inwardly wishing she didn’t sound so stiff and prim. But this man put her on the defensive, damn him.

  ‘Although she doesn’t accept that the slap—and this,’ he indicated the discoloration at his eye, ‘was a sign, either.’ He shook his head sadly.

  ‘Let’s not start that again.’ Penny very firmly pushed him towards the living-room. ‘Go and help Simon pour out the drinks,’ she instructed firmly, her usual air of authority obviously firmly back in place.

  ‘Women’s talk?’ David teased softly.

  ‘An attempt on my part to convince Jade you really don’t need locking away!’ Penny retorted. ‘You see,’ she pounced as Jade gave a rueful smile. ‘She’s obviously deeply sceptical that I can convince her of any such thing!’ she told him disgustedly.

  ‘It doesn’t make any difference whether Jade thinks I’m insane or not,’ David announced confidently. ‘I still intend to marry her.’

  ‘You would need my consent for that,’ Jade snapped, her tone telling him that was something he would never get—unless she was insane!

  ‘I’m not going to take no for an—’

  ‘Will you go away, before Jade runs screaming into the night?’ Penny told him exasperatedly. ‘We don’t see you for more years than I care to mention, and the first thing you do when we do see you is try to scare off one of our best teachers!’

  ‘She is wonderful with children,’ David acknowledged warmly, as if the fact pleased him enormously.

  ‘Oh, God, don’t tell me you have half a dozen of them that need a mother,’ Jade groaned.

  ‘Not yet,’ he drawled. ‘But we’ll start work on it as soon as we’re married.’

  Jade felt completely drained as, having made yet another outrageous statement, he finally took Penny’s advice and disappeared into the livingroom in search of his brother.

  ‘I know,’ Penny said with a sigh as she met Jade’s pained glance. ‘He exhausts me as badly. I was always grateful that it was Simon I fell in love with and not David; who needs a whirlwind constantly upsetting their life?’

  Who indeed? Certainly not Jade. She liked her life to be quiet, peaceful, and most of all without problems, either in fact or looming on the horizon.

  Which reminded her very forcefully of the police car David had said followed them from her cottage. Had the police really been following them because they suspected David might have been one of those people who over-indulged in Christmas cheer, or had it been for another reason entirely?

  She chided herself for being over-imaginative. David Kendrick’s behaviour had upset her more than she realised; there could be no other reason than a routine observation for the policemen’s interest in them.

  ‘If the way David is acting is really bothering you, I can always try having another private word with him.’ Penny was frowningly watching the fleeting expressions that crossed Jade’s face, half right in her surmise that David was bothering her.

  Jade shook off her distracted thoughts with effort. ‘Would it do any good?’ she smiled, the other woman’s earlier effort having obviously failed.

  Penny grimaced. ‘I doubt it, the mood David is in, but I could try.’

  ‘Don’t bother.’ She shook her head. ‘I’m sure I can cope with the situation.’

  ‘I’m sure you can,’ Penny chuckled. ‘Which is why I told Simon we should stay out of it. And if you don’t manage to handle it—well, I think it might be rather nice to have you for a sister-in-law!’ She softly laughed her enjoyment of the stunned expression on Jade’s face before sweeping into the living-room ahead of her, having successfully made her point that David Kendrick could be like an express train if he chose—just as unstoppable.

  Jade felt herself the sole attraction for a pair of dark blue eyes as she followed Penny into the room at a more leisurely pace, feeling her confidence slip a couple of notches at the determined glint in those dark depths. She had no plans to marry—ever—and she certainly wasn’t going to be bullied into it!

  ‘You braved it, after all,’ Simon drawled from his standing position across the room, a blazing fire just to the left of him, chuckling softly as Jade’s startled gaze was turned towards him. ‘I meant the weather,’ he softly explained.

  Her cheeks burnt at the assumption she had made, an
d then she saw the devilish gleam in Simon’s eyes that exactly matched that of his brother. He was finding all of this very amusing! And why shouldn’t he? He wasn’t on the receiving end of the lunacy.

  ‘Do leave her alone, Simon,’ Penny chided. ‘It’s enough that she has one idiot making her life miserable.’

  ‘Hm,’ he acknowledged, giving Jade an apologetic look. ‘Just let me know if David gets too much for you,’ he advised. ‘I always could beat him in a fair fight.’

  Dark brows rose over confident blue eyes. ‘Who says I intend to fight fair this time? You know the saying…’

  The affection between the two men was tangible, and Jade had a feeling that if it really came down to it Simon was perfectly capable of aiding his brother in his claim to marrying her! Two Kendrick men on the same side would probably defeat anyone.

  Which was why she took the earliest opportunity—while she and Penny were washing up after the meal and the two men were indulging in a friendly game of billiards—to make her excuses to Penny for the arrangements they had made for her to spend time with them during the holiday period.

  Penny looked deeply disappointed, a frown over her dark brown eyes. ‘I’d been looking forward to your company,’ she sighed.

  Jade instantly felt ungrateful, and more than a little selfish; after all, the Kendricks had opened their hearts and their home to her.

  ‘And Cathy has promised to try and get down for a day or two because you’re here,’ Penny chided.

  That wasn’t strictly true, although she knew Cathy was making a special effort to try and get time off from her exacting job as personal assistant to a man who didn’t seem to acknowledge that holidays existed. And if she did manage to get away for a couple of days it would have been nice to see her friend…

  But David Kendrick was here, too.

  And that said it all…

  ‘Besides,’ Penny pressed at her continued silence, ‘all my plans have been made with a certain number in mind.’

  ‘David’s here now,’ Jade pointed out drily.

  ‘That just means I have to come up with another woman for the dinner parties, not lose one of the ones I’ve already got!’ Penny reminded exasperatedly.