A Family Forever (6 page)

Chapter Six

"Come on. Out you get." Adam held open the car door and watched his son clamber out, a scowl on his face. Harry had hardly said two words to him that morning. He didn't know what he'd done to earn the cold shoulder.

"Cheer up. It's a lovely day." They headed across the Plume of Feathers' car park and around the side of the pub to the garden at the back where they'd arranged to meet Harry's tutor.

Tim Donaldson sat at one of the wooden tables under a fluttering green umbrella, reading a newspaper. This early in the day, the garden was quiet. They had the grassy area to themselves.

Wooden tables and benches with umbrellas above dotted the lawn. Ducks sat on the grass or wandered around pecking at the ground. The peace was broken only by the noise of the birds and the rushing water in the river that ran past the pub.

The place was a far cry from noisy central London where Adam and Harry lived. Even when they walked in the parks, they could never escape the ever-present drone of traffic and the smell of pollution.

Harry had taken his lessons from Tim on planes and yachts, in hotel rooms and the backs of cars, by a pool in Florida, on a terrace overlooking the Mediterranean in Greece, and once, in a sheik's palace. But it was the first time they'd sat in the English countryside for a lesson.

Tim raised his hand when he spotted them. "Hi there. Ready for a morning of math, Harry?"

Harry grunted, drawing a frown from Adam. His son adored Tim and normally enjoyed his lessons. Today, Harry dropped down on the bench seat, his shoulders slumped. He barely managed a hello before he fired up his laptop.

"What's the matter, pal?" Adam rested a hand on his son's shoulder.

"Nothing," Harry mumbled.

Adam met Tim's gaze and the young tutor raised his eyebrows in question. Adam shook his head to indicate he had no idea what had caused his son's bad mood.

"Okay, Harry, let's turn to page sixteen," Tim encouraged.

As the tutor continued his instructions, Adam joined them at the table and pulled his iPad out of its case to take advantage of the pub's wifi and send a few e-mails.

The lesson progressed as Adam worked. His phone rang, and he took a call from the project manager at his Florida condo development, moving away from the table so he didn't interrupt Tim and Harry.

When he returned, Harry had his arms crossed and a scowl back on his face. "I don't want to do math today, Dad."

"Come on, pal. Math is useful. If I didn't know my math, I wouldn't be able to make head nor tail of the plans of my developments or check how much money I was making."

"I don't care about your stupid developments." Harry glared at him, his cheeks pinking. "You're building houses on the place where Sophie's mum puts the hedgehogs, and it's making Soph sad."

Whoa. Adam paused at the vehemence of his son's tone. His feelings had obviously been brewing for a while. "It's nice of you to worry about your friend and her mum. I feel the same way. That's why I'm trying to make things right for Sophie, Victoria, and the hedgehogs. I promise we won't move on until they're happy." He rested a hand on Harry's back, but got no response.

Adam's phone chimed to indicate a text. "Do your math, pal. We'll talk about this again later."

He observed his son for a few minutes as he grudgingly continued his work. Then Adam turned his attention to his phone. The text was a tip from a reliable contact—a potential development of luxury villas around a golf course near Marbella in southern Spain. The construction company that started it had gone bust. Adam had the chance to take over the project dirt cheap and make a killing in a couple of years when the Spanish property market picked up.

Wandering back and forth, he massaged the tension in his neck and weighed his options. He'd rather not leave Great Monkton right now. He wanted to sort out the hedgehog issue as soon as possible so he could forge ahead with the Larchfield development. But he needed to act on the Spanish deal immediately or he'd likely miss out. The trip would only take a few days. He could be back here on Sunday.

Mind made up, he carried his phone to the far end of the pub garden by the river where ducks dabbled among the reeds. He called his London office and asked them to book three seats on a flight to Malaga the following day.

"Book a nice hotel, a suite," he said to his personal assistant. "I'd like a place right on the beach if possible with good water sports facilities." Harry needed to stop worrying. He'd have to grow up soon enough, but ten was far too young to be stressing over grown-up concerns. A few days on the beach might distract him.

While he was talking to his office, he asked to be transferred to his research team. "There's a place I want info on." He gave the address of Willowbrook Farm. "The owner's name is Geoff Andrews. Give me everything you can find on the property and any dirt on the owner. I might need leverage to get him to sell me some land." He didn't normally resort to underhanded tactics to acquire what he wanted, but in this case he'd make an exception.

He wandered back to see how Harry and Tim were progressing and was pleased to hear Harry chatting more happily.

"Good news," Adam said with a smile. "We're going to shoot over to Spain for a few days. You can—"

"No!"

Harry's shout startled Adam into silence.

"I won't go." Harry turned to his tutor. "Stay with me, Tim. Then I won't have to go with Dad."

Pain sliced through Adam. He'd thought they were a team, yet his son didn't want to be with him. Adam had longed for his parents to take him with them when they travelled instead of leaving him at home with a nanny, and later packing him off to boarding school. He'd pledged never to do the same to Harry. But that was exactly what his son had just asked him to do.

"Why?" He struggled to keep the hurt out of his voice.

"I want to live at Larchfield, Dad. Then the hedgehogs can stay in the garden, and I'll get to see Soph every day."

Adam dropped down on the bench and rubbed the burning pain in his neck. He'd known Harry liked Larchfield. He hadn't realized how much.

"Larchfield Hall is huge, pal. We don't want a home that big."

"Can we buy a cottage like Soph and her mum have, then?"

Lord, no. A place that size would give him claustrophobia. He'd most likely brain himself on one of the low beams.

"Look, pal, once we finish with the Larchfield development, I promise we'll move out of London to a house with a garden. There're plenty of villages in the countryside around the city." The commute to his office would take a little longer, but on the plus side, if he bought a place in the right area, he might be nearer Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

"That's too far away from Soph."

Adam patted the back of his son's head, a smile on his lips. Sophie had obviously cast her spell over Harry. His son was growing up so fast.

"Sorry, pal, we can't live down here. Great Monkton is too far away from London and the airports."

Harry pouted but didn't respond.

Adam stood and folded his iPad into its case. He'd let Harry ponder their discussion and, hopefully, he'd realize Adam was right.

"I have to get back to meet the project manager at Larchfield. Be a good lad. I'll see you both later." He met Tim's eyes over his son's head and the tutor nodded. He'd smooth over any more worries Harry had.

Before Adam left, he headed into the Plume of Feathers to find the owner. He'd set his team the task of finding out about the farmer, but it didn't hurt to do his own research while he was here.

The farmer's daughter was wiping down the bar and polishing the beer taps.

"Morning, Felicity."

She glanced his way with a smile, her blonde hair piled on her head in a silver clip. She wore a little too much makeup for his taste, but she was an attractive woman. He wondered how miserable Mr. Andrews managed to father a daughter who looked like Felicity.

"Morning, Adam. Are Harry and Tim okay outside?"

"Perfect. They'd probably like something to drink in a while.

"I'll send someone out when you've gone."

Adam tapped his fingers on the polished oak bar, wondering how to broach the subject of her grumpy father without offending her. "I spoke to your dad about the hedgehogs."

"Oh, how did that go?"

"Not too well. Did you know he's being a bit rough on Victoria O'Shea and her daughter?"

Felicity's eyes widened. "I'd no idea. She's never said anything to me."

"Any idea why he's got it in for Victoria?"

Felicity sighed. "I think she's the victim of a grudge that goes back years. It's nothing to do with Victoria herself. Her grandmother helped me when my father tried to make me leave school early and work on the farm. He had a continual battle with the school authorities because he kept me home too much.

"Victoria's grandmother was my English teacher. She helped me apply for college. My father hasn't spoken to me since the day I left home. He hasn't even acknowledged his grandchildren. As far as they're concerned, they don't have a grandfather."

Adam had thought his parents were bad because they rarely saw him. But at least they still talked to him. "I'm sorry."

"I never dreamed my father would take it out on Victoria and Sophie." She gave a sad laugh. "It doesn't surprise me, though. He's the most selfish, controlling man I've ever met."

"Do you mind if I explain this to Victoria? She has no idea why your father treats her badly."

"Of course. I wish I knew a way to stop him."

"Don't worry about that. I have that under control."

Felicity eyed him curiously. "I hope you succeed. Vicky's lucky to have you in her corner. Are you staying in the village?"

"It's too far from London for me. Well, thanks for the chat. I'd better get back to Larchfield."

Adam wandered to the window and watched Harry working for a few minutes. How could a man cut off his child and grandchildren? He couldn't think of anything that would make him stop loving his son.

No wonder Andrews was a lonely, bitter old man.

Chapter Seven

"Victoria."

The sound of Adam's shout from the front of her cottage set Victoria's pulse racing. She hadn't been sure if she'd see him today. When they'd parted on Monday, nothing had been said about when they would get together again.

She went to the door of the shed and called to him. "I'm out back with the hedgehogs."

A few moments later he appeared around the side of the cottage, ducking beneath the overgrown shrubs and bushes that hung over the path, which were long overdue for a trim.

He grinned as he came towards her. "I did knock but you obviously didn't hear me."

She devoured the sight of him as he strode along the path, brown eyes crinkled with pleasure, the sun gleaming off his dark hair. She really should stop staring at him or he'd get the wrong idea. Retreating back into the shed, she finished mixing the milk for the baby hedgehogs.

At the open door, Adam braced a hand on each side of the frame. His blue dress shirt stretched across his chest, the open buttons at the neck revealing a tantalizing glimpse of skin.

"Did you get a chance to check out any more hedgehog release sites?" she asked.

"No, sorry. I've had rather a busy day. We're going to eat at the pub tonight. I wondered if you and Sophie wanted to join us?"

Victoria was torn. She'd love to spend time with Adam, but she had students' work to grade and a woman booked to bring in an injured hedgehog. "What time?"

"Soon. I want to eat early before I move Harry and myself back into the pub for the night. The contractors have started work on Larchfield Hall and we're in the way."

"I'd love to, Adam, but I don't think we can. Soph's not home yet. She has ballet class after school on Tuesdays." Victoria peeled back the top of her glove and checked her watch. "I'm not expecting her home for another hour, then I'll be busy."

"Okay." He wandered closer, a hand in his pocket, and peered in the box at the baby hedgehogs she was about to feed. "I've got a few minutes. As your little helper isn't here tonight, would you like a hand?"

"If you're sure you have time. Do you want to feed one of the babies?" She tossed him a pair of gloves.

Once he was ready, she set the small syringe filled with milk on the shelf in front of him. "Pick the baby up like this." Victoria lifted a tiny, prickly creature out of the box and cradled it in her hand. "Now drip the milk in its mouth, one drip at a time. They don't need much."

He held the hedgehog up and dripped milk on his glove, the floor, his shoe, and finally hit the creature's mouth, more by luck than judgment.

"Good job, there." Victoria bit her lip to hold back her chuckle.

"Not as easy as it looks, is it?" He cast her a wry sideways glance. His warm brown eyes, full of pleasure, tugged at her heart.

"Hey, little guy. Drink up. That's right," he said.

Victoria picked up another baby and fed it, but her gaze kept roving back to Adam, to his strong hand holding the tiny creature so carefully. What would it be like to be intimate with this man, to feel his gentle hands on her body, his strength surrounding her? He did strange things to her, made her want a relationship that she hadn't thought she needed.

"I think Prickles here has had his fill."

"That's okay. Put him back in his box."

Adam gingerly set the tiny animal down and it huddled in its towel over the heating pad. "You want the box lid back on?" He picked up the square of wood and she nodded.

Once he'd done that, he peeled off his gloves and dusted his hands together. "They're certainly cute little things. I can see why they appeal to you."

"Yep. These little darlings have taken over my life." Victoria held up a baby to eye level and stared at its adorable brown furry nose and black eyes. She set the satiated creature back in its box and stripped off her gloves.

"Of course, the only problem with hedgehogs is the fleas."

"Fleas?" Adam's startled gaze fixed on her face. "You're kidding, right?"

Victoria feigned surprise. "Didn't you know about their fleas? They're well-known for them."

"Lord. How big are they?" Adam scratched his head then started examining himself, vigorously brushing off his trousers while Victoria stifled her giggles.

"Oh, look. There's one." She picked at an imaginary speck on his shirt and he froze. Her hand flattened over his chest and she took her time, brushing her palm over his ribs and the flat plane of his stomach. Little tremors of pleasure raced through her and she released a slow breath.

He was every bit as toned and muscular as she'd thought when he took her in his arms to comfort her the previous day.

"Stand still and I'll check you over for the little biters." She examined his arms, taking the opportunity to skim her fingers over his biceps.

"Can you see one?"

If he meant a sucker, oh yes, she could. She fought to keep a straight face. "I don't think so, Adam, but to be on the safe side I'd better check your back."

He turned and she hummed in appreciation as she skimmed a hand across his shoulders and down his back to where his waist narrowed. She eyed his gorgeous backside but didn't dare go that far. Instead she returned to his shoulders and pretended to check underneath his collar.

Heat burned through her at the contact. She longed to lean closer and put her arms around him. Maybe this hadn't been such a good idea.

"All clear, I think," she said breathily.

He turned to face her, his eyes narrowed. "I haven't noticed you or Sophie worrying about fleas."

Oh dear. She'd been busted. "Gosh, look at the time." She made a performance of staring at her watch. "I'd better get going. Haven't you got dinner planned with Harry? Where is he, by the way?"

Adam ignored her ramblings and stepped in front of her so she couldn't reach the door. His thoughtful expression had morphed into a knowing grin. "Don't you think I should check you over for fleas?"

"No. I'm fine." Heat surged into Victoria's cheeks.

"I don't think so, sweetheart." He stepped closer and suddenly there wasn't enough air in the shed. "I think you're in a heap of trouble." He rested his large hands on her shoulders. "If you wanted to touch me, you only had to ask, you know."

Victoria gulped as his fingertips made contact with the skin above her neckline. "I didn't plan anything. It just sort of happened."

He bent his head, pressed his lips softly to hers, then drew back.

"Like this, you mean?"

"Hmm." She nodded. "Like that."

They both moved together then, his arms sliding around her as her palms flattened against his chest. Their lips met in a long, sultry kiss. It had been years since Victoria was last kissed, and it certainly hadn't felt this good. She closed her eyes and lost herself in the delicious sensation. Hopes and dreams she hadn't dared acknowledge flowed through her mind.

She liked Adam Cantrell, liked him a lot. She was halfway to loving him in a few days. If he stayed in Great Monkton, her life would change beyond all recognition. It would be wonderful to spend time with him, to share her life with him.

"Oh, Adam," she said, touching his hair. "I'm so glad you bought Larchfield, even if it has caused problems with the hedgehogs."

"I'm going to sort that out for you, sweetheart. I promise."

"I'm sorry Soph and I can't have dinner with you tonight. Perhaps we can plan something for tomorrow evening." If she could arrange a sitter, they might even make it a special dinner for two.

Adam sighed and stroked her hair. "I have to go to Spain for a few days."

Disappointment doused Victoria's amorous feelings like a bucket of cold water. Adam started describing the potential project he wanted to check out in Marbella, but she didn't take it in. Of course he would be off travelling again. That's what he did. He was hardly likely to hang around in Great Monkton to supervise the work at Larchfield.

She stepped back, reining in her feelings, trying to ignore the tight knot of hurt in her chest.

"I am coming back." Adam's fingers grazed across her cheek. "You know I won't disappear without making sure everything here is all right."

"Thank you." He was sweet. His intentions were good. He didn't know he'd hurt her feelings. "Have a successful trip."

Adam backed up a step and frowned. "I will. Are you okay?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" Just because she got carried away for a few minutes and thought there might be something special between them.

"Right. See you on Sunday evening." Adam went to the door, turned and smiled, then strode away.

A long, painful sigh hissed out between Victoria's lips. Why hadn't she fallen for a man from the village or someone she worked with? Why did she have to fall for a man who was just passing through?

***

Adam woke at the sound of his alarm and rested an arm across his tired eyes. A restless night full of vivid dreams had disturbed him, dreams of Victoria in Spain with him. Much as he'd love to ask her to join him, he knew it was a waste of time. She had commitments here and wouldn't be able to get away at such short notice, if at all.

Early morning light trickled between the curtains as he sat up. An early start was essential if they were to stop in London to pack fresh clothes before they drove to the airport. He glanced at the heaped bedcovers on Harry's bed and decided to leave him to sleep a little longer.

He headed for the bathroom, shaved, showered, and brushed his teeth, then packed most of the toiletries, leaving out Harry's toothbrush.

With a towel around his waist, he went back to the bedroom and dumped his bag on the end of his bed before sorting through the clothes and refolding them neatly. He pulled on some trousers, and glanced at the clock. Where had the time gone?

"Hey, sleepyhead." He moved around the beds and opened the curtains. "Time to rise and shine." He patted the bump in Harry's bed and his hand sank in the soft fabric. What the heck? He pulled back the covers to find the bed empty. Where was his son?

Had Harry got up and gone downstairs while he was in the shower? Frowning, he glanced around the room. The clothes his son had worn yesterday weren't there, and his camera was missing. But his bag still rested on the stand.

Normally Harry would come into the bathroom when he woke. He definitely hadn't done so while Adam showered. He'd have heard him.

A shiver of foreboding ran down Adam's spine. He buttoned his shirt, pocketed his phone and key, and ran down the stairs.

Tim was already in the cozy, beamed dining room with a cup of coffee and a newspaper. He glanced up with a smile. "Morning."

"Is Harry down here?" Adam said, in answer to Tim's greeting.

"No. Isn't he with you?"

Adam shook his head. "I'm not sure if he was in the room when I woke up. I didn't turn on the lights before I got in the shower. I thought I was leaving Harry to sleep." He ran a hand back through his hair and glanced around the empty pub, hoping his son would appear.

"Do you think he's likely to be out taking photos?"

"Lord, I don't know. It's possible. Let's go and check."

The two men headed out of the building. "You go that way." Adam pointed along the riverbank where Harry had taken photos when they arrived. "I'll check up the main street. Listen for your phone. I'll call if I find him and you do the same."

He paced along the edge of the road, glancing down alleyways between the stores and over fences into the front gardens of the country cottages. Harry couldn't have gone far. He had to be around here somewhere.

Adam longed to see his son with his beloved camera up to his eye, snapping pictures. But in his heart, he knew Harry wouldn't be up and out this early unless he was purposely sneaking away.

A chill crept across Adam's skin. He remembered doing something similar himself. When his parents went on one of their trips, leaving him behind, he'd run away, hoping they would return to find him.

It hadn't worked. The police had been the ones to come after him. His parents hadn't even come home to check he was all right, but he'd had his pocket money stopped, television privileges removed, and been grounded for what felt like an eternity.

Harry had no reason to run away to get Adam's attention. They were together most of the time. He mulled over the previous day's conversation with Harry about going to Spain. He'd meant to return to the subject later. Victoria had been on his mind after their kiss, and he'd forgotten.

If Harry had run away, there were only two places he would go. And Adam was about to arrive at the one at the top of the list.

Adam turned up the narrow road lined with tiny cottages where Victoria lived. Apprehension knotted in his chest as he went up the path to Prickly Ball Cottage and knocked on the door.

Sophie answered, wearing her dark green school uniform. She frowned at him and turned away. "Mum," she bellowed at the top of her voice, heading for the stairs.

"Hang on, Sophie. Have you seen Harry this morning?"

"No. Mum's in the bathroom. I'll get her."