Her Heart's Desire (8 page)

‘I was thinking it may be a good idea to take you up to London soon.’

‘Oh, yes, I’d like that a lot.’ Marisa beamed at him.

‘Well, then, that’s settled. I was starting to worry you were about to run off. You looked so unhappy this morning. I’m glad we are all right. We shall go up to London as soon as possible. It’s about time you met the city team.’

‘Fantastic, I’ll look forward to that,’ she said softly.

They began to walk back towards the house. Marisa felt a little confused and somewhat disappointed. For a moment there, she thought he was going to kiss her.

Marisa soon developed a routine at Highcroft, and on Saturdays, straight after lunch, she liked to catch up with the world news on Sky before going to the kitchen to help Meryl bake her fabulous cakes. Sometimes the children helped, too, and Marisa loved that. They had quite a bond already.

Upon entering the snug, she was surprised to see a young man she had never met before. He immediately jumped to his feet and offered her his hand to shake.

‘Hello there, I’m William, James’s younger and better-looking brother! You must be Marisa, the new PA!’ he enthused as he grasped her hand and shook it firmly.

‘Oh, hello. Yes, I’m Marisa, nice to meet you, William,’ she said.

‘I’m here for a few days. I try to pop up from London every few weeks. James says it’s time to show me the estate ropes, family duty and all that.’

‘Oh, right, well, he’s around somewhere. Shall I get him for you?’

‘No, that’s all right, thanks; he knows I’m here, no work today for me. I never work on weekends. I’m off to Marlow in a minute to meet some of the rugby lads.’

‘Right, sounds fun; do you mind if I check the news?’

‘Not at all.’ William handed her the remote control and sat down on the large, squishy sofa.

Marisa sat down opposite him in an armchair and flicked on Sky News.

She felt William looking at her, and she smiled. He seemed to be checking her out, and she felt flattered by his interest.

‘Hey, as you are new around here, I could take you up to London for a night out sometime. I know all the best places.’

‘Oh, thanks, that sounds great.’ Marisa smiled.
What a lovely guy, how sweet,
she thought.

Marisa looked at him in his jeans and blazer, a pale pink shirt open at the neck, a younger version of his handsome brother.
What an attractive family!

‘Okay, great, here’s my number. He handed her his card, and she slipped it into her pocket.

‘Just give me a shout when you fancy a trip to the big smoke.

‘I will, thanks, William.’

‘My pleasure. Well, I’d better head into town, see you later.’

‘Okay, see you later,’ Marisa said, smiling at him. He grinned at her before leaving, and she felt really happy suddenly. She put the TV off and headed towards the kitchen.

* * * *

James St. John sat at his desk. He was thinking about Marisa again, and he knew it was a slippery slope to disaster. Never mix business with pleasure; that was the golden rule. He was still wary after his involvement with Corinne and didn’t want to make the same mistake twice. He should never have started anything with his last PA. Corinne had turned out to be an absolute disaster. But he was so damned attracted to Marisa. She was so down-to-earth and kind, and she didn’t seem to care about money or material wealth. She was so different from his ex wife Clara and Corinne, from any other woman he had known.

He thought about when they were up on the hill when she had sat so tantalisingly close to him. He’d had to fight a strong urge to grab her and kiss her deeply. He was glad he’d controlled himself. S he would probably have ran screaming for the hills then sued him to the hilt for sexual harassment. He wondered if he was being a fool. Was he imagining the attraction?

Sighing, he closed down his computer and grabbed his jacket. He needed a distraction, and he knew where to find it.

He bounded upstairs and looked into the nursery. He was surprised to find it empty.

He made his way along the corridor to the living room. Seeing Mrs. Reed tidying the cushions, he called out to her.

‘Mrs. Reed, where are the children?’

She looked up, her face brightening, she smiled at him. ‘Oh, good afternoon, sir, they are downstairs helping cook to ice a cake for tea’

‘Very good, Mrs. Reed.’

He went down to the kitchen and was surprised to see Marisa there, too, Tom and Emily flanking her as she decorated the cake whilst they watched intently.

‘Can we lick the bowl, Marisa?’ inquired Tom eagerly.

‘Yes, of course, but only if you lick it clean.’ Marisa giggled.

She handed him the bowl whilst Emily licked the spoon greedily.

‘Hey, you lot, what’s all this? No one told me we were making cakes.’

James walked into the kitchen, grinning broadly. He loved seeing his children so happy.

‘Daddy,’ they chorused merrily, overwhelmed with excitement at the sight of him.

They halted their feast and ran to him. He ruffled their hair and kissed them both on the cheeks, and they beamed with happiness.

‘Daddy, Marisa made a chocolate cake, and we made the icing, look.’

Tom pointed at the big, sloppy chocolate cake dripping with icing, and Marisa giggled.

‘I hope that’s okay. I won’t let them have a piece until after dinner.’

‘Of course it’s okay, thanks for indulging them. I can see they have been enjoying themselves.’

James went to the bowl and ran his finger around it, sucking it clean as he grinned at her.

‘Hmm, delicious. Well done, children, and well done, Marisa.’ He winked at her, and her tummy flipped over.

* * * *

Marisa loved playing with Tom and Emily when they were at Highcroft. She felt quite sad they only came every second weekend. She found them a joy and a welcome distraction from Mrs. Reed and the awful Marcus, who still prowled around her whenever they were alone in the house. She was sure he was spying on her. He gave her the creeps.

At least she hadn’t caught him having sex again, and he hadn’t tried to get fresh again either, thank God. She was resolute that if he pulled a stunt like that again, she would tell James.

Dinner that night was a quiet affair. Just herself, James, and the children. Felicity and Marcus were out, as was William. She watched James with the children, cutting up their food, encouraging them gently to eat their vegetables.

‘You’re so good with them,’ she said.

‘Oh, we have our moments, Marisa, don’t we, children?’

They nodded, stuffing their little mouths full.

‘No, I love them terribly. I’m lucky; they are very well-behaved children really.’

Tom and Emily grinned and looked at each other, then looked at Marisa, their little faces unsure.

‘Will you tuck us in and tell us a story, Marisa?’ they pleaded.

‘Oh, I think Marisa would like some peace and quiet after dinner, children,’ James said.

‘Oh, no, that’s all right; I’d love to tell them a story.’ Marisa felt a surge of joy.
The children really liked her, but did he?

‘Very well, Marisa, that’s very kind of you. I’ll take them up now and get them ready for bed.’

Mrs. Reed appeared on cue. ‘Are the children ready for bed, sir?’

‘That’s all right, Mrs. Reed. I will take them up myself, and Marisa has kindly agreed to tell them a goodnight story.’ Mrs. Reed’s face fell. ‘Right, I see, very well, sir, good night then,’ she replied frostily.

‘Good night, Mrs. Reed,’ James and the children chorused.

Marisa went to say goodnight to Meryl and thank her for another lovely dinner. When she reached the children’s room, they were wide awake, patiently waiting for her.

‘Tell us a really long story, Marisa, please.’ Tom and Emily jumped out of their beds and, taking her hands, they both led her into the nursery.

‘Okay, okay, just get into bed, and I will.’

She tucked them in, loving the happiness on their little faces. It made her heart melt.

They giggled and snuggled down under their quilts, bright eyes watching her expectantly. She sat in the nursery chair facing their beds and told them Jack and the Beanstalk. As soon as she finished, they quickly demanded another.

‘All right, one more story then I have to go. You two should be sleeping, you’ll get me into trouble,’ she said, smiling warmly.

* * * *

James watched silently by the door as Marisa delighted them with the Cinderella story in an animated, hushed voice. He decided not to disturb them and retreated quietly.

He was pleased the children obviously adored her, and she had only been at Highcroft a few weeks. It was quite something. They certainly hadn’t warmed to Corinne so well. In fact, they hadn’t taken to his ex at all.

He thought of Corinne and how she had started out as his PA in London, eventually moving up to the house to work in the estate office after his divorce. Corinne was a go-getter, quite pushy and intimidating. She rather seduced him one night when he was feeling down about his divorce, and he’d drunk too much whisky.

He hadn’t stood a chance; before he knew it, she was pushing him for a proposal. It was then he’d put the brakes on. He hadn’t long been divorced, and he simply wasn’t ready to get married again. If truth be told, he had seen Corinne as no more than an assistant with frills. After all, a man had needs.

But how would he ever explain that to Marisa, without sounding like a total heel?

He retired to the study and read for a while, half hoping Marisa would come down and join him. When she didn’t appear, he felt disappointed and confused. What was he playing at, what did he want?

He knew the answer to that only too well as he closed his eyes and imagined seducing her. He remembered her at the interview, dressed so demurely in a smart navy suit that fit her in all the right places. She had worn a silk shirt that buttoned just at the cleavage, showing a tantalising hint of lightly tanned breast.

He groaned, feeling his cock stiffen in his pants. He wanted her.

Her immediate closeness to the children only confirmed what he had thought when he first met her. She was special, and he longed to know her, intimately. He sucked in his breath as he contemplated his predicament.

He decided he would have to cancel the London trip. The Marchant meeting was in fact nothing that he couldn’t handle himself with the London staff to assist.

In truth, his lustful cravings aside, he had been keen to show her the city. He was certain she had never been to London before, and he had wanted to see her excitement at her first glimpse of the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace.

He had rather fancied following a bit of sightseeing up with a nice dinner at Pont De La Tour on the river. He felt sure she would have liked that very much. But it was a silly idea, he knew it was best to keep temptation out of the way. It was ludicrous to imagine she would accept a relationship with her boss, especially if she found out about Corinne. It looked really bad. Quite absurd, he had to admit. He decided it would be best for all if he avoided her until his interest slowed.

* * * *

Mrs. Reed closed the house up for the night, double-bolting the huge front door, putting out the yard lights. As she walked past the study, she saw the Lord sitting there alone and felt a pang in her heart. If only he would notice her, she could make him happy. She knew it.

At least he had seen sense over that silly bitch Corinne. Mrs. Reed grinned as she remembered how easy it had been to persuade the silly girl to start talking marriage. The Lord had been appalled, of course!.

Corinne had left in fury by the end of that week, just as they had the New York conference to deal with. At least she had managed to find Marisa quickly, and she knew by taking on an American girl she could be sure she wouldn’t stay around forever. Eventually, everyone wanted to go home.

Mrs. Reed would bide her time until Lord St. John realized she was the one for him.

* * * *

Felicity combed her hair and eyed Marcus in the mirror. ‘Do you like her?’

‘Who?’ he answered without looking away from the TV.

‘Who indeed! You know very well who.’ She rubbed expensive face cream into her skin as she preened in the mirror.

‘Oh, you mean the Corinne replacement?’

‘Yes, Corinne’s replacement, dear, the pretty blonde to replace the pretty blonde. God, my brother certainly has a type.’

‘Hmm, this one’s got balls, though.’ Marcus pursed his lips at the memory of his earlier rejection.

‘What do you mean by that? I hope to God you haven’t been up to anything you shouldn’t have!’ she said, her voice shrill with alarm.

‘Of course not, my darling.’ Marcus moved from the bed to his wife’s neck like a panther. Kissing her gently, he stroked her shoulders and moved his hands slowly down to her breasts; the nipples were instantly hard through the thin fabric of her negligee.