Jordan St Claire: Dark and Dangerous

Jordan St Claire: Dark and Dangerous by Carole Mortimer Read Free Book Online Page A

Book: Jordan St Claire: Dark and Dangerous by Carole Mortimer Read Free Book Online
Authors: Carole Mortimer
you want now?’ Jordan asked impatiently as he looked across the desk to where Stephanie loitered in the open doorway of the study where he had been working for the last hour.
    She was completely undeterred by his obvious lack of enthusiasm. ‘I was thinking of going for a walk, and wondered if you would care to join me?’
    Jordan’s eyes narrowed as he sat back in the leather chair behind the desk. ‘I’m not sure if you’re being deliberately insensitive again, or just a pain.’
    ‘Neither.’ Stephanie smiled.
    She had tidied and cleaned the kitchen after breakfast, dusted and vacuumed the sitting room—which didn’t look as if anyone had sat in there for some time—and made some fresh chicken soup for lunch and left it simmering on top of the Aga. On the basis that seeing that Jordan had a healthy and varied diet was part of her job of restoring him back to full health.
    With nothing else left to do, Stephanie was becoming a little bored with her own company. ‘We don’t have to go far, Jordan,’ she added cajolingly. ‘You could just take me up to Mulberry Hall and show me around if you don’t feel like going any further than that.’
    Jordan eyed her suspiciously. ‘Does this I’m-a-little-girl-in-need-of-company routine usually work?’
    ‘I’m not in need of company, and it isn’t a routine,’ she denied. ‘I just thought some fresh air might be nice.’
    ‘And exercise,’ he drawled derisively. ‘Let’s not forget the exercise!’
    ‘God, you’re a grump.’ Stephanie sighed with frustration as she turned away.
    ‘Hey, I don’t remember saying I wouldn’t go with you.’
    Stephanie turned back slowly. ‘Does that mean you will?’
    ‘Why not?’ Jordan said, and he picked up his cane and stood up. He doubted he would be able to get any more work done on the film script this morning now anyway, knowing that Stephanie was wandering about the estate. ‘Although showing you round Mulberry Hall might prove a little difficult when I can’t get up stairs,’ he added with a scowl.
    ‘You can always wait downstairs while I go and take a look upstairs,’ she reasoned practically.
    ‘You might have a sudden urge to try one of the four-poster beds!’ Jordan teased.
    ‘Oh, give it a break, Jordan,’ the little redhead growled.
    He shrugged. ‘I can’t see any point in you staying on here if I can’t make life uncomfortable for you.’
    Neither could Stephanie at the moment, but she lived in hope that she might eventually be able to change Jordan’s mind about accepting her professional help. In the meantime, getting him to take a walk with her was better than nothing.
    ‘I’ll just go upstairs and get my thicker jacket. It’s quite cold outside for October.’
    ‘If that was your subtle way of telling me that I need to wrap up warm too, then I strongly advise you not to treat me like a child,’ Jordan told her.
    ‘I wasn’t treating you like a—’ She stopped, frowning as she realised that was exactly what she had been doing. In an effort, perhaps, to try and keep their relationship on a professional footing rather than the flirtatious one Jordan kept reducing it to with his questionable remarks. ‘I—’ She broke off again as the telephone began to ring.
    Well … one of them. There was an extension for the landline on the desktop, as well as two mobiles—one black and one silver. Stephanie could understand the landline, but who needed two mobiles, for goodness’ sake?
    Jordan picked up the black mobile, checking the caller ID before taking the call. ‘Hi, Crista,’ he said, and he turned his back on Stephanie to look out of the window.
    Stephanie stared at the broad expanse of that muscled back, at the way the white T-shirt stretched tautly over his shoulders, and debated whether she should go or stay. The call was obviously private. From Crista Moore, the woman Jordan had been reportedly involved with before his accident.
    ‘Stay!’ Jordan barked as he turned and

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