Free The Bridal Bargain by Emma Darcy

them. When there was nothing left to be done, they moved as a group onto the wharf, ready to report back to the office and be briefed on tomorrow’s passenger list.
    Predictably, Tony fell into step beside her, waving the others ahead to ensure a private conversation. Hannah’s nerves jangled an instant protest, but her head told her she owed this man for saving her from an unbearable situation today, regardless of whether it had been simply a pragmatic decision to avoid a bad scene that might upset people who’d paid for pleasure.
    A grateful “thank you” pushed to be said, yet it was an admission that led straight into territory she didn’t want to tread. An apology did the same thing. Better not to say anything. Let him lead into the raw area, if he had to.
    “Are you planning to skip out on me, Hannah?’’
    The question startled her into halting. Her head jerked up as the realisation hit that the last previous sight he’d had of her today was the confrontation over the bar when she had been on the verge of bolting. She met a hard piercing gaze that was determined on nailing her down.
    Her own sense of fairness forced a reply. “No. I’m sorry about today. Those people...” The heat of acute embarrassment burned up her neck and into her cheeks, “...they’re not likely to book another trip on Duchess. ’’
    “Right now they’re sitting at a table out on the deck of the Fiorelli Bistro and Bar, which we’ll be passing on the way to the office. You are being targeted, Hannah. I can keep them from getting to you but I’ll need your co-operation. Are you willing to go along with me? Yes or no?’’
    “Yes.” The word tumbled out, driven by an anguish of spirit that begged to be free of any further involvement with Flynn and Jodie.
    “Then take my hand now and leave everything to me.”
    She didn’t really take it. He took hers with a confident command that pulled her along with him. Another rescue mission, she thought, too shaken by the prospect of having to confront Jodie and Flynn by herself to even consider resisting Tony King’s offer of support and protection.
    It felt good, having him at her side.
    She could feel his strength pumping up her arm, giving her wrung-out heart a much needed shot of adrenaline. Her frazzled mind didn’t even begin to consider what Tony might do to ensure she wasn’t harassed. He’d said to leave everything to him and her instincts had no trouble believing he would be master of the situation, whichever way it turned.
     

CHAPTER SEVEN
    Tony liked the feel of Hannah’s hand in his. He liked having her trust, too. What he didn’t like was her reaction to the couple whose appearance on Duchess this morning had killed her natural exuberance stone-dead. Worse. She wouldn’t even glance at the guy, and it had looked to Tony as though she’d been on the verge of quitting to escape the sense of entrapment with those two.
    No need to be Einstein to work out the equation— if he wanted to keep her, keep them out of her way.
    No need to consider his response, either. Losing Hannah O’Neill at this point was not acceptable. Not only would he be without a chef who had already won the approval of the crew, but he hadn’t yet had the chance to explore what there could be between them on a personal level.
    Nevertheless, this extreme stand from Hannah raised many questions that had Tony’s mind buzzing, particularly since it hadn’t softened one bit in the intervening hours of being free of the Lovett couple. Her current tension over their nearby presence was just as strong as it had been this morning. Which brought him to one firm decision. There was something going on here that he didn’t want to walk away from.
    It had been a very interesting day, observing the interplay between the Lovetts. No love left in that marriage. Tony doubted there ever had been love. The woman was a man-eating sex-pot, mixing manipulative flirting with sly sniping, neither of which hit their