Free Billionaire's Revenge by Marie Kelly

joke with the contractors, her one- liners and quick answers proof of her sweetness and intelligence   Pulling the car up in front of the large house, he had known why.  To remember w hy he had been attracted to the woman beside him would detract from his anger at her for her actions so many years ago, and that anger had sustained him in bad times.
    Darius slipped from the driver’s seat , moving quickly to open her door, extending his hand to help her from the low car as Sara stared at the large imposing house before her.  Although made of stone - its imposing walls reminded her of some of the Scottish stately homes she visited on her one holiday to Europe - there was a softness to the building, set in such perfectly manicured lawns and gardens, her eyes like saucers as she drank in the beauty of his home.   “What do you think?”
    Sara pulled her look from the house, suddenly aware that she still held his hand, pulling it from him, his lip quirking in amusement.   “Very big...ostentatious...over the top, just like you” , her trite answer , seeing his eyebrow rise.
    “So...you don’t like it? ” he asked softly, as she shuffled her feet nervously, f eeling suddenly petulant as she gave a small sigh .  “Of course I like it...what is not to like ?  It is stunning, beautiful ” With another chuckle he placed a hand on the small of her back, guiding her into the open doorway, his head leaning in to whisper so seductively “ Also like me?” Sara gritted her teeth as he laughed at her.

Chapter F our
    The inside of the building was no less impressive than the outside.   Each room was decorated and furnished harmoniously for the house itself, the classic furnishings and sumptuous drapes subtle and elegant.  Reaching the kitchen, she heard the radio playing, the classical music streaming down the hallway as they entered the large room.  A middle-aged woman worked on what appeared to be a chicken dish, her attention held both by what she was doing and also the music she was humming loudly along to.  Starting, she looked over at Darius, a huge grin on her face.
    “Darius! ” her real pleasure at seeing him shining from her sparkl ing eyes, eyes which turned to focus on her, polite interest now lighting the warm blue of them as she nodded her head in acknowledgment , “ Hello...Miss Balfour isn’t it?”   Sara gave a shy smile back as she nodded , “Please... it’s Sara”   “Edith...Sara Balfour.  Sara, this is the woman who keeps this house running...Edith Clark” The other woman stepped forward, rubbing her hands on the apron she wore, the pleasure of his words stamped over her features as she thrust a hand out to Sara.
    “It is lovely to meet you dear”   Sara was surprised at the thick English accent, as she sh ook her outstretched hand, muttering something appropriate back.   Darius however, continued to talk , “Edith runs the house and has a few cleaners come in each week to help , and he r husband John looks after the gardens”.  The other woman grinned agai n.
    “And my son helps at the moment too...keeps him out of trouble” , she declared in a voice which held a laugh, Sara instinctively knowing that Edith Clark was a happ y person as she smiled back, relieved that she and Darius would not be the only ones in the huge home.
    “Oh...Miss Balfour...your clothes arrived today and I put them in your closet ” Sara bit back the small groan ; what must the older woman think of her, a shaky smile rising to her mouth .  “Thank you Mrs Clark” , she managed as the woman tutted softly, waving away the words.   “Edith...nobody calls me Mrs Clark” , she smiled cheerily as Sara nodded back . “Only if you call me Sara” , she grinned back as the housekeeper nodded approvingly.   “Well in that case Darius and Sara, dinner is in one hour ” He made an appreciative sound as he took her hand.   “We will be there...Edith is the best cook around...would never miss one of her