Free The Antique Love by Helena Fairfax Page B

blonde head as he examined the files. After the initial warmth of his welcome, Kurt appeared to have retreated behind a professional exterior. In fact, as soon as he was in front of the accounts, he took on so much of his persona of head of White River that Penny felt almost intimidated. She could hardly believe that the man clicking rapidly through her computer files with such a forbidding expression on his face was the same man who had walked with her so companionably through the park the previous weekend, chatting and teasing her.
    She stood behind him for a little while, feeling suddenly shy. After handing him all the documents, there really wasn’t much else she could tell him, apart from the one thing that was worrying her. She cleared her throat.
    “Kurt?”
    He twisted round, lifting his head to look at her. “Uhuh?”
    She put one hand on the back of his chair. “It was David on the phone just now, just when you came in. He’s been phoning pretty often. Says he wants to come in and talk.” Her fingers gripped the chair. “I just thought I’d better let you know. Just in case he turns up suddenly.” She took a deep breath. “Sometimes he loses his temper.”
    The expression on Kurt’s face hardened. Penny couldn’t blame him. She thought it was only fair to tell him her ex-business partner was still on the scene. It would give Kurt the opportunity to walk away if he wanted. After all, it was one thing accepting Kurt’s help with the accounts. Letting him get involved with a potentially aggressive ex-business partner was a different matter altogether. She scanned his face anxiously.
    “No need to worry on my account,” he said.
    Penny gave him a wide, relieved smile. It was strange how she felt she could trust Kurt after only this short time. His grey eyes were looking back at her steadily. Nothing she’d said appeared to have fazed him.
    Penny tried to imagine what would happen if it actually did come to a confrontation. David was smaller than Kurt and a few years older, but he had a wiry strength and a pent-up aggression which he’d had difficulty in controlling in recent months. Despite his age, he retained a boyish charm which he put to effective use when talking to customers. There was no denying he’d been an asset to the shop in the past, but in recent weeks, he’d undone all that by his outbursts of aggression. Penny no longer trusted him. Kurt, on the other hand, had a reassuring solidity. If David did appear, Kurt would know exactly how to handle the situation.
    Penny removed her hand from the back of his chair and gave a grateful smile. “Thanks,” she said. “I’ve been worrying about this so much. I keep trying to put David off, but I’m not sure how much longer I can keep it up.”
    Kurt tilted his head. “Yeah, I’ve been thinking about that. Maybe it’s best if you don’t let David anywhere near the shop. At least, not until I’ve gone through all of this.” He indicated the spread of files on the desk. “Think you can hold him off for a bit longer?”
    “I’ll try.”
    The shop’s bell jangled, letting in her first customer of the day. Penny was about to head for her position behind the counter, but Kurt caught her hand, halting her for a moment.
    “Any trouble, you let me know. You don’t have to handle this alone. Understand?”
    She nodded, looking down at their joined hands. His fingers were warm and comforting on hers, and it was tempting to return the pressure of his clasp. The shop bell rang again. For a few seconds, she let her fingers lie where they were, and then she slipped them loose and turned away.
    * * * *
    After she’d gone, Kurt dropped his gaze to the files on his desk and then, on a sudden impulse, swivelled his head to examine the window where Penny had shown him the antique jewellery on his first visit. He could just make out the pearl and silver love token, still hanging in its place on the last peg. The morning light was streaming through the