Free Fearless Maverick by Robyn Grady Page B

up hosting the bash on the Wolfe
Manor grounds. The place was apparently surrounded by scaffolds, but they’d
restored a good portion of the lawns to their former aristocratic glory.
Another brother, Nathaniel, was there on the night.’
                 Libby’s
mind wound back. That Christian name gelled with Alex’s surname and then
exploded in her head.
                 ‘Not
Nathaniel Wolfe the actor? The movie star who won that big award a couple of
months ago?’
                 ‘One
and the same. There was a scandal surrounding his West End debut.’
                 ‘I
read about it.’
                 ‘He
hid away on a privately owned island off the coast of South America.’
                 ‘Nathaniel
owns an island?’
                 ‘No.
Another brother, Sebastian.’
                 Near
overwhelmed, Libby blew out a breath. ‘The Wolfe kids did well for themselves.’
                 ‘Despite
all odds.’
                 Again
Libby saw that shadow darken his gaze, drag on his mouth, and she shivered.
Just how bad had his childhood been?
                 ‘Anyway,’
he went on easily, pretending to himself that his past didn’t worry him when it
was obvious that it did, ‘seems Nathaniel fell in love with the woman he
kidnapped—’
                 She
frowned. ‘Oh, now you’re making it up.’
                 He
raised a hand—Scout’s honour. ‘And at this centennial night they announced
their plans to marry.’
                 Emotion
flooded her throat and a mist came over her eyes. Silly to have such a strong
emotion, but that evening sounded like a fabulous fairytale ending. One any
girl might dream of. If she were
ready for that kind of thing. If she’d found the right one.
                 ‘I
hope they’ll be very happy,’ Libby said with the utmost sincerity. ‘Are you
invited to the wedding?’
                 ‘I
have a previous engagement.’
                 Questioning,
she angled her head and realised he was talking about a race. But she didn’t
want to put a damper on their conversation, ask about dates and then get into
the old ‘you might not be fit to drive’ argument. Today she didn’t want to
discuss that at all.
                 The
waiter appeared, refilled their near-empty glasses and enquired, ‘Are you ready
to order, sir?’
                 ‘Five
minutes,’ Alex replied, and pulled a mock guilty face as the waiter walked
away. ‘Guess we ought to make some decisions.’
                 Libby
glanced at her watch and gasped. ‘Where’s the time gone?’
                 ‘Seems
you won’t make it back to the office in an hour.’
                 ‘That
speech won’t go away.’
                 ‘Precisely.
It’ll be there tomorrow. So let’s enjoy what’s left of today.’
                 When
he raised his glass, she hesitated but then lifted hers too. Just this once,
who said life had to be all work and no play?
     

  CHAPTER SIX

 
                 HE
AND Libby took their time with their meals, savouring the exotic flavours and
brilliant bay views. A dessert wine was ordered to go with pineapple tarts to
end off. Now as the waiter took the empty dessert dishes, Alex moved to fill
his companion’s glass again, but Libby held up both hands.
                 ‘Thank
you, but I’ve had more than enough.’
                 ‘You’re
not still pretending that you’re going back to work,’ he chided.
                 ‘But
it’s only—’ She checked her watch, then, amazed, glanced around the
near-deserted restaurant. ‘Four o’clock?’
                 Alex
smiled. He hadn’t known hours could melt away so quickly either.
                 Libby
was a different