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A Vengeful Reunion
CATHERINE GEORGE
Leonie Dysart has been working abroad since breaking her engagement to handsome property developer Jonah Savage. But she misses her large, lively family.Leonie returns for her brother's twenty-first birthday–and meets Jonah! He's determined to know why she jilted him seven years ago. Secretly Leonie's still in love with Jonah. But does the physical attraction that continues to flare between them mean that Jonah shares her feelings, or is it all part of his plan for revenge?
“I’ll make the land over to your father if you give me a full explanation as to why you left me.”
Leonie stared at him blankly. “You’re prepared to barter a valuable plot of land just to hear me tell you something you already know?”
“I don’t know. That’s the point.” He leaned forward, his eyes locked with hers. “I swear I was never unfaithful while we were together. I loved you, Leonie. And, fool that I am, I thought you loved me.”
“I did. You know I did.” Her eyes glistened suddenly with unshed tears. “But one day I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. And my whole life fell apart.”
Jonah looked at her in expectant silence, which stretched Leonie’s nerves to the limit. “All right, Jonah, I’ll explain. But before I start there’s something I need to know. You’re not the only one after the truth. How many people actually know that Fenny is your daughter?”
A family with a passion for life—and for love.
Welcome to the first book in The Dysarts, a wonderful new series by favorite author Catherine George. A Vengeful Reunion tells the story of eldest daughter Leonie, who returns home for a family celebration and finds herself coming face-to-face with her former fiancé, Jonah Savage. The handsome property developer wants to know why she jilted him—even if that means resorting to a little blackmail and, since their mutual attraction remains as intense as ever, getting his revenge!
Over the coming months, you’ll get to know each member of the Dysart family, and share in their trials and joys, their hopes and dreams, as they live their lives with passion—and for love.
A Vengeful Reunion
Catherine George
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER ONE
SHE caught the train with seconds to spare. Breathless, she stowed her bag away, sank down into the nearest window seat, shrugged off her overcoat, then sat watching the fields of home rush by as she savoured the surprise she was about to spring.
Once she’d handed over her ticket she got up to head for the buffet car in search of coffee. Several male eyes followed her progress along the swaying carriage, but one pair, more intent than the rest, watched from behind a newspaper, resuming their covert scrutiny as she passed by again on her way back to her seat.
While she drank her coffee she went on with the book she’d started on the plane, and soon became absorbed enough to spare only peripheral attention when the train stopped at Swindon. When someone slid into the seat opposite she shifted her feet out of the way without looking up.
‘Good book, Leo?’
Her head flew up as a laconic drawl severed her gaze from the page like a sword-thrust. Stunned, she stared into a lean, black-browed face she had once known only too well. The face was older than at their last meeting, with a few added lines and a new, arresting streak of silver in the ink-dark hair above it. But the high cheekbones and wide, beautifully cut mouth delivered the same, unforgettable impact.
‘Well, well, Jonah Savage,’ she said at last. ‘How are you?’
‘At the moment amazed to find myself face to face with the elusive Miss Dysart,’ he retorted. ‘Something it’s been damned difficult to achieve these past few years.’
She smiled politely. ‘I still work abroad.’
His brief smile of response stopped short of icy hazel-green eyes. ‘So what brings you back?’
‘It’s Adam’s twenty-first today. There’s a party at home.’
‘I heard you couldn’t make it.’
Her eyes narrowed. ‘You did? How?’
‘I’ve been spending time at the Pennington office. I’ve seen your father quite often lately.’
Leonie received the information with hot resentment, and considered moving to another seat. But that would look childish. And there was only an hour to go; even less if Jonah was leaving the train at Bristol Parkway. ‘Where are you heading?’ she asked.
‘Why, Leo?’ he drawled. ‘Eager to get rid of me?
She shrugged her indifference.
‘I’ll take that as a no.’ His eyes locked onto hers like a heat-seeking missile. ‘So. How’s life in Florence?’
‘Interesting.’
‘Are you knee-deep in passionate Italian suitors?’
‘No,’ she returned coolly. ‘Just one.’
He raised a sardonic eyebrow. ‘Swept off your feet by Latin charm?’
‘Something like that.’
He stood up abruptly. ‘I’m off to buy a drink. Can I get you something?’
Leonie refused, then slumped down in her seat in shock as she watched the tall, retreating figure. Jonah Savage had changed considerably since their last meeting. Which was only to be expected. A lot could happen—had happened—in seven years. But the eyes were the same. Like a prowling panther, according to her sister Jess.
‘How’s business?’ she asked, when Jonah returned.
‘Very good.’ He looked at her analytically. ‘How’s yours? Do you still enjoy teaching?’
‘I do. Very much.’
His wide, expressive mouth curled slightly. ‘And what else do you enjoy in Florence, I wonder?’
‘Are you being offensive?’
‘Not in the least. Just interested.’
Leonie met the relentless eyes with composure. ‘My job has expanded over the years. In the day I teach English to Italian children and Italian to little Brits and other expatriate offspring. I supervise games and swimming. And some evenings I give one-to-one English lessons, mainly to businessmen.’
He raised an eyebrow. ‘Not much time to spare for your lover.’
Leonie shrugged, refusing to rise. ‘My weekends are free, and I teach some evenings, not all of them.’
‘Is your man in the same profession?’
‘No. Roberto’s involved in the family business—luxury hotels.’
‘Successful?’
‘Very. He’s the heir apparent. Just like you with your outfit.’
Jonah sipped his coffee, scrutinising her feature by feature. ‘You look very different, Leo.’
‘Older, you mean.’
‘And colder. Or maybe it’s just the way you’ve screwed up your hair.’
She returned the scrutiny. ‘You look different, too, Jonah. Harder. And colder, just like me.’
‘And what—or who—is responsible for that, I wonder?’ he cut back, the eyes narrowed suddenly to a feral gleam.
Gloves off, thought Leonie, meeting the gleam head-on. ‘It’s useless to rehash the past, Jonah.’
‘Afraid you might call up old ghosts?’ His eyes widened in sudden, stark remorse. ‘Hell, Leo, I’m sorry. I had no intention—’
‘I know that!’ She changed the subject swiftly, saying the first thing that came into her head. ‘So tell me why you’re travelling my way.’
‘The company’s bought a property not far from your place. We’re developing the site. I’m camping out there for a while until I get proper security set up.’
‘What house?’ said Leonie, frowning. ‘There’s not usually much for sale round Stavely.’
‘Brockhill,’ he informed her.
‘I didn’t know the Laceys were selling up,’ she said, startled.
‘They decided the property was too big for them.’
Leonie felt a sharp pang of regret. ‘Their family will miss the old place. When we were young Jess and I used to play in the gardens there with Theo and Will Lacey.’ She shivered. ‘I’d hate Dad to sell Friars Wood.’
‘Why?’
‘Because it’s my home, of course.’
‘You don’t spend much time there, Leo.’ Cold eyes held hers. ‘And if you marry your Italian home will be a long way from Friars Wood.’
‘That’s not the point,’ she said tightly. ‘The house is my point of origin. Home to the Dysarts for nearly a hundred years. I couldn’t bear to think of someone else living there.’
Jonah glanced at his watch and got to his feet. ‘Almost there. I’d better collect my belongings. Goodbye, Leonie.’ He gave an oddly formal little bow and strolled back to his seat.
Leonie stared after him, secretly furious that he’d left so abruptly. She should have told Jonah to go the moment she’d laid eyes on him, but now he’d pre-empted her. And called her Leonie, as he’d never done once upon a time. Appalled because she minded so much, she tried to revive her former glow of anticipation. But suddenly she felt tired and travel-weary, and not much in the mood for a party after seeing Jonah again, especially the noisy affair this one was sure to be. Adam had celebrated his actual birthday with fellow students days ago, but tonight they were converging on Friars Wood to celebrate all over again, along with neighbours and friends of the Dysarts. Adam had surprised his parents by requesting a family party for everyone, Leonie had been informed, during her weekly call home from Florence.
At first, bitterly disappointed, Leonie had been sure she couldn’t make it. A flu bug had almost halved the teaching staff at the International School, making her absence impossible. But when the epidemic had spread to some of the children the principal had decided to close the school for a while until the epidemic was over. Keeping the glad news secret from her family, Leonie had rushed to buy an airline ticket, kissed Roberto Forli goodbye at Pisa airport and flown home.
When the train was approaching Bristol Parkway Leonie saw Jonah Savage coming towards her along the carriage.
‘Is someone meeting you here?’ he asked, pausing beside her.
She shook her head, wishing she’d given up the surprise idea and asked her father or Adam to meet her. ‘No one knows I’m coming. I’m going on to Newport. I’ll get a train from there.’
‘My car’s parked here, if you’d like a lift,’ he said casually. ‘I pass your place on the way to Brockhill.’
Her first instinct was to refuse anything at all from Jonah Savage. But the plus of arriving home almost two hours earlier than she’d expected far outweighed the downside of a drive in Jonah’s company. ‘Thank you,’ said Leonie, getting up.
‘Not at all,’ he said politely, as though they were strangers. ‘Let me help you on with your coat.’
As he did so the train gave a sudden lurch, throwing her against him, and for the first time in years Leonie Dysart found herself in Jonah Savage’s arms. He released her instantly, poker-faced, took her bag and motioned her ahead of him as the train drew to a halt. Leonie stepped off the train, shivering in the cold February wind, and from rather more than that. She was glad when Jonah set off up the stairs to the footbridge at such a punishing pace it quickly did wonders for both her body heat and her composure as she tried to keep up.
To Leonie’s surprise Jonah’s car was a well-worn four-wheel drive, very different from the speedy sports models he’d once favoured.
‘Practical for your part of the world,’ he said laconically, picking up on her thought.
‘Very,’ she agreed, tensing as Jonah negotiated a busy roundabout with well-remembered panache.
‘Don’t worry,’ he assured her with a sidelong glance. ‘I’ll get you home in one piece.’
‘It just seems strange to be on the left-hand side of the road,’ she snapped.
Her oblique reference to life in Italy put an end to conversation as Jonah made for the motorway. But when they reached the Severn Bridge a gusting wind buffeted the car rather ominously as they crossed the river, and Leonie gave a deep, involuntary sigh.
