An Exception to His Rule Read Online Free PDF Page B

objected.
    ‘Believe me, I’d rather not but—’
    ‘What do you mean—whether you realise it or not?’ Harriet broke in to ask with a frown.
    He shrugged. ‘I can’t work out why else I agreed to see you again.’
    Harriet linked her fingers together and told herself not to pursue this but some demon prompted her, rather than simply getting up and walking out, to say, ‘If you think I could ever work for you, you must be mad, Mr Wyatt.’
    Their gazes clashed.
    ‘The job is yours, Miss Livingstone,’ he replied deliberately. ‘You can move in the day after tomorrow—I’ll be gone then. I’m going overseas for some weeks, at least a month. Of course Isabel, who runs the house and the rest of it when I’m not here, will be in residence. So will Charlie, for a while anyway. Did Arthur get around to mentioning the remuneration package we thought was suitable?’
    Harriet blinked. ‘...Yes.’
    ‘You can add a twenty per cent commission on any items I decide to sell. Will that do?’
    ‘I...I...’ She hesitated.
    ‘Don’t go all dithery on me again, Harriet,’ he warned. ‘Finish your brandy,’ he ordered.
    She stared at him, deep hostility written into her expression. ‘No. I’ve got to drive.’
    ‘All right, but I need to know if you’re going to take it or not.’
    Harriet would have given the world to answer in the negative but if he was going to be away...and surely she could finish the job in a month if she worked day and night...?
    ‘I’ll take it,’ she said barely audibly.
    ‘Do you want to see the studio and the flat?’
    ‘No.’ She shook her head. ‘I’m sure they’ll be fine.’
    He studied her narrowly with a glint of curiosity in his dark eyes. ‘I can’t work out if you’re a superior, head-in-the-clouds although accident-prone academic type or a rather exotic bundle of nerves.’
    Harriet took a breath and actually managed to smile. ‘If it’s any help, neither can I. Goodbye, Tottie,’ she added and patted the dog’s head.
    Damien Wyatt looked heavenwards as Tottie came as close as such a regal-looking dog could to actually simpering.
    At the same time, Harriet said, ‘Oh! I wonder where I put my glasses?’
    ‘Here,’ he remarked flatly, picking them up from the dining table and handing them to her. ‘I’ll see you out.’
    Harriet hesitated. ‘I’m sure I could see myself out.’
    ‘Not at all. After you.’
    So it was that Harriet preceded him out of the dining room and out of the house to the driveway. There was only one vehicle parked there: hers.
    Damien Wyatt took one look at it and swore. ‘You’re not still driving that damn tank, are you?’ he asked with furious incredulity.
    Harriet coloured slightly. ‘It just refuses to lie down. Anyway, it’s not mine, it’s Brett’s, my brother’s. It’s very good over rough and sandy terrain.’
    ‘I believe you.’ Damien favoured the vehicle with a lingering look of malice then transferred his gaze to Harriet.
    ‘Well, enjoy your stay at Heathcote, Miss Livingstone.’ A tinge of irony entered his dark eyes. ‘Don’t go about kissing too many men at the same time as you’re happy to remain fancy-free. Oh, and watch out for Charlie. He is, not to put too fine a point on it, a womaniser.’
    Harriet drew a deep breath. ‘Perhaps he takes after you?’ she said quietly, and climbed into her battered old vehicle.
    He waited until she’d driven off before saying to Tottie, ‘What the devil do you make of all that? OK, I know you’re on her side, but I don’t ever recall kissing a girl I’ve—virtually—just met like that.’
    Predictably, Tottie didn’t answer; she only yawned.
    Damien Wyatt shrugged. In fact I haven’t kissed anyone quite like that for a while, he added to himself. Been too busy, been somewhat cynical about the whole tribe of women, to be honest. What I need, if that’s the case, is someone nice and uncomplicated who knows the rules of the game—doesn’t expect wedding