Unfinished Business with the Duke. Heidi Rice

to the articles she’d read, Gio lived in Italy, but his office in Florence had told her he was in England. So she’d taken a chance he might be at the Hall.

      ‘Oh, aye—yes, he’s here,’ said Frank, making Issy’s pulse skitter. ‘Came in yesterday evening by helicopter, no less—or so Milly at the post office says. I took the council planners over to the Hall for a meeting an hour ago.’

      ‘Could I get a lift too?’ she said quickly, before she lost her nerve.

      Frank grinned and grabbed his car keys. ‘That’s what I’m here for.’

      He bolted the booth and directed her to the battered taxi-cab parked out front.

      ‘I’ll put your journey out on the house, for old times’ sake,’ he said cheerfully as he opened the door.

      Issy tensed as she settled in the back seat.

      No way was she going to think about old times. Especially her old times with Gio.

      She snapped the seat belt on, determined to wipe every last one of those memories from her consciousness.

      But as the car accelerated away from the kerb, and the familiar hedgerows and grass verges sped past on the twenty-minute drive to the Hall, the old times came flooding back regardless.