They had been travelling along the winding coast road, but now Henry turned the car between the gates of the Novaks’ residence. ‘The guesthouse is in the grounds, about a quarter of a mile from the villa,’ Henry explained easily, and she remembered Matt had told her much the same.
As if to prove a point, after passing through the gates, Henry turned the car away from the main building. A twisting track led to where a neat little single-storey dwelling nestled among the trees. ‘Here we are.’
Joanna had half expected that Matt would be waiting to meet her. But the cottage appeared to be deserted, and she told herself she was grateful to have the chance to relax before meeting her host.
Someone had indeed prepared the place for her, however. The rooms smelled fresh and inviting, and a note pinned to the door—not in Matt’s hand, she noticed—informed her that a seafood salad had been prepared and was waiting in the fridge.
How kind, she thought, supporting herself with both hands in the small of her back as she followed Henry across the veranda and into the house. Whatever her doubts, Matt had evidently thought of everything.
‘Will I put your bags in the bedroom, Mrs Novak?’ Henry was asking, after staggering up the steps with the laptop tucked precariously under his arm.
‘Yes, please,’ said Joanna, quickly rescuing the small computer. Laptops weren’t cheap, and she’d hate for him to drop it. ‘You lead the way.’
They entered the cottage via a pleasant parlour that apparently ran from the front to the back of the house. Joanna hadn’t yet got her bearings, but she thought there might be a view of the ocean from the back windows. But it was getting too dark to see tonight.
A door to one side opened into a neat kitchen. There was a comprehensive supply of appliances and a small table that was presently laid for one. Then out into a narrow hall with three more doors leading to the bedrooms and the bathroom.
The bedroom Henry showed her into was surprisingly big considering the size of the rest of the cottage, with a huge colonial bed occupying a central position. The bathroom adjoining it was reassuringly modern, with a walk-in shower and a free-standing tub.
‘This is great,’ she said, kicking off her wedges to feel the marble floor cool beneath her bare feet. She couldn’t wait to have a quick shower. She wasn’t particularly hungry, but she supposed she should try a little of the salad. Then, if Matt didn’t turn up, she’d fall straight into that huge bed.
‘I’ll leave you now, Mrs Novak,’ said Henry, hovering in the bedroom doorway. ‘Mr Matt asked me to tell him when you’d arrived.’
‘Did he now?’ Joanna wondered if that meant Matt would be arriving later tonight.
But Henry disabused her of that notion. Glancing about him, he continued, ‘He also said he’d come see you in the morning. But if there’s anything else you need, don’t hesitate to call.’
Joanna hesitated. ‘Do you have the villa’s number?’ Although she was fairly sure she wouldn’t be using it tonight.
‘The phone has a direct line to Mr Matt’s office,’ explained Henry. ‘Just punch in number one and that will put you through. Oh, and your cook and housekeeper will be here tomorrow morning. I’m sure they’ll be happy to help you, too, in any way they can.’
‘Thank you.’ Joanna smiled. ‘Please tell Matt I do appreciate this. And thank you for meeting me, Henry.’
‘My pleasure, Mrs Novak,’ he assured her smilingly, and Joanna wondered if she should tell him that she didn’t call herself Mrs Novak these days.
But that could wait until tomorrow, too. Right now, she was too tired to care.
* * *
Matt was sitting on the veranda, enjoying a tumbler of whisky over ice, when Henry drove up to the villa. The older man parked the vehicle behind the house and then came up onto the veranda to report to his employer.
‘All present and correct,’ he said, nodding his curly grey head approvingly. ‘Can I do anything else for you, sir?’
‘I don’t think so, Henry.’ Then, as the man would have turned away, ‘Does she look okay? How was her journey?’
‘Mrs Novak looks fine,’ said Henry enthusiastically. ‘A little pale—and tired, I think—but I guess it’s been a long day.’
‘I guess.’ Matt was thoughtful. ‘Did she like the cottage?’
‘Oh, yes, sir.’ Henry grinned. ‘I think she loved the place at first sight. She asked me to tell you so. And when Callie and Rowena take over, I think she’ll be very happy there.’
‘Let’s hope so,’ said Matt, wishing he could be as certain. He hadn’t forgotten that if it hadn’t been for some manipulation on his part, Joanna would be in Cornwall by now.
‘I didn’t help her unpack her luggage.’ Henry sounded doubtful. ‘But I expect she’d prefer to do that herself anyway.
‘Just a couple of cases and a laptop, that’s all.’
‘A laptop?’ Matt was intrigued.
‘Yes, she told me it had belonged to her father,’ Henry agreed thoughtfully. ‘She says she plans to do some work while she’s here.’
‘Work?’ Like Henry, Matt was surprised to hear this.
‘Yes, sir. Seems like the lady operates a website for some gallery she helps to run in London,’ said Henry, nodding. ‘Will that be all, Mr Matt?’
He was clearly waiting to go and get his supper, and Matt nodded. ‘Sure thing,’ he said, raising his glass, though he wasn’t altogether happy about Joanna’s plans to keep working for the gallery while she was here. But, at least she was here, where he could keep an eye on her.
For a while, after the man had gone, Matt remained where he was, watching the sunset. Teresa had cooked a steak for his supper, but he’d hardly eaten a thing. He hadn’t relaxed, even when his pilot, Jacob, had told him they were landing. Not until Henry had arrived to say Joanna was installed at the villa had his tension subsided.
An hour later, he left the comfort of the bamboo lounger and strolled restlessly to the edge of the veranda. Hooking his hip over the wooden rail, he gazed broodingly towards the cottage. He couldn’t see anything. It was too dark. But the temptation to go and check on his visitor was strong.
He’d had serious thoughts about the future since he’d returned to the Bahamas. One thing he knew for certain was that he wanted to play an active part in his child’s life. However Joanna felt, he wouldn’t compromise. Angus might have robbed him of his wife, but he’d be damned if he’d rob him of his son as well.
Foolishly perhaps, Matt couldn’t forget that night in Miami. Joanna had given herself to him so ardently. He had to wonder, if his father hadn’t been taken ill and he’d been able to follow her to London the next day, would the outcome have been the same? Or was that just wishful thinking?
He scowled and, finishing the last of his Scotch, he got up from the rail and dropped his glass onto the table. He was getting maudlin, he thought. Discovering he was going to be a father had done that to him. Nothing else.
After all, when he’d left her apartment after following her to England, he’d had no intention of seeing her again. And, despite his comparative isolation here, he’d been managing to make a satisfactory life for himself.
He wrote most mornings, and, when he got writer’s block, he had the businesses in town to check on. He’d actually been thinking he might get married again one day, although it was not a priority. But his parents wanted grandchildren and he’d had to acknowledge that as his father’s only son, he had some responsibilities in