Blueprint for Love (Choc Lit) (13 page)

          Getting the boys to take their medicine proved to be a challenge, however.

         
‘It’s so gloopy and horrible,’ Ben complained.

          Seth griped when it was his turn, and Hazel decided to make a game of it to see if that would help.
‘Do you know what the pilot did after he took his medicine?’

          The boys shook their heads.

          ‘He did a gloop-the-gloop.’

         
‘Aww, that’s really lame!’ Pulling a face, Seth swallowed his spoonful.

         
‘Well, let’s see if you’re any better at telling jokes.’

         
‘Okay, you asked for it,’ Seth grinned. ‘Why did the pony cough?’

         
‘I don’t know.’

         
‘Because it was a little hoarse.’

          Hazel rolled her eyes.
‘Is that the best you can do? That’s even lamer!’

          The boys exchanged a look, then grabbed her and pinned her down on the bed where they tickled her until tears of laughter sprang into her eyes.

          ‘Stop, stop! You’re killing me!’

         
‘I see my patients are improving.’ Jonathan was standing in the doorway, eyeing their tussle with a wry grin. ‘If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were all guilty of faking it.’

          The boys rushed to their father excitedly, while Hazel tried to tidy her dishevelled appearance. Their eyes met over the heads of the twins, and Jonathan’s tender expression made her breath catch in her throat.

          There’s no going back now, she thought.
If you keep looking at me like that, I’ll never want to leave.

Her foot improved quickly, soon causing her no more trouble than the odd twinge when she walked on it. On Friday afternoon, George appeared in the sick room with a message that Jonathan was throwing a small party in the office.

         
‘He’d like you to join the celebrations.’

         
‘I’ll be right there.’ Hazel closed the book she’d been reading to the boys. ‘But what about ...?’

          George gave an impatient wave.
‘Don’t worry, I can take over from here; I read
Wind in the Willows
to Jonathan many times when he was a boy.’

          Seth and Ben were fascinated that their father had once enjoyed the same book, and they let Hazel go without too much protest.

          When she arrived, the others were all assembled clutching glasses of champagne. The office was festooned with banners, and in the middle of the room a trestle table had been put up and was groaning under the weight of several platters of food, nibbles and drinks.

          Smiling, Jonathan handed Hazel a glass of champagne.
‘I’m glad you came, and just in time. I’m about to say a few words.’

          Hazel went to stand next to Ellie.
‘What are we celebrating?’ she whispered.

         
‘The Robert Miles contract,’ Ellie whispered back. ‘Planning permission has finally gone through. Jonathan is pleased as punch.’

          Having been so busy looking after the boys, Hazel had forgotten about the real world, but she was happy that work had gone according to Jonathan’s hopes.

          ‘I see your foot is better,’ Ellie commented. ‘How did it happen?’

          Hazel grimaced, but was relieved that Ellie didn’t know exactly what had taken place.
‘I tripped in the garden. I’ve always been a bit clumsy.’

          Ellie gave her a quick hug.
‘You poor thing.’

          Someone shushed them as Jonathan began to speak. He started by thanking everyone for their hard work and dedication, then went on to talk about the progress of the project and what it would mean for the company.

          Jonathan’s eyes found Hazel’s.
‘I’d also like to thank Hazel. Although she hasn’t been here long, she’s helped us get a very untidy operation in order, and in the last few days we’ve all felt her absence keenly.’

          There were murmurs of agreement from the others.

          ‘Not only that, but she’s shown me what really matters,’ Jonathan continued, and raised his glass. ‘Here’s to our future.’

          The toast was directed at everyone assembled, but Jonathan’s emphasis on the word
‘our’, and the way his eyes never left hers, made Hazel think that perhaps he was sending her a special message. She was confused by his attention and didn’t know what to make of it, but that didn’t stop her cheeks from heating up. Ellie noticed and elbowed her in the ribs.

         
‘Some food might take your mind off it.’

          They helped themselves to food, and so did their colleagues. The mood was high, and soon the office was a noisy hubbub. Hazel stood a little to one side with her plate and watched Jonathan move about the room, shaking a hand here and slapping a back there.

          Suddenly, he appeared at her side. ‘Enjoying yourself?’

         
‘Er ... oh, yes, very much. It’s a lovely party.’

          He sent her a concerned look.
‘Are you sure? Because I really want you to.’

         
‘Thank you, yes. I was just thinking about Seth and Ben.’

         
‘I’m sure my father can cope. He’ll have to, because I’m going away tonight. Robert Miles is starting another project in Lincolnshire and has asked me to visit the site with him, but I’m back Saturday afternoon. I’ll leave you my mobile number just in case.’

         
‘We’ll be fine,’ Hazel reassured him. ‘I’ll try not to leave it all to George.’

         
‘I know you won’t.’ Jonathan stroked her cheek briefly. The touch was feather-light, but made her entire body tingle. ‘And when I get back,’ he added in a low voice, ‘there’s something important we need to talk about.’

          He pressed a quick kiss to her lips then turned away when one of their colleagues demanded his attention. While Hazel was still reeling from the impact and the significance of him kissing her in such a public place, her eyes met Tabitha’s across the room.

          There was no disguising the venom in those baby blues. It was a look of pure hatred.

CHAPTER TEN

Jonathan said goodbye to his children when he left in the early evening, with strict instructions that they had to behave themselves. While their grandfather gave them their tea and made sure they had a shower, Hazel helped Irene tidy up after the party, then she went to tuck in the boys.

         
‘Please stay,’ they begged. ‘There’s this really good bit in the story, but Grandad’s too tired to read any more.’

         
‘If it’s okay with you, I’d like to turn in now,’ George admitted.

          Hazel noticed he looked weary, slightly stooped and with dark circles under his eyes, but it was no surprise since he often worked in the lab late into the night.
‘I’d be happy to.’

          George said goodnight in his usual gruff manner, but Hazel sensed that his relationship with his grandchildren was improving, and that pleased her. With no mother in their lives, having a close bond with their grandfather was doubly important.

          ‘Can you sit between us and read?’ Ben asked. ‘That’s what Grandad does.’

          The boys patted the space between them expectantly, and Hazel vacated the armchair in favour of the bed, grabbing a blanket to put over her legs while the twins snuggled down in their duvets.

          She read for about an hour until they fell asleep. Yawning, she debated with herself whether leaving would wake them, then she decided to stay a while to make sure they’d dropped off completely.

          It was cosy and warm between the boys, and it wasn’t long before Hazel’s head fell back against the headboard, and sleep overtook her.

She was shaken awake by an agitated George. It was early morning, and a pale autumn sun was streaming in through the window where she’d forgotten to draw the curtains.

          Making sure the boys were still sound asleep, she sat up groggily.
‘Sorry,’ she whispered. ‘I didn’t mean to fall asleep in here.’

         
‘Never mind about that. My lab has been burgled.’

         
‘Burgled?’ Hazel slipped out of bed quietly and smoothed down her crumpled clothes. ‘Have you called the police?’

         
‘They’ll be here in an hour. I’ve called Irene as well, although she doesn’t normally come in on Saturdays, but with Jonathan away ... Well, Irene is a rock.’

          Was it her imagination, or was George’s interest in the housekeeper more than just professional? Interesting, she thought, and couldn’t help welcoming the idea.

          In the kitchen, Irene was preparing a fried breakfast.

         
‘What a to-do,’ she said, although she looked her usual unruffled self. ‘I thought we could do with a big breakfast before the police get here. George, stop pacing and sit down. There’s nothing anyone can do till then.’

          Only then did Hazel notice how haggard George looked. He’d been tired the night before, but it was nothing compared to this hollow-eyed spectre. It was as if he’d aged ten years overnight.

          Her heart went out to him. He’d suffered a terrible setback once, and now it seemed as if it had happened again. Not only had his property been violated, there was all his research to consider. How much had he lost this time?

          Reaching across the kitchen table, she put her hand on his arm.
‘I’m sure everything will be all right.’

          Unconvinced, George gave a curt nod.

          Irene forced them to eat breakfast, although they both struggled. When a police constable arrived, the housekeeper had coffee ready.

          The officer, a fresh-faced rookie, took down the details then went with George to have a look at the lab. Hazel organised breakfast for Seth and Ben and, judging them to be sufficiently recuperated, told them to get dressed. By the time she’d finished, the constable was ready to leave.

          ‘Call us when you’ve looked through the CCTV footage,’ he said to George. ‘You might recognise your burglar, or at least it’ll give you an idea how they got in through the main gate as well as inside the lab. I’ll send a chap around later to check for fingerprints, so no one should disturb the crime scene in the meantime.’

         
‘I’ll wait for Jonathan to get back,’ said George, when the policeman had left. ‘I don’t really understand all this newfangled nonsense.’

          Hazel watched him leave the kitchen. More than ever, Jonathan’s father looked like a broken man, and she was tempted to run after him and hug him until he felt better. But she knew he’d hate that.

When Jonathan arrived back in the afternoon and saw the police car parked in front of the house, his first thought was that something had happened to the twins. He almost flung himself out of the Land Rover and raced upstairs.

          Finding his apartment empty, he headed for the kitchen, having noticed Mrs Whitmore’s Nissan in the drive. To his relief, the boys threw themselves at him, babbling over each other and making no sense at all.

          Hugging them close, he said,
‘Whoa, one at a time! What happened?’

         
‘Grandad’s shed’s been burgled,’ Seth explained, his eyes shining as if this was the most exciting thing in the world.

         
‘Really?’

         
‘I’m afraid so,’ said George. ‘I called the police. There’s a technician down there now, checking for fingerprints.’

          Jonathan’s eyes fell on Hazel, who shrugged, and Mrs Whitmore shook her head imperceptibly. Clearly no one knew any more than that.

          ‘Any idea who did it? Have you checked the cameras?’

          George shook his head.

          ‘Well, we’d better go and do that now,’ Jonathan said, taking charge. ‘We need to see if there’s anything which might help the police catch the culprits. Mrs Whitmore, any chance you could make some coffee, please? I’ve had a long journey.’

         
‘I’ll do it so Irene can get home,’ said Hazel. ‘It’s been a hectic day.’

         
‘Thanks. We’ll be in my office.’

          He touched her lightly on the arm and was gratified by her heightened colour. During his time away, he’d come to realise how much he cared for Hazel. By telling her how he felt, he risked exposing himself, but he had to do it. Otherwise, how would he ever know what might be between them?

          But first he had to deal with this burglary.