Hot Pursuit Read Free

‘I should have known. You’re another bloody reporter, aren’t you?’ He gave her a scathing look. ‘They must be desperate if they’re sending bimbos to do the job!’
    â€˜I am not a bimbo!’ For once he had stung her into an unconsidered retort. She straightened her spine, as if she could add to her height. But she was still several inches shorter than Matt’s six feet plus and her frustration showed in her face. ‘And I never claimed to be from any agency.’
    â€˜Whatever.’ Matt’s jaw compressed. ‘So, what are you doing here? I notice you haven’t denied being a reporter.’
    â€˜A reporter?’ She stared at him, thick blonde lashes shading eyes of a misty grey-green. ‘I don’t understand. Were you expecting a reporter?’ Her face paled a little. ‘Why would a reporter come here?’
    â€˜Don’t pretend you don’t know who I am.’
    â€˜I don’t.’ She frowned. ‘Well, I know your name is Seton. You told me that.’
    â€˜Matt Seton?’ prompted Matt caustically. ‘Ring any bells?’
    â€˜Actually, no.’ She looked troubled. ‘Who are you?’
    Matt swayed back on his heels. Was she serious? She certainly looked as if she was, and if he’d had any conceit to speak of she’d have certainly exploded it with her innocent words. If they were innocent, he amended. Or could she really be that good?
    â€˜You don’t go to bookshops, then?’ he enquired drily, aware of a totally unfamiliar sensation of pique. ‘You’ve never heard of my work?’
    â€˜I’m afraid not.’ She looked a little relieved now, but hardly apologetic. ‘Are you famous?’
    Matt couldn’t prevent an ironic laugh. ‘Moderately so,’ he said mildly. ‘So…’ He lifted his shoulders. ‘What are you doing here?’
    â€˜I told you. My car broke down.’ She paused. ‘I was hoping to use your phone, as I said.’
    â€˜Really?’ Matt considered her.
    â€˜Yes, really.’ She shivered suddenly, and, although it was hardly a cold morning, Matt noticed how pale she was. ‘Um, would you mind?’
    Matt hesitated. It could still be a clever ruse on her part to get inside his house. But he was beginning to doubt that. Nevertheless, no one apart from his friends and family had ever got beyond his door, and he was loath to invite any stranger, however convincing, into his home.
    â€˜Don’t you have a mobile?’ he said, and she gave a weary sigh.
    â€˜I don’t have my mobile with me,’ she told him tiredly. ‘But if helping me is a problem just tell me where I can find the nearest garage. I assume the one you mentioned isn’t far away.’
    â€˜Far enough,’ muttered Matt heavily. ‘Can you walk the best part of three miles?’
    â€˜If I have to,’ she replied, lifting her head. ‘Just point me in the right direction.’
    But he couldn’t do it. Berating himself for being a fool, he slammed the door of the Range Rover and gestured towards the house. ‘You can use the phone,’ he said, striding past her. He led the way through an archway that gave access to the back of the building, hoping he wasn’t making the biggest mistake of his life. ‘Follow me.’
    Immediately, his two retrievers set up an excited barking, and he wondered if she’d heard them earlier. Although the dogs themselves were just big pussy-cats, really, the noise they made had scared off tougher intruders than her.
    â€˜Do you like dogs?’ he asked, glancing over his shoulder, and she gave an uncertain shrug.
    â€˜I don’t know,’ she said. ‘Are yours dangerous?’
    â€˜Oh, yeah!’ Matt gave a wry grin. Then, realising she was taking him literally, he added. ‘Dangerously friendly, I mean. If you’re not careful they’ll lick you to