The Nanny Affair. Robyn Donald

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      CHAPTER ONE

      ‘LUCKY! No!’

      Emma Saunders deepened her normally gentle voice into an authoritative roar, but the barely half-grown dog ignored her, slithering beneath the bottom wire of the fence like an eel before racing towards the flock of sheep some two hundred metres away.

      Their heads came up; a few of the nearer ones began to run, and Lucky recognised a new and exciting variation of chase. Barking, he set off after them.

      Panic grabbed Emma beneath the breastbone. ‘Lucky, no,’ she yelled ferociously, not pleased when the elderly corgi at her side barked imperatively.

      However, that summons did the trick. Reluctantly Lucky skidded to a halt, wistfully panting after the sheep, which were now in full flight across the paddock.

      ‘Here!’ Emma ordered, muttering, ‘Thank you, Babe,’ to the corgi as relief surged through her and her pulse rate slowed.

      Realising he’d committed some unknown sin, Lucky approached carefully and with ingratiating whines. Her senses honed by adrenalin, Emma tried to ignore the car that drew up behind her.

      It didn’t work. The skin on her back prickled in a primitive warning. Because she didn’t dare take her eyes off the puppy, every sound the driver made as he or she got out assumed vast significance. The solid thunk of the closing door almost made her jump.

      A cold, dark, very male voice stated, ‘If I see that dog chasing my sheep again I’ll shoot him.’

      Emma had to swallow to ease her dry throat. ‘It won’t happen again,’ she said without turning her head. Her voice sounded oddly tinny in her ears.

      Although not yet a year old, Lucky’s mostly Rottweiler blood—and dominant male genes-told him that Emma might need protection. In a streak of black and tan he hurtled beneath the fence and positioned himself on four stiff legs between Emma and the unknown man, hackles raised, ears slightly flattened as he watched with wary alertness.

      ‘Heel!’ Emma said sharply as she turned to face both man and dog.

      Lucky stood firm. Not now! Emma thought, repeating the command. This was a tussle of wills she couldn’t afford to lose. Her demand for obedience was not aided by the old corgi, who was eyeing the intruder with grave reserve.

      ‘Heel!’ Emma said steadily, refusing to accept the pup’s offer of a compromise, which was to sit just in front of her, black and brown face turned implacably towards the strange man.

      Emma hadn’t yet looked directly at him, but from the corner of her eyes she could see that he took up too much room.

      At least he understood dogs. Silently, with ominous stillness, he waited as she ordered again, ‘Heel.’

      Lucky didn’t want to move, but he knew who was the leader in his particular pack. Unwillingly, keeping a cautious gaze on the stranger, he got to his feet.

      Emma waited until he stood at heel before saying, ‘Good boy. Sit.’

      He sat.

      After patting him, Emma lifted her head. Because the setting sun shimmered in a dazzling aura around the stranger’s head she couldn’t discern his features, but the rest of him was formidable enough to make her check an instinctive step backwards. She didn’t need to see his face to be aware of an overwhelming presence, made more impressive by a curbed patience that sent a swift, chilling shiver through her.

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