The Firebrand Who Unlocked His Heart by Anne Fraser Page A

eventually feel relaxed in my company.’ He smiled ruefully. ‘I can see now I made a mistake by inviting colleagues to the match.’
    He pulled his hand through his hair. ‘This father business doesn’t exactly come easily to me.’
    Colleen held her breath. She could see how hard it was for Daniel to tell her this. She sat down on the chair opposite him, mortified and ashamed by the way she’d spoken to him.
    ‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘I shouldn’t have said what I did.’ And why had she? Why did she react to him instead of being able to treat him like she would normally treat any other patient’s father—in a cool, caring, but professional manner?
    ‘I like to have control in and of my life,’ Daniel continued. ‘But I haven’t been able to control anything that’s happened to Harry. Not knowing he was my son, trying to get to know him, his accident—I couldn’t control any of it.’ He clenched his jaw.
    Colleen wanted to reach out and touch him, as if her touch could absorb some of his pain. But she instinctively knew her sympathy wouldn’t be welcome.
    ‘When Harry was desperately ill, when they thought he might die, I would have swapped my life for his in a minute. But I couldn’t. I would’ve given everything I own in the world if that would have made him better, or brought his mother back, but for once in my life I was powerless.’
    He stood up. ‘Helping to get him better—that’s something I can do. But I can’t do it alone.’
    The admission seemed to cost him the last bit of his self-control. He turned away from her.
    ‘If you’ll excuse me, Colleen, I think I’m going to do some work now.’
    Colleen looked at him. He’d allowed her to see his pain. And now, more than ever, she knew she would never give up on this man and his child. She steppedacross to the door and reached for the handle. She had only one more thing left to say.
    ‘Thank you for telling me what you did, Daniel. As long as you remember that there is only one thing Harry needs from you.’
    Daniel narrowed his eyes then raised a questioning brow. ‘And that is…?’
    ‘You, Daniel. Plain and simple, all he really needs is you.’
    * * *
    Finding it impossible to concentrate, Daniel slammed down the lid of his laptop and leaned tiredly against the back of his chair. He found his thoughts once again returning to dwell on the exchange between himself and Colleen. He stared at the closed door of the sitting room. God, what kind of harridan had he invited into his home? No one ever spoke to him like that. It was yes, Mr Frobisher and of course, Mr Frobisher. Damn it. It wasn’t unreasonable to expect respect from employees, surely?
    But then Colleen was a strange sort of employee. For a start, he needed her more than she needed him. But there were bound to be other nurses out there. More biddable ones for a start. Ones who wouldn’t feel the need to challenge him constantly. But the truth was, he didn’t want anyone else—no matter how fiery Colleen was. Harry already knew and trusted her.
    And of course she had a point. Asking business acquaintances to Harry’s birthday treat had been a mistake. He could see that now.
    But, hell, he hadn’t expected her to react the way she had. God, she certainly didn’t pull her punches.
    He took a gulp of his drink. He’d just told her stuff that he’d never told anyone before. Stuff that he didn’twant to share. She seemed to drag it out of him. Perhaps because for some reason he wanted her to think that he was a better man than the person she believed him to be.
    Which made him feel uncomfortable. Why should he care what she thought of him as long as it didn’t interfere with her care of his son? He had managed all right up until now, without giving a damn for other people’s opinions.
    He would just have to be careful how he handled Colleen in future. One thing was for sure, he hadn’t got to where he was without knowing how to get the best from the people who