âIâll make the land over to your father if you give me a full explanation as to why you left me.â
Leonie stared at him blankly. âYouâre prepared to barter a valuable plot of land just to hear me tell you something you already know?â
âI donât know. Thatâs the point.â He leaned forward, his eyes locked with hers. âI swear I was never unfaithful while we were together. I loved you, Leonie. And, fool that I am, I thought you loved me.â
âI did. You know I did.â Her eyes glistened suddenly with unshed tears. âBut one day I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. And my whole life fell apart.â
Jonah looked at her in expectant silence, which stretched Leonieâs nerves to the limit. âAll right, Jonah, Iâll explain. But before I start thereâs something I need to know. Youâre not the only one after the truth. How many people actually know that Fenny is your daughter?â
A family with a passion for lifeâand for love.
Welcome to the first book in The Dysarts, a wonderful new series by favorite author Catherine George. A Vengeful Reunion tells the story of eldest daughter Leonie, who returns home for a family celebration and finds herself coming face-to-face with her former fiancé, Jonah Savage. The handsome property developer wants to know why she jilted himâeven if that means resorting to a little blackmail and, since their mutual attraction remains as intense as ever, getting his revenge!
Over the coming months, youâll get to know each member of the Dysart family, and share in their trials and joys, their hopes and dreams, as they live their lives with passionâand for love.
SHE caught the train with seconds to spare. Breathless, she stowed her bag away, sank down into the nearest window seat, shrugged off her overcoat, then sat watching the fields of home rush by as she savoured the surprise she was about to spring.
Once sheâd handed over her ticket she got up to head for the buffet car in search of coffee. Several male eyes followed her progress along the swaying carriage, but one pair, more intent than the rest, watched from behind a newspaper, resuming their covert scrutiny as she passed by again on her way back to her seat.
While she drank her coffee she went on with the book sheâd started on the plane, and soon became absorbed enough to spare only peripheral attention when the train stopped at Swindon. When someone slid into the seat opposite she shifted her feet out of the way without looking up.
âGood book, Leo?â
Her head flew up as a laconic drawl severed her gaze from the page like a sword-thrust. Stunned, she stared into a lean, black-browed face she had once known only too well. The face was older than at their last meeting, with a few added lines and a new, arresting streak of silver in the ink-dark hair above it. But the high cheekbones and wide, beautifully cut mouth delivered the same, unforgettable impact.
âWell, well, Jonah Savage,â she said at last. âHow are you?â
âAt the moment amazed to find myself face to face with the elusive Miss Dysart,â he retorted. âSomething itâs been damned difficult to achieve these past few years.â
She smiled politely. âI still work abroad.â
His brief smile of response stopped short of icy hazel-green eyes. âSo what brings you back?â
âItâs Adamâs twenty-first today. Thereâs a party at home.â
âI heard you couldnât make it.â
Her eyes narrowed. âYou did? How?â
âIâve been spending time at the Pennington office. Iâve seen your father quite often lately.â
Leonie received the information with hot resentment, and considered moving to another seat. But that would look childish. And there was only an hour to go; even less if Jonah was leaving the train at Bristol Parkway. âWhere are you heading?â she asked.
âWhy, Leo?â he drawled. âEager to get rid of me?
She shrugged her indifference.
âIâll take that as a no.â His eyes locked onto hers like a heat-seeking missile. âSo. Howâs life in Florence?â
âInteresting.â
âAre you knee-deep in passionate Italian suitors?â
âNo,â she returned coolly. âJust one.â
He raised a sardonic eyebrow. âSwept off your feet by Latin charm?â
âSomething like that.â
He stood up abruptly. âIâm off to buy a drink. Can I get you something?â
Leonie refused, then slumped down in her seat in shock as she watched the tall, retreating figure. Jonah Savage had changed considerably since their last meeting. Which was only to be expected. A lot could happenâhad happenedâin seven years. But the eyes were the same. Like a prowling panther, according to her sister Jess.
âHowâs business?â she asked, when Jonah returned.
âVery good.â He looked at her analytically. âHowâs yours? Do you still enjoy teaching?â