Her heart was banging against her ribs and she stared at him, dry-mouthed. ‘You are the most arrogant, hateful—’

She broke off and he laughed.

‘Jenny, you brought me the shirt,’ he said mildly. ‘You wanted me to cover up.’

Cheeks hot with anger and another emotion that she couldn’t identify, Jenny scooped up Daisy and then proceeded to struggle with the rug.

‘Here—give me that.’ His tone still amused, he took it from her and thrust it under his arm before strolling back across the sand to fetch his shoes.

She fought the impulse to throw something at him and followed him back to the house, glaring at his broad back. She was still simmering when he dropped the rug inside the door, poured himself a drink and disappeared up the stairs to his room without a backward glance.

Frowning after him in total frustration, Jenny made her own way upstairs and prepared Daisy for bed.

Her heart was thumping and she felt hot all over.

‘Your father is a total nightmare,’ she muttered as she finally tucked the little girl into her cot. ‘And I have no idea how we’re going to persuade him to take notice of you. Maybe once his lawyer has confirmed the truth he’ll start acting in a more responsible manner.’

She lifted a hand and stroked the baby’s back gently, smiling as she saw Daisy’s eyes close. Just being with the little girl soothed her and she sighed, wishing that she hadn’t reacted so strongly to Alex’s teasing. And she was sure now that he had been teasing her.

‘I suppose he thinks that if he’s horrid enough then I’ll leave,’ she whispered quietly, knowing that the baby wouldn’t care what she was saying as long as the voice was suitably restful. ‘But we’re not going to leave, are we? He’s your daddy and he’s going to get to know you.’

But she wasn’t going to let Alex bait her again.

Satisfied that Daisy was asleep, she made her way downstairs, tensing as she reached the living room. There was no sign of Alex and she assumed that he must be up in his bedroom, changing after his swim.

Jenny walked into the kitchen and gathered together the ingredients that she’d bought earlier.

However tired or angry he was, surely he had to eat some time?

And if they ate together maybe they could establish at least some sort of relationship—that was going to be essential if he was to be part of Daisy’s life.

It would have been a great deal easier if they weren’t so different, she reflected helplessly, digging around in his kitchen for the equipment she needed.

She heated some oil in a huge wok that she found in one of his cupboards, tossed in some fresh garlic and ginger and then added spring onions. Hopefully the smell would tempt him downstairs.

By the time he appeared in the doorway she’d added strips of chicken and vegetables and everything was sizzling temptingly.