‘Hello Jed.’ Millie felt ridiculously shy. He was sitting in the chair by the window again. He looked much better and was wearing a clean shirt and jeans, his injured arm in a snowy-white sling.
‘Millie.’ He smiled at her warily.
She sat in the chair next to him. ‘Coral said she’d bring us some tea in a minute.’
‘Ah. Tea. The cup that cheers.’
‘Allegedly. We’ve all probably had enough of coffee. How are you feeling?’
‘Much better, thank you. The painkillers Coral insists on doping me up with work wonders.’ He gave her a keen look. ‘Has Alex told you what happened to me?’
Millie nodded. ‘He said you’d been shot. Oh Jed, I can’t believe it! Is it … was it very bad?’
‘Not really. The bullet scraped past my upper arm. It’s only a flesh wound, hasn’t done any real muscle damage. I might have a scar, though.’
‘You look quite pleased about that.’
‘Well, it’ll be something to show for my efforts.’ He grinned.
‘It could have been much worse.’ Millie shuddered. ‘And you didn’t tell me!’
‘Didn’t want to worry you.’ He reached forward, took her hands in his one good one and gave a great sigh. ‘Millie, I didn’t want to risk implicating you. There could have been all sorts of repercussions, legal or otherwise. I couldn’t have lived with myself if anything had happened to involve you. Look, it could have been worse, but it wasn’t. I’m fine.’
‘Was it scary?’
Jed sobered. ‘It had its moments,’ he said, eventually. ‘I don’t think I’ll be returning to that part of the world any time soon. Even if they’d have me.’
‘Alex said they chased you out of the village?’
‘Yup.’ Jed nodded. ‘It was quite a night.’
‘How did you get out?’
He shrugged and then winced as the pain in his arm made itself felt. ‘I’d made a few allies by then. They shoved me in the back of their pick-up under a stinking tarpaulin, fixed the arm up a bit and got me to the airport.’ He gave a rueful grin. ‘I suspect the back of that truck was where I picked up the infection but I’m not going to complain.’ He shot a quick look from under dark lashes. ‘They probably saved my life.’
‘Oh Jed.’ Millie felt her insides go to liquid. She’d been so close to losing him completely. Then she had a thought. ‘Will there be any repercussions for them?’
‘That I don’t know.’ His face clouded. ‘It’s a complex situation out there, Millie. I hope not. I really do.’
‘It really was James Bond stuff, wasn’t it?’
Jed grinned. ‘Like I said, it had its moments.’ His hold on her tightened. ‘I can’t tell you how glad I was to get out.’
‘Was it worth it?’
He blew out an enormous breath. ‘I think so. It’s not just the Fair Trade thing. Most of Blue Elephant’s customers don’t give a damn about that.’ He frowned. ‘There’s so much exploitation going on. Child workers, Millie, some as young as eight or nine, labouring when they should be in school getting an education. It’s wrong.’
‘And you think Blue Elephant were buying coffee from these plantations? The ones with the child workers?’
He nodded. ‘I know so. And can prove it.’
‘No wonder they were cross with you.’
‘Yeah.’ He laughed. ‘Probably a bit of an understatement there, but yes, I think you can say my time at Blue Elephant is well and truly over.’
‘Has that Gavin bloke sorted it all out for you?’
‘Let’s say he and the company came to an agreement. I’ve passed all the legal stuff onto him now, so it’s out of my hands. Thank goodness. Although I might have been tempted at one point by a life of espionage I think I’d just like to take it easy for a while. Let Gavin handle it.’
‘Good.’ Millie breathed out. ‘Oh Jed,’ she said impulsively. ‘It’s so good to have you back and safe.’
‘Is it, Millie? Is it?’
‘Of course it is,’ she answered briskly, wary of wading too far into the emotional depths.
‘I haven’t thanked you.’
‘Whatever for?’
‘For sorting everything out.’
‘I didn’t do anything, Jed. It was your brother and Gavin who got you away. I just rang Alex, as you asked.’
Jed stroked a thumb over the inside of her wrist. ‘But you put everything into motion and without you I’d still be stuck in that office block avoiding difficult questions.’ He stiffened. ‘And they fucking hurt you, Millie!’
She pulled a face. ‘Hardly. I helped the situation out enormously by falling over. Ruined my best pair of tights.’
‘They shoved you over, you mean. Are you sure you’re alright?’
‘I’m fine,’ she smiled at him. ‘Only my pride hurt. And my tights.’
‘I owe you a pair. God, I was so frustrated. I couldn’t get to you. Think I landed a kick in the groin for one of them, though.’ Jed’s eyes gleamed in satisfaction.
‘Rough at Eton, was it?’ Millie couldn’t resist poking fun. Relief at having him back, without any further threat of legal trouble, was making her giddy.
He shrugged. ‘The rugger training came in handy. Millie, I –.’
Coral chose that moment to bring in the tea tray. ‘Just pull up that table, will you now, Millie, and I’ll put it on there. There you are, the cup that cheers and never inebriates. A nice cuppa is just what the doctor ordered. None of this mucky coffee stuff.’ She looked at them as they dissolved into giggles. ‘Now, what did I say?’