The Bridesmaid's Wedding. Margaret Way
Читать онлайн книгу.
“Four months ago. The channel is very good to me. They’ve arranged security for me. I have someone to see me to my car.”
He let out a hard, tight breath. “No wonder you nearly jump out of your skin when you imagine you see a man’s reflection.”
“Maybe I’m not quite sober.” She tried to make light of it. “I had rather a lot of champagne at the reception. I’m not afraid.”
“I think you’ve proved you are. And why not? This modern world is turning into a jungle. Have you told Fee?”
She rubbed her arms. “I’ve told no one in the family. Only you. It’s an occupational hazard, Rafe. I have to live with it.”
His expression was formidable. “This is really bad, Ally. I don’t like it at all.”
Her mouth trembled. So he still cared something for her. “I have hundreds, maybe thousands of fans who only wish me well, but this guy is something else.”
A gust of wind came up and moved the plants on the terrace, causing Ally to lift her hands to her temples. “I thought I’d prefer to stay here rather than a hotel where I’d be recognised.” She leapt to her feet. “Now I’m not so sure. I expect I’m feeling a bit more vulnerable after such an emotional day.”
“Sit down again,” Rafe said. “Let’s face it, Ally, there’s a decision to be made. You don’t have to spend a single night feeling threatened. Not while I’m around. You mightn’t be my Ally anymore but the Kinrosses and the Camerons go back a whole lot of years.” Brod looked to him to oversee the running of Kimbara in his absence, the idea that his only sister was in any danger would upset him greatly.
“What I’m offering, Ally, is friendship allied to the age-old tradition of man as a protector. It’s the way of the Outback.” He tossed off the rest of his coffee, watching her slide back on the couch. “I think what I should do, what Brod would want me to do, is stay overnight. I can sleep on this sofa. Maybe shove the two of them together.”
She didn’t know what to say, a thousand sensations crystallising into a feeling of great warmth. She also remembered Rafe’s tenderness. “Rafe, I don’t want you to do that.”
“The lady protesteth,” he raised an eyebrow, “but I can see relief in those beautiful almond eyes. I don’t want to hear any more about it. I’m staying. I won’t tell anyone if you don’t.”
“I imagine it would upset Lainie for days on end.” Her gaze flickered to his. Found it sardonic.
“I’m not sure what you’re on about as regards Lainie, and I don’t actually care. You’re nervous about staying here and I don’t blame you. I’d just like to run into this guy who’s been giving you such a bad time. Are you sure it’s not someone you know?”
The police had said the same thing. “You mean, someone I work with? One of the actors, one of the crew?”
“Take it easy,” he soothed, watching her reaction. “Tell me the sort of things he writes. What he says on the phone.”
“Rafe, you wouldn’t want to hear it.” She slid her heavy hair back from her face.
“So it’s a sexual thing?”
“Of course.” She glanced away, her high cheekbones stained with colour. “He claims he’s in love with me. He can give me everything I need. He likes to say how he’s going to do it. I crash the phone down. I’ve had three different ex-directory numbers but he always finds out. That’s not easy to do.”
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.