His Rags-to-Riches Bride: Innocent on Her Wedding Night / Housekeeper at His Beck and Call / The Australian's Housekeeper Bride. Susan Stephens
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look was contemptuous. ‘And I’m supposed to tremble and obey? Is that it? No chance, sweetness. Because, unless your dear brother’s been lying to me, and frankly I don’t think he’d dare, half this desirable residence is his, and that’s the half I’m using.’
‘Fou are using?’ she said slowly. ‘By what right?’
‘I have a three-month lease,’ he said. ‘Properly drawn up and legally enforceable.’
Her heart was thudding unevenly against her ribcage. ‘I gave no permission for this.’
‘You weren’t here,’ he reminded her. ‘And Jamie guaranteed that happy state of affairs would continue. He thought that you and your fellow boat charterer were all set to walk into the sunset together.’ He inspected her bare left hand, his mouth twisting. ‘Or did he get that wrong?’
Yes, she thought. Completely wrong. But at the time it had made more sense to let Jamie believe that.
Aloud, she said, ‘A slight change of plan.’
‘Ah,’ he said. ‘So another one bit the dust? I do hope you’re not making a habit of it.’ He waited for the sharp indrawn breath she could not control, then went on smoothly, ‘However, it was on the strict understanding that I’d have the place to myself that I arranged to tenant the flat during your brother’s absence in the United States.’
‘Absence?’ she repeated numbly. ‘Since when?’
‘Since three weeks.’ He paused. ‘It’s a—temporary second-ment.’
‘Why didn’t he let me know?’
‘It all happened rather quickly.’ The silky drawl was even more pronounced. ‘He tried to contact you, but you seemed—unavailable. Phone calls and faxes to your registered office were left unanswered.’ He shrugged, drawing her unwilling attention to his elegantly muscled shoulders, and rather more besides.
God, but that towel was skimpy, she thought, her throat tightening. And none too secure either.
She decided to avert her gaze. ‘Always supposing this dubious agreement is valid,’ she said through gritted teeth, ‘that doesn’t explain why you were coming out of my bedroom.’
‘Except that it’s now mine,’ he said. ‘For the duration.’ His smile was harsh. ‘I’m sleeping in your bed at last, darling. Now, there’s a thought to savour.’
‘Not,’ she said, ‘as far as I’m concerned.’
‘There was a time,’ he said softly, ‘when the idea seemed briefly to hold a certain amount of appeal for you.’
‘But that,’ she said, ‘was before I turned out to be “a cheat, a liar and a bitch”. And I quote.’
His brows lifted. ‘Indeed you do—and with remarkable accuracy. But moving into your room wasn’t a deliberate choice prompted by malice. Or any nostalgia for what might have been,’ he added, his mouth curling. ‘Simply a question of expediency.’
‘However, you must be able to understand,’ she went on, as if he hadn’t spoken, ‘why I wouldn’t wish to share a roof with you now any more than I did two years ago.’
‘I can see it might be a problem,’ he agreed.
‘I’m glad you’re prepared to be reasonable.’ She was surprised, too, she thought, taking another, more even breath. ‘Then perhaps you’d make immediate arrangements to remove yourself and your belongings to a more appropriate environment?’
His grin was total appreciation. ‘Presumably somewhere like the lowest pit of hell? But you misunderstand me, sweetheart. Any problem that might exist is yours, not mine, because I’m going nowhere. What you decide, of course,’ he added, ‘is entirely your own business.’
She stared at him, lips parting in dismay. ‘But you can’t do this.’
He shrugged again, casually adjusting the slipping towel. ‘Try me.’
‘But you don’t really want to live here,’ she said uncertainly.
‘Why not? Apart from the last five minutes, it’s been pleasant enough.’
‘But such a come down.’ She made herself drawl the words, as if she’d suddenly seen the humour in the situation. ‘It’s just a flat, after all. Not a glamorous penthouse pad for a millionaire publishing tycoon. No diamond encrusted taps or wall-to-wall women. Not your sort of place at all.’
She paused. ‘Unless, of course, Wordwide International has gone into liquidation since you’ve been running it, and this is all you can afford these days.’
‘Sorry to disappoint you,’ he said, his face expressionless. ‘But things are just fine in our part of the market. And I’m staying here because it’s temporarily convenient for me to do so.’
He folded his arms across his chest. ‘Face it, Laine, you chose to return without a word to anyone, least of all Jamie. He seemed to think you wouldn’t be coming back at all—ever. And life doesn’t stand still waiting for you. However, my deal is strictly with Jamie, so I have no power to prevent you using the other half of the flat, if you wish,’ he added evenly.
‘That’s quite impossible.’ She didn’t look at him. ‘And you know it.’
‘Actually, no,’ he said. ‘I don’t. Stay—go—it makes no difference to me. Unless you’re deluding yourself that I still harbour some faint inclination for you. If so, think again.’
He paused grimly, watching the helpless colour warm her face. ‘But be aware of this—you’re not going to insult me out of occupation, and an appeal to my better nature won’t work either.’
‘I wasn’t aware you had a better nature.’
‘It’s currently under severe pressure.’ He paused. ‘If you won’t share, you leave. It’s that simple, so make your mind up.’
‘This is my home,’ she said. ‘I have nowhere else to go.’
‘Then do what I did,’ he said. ‘Call in a favour.’ He added with a touch of grimness, ‘Although I suspect that might be difficult. You and your brother probably owe far more goodwill than you can ever repay.’
Laine drew a swift, sharp breath. ‘That is a—loathsome thing to say.’
‘But realistic.’ He gave her a level look. ‘So, if you’ve finally decided that here is better than a corner of Cardboard City, I suggest you stop arguing and start getting organised, because it could be a lengthy business.
‘And if you want to eat, you’ll also have to shop, because I’m not funding your food. We’ll discuss sharing the other bills later.’
He turned to go. ‘And don’t ask for your room back,’ he added. ‘As a refusal often offends.’
‘I wouldn’t dream of it,’ Laine said between her teeth. ‘After all, in a few weeks you’ll be gone, and until that happy day I’ll camp in Jamie’s room.’
His grin was sardonic. ‘Prior to having this place fumigated and the bed ritually burned, no doubt.’
‘My own thoughts precisely,’ she threw after him as the door closed.
For a moment she stood where she was, staring at the wooden panels. It’s a nightmare, she told herself. That’s all. And presently I’ll wake up to find it’s over, and then I can start putting my life back together again.
She was trembling so violently inside that all she wanted to do was let herself sink down on to the floor and stay there. But Daniel could re-emerge at any moment, and the last thing she wanted was to be found crouching on the stripped and polished floorboards at his feet like some small wounded animal.
She’d never thought she would see