New Year Escapes. Leslie Kelly

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ they?

      Oh, hell.

      Sophy understood. But she just didn’t like it. Not one bit. And she couldn’t imagine George liking it, either. Not really. She shot him a glance now to see how he was taking Sam’s news. His face was unreadable, his eyes hooded, his expression impassive. His arms were folded across his chest.

      “I can’t stay a month or two,” Sophy said. “I have a life—and work—in California. I can’t leave Lily that long.”

      “Bring her,” George said.

      “Who’s Lily?” Sam asked.

      “Our daughter,” George answered before Sophy could.

      Sam’s eyes went round. His jaw dropped. “Odd you never mentioned any of this,” he murmured in George’s direction.

      “Need to know,” George said in an even tone.

      Sam nodded, but he blinked a few times, still looking a little stunned as his gaze went from George to Sophy and back again.

      He wasn’t the only one feeling a bit shell-shocked.

      All she’d intended to do was drop into the hospital long enough to give Tallie the key to George’s house, say thank-you for the few hours sleep and say that Gunnar was fine. She hadn’t even expected to have to talk to George again. After the way they’d left things this morning, she couldn’t imagine he’d have anything more to say to her.

      “There must be ‘wives for rent’ in New York,” she said.

      Sam didn’t offer an opinion. He tucked his hands in his pockets and retreated into bystander mode.

      “I’ll rent you a wife,” she offered.

      “So much for payback,” George murmured.

      Sophy’s fingers knotted into fists. “You’d be able to come home.”

      George just looked at her. “So you’re saying you won’t do it.” His tone was mild enough, but Sophy didn’t have to imagine the challenge in his words.

      She clenched her teeth to stop herself saying the first, second and third things that came into her head. She got a grip, reminded herself that he was not himself—even though, frankly, he seemed more like himself than ever. And then she reminded herself as well that she owed him.

      Ultimately she might have resented what he’d done by highhandedly proposing marriage and taking over her life.

      But she’d let him.

      She’d let herself be steamrolled. Had said yes because she knew George was all that Ari wasn’t, that Ari—even if he’d lived—would never have been. And she couldn’t even put a finger on when she realized she felt about George far differently and far more intensely than she’d ever felt about Ari.

      She’d desperately wanted their marriage to work.

      Finding out that she was just another obligation, one more of “Ari’s messes” that George had had to clean up had hurt her far more than Ari’s turning his back on her and fatherhood in the first place.

      But that wasn’t George’s problem. It was hers.

      And before she could move forward, she knew she had to do what she’d told him she’d come to do—settle her debts—even if what she was doing reminded her of the old cliché about the frying pan and the fire.

      As for why George wanted her to do it when he didn’t want to be married to her, well, maybe she’d find an answer to that. Maybe, please God, there would finally be some closure.

      She straightened. “Fine. I’ll do it.”

      Sam’s eyes widened. George didn’t blink.

      “But only for a month—or less if possible.” She met his gaze steadily. “Then we’re even.”

      He wanted to just walk out then and there.

      To get out of bed, dress and stroll out of the hospital as if he’d just spent the night in a not very pleasant hotel.

      Of course it wasn’t as simple as that. He didn’t have any clothes, for one thing. His had been shredded and bloodied in the accident and cut from his body after. Getting out of bed hurt like sin. Strolling, of course, was impossible. He was on crutches and wearing a boot to give his ankle some support.

      But at least Sophy couldn’t say he’d shanghaied her into staying under spurious pretenses.

      What she did say, though, as he asked her to go buy him some clothes, surprised the hell out of him.

      “Not necessary,” she said. “I’ll just go to your place and bring you some clothes back.”

      “My place?”

      She shrugged, dug into the pocket of her pants and held up a key. “Your house. I’ve got a key. It’s what I came to bring back to Tallie.”

      His jaw dropped. He had to consciously shut his mouth. But he couldn’t keep it shut. He demanded, “She gave you a key to my house?”

      Another shrug. “I was tired when I ran into her by the elevator. I hadn’t slept all night. And she had things to do. The kids. Baking. Stuff for Elias. She couldn’t spend all day with Gunnar. So she asked me to spend the day at your place instead of at a hotel—and get some sleep at the same time. I didn’t snoop around,” she told him tartly.

      He didn’t expect she had. Why would she bother? He shrugged awkwardly. “I was just surprised.”

      “Yes, well, it wasn’t my idea. But it was a nice bed,” she allowed. “And Gunnar is lovely.” She smiled the first really warm genuine smile he’d seen since she’d been here. Better even than the smile she’d given Sam.

      “He’s a good dog,” George allowed gruffly.

      Their gazes met, and there was a moment’s awkward silence, probably because it was the first thing they’d agreed on since he’d opened his eyes and found her in his hospital room.

      Her gaze slid away before his did. She seemed to be staring at the key in her hand.

      “So, fine,” George said after a moment. “Go back to my place and get me some clothes. I’ll be getting signed out of here while you’re gone.” He told her where things were.

      Sophy nodded. “I’ll be back.” She shook hands with Sam again on her way out. “You’ll leave me lots of instructions? Things to watch for?”

      “I’ll make a list,” Sam said. “And you can call me anytime.”

      Now her smile for him was as warm as the one she’d had when she talked about Gunnar.

      “Take your time,” George muttered.

      Sophy shot him a glare and stalked out, taking her luggage and briefcase with her.

      “Well, now. СКАЧАТЬ