Her Wealthy Husband. Margaret Mayo

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      Unable to stand the tension any longer, she said quietly, ‘I didn’t mean to upset you.’

      He looked at her then, and he slowed down, let the engine idle. ‘When I said I wanted you all to myself it was a figure of speech. I had no intention of forcing you to do anything you didn’t want to do. I thought it would be a pleasure.’ His nostrils flared as he spoke, a tough mask over his face. ‘I was forgetting that you think all men are control freaks.’

      Lara winced. ‘Maybe not all men.’

      ‘But you’re not prepared to give anyone else a chance.’ His eyes were hard and condemning. ‘If that’s the case then I see no point in us continuing our—er, friendship.’ He hurled the word contemptuously.

      ‘It’s not that,’ she protested. Why, oh why, had she opened her mouth? ‘I do want to be friends with you, Bryce. I guess I’m on edge because Roger phoned my mother yesterday.’

      ‘Your ex?’ The news brought his head up with a jerk.

      Lara nodded, grimacing as she did so, letting him see how unhappy she was.

      ‘What did he want?’

      ‘For us to get back together.’

      There was a sudden stillness about him. ‘And?’

      A tiny shrug lifted her slender shoulders. ‘I was supposed to phone my mother back this morning. I can’t believe I forgot.’ She could only blame the excitement of getting ready to spend a day with Bryce! And it was true, she had been excited. She’d dithered for ages about what to wear, trying on outfit after outfit, finally settling on navy cotton shorts and a navy and white top. Helen had said she looked very nautical.

      He glanced at his watch. ‘She’ll be in bed now. I’ll remind you when we get home. Did she tell him where you are? Will he make a nuisance of himself?’

      Lara hadn’t even thought along those lines. Now she frowned contemplatively. ‘I shouldn’t think so.’

      ‘What makes him think there’s a chance that you’d go back to him?’ His voice was harsh and disapproving. ‘Is there something you haven’t told me?’

      Lara turned her mouth down at the corners, not wanting to discuss Roger with this man. It was none of his business. But she had to say something. ‘He didn’t want the divorce, to tell you the truth. He couldn’t understand why I felt as I did. He couldn’t see anything wrong in his behaviour.’

      ‘There’s none so blind as those who don’t want to see,’ he said scathingly.

      ‘You’re telling me,’ she declared fiercely. ‘He seemed to think that because he bought me nice things, because we had a comfortable home, because we entertained his friends on a fairly regular basis, that I had a good and fulfilling life. He didn’t realise that I’d have liked my own friends around me, that I’d have liked a say in some things. He had no idea how stifled I felt.’

      ‘It’s a shame he’s spoilt your holiday,’ said Bryce. ‘Last night you began to relax. Today you’re as uptight as when I first met you. You’ve rebuilt the wall. I’m an outsider.’

      Lara gave a rueful smile. ‘I didn’t mean for that to happen. I appreciate the trouble you’ve gone to on my behalf. I’m enjoying today.’

      A dark eyebrow quirked upwards. ‘Are you sure?’

      ‘Absolutely.’ She had only herself to blame for the tension that had settled over them like a thundercloud.

      ‘Are you ready for lunch?’

      Lara looked around at all the water surrounding them. ‘Where are you suggesting we eat?’

      ‘You have two choices,’ he said, his smile warmer now. ‘We could go to Doyles at Watsons Bay—you’ve heard of our famous fish-and-chip restaurant? Or we could drop anchor and eat right here. I have a hamper in the cabin.’

      ‘I think I’d like the picnic,’ Lara decided. She no longer wanted to be surrounded by other people. She was enjoying Bryce’s company too much.

      ‘You’re not afraid of me any more?’ he asked, eyes narrowed.

      ‘It was silly of me to be wary,’ she said with a wry, apologetic smile. ‘I should have known differently.’

      And so out came the cool-box filled with thick slices of ham and chunky chicken portions, with salads and cheeses, with bread rolls and wine, and for dessert a mango already sliced, glossy plums and finger bananas, as well as several different flavoured yoghurts. Far too much for them, but all utterly, utterly delicious.

      ‘This is wonderful,’ she said more than once. ‘You’re certainly doing me proud today.’

      ‘I would always do you proud if you were mine,’ he said seriously. ‘I would never treat you like a possession.’ Although his eyes were grave they managed to send sensual messages at the same time. Her skin grew warm; her fingers clenched around the wineglass, and so that she didn’t need to look at him she swallowed what was left in one gulp.

      Immediately he refilled her glass, his own too, and they sat in companionable silence for a few minutes. Other craft moved past them, their occupants either waving or calling out a greeting—he seemed to know many people—but they didn’t intrude on their privacy.

      ‘You’re not thinking of going back to Roger?’ he asked at length.

      ‘Goodness, no!’ she exclaimed. ‘It’s the last thing I want.’

      ‘Sometimes men like your ex wield a power that a woman finds hard to resist.’

      Lara shook her head. ‘Getting away from that marriage was the best thing I ever did.’

      Eventually Bryce said it was time they moved and he pulled up the anchor, but when he turned the key nothing happened. The engine groaned but refused to start. He swore beneath his breath.

      Was a boat engine like a car engine? Lara wondered, and then cursed. Dammit, she hadn’t wanted to think about Roger again. Why did he keep intruding into her thoughts? It was the phone call, of course, one she could have easily done without. And until she rang her mother she wouldn’t know exactly what he had said—and he would continue to plague her.

      She watched as Bryce lifted the engine cover and fiddled with leads and wires before he tried it again. Still no joy. But at least he looked as though he knew what he was doing. When the engine finally sprang into life he gave a grunt of satisfaction.

      ‘What was wrong?’ she asked.

      ‘I suspect the fuel pump. It’s not the first time it’s done this on me. In fact…’ He let his voice trail away.

      ‘In fact what?’ she asked with a frown.

      ‘I think I should pull into shore and check it out. Better to be safe than sorry.’

      All Lara could see on the shoreline were private houses, large СКАЧАТЬ