Marrying A Millionaire. Laura Martin

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СКАЧАТЬ from her grasp. ‘Maybe Robbie would like a shoulder-ride? His feet might get quite sore in those boots.’

      ‘Yes! Yes!’ Robbie brightened up immediately. ‘Can I, Mummy? Please?’ He wrapped his arms around her legs. ‘I’m sorry I went in the pond. Can I have a ride up high?’

      ‘Well…’ Cathy frowned across at Daniel. ‘You’ll get even dirtier.’

      ‘I think I’m going to need a shower anyway—a bit more mud won’t make much difference.’

      The walk back to the cottage felt almost surreal—as far as Cathy was concerned anyway. It was like…She hesitated, not wanting to use such a word, even in the privacy of her own mind. Silly. When had ‘family’ ever meant anything other than Robbie and herself? She glanced up at Daniel, who was in deep conversation with her suddenly very chatty son, and inhaled a steadying breath.

      No wonder Sandra was smitten—what girl wouldn’t be? Cathy visualised Sandra’s crestfallen expression as Daniel had announced his intention to walk her and Robbie home and wondered how close Daniel and she were.

      They arrived back at the cottage far too quickly. Daniel lowered Robbie gently to his feet and waited whilst Cathy unlocked the front door. ‘You’ve been very kind.’ She took the shopping bags which Daniel held out to her and smiled. ‘Thank you.’

      ‘My pleasure.’ He couldn’t keep from looking into her face. She was so…not beautiful exactly, but arresting. So different, with her pale, pale face and crazy red hair and the most gorgeous green eyes Daniel had ever seen. He thought frantically for something sensible to say. ‘If you ever need anything else…’ He smiled, conscious of his own inadequacies, which was strange because usually he had no trouble talking to women. No trouble at all…

      ‘I hope there won’t be any more calamities! Although with Robbie around anything can happen!’ She grinned. ‘He looks so angelic too—don’t you, scamp?’

      ‘He’s great.’ Daniel gazed at the small boy, who was now on his hands and knees watching intently as a bumble bee buzzed its way in and out of some daffodils which were struggling through the undergrowth near to the front door. ‘Is Robbie starting school on Monday?’

      ‘Yes.’

      There was a pause.

      ‘Are you alone here?’

      ‘Alone?’

      He saw her frown and realised the stupidity of his remark, but decided to persevere anyway. ‘You have Robbie, of course, but—’

      ‘It’s not really any of your business, is it?’ She reddened as she spoke, but she looked fierce suddenly, and somehow more vulnerable than ever.

      ‘I didn’t mean…’ He inhaled a steadying breath. ‘I didn’t mean to pry,’ he finished. He raised his hand in a gesture of apology. ‘Sorry. You’re right. It is none of my business—’

      ‘No!’ Cathy released a breath as he began to turn away. ‘Please, it’s me who should be apologising. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap. Thank you…for what you did. I…’ Her voice trailed away. ‘Thank you,’ she repeated anxiously.

      ‘Well, you two need to get cleaned up.’ He saw at once that she felt awkward, and that it would be better if he departed. ‘I’ll no doubt see you around the village.’

      ‘Yes…I…expect so.’

      She hadn’t said ‘hope’. I hope so. He knew he was being ridiculous. What did it matter?

      Daniel smiled briefly, said goodbye to Robbie, then turned away from the dilapidated cottage, conscious that something strange was happening to him.

      He thought about her for the rest of the day, picturing snapshots in his mind: the way she had looked, stranded in the mud with her son in her arms, her smile, the vulnerability of her expression on that first evening at the cottage when she had looked so tired and somehow strangely alone. Her expression in that last moment of seeing her, almost as if she had wanted to cry…

      He dwelt on the image long into the night. He accepted an invitation from friends and found himself thinking about her between lulls in the conversation. One of the group, a beautiful woman, a friend of a friend whom he saw from time to time, even commented on his lack of attention when they were sitting around the dining table in the expensive restaurant on the green. ‘You look thoughtful,’ she murmured playfully as she sipped her coffee. ‘Something on your mind?’

      ‘Not something, someone!’ Joe, another old friend, who had drunk too much wine and had a house almost opposite on the far side of the green, grinned inanely. ‘I saw you this morning! Playing Sir Galahad to that colourful woman with the little boy!’ He turned to the others assembled around the circular table. ‘Honestly, it was a picture to warm the cockles of your heart! Mind you, Sandra the Sexpot didn’t look too pleased to be left on her own!’

      ‘You could be in serious trouble, Daniel!’ someone else remarked laughingly. ‘She won’t chase after you any more.’

      ‘Oh, I think he’s safe enough,’ Joe continued. ‘From what I gather she’s just as determined as ever she was.’

      ‘Shut up, Joe, and drink some more coffee!’ Daniel’s voice revealed an uncharacteristic edge of anger. He rose to his feet, conscious of the surprised looks from around the table. ‘It’s been a long day. I think I’ll have an early night.’ He glanced down at the woman at his side. ‘Do you want me to take you home?’

      He saw her expression and knew she had expected a rather different ending to the evening. ‘No, it’s all right,’ she replied stiffly. ‘It’s too early yet. I’ll get a taxi.’

      He took the long way round, avoiding her cottage. The detour would add several minutes to his journey, but what did that matter? The fresh air would help to clear his head anyway.

      He wondered what she would be doing on this Saturday night. Cleaning again? He hoped not. He pictured her hands, remembering the short, unvarnished nails and faintly callused palms. There had been no ring. Did that mean…? Not necessarily. Daniel pictured the man with his short jacket and tattooed hands and found that he didn’t want to believe that they were together.

      Cathy had just put Robbie to bed when the doorbell rang. It made her start. She stood for a moment in the kitchen, wondering who it might be, half hoping that it was Daniel, so that she could apologise. She had acted so ungratefully. She really didn’t know what had come over her. Cathy ran a shaky hand through her hair and walked towards the front door.

      ‘Sandra…!’ She told herself she was foolish to feel so disappointed.

      ‘Hello, Cathy! I was passing and I saw the light…’ Sandra glanced beyond Cathy into the hallway. ‘Are you busy?’

      ‘Er…no.’ Cathy pictured the mess in every room. ‘Come on in!’ She held the door open wide and Sandra walked past her into the gloomy hall. She looked so out of place, dressed as she was in an immaculate navy blue dress and strappy shoes, that Cathy was moved to warn her not to get too close to the walls. ‘I haven’t had a chance to clean everywhere yet,’ she explained. ‘They’re probably not too bad, but your dress looks very expensive and I wouldn’t want you to ruin it on my account.’

      Sandra’s СКАЧАТЬ