Charlie's Dad by Alexandra Scott

Author:Alexandra Scott
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-05-27T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

‘I’M SORRY, Ben.’ Determined to give him no excuse for comforting her again, Ellie tried hard to be casual. It was just a pity her voice was so shaken, a dead giveaway. ‘I don’t want to appear inhospitable, but I really do have a pile of work I must get on with...’

‘And you’d like me to leave?’ His smile was a mere formality. It did not reach his eyes, which were slatey grey. ‘Strange how I’ve sensed that since our first meeting in Singapore, and all the time...I’m wondering why. I don’t, as a rule, have such a scary effect on females.’

That she could easily believe, but... ‘I’m sorry.’ But why say the words which ought to have been in his mouth? He had twenty times, a hundred times more reason... ‘But, as I said...’

‘Yeah, you’re sorry, and you’re busy and you’re not in the mood for any kind of relationship—though I don’t know I suggested anything of the sort. Or, perhaps it’s simply that you and David are involved. But sure as hell—’ now he took no pains to hide his bitterness ‘—if I were in his position, then my idea of thanking you for dinner...or for anything else...would not be a polite little note dropped on the doormat and turning away when another man had his arms about you.’

‘I shan’t listen to you.’ Even in her own ears she was sounding pompous. ‘David Merriman has been very kind to me. It isn’t every man who would be prepared to have another man’s child...’ she hesitated, again wondering if there was a direct accusation in her tone ‘...tagging along,’ she finished more circumspectly.

‘No—o—o.’ His eyes had narrowed again. It was only too obvious that various questions were racing through his mind. ‘Not every man...’ Another pause, somehow more significant. ‘It would depend largely on the child, even more on the mother.’

It was difficult to smile, to shrug off any implication, and she didn’t think she had succeeded. ‘I’m sure there’s a compliment there, for Charlie as well. Thank you. And thank you for the lunch. I truly enjoyed it.’

‘Mummy...’ A plaintive call took their attention to the top of the stairs, then, unable to see Charlie, they located her halfway down, sitting on a step with her face pressed against the banister, looking at them.

‘Charlie.’ The diversion was welcome. ‘How long have you been sitting there? Come down and say goodbye to Ben; I think he wants to go.’ And she ignored the dry cynical sideways glance.

‘Oh, Mummy.’ In a moment Charlie had rushed down the last of the steps. Her arms circled her mother’s waist and she gazed up with all the expressive appeal she could muster. ‘If I say I’m very, very, very sorry, and if I promise to be as good as gold all the time, can’t we go to Disneyland with Ben? Please, Mummy.’

Ellie gritted her teeth, hardened her heart and tried to conceal her irritation at such blatant manipulation. She tried to remember

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.