Contract Bride by Susan Fox

Author:Susan Fox
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

LEAH heard Margo Addison’s voice just as she neared the end of the hall nearest the living room. Margo was Rachel’s mother, but other than coloring, mother and daughter had had precious little in common.

“The boy always does that, Reece. It’s not good that he’s picked up her shyness.”

Leah stopped, fully aware of who her was. Though Rachel and Leah had been best friends since their sophomore year of high school, Margo had objected relentlessly. The glamorous snob had been appalled that her beautiful, popular daughter had made a friend of a homely nobody who’d had the added notoriety of being a foster child from a white trash background.

Rachel, of course, had defied her mother and continued their friendship anyway, inviting Leah to parties or picking Leah up in her own car so she could either participate in school-related extracurricular activities or do things with other friends. They’d even studied together, because Leah got better grades. Leah had been happy to tutor her friend, who wasn’t particularly attentive in class, because it was a way she could repay Rachel’s friendship.

Though Leah had often suspected that Rachel had initially chosen to befriend her because she knew her snobbish mother would have a fit, Rachel soon proved herself to be a loyal and genuine friend.

Reece’s low voice made Leah refocus on the conversation. “Leah does a fine job with the boy, Margo. He’s just not used to you.” Margo’s Southern belle tone was saccharine.

“Why, of course she’s doing a wonderful job with the boy.”

Leah grimaced because she’d had years to know Margo would make a token agreement but then make her point anyway.

“It’s just that children pick up the oddest things. Have you reconsidered hiring a nanny? The exposure would be so beneficial to the boy. And I’ve managed to hear of two very fine candidates. Both have such well-rounded, educated upbringings, so either of them could make certain Robbie’s exposed to a variety of educational and cultural experiences that he might not otherwise have.”

Reece’s voice went lower. “My son is exposed to everything his parents mean for him to be exposed to.” Leah picked up the faint warning in that and felt herself relax a little.

She’d weathered Margo’s often hateful private comments to her from the beginning of this marriage, but she’d never before overheard anything Margo might have said to Reece when she was out of the room. She’d assumed it was going on, because Margo regarded Leah as a stain on her otherwise pristine life.

It touched her to have this proof that Reece defended her, whether she was present to know about it or not. She’d rarely worried that he’d be influenced against her by the things Margo might say to him in private, because she already knew what he thought of his former in-laws. He’d felt so strongly about them in fact, that he’d been willing to do anything to prevent his son from ever being raised by Margo, and to ensure that the boy’s ranching inheritance was secure.

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