Daddy on the Doorstep by Judy Christenberry

Author:Judy Christenberry
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

“We’ll do no such thing!” Andrea finally said, staring at Nick.

“We’ll have to, Andy. The temperature could drop as low as twenty tonight.”

“How do you know? You certainly didn’t hear it on the television since there’s no electricity.”

“No, I heard it on Bess’s battery-operated radio she keeps in case of storms. I listened to the weather report while I was cooking breakfast.” He leaned back in his chair, relaxed, and watched her.

“There must be some other way.” She stared at him, concentrating on the problem. Suddenly she grinned. “I know. You can make a pallet and sleep on the floor near the fireplace.”

“Thanks a lot, Mother Teresa, for volunteering me for torture. I wouldn’t be able to move in the morning if I spent the night on the floor. And there’s no need to suffer when we have a king-size bed in the bedroom.” He paused to challenge her with his blue eyes. “After all, you’ve said we’re not going to make love because you don’t like it. And I’ve certainly never forced a woman in my life. So where’s the problem?”

“I just don’t think it’s a good idea,” she said stubbornly, refusing to meet his gaze.

“Scared you might like it after all?” he questioned softly.

She raised her gaze to his triumphant face. “No. I lied earlier, as you very well know. I enjoyed our lovemaking. But it isn’t enough. Even if we make love while we’re stranded here, I won’t stay married to you, Nick. So you’re right. It doesn’t matter if we sleep together, with or without making love. It won’t change anything.”

Her honesty hurt him, she could tell, but it hurt her, too. It hurt to admit out loud that their marriage was over. Even though she’d left him, she admitted now that she’d hoped he would come after her and change, make everything right.

They were together now, even if he hadn’t come after her, but nothing had changed. Their marriage wasn’t right. It was as wrong as it had ever been.

His face grew cold, remote. “It’s too bad you haven’t been trained in business, Andrea.” It was the first time since their marriage that he’d called her by her formal name. “Then you’d have learned the art of compromise. Most women would be thrilled with what I’ve offered you.”

“Perhaps.” She swallowed and then tried to speak lightly. “At least you’ll have a lot of applicants for the position of wife as soon as I’ve vacated it.”

“And will you have a long line at your door, willing to bare their souls for the chance to sleep with you?” he demanded, anger animating his features.

“Do you really think sex is the only important thing in a marriage? Is that all I ever meant to you?”

He jumped up from the table and walked to the back door. “It was real! A lot more real than all this talk you want. I was honest with you. I married you. What more do you want?”

With a sigh she rested her head in her hands.

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