Family Man by Rosemary Carter

Author:Rosemary Carter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-06-14T00:00:00+00:00

‘Feel like a walk, Danielle?’ Sterling asked the next day.

Eyes brightening, she accepted the invitation with alacrity.

‘Sweet,’ Lisa mocked. ‘The about-to-be-marrieds sneaking off by themselves. Remember what it was like to be madly in love, Marcus, honey?’

‘I may, you don’t, Lisa. You’ve never loved anyone but yourself,’ responded her husband equably.

Lisa greeted the brutal comment with her trademark husky laugh. Glancing at her, Danielle wondered if she was the only one to pick up the fact that the other woman was distinctly unamused. Her face had a tight, angry look.

Danielle let Sterling take her hand as they left the patio and walked across the garden. Vineyards lay beyond the garden on three sides, extending all the way to the horizon and far beyond. On the fourth side was a stretch of wild woodland; it was in that direction that they were now walking.

‘Quite a spring in your step.’ Sterling sounded amused.

Danielle danced him a grin. ‘It’s a relief to get away from that house for a while.’

‘Lisa giving you a hard time?’

The grin vanished. Mindful of Sterling’s relationship with their obnoxious hostess, Danielle confined herself to saying lightly, ‘She’s not the easiest person in the world to get along with, is she?’

‘What has she been saying to you?’

If ever the time was right to tell Sterling the extent of Lisa’s cruelty, it was now. For a moment Danielle was tempted to let him know exactly what had been said. But the moment did not last. It would not matter to Sterling that she had been deeply hurt by other woman’s taunts. After all, she was being paid very well for her efforts, and Lisa’s unkind words came with the territory.

‘What has she been saying?’ Sterling asked again.

Danielle shrugged. ‘No more than I’d expect from her.’

‘I take it you don’t like Lisa.’

‘You don’t really want to know how I feel about her.’

‘I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t.’

‘OK, then. Lisa is...very beautiful. She’s also hard and cold and insensitive.’ Danielle turned her head to look at Sterling. ‘Sorry, but you did ask. I guess I’ve hurt your feelings. I could have been more diplomatic and told you a polite social lie.’

Sterling’s eyes glittered. ‘Lisa has a husband.’

‘I’m surprised to hear you acknowledge the fact.’

‘Is that right?’ he responded blandly.

‘A husband—and a lover.’

‘Would you believe me if I said I haven’t been sleeping with her?’

‘Since we’ve been here—is that what you mean? There hasn’t been an opportunity, has there? Besides, even if I were not around, there’s always Marcus.’

‘In fact, Lisa and I—’

‘I don’t want to hear about it,’ Danielle interrupted him sharply.

‘Are you certain?’

‘Quite.’

‘Damelle—’

‘Talking of Marcus—’ she was desperate to lead the subject away from Lisa ‘—I feel sorry for him, but he’s also intimidating.’

‘Is that the effect he has on you?’

‘You’re all so sophisticated, Sterling. Worldly. So different from the kind of people I’m used to.’

‘Poor Danielle.’ To her chagrin, Sterling was laughing.

‘Have I asked a lot of you by bringing you here?’

‘You know you have; though, considering the huge salary you’re paying me, I guess I shouldn’t complain.

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.