In McGillivray's Bed by Anne McAllister

Author:Anne McAllister [McAllister, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780373124060
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2004-07-01T00:00:00+00:00

THE evening had gone surprisingly well.

Much better than Syd imagined it would.

She’d had no doubts, of course, about her ability as a hostess even in unfamiliar circumstances. With a lifetime of practice on behalf of her father and St. John Electronics, she knew how to throw a party for five hundred or an intimate dinner for only a few.

She knew how to be avid, eager and interested. She was a whiz at small talk, capable of making virtually everyone feel at home.

Except the man whose home it actually was.

At least McGillivray had behaved himself. She’d thought he might not.

After the way he had ranted and raved and found fault with everything she had done around the house, she’d expected him to continue in that vein even after his family showed up.

But he hadn’t. He’d been quieter than she’d imagined he would be. But after his initial shock, he’d taken part in the conversation. He’d teased his sister and sister-in-law. He’d argued with his brother. And they’d all returned the favor.

Syd had watched and listened, fascinated. And envious. Because, beneath all the jibes, the stories and the teasing, there was such an obvious closeness and affection among them.

She had always wanted siblings. Had wished—had even suggested—that her father remarry after her mother’s death so she could have some.

But that had always been out of the question. Her father had had no interest in remarrying. He’d never even bothered to date anyone seriously after her mother’s death. He’d been appalled at her suggestion and had made it quite clear that he had neither the time nor the inclination to invest in another relationship.

And then he’d always put an arm around her and said, “I don’t need anyone else. I have you, Margaret.”

And she had him.

For her father that had been enough. And Syd had tried to make it—and St. John’s—enough for her. But it wasn’t. And seeing the McGillivrays together tonight brought that home to her once more.

She wanted what they had. Still, she was a little surprised to be so quickly welcomed and included.

“Your family is so nice,” she said to Hugh when they left. She was doing up the last of the dishes, and he was standing with his back to her, staring out the window into the darkness.

When he didn’t reply, she went on. “I really enjoyed it.”

Still not a word. His shoulders were hunched, his fists shoved into the pockets of his shorts.

“Is the silence your way of saying you didn’t enjoy it?” she asked, trying to keep an even, pleasant tone.

The shoulders lifted, but he didn’t turn around. “It was fine,” he said tonelessly.

There was none of the McGillivray bravado, no quick wit, no sharp reply. She set down the dish towel and moved so she could see his reflection in the window glass. He looked awful.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

He shot her a glare. “Nothing’s wrong.”

“You’re snapping my head off for no reason at all?”

His jaw tightened. Then he consciously seemed to relax it and flexed his shoulders, which still looked stiff.

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