In Separate Bedrooms by Carole Mortimer

Author:Carole Mortimer [Mortimer, Carole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781488029820
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2003-07-08T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

‘MATTIE, I—What are you doing?’

Mattie almost laughed out loud at the stunned look on Jack’s face as she launched herself into his arms, her face raised expectantly for his kiss.

She looked pointedly into the sitting-room behind him, instantly stepping back. ‘I thought I had better show some affection, in case we weren’t alone,’ she said—knowing very well that they were. But Jack couldn’t possibly know that she had looked into the sitting-room a few minutes ago when she’d heard him arrive back from the airport and already knew they were by themselves!

Jack glowered darkly. ‘Very commendable, I’m sure.’ He ran a hand tiredly through the dark thickness of his hair. ‘If a little misguided. I’m hot, sticky, and tired,’ he explained at her raised brows.

Actually, he looked absolutely shattered; perhaps trying to sort out the situation between his eldest sister and her husband had taken its toll!

But Mattie was in no mood to feel in the least sorry for him. ‘Hardly in the mood for love, hmm?’ she teased, blue eyes glowing mischievously.

But not too mischievously, she hoped; she didn’t want Jack to realize this early in the day that she was completely aware of the game he had been playing with her. No…she certainly didn’t want him to realize that yet…

‘Would you like me to order you some lunch while you take a shower and freshen up?’ she offered, knowing by his quizzical expression that, after the way they had parted last night, he was totally confused by her friendly behaviour. Which was exactly what Mattie wanted him to be. It would serve him right if he were to think, after the intimacy of the evening they had spent together yesterday, that she was taking this whole thing seriously.

Which was how, during the hours when she’d waited for him to return from the airport, she had decided to play it. Given what she now knew, it would probably frighten the life out of Jack if he believed she was really falling for him.

‘I got your message, by the way,’ she informed him casually, having been handed a letter by Reception when she’d returned to the hotel after her walk early this morning. It hadn’t been a very long message: ‘Gone to the airport. Don’t do anything until I get back. Jack.’

Don’t do anything until he got back…! What did he think she was, an obedient pet as blindly devoted to him as Harry was? Because if that was what he thought—

‘So I see,’ Jack drawled at the obvious fact she was still here. ‘You—’

‘Would you like some lunch?’ Mattie pointedly picked up the telephone receiver. ‘I ordered a club sandwich earlier; it was delicious,’ she elaborated encouragingly.

‘A club sandwich will be fine,’ Jack accepted, still looking confused by her obvious friendliness.

After the way they had parted the evening before, after the conclusions Jack must believe Mattie to have come to concerning Tina’s arrival—in view of his deception to Mattie about who Tina actually was!—perhaps that wasn’t so surprising.

But

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