Innocent in Her Enemy's Bed by Dani Collins

Author:Dani Collins
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-04-13T13:00:37+00:00

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Ilona’s heart was heavy when they returned to the penthouse. She was in the oddest position of wanting to know Leander’s side of things while wanting to defend his mother. She wanted to ask questions, but given his shuttered expression, she also wanted to respect his privacy. She settled on a sincere apology.

“I should have mentioned that she would be joining us. She called to welcome me to the family and I invited her on impulse. She said she wanted to surprise you so I...” Put him into a situation he didn’t want. “I’m very sorry. It didn’t occur to me you wouldn’t want to see her.”

The whole point in “dating” had been to get to know each other, but as she looked back on their half-dozen dinners, she realized they hadn’t revealed anything deeply personal. She knew his taste in music was eclectic and he preferred snow skiing over water skiing, but she didn’t know what his childhood had been like.

So much for honest and open communication.

“She manipulated you. Be on guard for it in future,” he warned crisply. “Take everything she told you with a bucket of salt. And don’t pretend she didn’t try to pull you to her side when she got you alone.”

She had, but Ilona didn’t feel manipulated. She felt sorry for her. Sad for both of them.

“Do you want one?” Leander was pouring himself a drink.

“Thank you.” She didn’t really want it. Most nights she changed and they spent the rest of the evening working on their laptops or watching television. Tonight, she curled up on the sofa and accepted the glass he handed her, gently asking, “Will you tell me your side of it?”

“What’s to tell? She didn’t want to be a mother, didn’t want a relationship with me when I was a child and needed her, but now she expects my attention and affection. I send her money to ensure she lives comfortably. I don’t know why that isn’t enough.”

Because Susan was lonely and regretful and had been in a no-win situation from the start, if even a smidge of what she had told Ilona was true.

“You were eight when she moved back to London?” she pried carefully.

“To star in a musical. Not even a particularly good one. Her career has always been more down than up, but she insisted on pursuing it.” His tone was dismissive.

“That’s entertainment, I think. Eternally hoping for the big break.” And wasn’t everyone entitled to dream? “Perhaps she was homesick. I used to suffer it quite badly.”

“When you were at boarding school?” He looked over his shoulder from the window.

“When I came to live with my father.”

He made a noncommittal noise and returned to glowering at the city lights.

“It sounds like she was very young when she had you.”

“They both were. My father managed to stick around so I don’t see why she couldn’t.”

I got pregnant on holiday, Susan had told her, adding with a papery laugh, I don’t know how. Leander’s father was so shy he could barely speak to me, but we had a little fling.

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