Man of the Hour--3 Book Box Set by Diana Palmer

Author:Diana Palmer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mills & Boon Special Release
Published: 2015-08-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Brianna stood in the middle of the floor with a mind that refused to work. She couldn’t think up a good reason to satisfy that suspicious look in her young brother’s eyes.

“She has only just managed to reacquire you from the hospital after three long years,” Ahmed said softly, smiling at the boy. “Is it not natural that she should jealously guard your company for at least the first few days you are back at her side?”

Tad colored and laughed roughly. “My gosh, yes. I’m sorry, sis. That was thoughtless of me, really!”

She walked over and hugged him warmly, her eyes mirroring her gratitude to Ahmed over Tad’s shoulder. “I’m sorry,” she said. “It’s just that we’ve only just become reacquainted and I don’t want to share you for a few days. So, do you mind?”

“I don’t mind at all.” His blue eyes twinkled. “Todd can wait.”

“Thanks, Tad.”

He shrugged. “What are brothers for?” he mused, and then laughed.

One disaster was averted. Brianna found it difficult to avoid the questions that kept coming, though. Inevitably Tad noticed how careful Brianna and Ahmed were about what they said, about going out, about letting anyone in. He was a sharp boy. He didn’t voice any of his curiosity, but it was there in his eyes just the same. He had his own television in his room, and he was quickly and eagerly catching up on three years of news and new developments in his favorite subject, science. But he was giving his two companions looks that became more perceptive by the day.

“Tad is suspicious of us,” Ahmed told Brianna one evening when they were alone in the kitchen after Tad had gone to bed.

“Yes, I know. It’s a strain for all of us,” she replied. “But it won’t be for much longer, will it?”

“I hope not,” he replied quietly. His dark eyes narrowed in impatience. “I long to be free of the necessity for this stealth and deception.”

“So do I.”

“You do not look at me anymore, Brianna,” he said suddenly, lounging in the doorway with eyes she found difficult to meet. “You look beyond me or you talk to my chin. You avoid eye contact. Why?”

She deliberately dried a dish. There was a nice dishwasher in the apartment, but there were too few dishes for a load. She liked the feel of the warm soapy water on her hands.

“I hadn’t noticed doing any such thing,” she said defensively.

“Talk to me!” he said curtly. “Explain this violent change of attitude. Is it because you learned that I once had a mistress?”

She dropped the plate in the soapy water and fished it back out quickly, with trembling hands. “Your private life is no concern of mine,” she said through numb lips. “You’ll be going home soon, won’t you?”

He shifted irritably. “Yes, I must, once this situation is resolved. I have responsibilities which I cannot shirk.”

“We all have those, I guess,” she said sadly. She washed the last of the dishes and let the water out of both sinks.

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