Search For The Truth: A completely addictive enemies-to-lovers, will-they-won't-they romance by Kathryn Freeman

Author:Kathryn Freeman [Freeman, Kathryn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Choc Lit Contemporary Romance: A Joffe Books Company
Published: 2024-01-10T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Jim was sitting in his mother’s kitchen, trying to avoid any conversation that might lead to Tess.

‘Who did you say you were away with all last week?’ she asked as she walked to the sink to fill the kettle. It was a habit he always remembered as a child. No conversation of any importance had ever taken place without a mug of tea. He didn’t have the heart to tell her he was more of a coffee man these days.

As her words slowly sunk into his sleep deprived brain he fought the urge to sigh, or swear, or both. It was the third time she’d asked that question since he’d arrived on her doorstep. The first had been polite interest. The second could probably be put down to the fact that her mind wasn’t really focussed right now. But the third time? No, that had to be her incredible Mum always knows everything intuition kicking in.

‘I told you, it was a new employee. The corporate communications manager.’

‘And did you tell me this new employee was young, attractive and single?’

He shook his head in disbelief. ‘No, Mum. I told you she was called Tessa. You made the rest up.’

‘Oh, did I?’

She busied about filling the teapot with hot water from the kettle. Jim knew she felt better doing something, which apparently included grilling him, rather than being left alone with her thoughts. For the last two hours they’d been sitting by his father’s bed at the hospital. He was off the critical list, thank God, but it was clear it would be a while before he was well enough to come home.

‘Make mine a small one, please,’ he told her as she poured the hot tea into two large mugs. ‘I need to hit a bed soon or I’ll crash out on the kitchen table.’

‘You won’t be going anywhere until you tell me what happened between you and this Tessa last week,’ she replied firmly, clattering the mugs on the table before sitting down opposite him.

He took a moment to study her, feeling a rush of tenderness towards the still attractive lady in front of him. Age might have increased the wrinkles and dimmed the hazel eyes, but the classic beauty remained. It was a face he loved, even when it was fixed on his with a steely determination.

‘Why on earth do you think something happened?’ he replied slowly, sipping his tea, keeping his body language deliberately casual.

‘Because I’ve known you for thirty-six years,’ she retorted smartly. ‘If nothing had happened, you would have talked a lot more about the trip. But you’ve hardly said two words about it, so something must have done.’ She cocked her head to one side and narrowed her eyes. ‘Did you sleep with her?’

Jim gulped, glad the last slug of tea had already slipped down his oesophagus. Otherwise he might have choked on it. ‘Since when did we discuss my sex life?’ he asked in a strangled voice.

‘Since that floozy—’

‘Barbara,’ he supplied.

‘Umph. Since that floozy left you licking your wounds.

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