The Bachelor Chase by Emma Richmond

Author:Emma Richmond [Emma Richmond]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781459277564
Publisher: Harlequin

CHAPTER FIVE

TOM looked at Tano then at Rea, and a look of shock spread over his face. ‘You didn’t tell him, did you?’

Feeling sick, she glanced at Umberto and her mother, who stood in the doorway holding a tray; she saw the shock on their faces. Glanced back at Tano and saw—nothing. ‘Tano—’ she began.

‘Gaetano,’ he corrected her, and his voice was cold, distant, all warmth withdrawn. His eyes were on Tom, but he was talking to her. ‘Is this true?’

‘Yes. But—’

‘You moved your animals onto my land?’

‘Yes,’ she whispered.

‘Without asking, without permission. Dogs?’

‘Dogs?’ She frowned. ‘No, I didn’t want to take in any more when Ralph died until I knew what the outcome was going to be, and the few I was still boarding I found room for in another kennels. It was only the wildlife.’

‘I see,’ he stated icily. ‘And your camper?’

‘In the barn,’ she confessed miserably. ‘I tried to tell you!’ she burst out. ‘But I couldn’t seem to find the opportunity!’

‘In six days?’ he asked silkily.

‘No. Yes. I didn’t think you’d mind!’

‘Didn’t you?’

‘No. I thought you’d agree! It wouldn’t have made any difference to you…Sorry,’ she muttered, subsiding. ‘But don’t shout at me. Please don’t shout at me.’

‘I wasn’t shouting. I never do.’

‘Well, there’s no need to sound so proud about it!’ she exclaimed woefully.

‘Pardon?’

‘Nothing.’

He gave a derisive little inclination of his head—cold derision, not mocking or amused. ‘And if I’d agreed, I would never have known, would I?’

‘No. I’m sorry.’

‘Are you? It all makes a rather bizarre sort of sense now, doesn’t it?’

‘What does?’

‘Your behaviour.’

‘My…?’ Horrified, she said, ‘You don’t think I—?’

‘Yes. I rather think I do. First there was aggression, then an apology, then…’ With a dismissive look which hurt more than words might have done he began to walk away.

‘Tano!’

He halted, turned, and, his face a study in marble, corrected icily, ‘Gaetano. And first thing in the morning you will ring your assistant and get everything moved. Otherwise I will sue.’ Opening his bedroom door, he walked inside and closed it quietly behind him.

‘Oh, Rea,’ her mother said softly.

‘I didn’t think he’d mind,’ she repeated almost blankly. And he surely couldn’t think…? Not that she’d…? Catching Tom’s continuing look of shock, she looked quickly away.

‘I don’t know you at all, do I?’ he asked reprovingly.

‘No,’ she mumbled.

‘I didn’t think you would ever do something like that! And you’ve implicated me, haven’t you?’

‘No.’

‘Yes, you have. By association. Does Lucy know?’

‘No,’ she mumbled again.

‘So she’s a dupe too.’

‘Yes. No.’ Raking a hand tiredly through her hair, she said quietly, ‘I’m sorry. For everything. But what else could I do? You wouldn’t have them…’

‘Don’t blame your behaviour on me.’

‘No. Sorry.’ Looking up at him, her face sad, she added, ‘I always tried to tell you that I wasn’t the person you thought. Not that I cheated—lied,’ she added honestly, ‘but I’m not—’

‘Nice?’ he asked.

‘Is nice,’ Umberto insisted fiercely. ‘She was worried for her animals. Is understandable.’

Giving him a grateful smile, she argued, ‘No, Umberto, it wasn’t nice.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.