The Boat Builder's Bed by Kris Pearson

Author:Kris Pearson [Pearson, Kris]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance, Contemporary, Romantic Comedy
Amazon: B007D788ZW
Publisher: Kris Pearson
Published: 2014-01-08T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

‘One tough mother...’

She was no sort of mother at all. She was a very part-time mother, doing the best she could, and all too aware it wasn’t nearly enough.

Feeling uneasy and out of sorts, she sent Fran a text.

‘COFFEE?’

The reply arrived almost instantly. ‘CU SOON’.

She grinned at that, and her spirits rose a notch. Maybe Fran was already on her way? Just as well she hadn’t breezed in fifteen minutes earlier...

It was a bare sixty seconds before the stroller appeared, closely followed by Fran whose sharp eyes missed nothing.

“Wow. Who gave you those?”

Sophie glanced across at the orchids, but to her consternation Fran had pounced on the boxes of perfume beside the duty-free bag.

“It was him, wasn’t it?” She scooped the bag up and waved it at Sophie gleefully. “You said he had business in America for a while. So he’s back?”

Sophie tried to ignore her and instead hunkered down beside Lucy, talking to the little girl about today’s red hair-ribbon and the velour rabbit that seemed to be the week’s favored toy.

Fran examined each of the perfume choices in turn, making noises of approval. Sophie felt herself getting pinker and more embarrassed by the second.

They were interrupted by the telephone, but as soon as the enquiry had been dealt with Fran was in hot pursuit again.

“Four, and all expensive. He’s after you.”

“No way, Fran.”

“Lilies,” Fran said, holding up a finger.

“Champagne.” Another finger followed.

“Those dreamy orchids.” A third finger.

“No ...” Sophie protested.

“Yes,” Fran said, keeping the third finger up. “You didn’t think I knew about those, did you?”

Sophie shrugged.

“And now bucket-loads of perfume. He’s after you.” She held up a triumphant fourth finger.

“You forgot the pizza,” Sophie muttered. “You may as well make it the whole hand.”

“I forgot the coffee, too.” She bent to lift the holder containing two flat whites from under the stroller. “Okay, when was the pizza?” She set the coffees on Sophie’s desk.

“Tuesday night—when I went out to his house because he was going away early next day. It was business, Fran. But yes, there was a pizza so add it to your rolling total.”

“Bunny...” Lucy grizzled.

Fran reached down to retrieve it and gave it back to her.

“What are you going to do about him?”

Sophie closed her eyes and shook her head. “I have no idea in the world. I’d be kidding you if I didn’t admit he’s an absolute hunk. You can see that for yourself. But he’s my meal-ticket to getting Camille back. It sounds terrible saying it, but I need to keep working for him because he’s worth money to me. And his house will be an incredible boost to my reputation. It’ll establish me right where I want to be.”

“And...?” Fran cajoled.

“And no. How can I?”

“How can’t you, you mean?”

“No, I seriously can’t, Fran. That’d wreck everything. A hot little affair might be good for my ego, but once it’s over, working together would be impossible.”

“Bunny!”

“Poor Lucy—we’re ignoring you.” Sophie picked up the toy and snuggled it against the toddler.

She sipped her coffee again, took a deep breath and huffed it out, tempted and frustrated.

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