The Marriage Business by Jessica Steele

Author:Jessica Steele [Jessica Steele]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781459277168
Publisher: Harlequin

His apartment was everything she thought it would be. Smart on the outside, elegant and roomy on the inside. He showed her where the bathroom facilities were and Avena left him briefly, not because she particularly needed to wash her hands and comb her hair but more so that she could top up her not-by-word-nor-look attitude.

Nyall had a Martini poured for her when she joined him in his thickly carpeted drawing-room. ‘Come and have a chat to Victoria and Stuart,’ he suggested and, causing her heart to pound, placed an arm about her shoulders and turned her in the direction of the kitchen.

It was a big kitchen and it was all happening in there. Consequently they did not go in but Nyall made the introductions from the doorway. Victoria was at the sink doing some washing-up while Stuart was doing something artistic-looking with a tomato.

‘There’s a delicious smell in here,’ Avena said appreciatively.

Stuart was handsome. He smiled, his eyes glued to her. ‘I hope you’re hungry.’

‘Starving.’ She returned his smile, and felt Nyall turn her about.

‘We’ll leave you to get on with it,’ he remarked, a degree coolly, she felt.

‘You’re not cross about anything?’ she asked when back in the drawing-room and he, still somewhat coolly, she thought, had suggested that she take a seat on one of the several sofas in the room.

He seemed arrested for a moment. ‘Are you always this up front?’ he wanted to know.

‘Up front?’

‘Honest, open—if you think it, say it?’

‘You are cross,’ she decided.

‘Who wouldn’t be?’ he answered wryly. ‘I refused to take you to another party because of the mayhem you cause with the male population, and overlooked completely the fact that Stuart was going to be bowled over.’

‘Don’t be daft! He’s got Victoria, and——’

‘Victoria’s his sister.’

‘Ah!’ she exclaimed, and was stumped—and then grinned. ‘Do you reckon that if I play my cards right—he’d cook for me?’

‘Ye gods, you’ve got a nerve!’ Nyall retorted, but, as she had hoped, his lips twitched.

Just at that moment, the moment of her heart turning cartwheels in case there was the tiniest chance that Nyall might be the smallest fraction jealous that other men looked at her, Victoria came in to tell him that dinner was ready.

Avena went with him to the similarly elegant dining-room and, realising how ridiculous she was being to think for so much as a moment that Nyall might be the least bit jealous, could not help but be glad that there were other people in the apartment. She needed to keep her head together; she thought she stood more of a chance of doing that if, while not actually in the same room, there were other people present.

Nyall seated her opposite him at the highly polished antique table. Their starter was a most delicious smoked salmon mousse and she did her best to concentrate solely on her food, but she was overwhelmingly aware of Nyall. She glanced up; he was watching her. ‘Er—if you’re wondering why I’ve left the tomato,’ she said

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