The Wedding Arrangement by Lucy Gordon

Author:Lucy Gordon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2006-10-12T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

HE SURFACED again, having lost track of time, but seeing that it was still dark outside. Turning his head painfully, he saw Minnie standing at the window with her back to him. He tried to speak but the sound that came out was weak, and she didn’t turn towards him. He wished he could see her reflection in the dark glass, but her head was bent.

Minnie, standing at the window, knew that he had stirred, but needed a pause before she could look at him. She kept her head lowered, lest he see her face, and her tears should reveal too much.

She could still hear the explosion. It happened again and again in her head until she thought she would go crazy from the endless repetition. Then everything slowed and she seemed to be wading through glue as she ran to him, her heart pounding at the sight of the smoke and flames.

It was playing back again, the moment she’d rushed in to find them dragging him out of the bathroom and laying him out on the floor, dropping to her knees beside him, cradling him in her arms—like that other time—watching life ebbing away—Please, not again!

She’d held him against her, willing him to live, begging, praying, imploring some unseen power, because she couldn’t bear to go through it a second time.

They had taken him from her arms to get him down the stairs. She’d followed and insisted on going in the ambulance with him.

Now he was safe, his injuries treated, his outlook good. She ought to be glad and relax, but inwardly she was screaming while the tears poured down her face.

‘Minnie.’ His voice was barely a croak, but her ears seemed specially sensitive to him, and now she couldn’t hide any longer. She dried her eyes and forced herself under control. When she turned to him she even managed a smile.

Through a haze Luke watched her come towards him and lean close.

‘You’re all smudgy,’ he whispered.

She rubbed her face. ‘It’s the smoke.’

‘Sorry about that. Were you injured?’

‘Not at all. Never mind me,’ she said with soft urgency. ‘I’ll go soon and let you rest, but first, how do I contact your family?’

‘There’s no need for that. I’d rather not worry my mother. She’ll think it’s worse than it is.’

‘You were lucky it wasn’t.’

‘I was lucky in my neighbours, who came to my rescue so fast. Still,’ he added wryly, ‘I suppose, having won me over, they wanted to keep me alive until the repairs were done.’

‘Stop fishing for compliments. You’re a popular man.’

‘But you can’t think why.’

At one time she would have enjoyed bantering with him, but now there seemed to be a lump in her throat and she was afraid of weeping again.

‘I haven’t given the matter any thought,’ she said, trying to speak steadily. ‘Now, can we please be serious for a moment? I ought to let someone know about this. What about your girlfriend?’

‘What girlfriend?’

‘The one whose picture you keep in your wallet. I found it the first night when I was collecting your things.

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.