The Guardian's Forbidden Mistress by Miranda Lee

Author:Miranda Lee
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2008-05-14T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

‘DOES that face mean good news or bad news?’ Derek asked after Sarah had dragged the chair out next to him, and plonked herself down.

‘Don’t talk to me just yet. I’m so mad I could spit.’

‘Oooh. I wish I’d been a fly on the wall. Here, have some wine. It’s a very good Chardonnay from the Hunter Valley.’

‘I don’t give a damn what it is as long as it’s alcohol.’

Sarah lifted the glass to her lips and swallowed deep and hard.

‘I hope you like seafood,’ Derek said, indicating the plateful he’d collected for her.

‘At this point in time, I like anything which is edible. And drinkable!’

Sarah could still hardly believe what had just happened. Her fantasy man had confessed that he fancied her. Had claimed he’d fancied her way back when she’d been fifteen!

She’d been within a hair’s breadth of having her most longed-for dream come true and what had he done? Rejected her, in favour of the brown-haired witch sitting two chairs down from her.

‘Sarah!’ the witch suddenly snapped. ‘Where on earth is Nick? I got his meal for him and now he’s not here to eat it.’

Sarah gained some pleasure from seeing that Chloe was not pleased with her lover’s absence. Not pleased at all!

‘I have absolutely no idea where he is,’ came her seemingly nonchalant reply, which was followed up by another large gulp of wine.

‘But weren’t you just talking to him?’

‘Yes,’ she replied airily.

The witch’s eyes narrowed. ‘So what were you two talking about? Or weren’t you talking at all?’

Sarah blinked, her wine glass stilling in mid-air. ‘What?’

‘You don’t fool me,’ Chloe spat. ‘I know what’s going on here with you and Nick. I knew it the moment I clapped eyes on you.’

‘Knew what, Chloe?’

Both Sarah and Chloe jumped at Nick’s reappearance, Sarah quite stunned by the ice in his voice. And his eyes.

Chloe’s own eyes stayed hard. ‘Don’t take me for a fool, Nick. I know jealousy when I see it. And I know you. No way could you have lived all these years with a girl of Sarah’s—shall we say?—attractions—without sampling them for yourself. ‘

Sarah’s mouth gaped open whilst Nick’s hands tightened over the back of his chair, his knuckles going white. ‘Are you accusing me of sleeping with my ward?’

‘For want of a better word—yes.’

Sarah suddenly became aware that a silence had fallen over the long, trestle-style table. In the distance she could hear the sound of a speedboat on the harbour. Up close, all she could hear was her own heart beating loudly in her chest.

‘If that’s what you think,’ Nick said, ‘then I suggest you leave.’

Chloe looked rattled for a moment, but only for a moment. Her face became a sour mask as she scraped her chair back and stood up. ‘I couldn’t agree more. I’m not a girl who tolerates being cheated on.’

‘I never cheated on you,’ Nick stated curtly.

‘If that’s so, then it’s only because Sarah decided she temporarily preferred Derek to you. I am well aware she hasn’t been home lately.

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