The Lost Wife by Maggie Cox

Author:Maggie Cox [Cox, Maggie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-1-4089-2615-4
Publisher: HarlequinUKLtd
Published: 2011-08-25T04:00:00+00:00

‘What was that?’ Staring wildly round in the semi-dark a few hours later, Ailsa pushed herself up. The haunting sound that had pierced her sleep still echoed disturbingly in her mind. ‘It sounded like a baby crying.’

‘It wasn’t a baby.’ Crouched low in front of the burner, where he’d obviously been stoking the fire, his torso bare, Jake got to his feet. ‘I think it was a fox,’ he said, turning to face her.

His jeans were riding low across his hips, highlighting the ridged toned muscle of his flat stomach, and his voice was ‘just woken from sleep’ husky. She couldn’t imagine any other man looking more dangerously sexy. In a disturbing flash she remembered why they were still there in the darkened front room, sensed the places on her body where he’d intimately touched her. That instigated a deep and powerful ache for more of his passionate attentions.

Then, realising she was as bare as a newborn babe beneath the throw, she tugged the cover self-consciously up around her shoulders.

‘A fox?’ She rubbed her eyes and blinked at him.

‘We’re deep in the heart of the countryside. It’s not unusual. We even have them in London.’

‘That’s why I don’t keep chickens.’

‘Really? You mean you wanted to keep chickens?’

Ailsa saw that Jake was shamelessly grinning, perhaps mocking the notion that she had such ordinary, mundane ambitions these days. It certainly didn’t sit easily with the luxurious lifestyle she’d once enjoyed as his wife.

‘I did. What’s wrong with that?’

His expression sobering, Jake lifted his shoulders and dropped them again. ‘I didn’t say there was anything wrong with it. You’re quite the little country girl these days, aren’t you?’

She felt her face heat at the observation. ‘It’s quieter here than the city, and consequently I feel less stressed.’

‘Well … talking of lessening your stress, I think you should try and get a bit more sleep. It’s only just after three a.m.’

‘The power hasn’t come back on yet?’

‘I haven’t checked. I’ve just been enjoying the candlelight and the glow from the fire.’

His concentrated sleepy-eyed glance instigated an outbreak of goosebumps all over her body. ‘I prefer that too,’ she murmured, snuggling back down under the throw.

Immediately crossing the carpet to the light switch, Jake flicked it on. The electric light failed to register. Shaking his head, he made his way back to the fire. ‘If the phones are back on in the morning I’ll make some calls and see about organising that generator.’

‘You don’t have to do that.’

‘I know I don’t have to. I want to … There’s a difference.’

‘Yes …’ Ailsa agreed sleepily, nervously wondering if he was going to rejoin her in their makeshift bed on the couch any time soon. She realised she’d be very happy if he did … ‘There is a difference.’

As if intuiting her secret wish, he dropped down beside her, at the same time raking his fingers through hair that had clearly received similar rough treatment earlier.

‘I like this “just got out of bed” look,’ she teased him.

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