Ultimate Betrayal by Michelle Reid

Author:Michelle Reid [Reid, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Romance, Contemporary
ISBN: 9780263143607
Amazon: 037311799X
Goodreads: 2420620
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 1995-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

Rachel closed her eyes, a dark wave of recognition making her blonde head drop wearily on to Daniel's shoulder while he stiffened like a board.

'You do know he's married, don't you, dear?' the cruel voice taunted.

Obviously Mandy had not recognised the new Rachel in the woman Daniel was holding in his arms.

'For seven long years, no less,' she went on regardless. 'To a pretty, if insipid, little thing, who will be sitting at home at this very moment, taking care of their three sweet children while her darling husband plays lover to any woman who will have him.'

'Oh, not just anyone, Amanda,' Daniel countered coldly. 'I always found it very easy to turn you down, after all.'

Mandy wanted Daniel? Lifting her face, Rachel stared into his harshly cynical eyes and felt something else rend apart inside her as yet another veil was ripped from her blind, trusting eyes. Daniel watched it happen with a grim clenching of his jaw.

Daniel and Mandy did not get on; she had always accepted that as one of those things, without bothering to question why they were so hostile towards each other. Well, now she knew, and she felt sick with the knowledge.

'Man must always beware of a woman scorned, Daniel,' Mandy cautioned sagely. 'It is one of our most-destructive little weapons, after all.'

'And you used it so well, didn't you?' Daniel drawled. 'Aiming directly at the weakest point.'

'How is Rachel, by the way?' she drawled. 'Has the poor thing any idea how quickly you've found a replacement for the ousted Lydia?'

Enough. Rachel had heard enough. Twisting within the constricting grasp of Daniel's arms, she turned to look at her once-best friend, watching with a complete lack of expression as all the colour left Mandy's face; without saying a word, Mandy spun gracefully on her heel and walked away.

The mood was shot, the evening a disaster. Neither spoke as they left the club and walked the short distance to where Daniel had parked the car.

Then, 'How long?' she asked, once he'd slid the car into the steady,stream of traffic leaving London.

'Years,' he shrugged, not even trying to misunderstand her.

'Did you ever take her up on it?'

As she watched him she saw his fingers take a white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel, his mouth tightening because the question offended his dignity, but he had to accept her right to ask it. 'No,' he answered flatly. 'Never even considered it.'

'Why not?'

'She leaves me cold,' he replied dismissively.

And it was a dismissal, one Rachel had to believe simply by the sheer lack of feeling with which he said it.

"Then why didn't you tell me what she was trying to do?'

'And ruin your faith in someone you cared a great deal for?' He sent her a sombre glance. 'I never hid the fact that I thoroughly disliked her, Rachel,' he reminded her grimly.

'But you never went out of your way to discourage the friendship either,' she pointed out. 'One word—one word, Daniel,' she emphasised tightly, 'that she was only using me to get to you, and tonight's little scene could have been avoided.

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