Wife to a Stranger by Clair Daphne

Author:Clair, Daphne [Clair, Daphne]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises
Published: 2011-07-14T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

WHEN they got back to the house the phone was ringing, and Rolfe hurried to pick it up before the answering machine cut in. Capri could hear him talking as she dusted sand off her shoes and carried them to her room.

She was putting the shoes away when Rolfe tapped on the open bedroom door and walked in. ‘That was Thea,’ he told her, ‘inviting us to a barbecue on Saturday.’

Thea—the dark-haired young woman they’d met at the café. ‘There’ll be people there that I should know?’

‘I said you may not feel up to it but she insists it’s just a casual get-together, and I promised to talk to you.’

Turning down the invitation without a real excuse would be rude, and it sounded as though Thea was anxious to have her there. Thea was a friend. Capri probably needed friends to help her piece her life back together. ‘I guess we should go. It was good of her to ask.’

‘Are you sure? If you don’t want to—’

‘Hiding in the house won’t help bring my memory back.’

After a moment he said, ‘Shall I accept, then?’

‘I could do it tomorrow if you give me her number.’

‘I’ll leave it on my desk for you. I have to go to the factory again tomorrow, but Hallie will be here.’

‘I really don’t need nursemaiding, Rolfe. I’ll be fine, with or without Hallie.’

‘Still…I prefer knowing you’re not alone.’

‘It’s nice of you to care.’

‘I’ve always cared, Capri. I wish—’

‘What?’ she asked as he halted.

‘I keep forgetting you don’t remember things that happened before. I was going to say, I wish I could convince you of how much I care.’

‘I know you do.’ Whatever problems they might have had, his concern and care had been obvious from the time she woke and saw him in the hospital. He wanted their marriage to work. She had to believe that, needed to believe it. Any alternative was too scary to entertain.

She saw his eyes soften, go dark, and he stepped towards her.

‘I think I’ll have an early night,’ she said quickly.

He halted, a few feet away from her. ‘Sure,’ he said. And then, ‘May I kiss you goodnight?’

‘You don’t need to ask permission, Rolfe.’

He took his time, his hands lightly gripping her shoulders to draw her into his arms. The kiss itself was gentle, his mouth barely brushing hers, leaving her oddly disappointed, yet on another level relieved that he hadn’t demanded more.

He eased back and searched her eyes as if something about her both amused and perplexed him. ‘Goodnight, my sweet,’ he said. Then he released her and turned to walk out of the room.

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