A Husband of Convenience by Jacqueline Baird

Author:Jacqueline Baird [Baird, Jacqueline]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780263162417
Amazon: B0056HF2OQ
Publisher: Harlequin Books
Published: 1999-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

THE bright yellow Mercedes coupé stood on the drive, a huge blue bow tied around it, with ‘MERRY CHRISTMAS LOVE CONAN’ woven into the fabric.

‘But it can’t be for me!’ Josie exclaimed for the third time.

‘Look, lady, just sign here.’ The salesman waved a delivery note in front of her face. ‘It’s Christmas Eve and I want to knock off for the day.’

In a state of shock Josie signed the form and took the keys from the man along with the ownership papers. The sweater she had bought for Conan suddenly seemed pitiful in comparison.

The first shock of the day had been the arrival in the post of Conan’s present to the Major and her father. Two tickets for a round-the-world cruise, sailing from Southampton in January for four months. The two old men were in the study, plotting the route they were taking.

Josie opened the car door and slid into the driver’s seat. It was the most fantastic present; she could hardly believe it. She had spent the last few days convincing herself she would have no trouble resisting Conan’s avowed intention to share her bed when he returned home. She only had to think of Angela... But now she was not so sure. Was she really so shallow as to be bought for the price of a Mercedes?

Yes! she thought impulsively. To pot with pride! It was time she accepted the inevitable. For better or worse she loved Conan, and he must care for her or he would never have given her such a wonderful gift. If he still wanted her, he could have her... How she ached for him. So why not fight for him? Angela had already had three husbands. Why should she have Josie’s as well? Conan could have married the woman any time in the past ten years but he hadn’t. Surely that was a good sign? Josie convinced herself, and with her decision made she spent the rest of the day in excited anticipation of Conan’s return.

At midnight she followed the Major and her father up the stairs to bed. Obviously Conan was not coming back yet. Saddened, Josie slid into the huge bed, closed her eyes and prayed for sleep.

But the ringing of the telephone had her eyes flying open. She felt for the receiver on the bedside table, and pressed it to her ear.

‘Josie! How are you?’ It was Conan’s deep, sexy voice that echoed down the line, making her pulse race. But she made herself respond casually.

‘Fine. Where are you? We all thought you’d be here by now.’ She used the ‘we’ deliberately, rather than admit she had been waiting for him all evening.

‘I’m still in New York. A snow storm has closed Kennedy Airport.’ She could hear the exasperation in his tone. ‘I am sorry, Josie; I’ve tried everything, including a charter, but it’s hopeless.’

Relief flooded through her. It wasn’t his fault he was delayed. ‘Don’t worry, what’s a day or two between friends?’ she said with a smile.

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