Marriage for Real by Emma Richmond

Author:Emma Richmond
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

‘HAVE you?’ she mimicked. ‘Is that the best you can do? It’s been over a year! Are you dining here? Good, I’ll join you.’ Her voice was low and husky. Sexy. Flinging off her coat and thrusting it at the waiter, who hastily beckoned someone else to take it, she stood in front of Jed, beamed, and kissed him full on the mouth. Stepping back, she gave another low, throaty laugh. ‘Well, don’t look so bemused, darling, it’s not entirely a coincidence. The London papers picked up the article about you in the local paper, and here I am.’ Turning to the waiting waiter, she smiled at him. ‘I’m a perfect nuisance, aren’t I? But could you set another place?’

‘Of course, madam, if you would all like to follow me?’

Feeling numb and unreal, because this beautiful creature could only be Deanna, Sarah slowly turned to look at Jed.

‘Sarah, I’m so sorry. I had no idea.’

‘No,’ she agreed flatly. ‘We’d better go in.’

‘I can tell her we’d like to dine alone…’

‘No, it’s all right. Really.’ But it wasn’t. Of course, it wasn’t.

Slowly following Deanna, aware of Jed behind her, she took her place at the table whilst the waiter hastily moved another chair across, summoned someone to lay another place, and handed them back their menus.

Deanna looked at her, looked at Jed, and gave a small apologetic grimace. ‘Did I just muscle in? I’m so sorry,’ she said to Sarah, ‘I didn’t realise you were together.’

Forcing a smile, Sarah assured her it was all right.

‘Jed and I are old friends,’ Deanna said.

‘Yes, I know.’

‘Sorry,’ Jed put in quietly. ‘Deanna, this is Sarah. Sarah, Deanna.’

They smiled at each other. Deanna didn’t look at all discomfited. Sarah wished she could run away. But she couldn’t. She was all grown up now, and, no matter how much it might hurt to see these two together, not by look or deed must she show that it mattered. If she’d been secure in his love, it wouldn’t, of course. But she wasn’t. She could have wept. Not half an hour ago, she’d been happy, confident that everything was going to be all right.

Had he known Deanna would be here? No, of course not—he’d said so, hadn’t he?

‘Sarah?’

Hastily glancing up, she stared at her husband, and he smiled at her.

‘Are you ready to order?’

‘Oh.’ Quickly opening her menu, she stared blindly down at it. Fish, she thought. Fish was easy to eat, didn’t require much chewing. ‘I’ll have the salmon.’

‘Deanna?’ he asked.

‘Lord, I don’t know!’ she exclaimed. ‘I’m starving! Are you having a starter, Sarah?’

Sarah shook her head.

‘Jed?’

He gave a soft laugh. ‘Deanna, you can have anything you want, you don’t have to see what everyone else is having.’

‘I know, but if I’m having a starter and no one else is…’

‘Then we’ll all have a starter. Sarah, do you think you could manage some soup?’

‘Yes, of course.’

When they’d ordered and the waiter had departed, Jed asked in some amusement, an amusement that to Sarah seemed slightly

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