Marriage in Name Only? by Oliver Anne

Author:Oliver, Anne [Oliver, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9780263900026
Publisher: Mills & Boon
Published: 2012-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

‘OH, NO.’ THEIR fantasy vanished like moon dust down a black hole. A mine emergency could change everything they’d come here to do. ‘Is it serious?’

‘No one seems to know yet.’

‘Is there anything I can do? Would you like me to wait with you till you find out?’

He was too busy on his mobile to look at her, the screen casting a pale glow across the grim slash of his mouth. ‘Not your problem, Chloe. Go on up to the room.’

‘But I … You might …’ She trailed off. The man was in no need of her assistance. The tone, the body language clearly told her he didn’t want her here. ‘If you change your mind …’

He glanced her way as if suddenly remembering he had a dinner companion. A wife. ‘I’ll escort you up, then I have to make some calls, find out what the hell’s going on. I’ll do that down here or in the lobby.’

‘Please …’ Chloe gave a half-laugh ‘… I can find my own way.’

‘I said I’ll see you up.’

‘No. I’d prefer you didn’t.’ She touched his arm lightly. ‘Stay and make your calls. I’m perfectly safe and you’re busy.’ She stepped away. ‘Just remember I’m here if you need someone.’

‘Right …’

She didn’t exist to him and she turned away, pointed herself in the direction of the hotel and didn’t look back. She didn’t know why he’d opted not to avail himself of the luxurious office in their suite to make his calls. After what had just happened between them, perhaps he needed space and privacy to get on with the job. No distractions. Perhaps he thought she did.

Or perhaps he was more like her than she’d imagined—used to doing everything on his own. Except that he did so by choice whereas she’d learned through necessity.

Some instinct whispered that maybe it hadn’t always been his choice either, and as soon as she reached their suite she opened her laptop and logged on to the internet. She’d seen something so sad, so haunted in his eyes when they’d spoken of family. Up till now, she’d refrained from learning more about the man than was necessary for the job requirement, but his expression earlier this evening had aroused her curiosity.

She found an article on his charity. Rapper One was a fund he’d set up that took troubled teenage boys from broken homes and situations of neglect into the bush for some team-building and adventure every six months. He didn’t stop at fund-raising. He hired the services of counsellors and psychologists and mentored these kids personally, teaching them how to pan for gold while building trust and self-esteem amongst the group.

There was so much more she wanted to know, but tonight was about being here for him if there was bad news and he needed someone to talk to. She closed the computer and prepared to wait up.

Jordan dragged off his tie and swiped a hand over his hair, willing his phone to ring, waiting for word and feeling so helpless.

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