The Chatsfield Box Set Volume 2: Rival's Challenge\Tycoon's Temptation\Rebel's Bargain\Heiress's Defiance by Abby Green

Author:Abby Green [Green, Abby; Morey, Trish; West, Annie; Harris, Lynn Raye]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781460378168
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWO

‘WIFE?’ POPPY’S VOICE ROSE. ‘You’re kidding!’

But looking at his satisfied smile she had a dreadful feeling Orsino wasn’t joking. There were new lines around his mouth, grim lines that hadn’t been there when she’d known him. They spoke of rock-hard determination. And pain.

She blinked as her heart squeezed. How bad were his injuries? He still hadn’t told her. Those bandaged eyes…

Poppy pulled herself up. Did she seriously think she could read Orsino when so much of his face was swathed in bandages?

He was a stranger now. He’d severed any connection.

‘Why should I kid?’

It was there in his voice now, that smugness. As if he enjoyed her reaction, knowing her discomfort. The realisation made her shiver.

Orsino had been hard, unreasonable and unforgiving. But spinning out a painful situation hadn’t been his style. He’d preferred to walk away, leaving her bereft.

Had he changed?

‘Because I’m not your wife. You can’t want me nursing you.’

‘It won’t be full-time nursing. I expect to manage once the bandages come off.’ Was that a hint of doubt in his voice? But he was talking again, distracting her from the fleeting impression. ‘I’ll only need someone on hand to be sure. That’s where you come in.’

‘As I said, Orsino, I’m not your wife. It won’t be me caring for you. Ask someone else.’

Then a horrible thought struck. Had his head injury affected his memory? Didn’t he recall what had happened between them? Poppy swayed. The possibility of brain damage was too much on top of exhaustion.

‘Of course you’re my wife. You never filed for divorce.’ He paused. ‘Why is that, Poppy? Because there was still publicity to be milked from my name?’

His icy tone grazed her skin, making her shudder.

Relief battered her, and anger. No memory loss after all. Orsino recalled everything. And still blamed her.

Poppy stiffened her backbone, setting her jaw and telling herself she’d been a fool to think he’d ever be glad to see her.

She didn’t want this man in her life. She was glad to be rid of him.

Yet his question rang in her ears. Why hadn’t she divorced him?

‘You didn’t file for divorce, either.’ Poppy stopped, hating how scratchy and thin her voice sounded, revealing her turmoil. She breathed deep, clasping her hands before her. They trembled.

Orsino had always made her feel too deeply.

Time hadn’t cauterised the wounds at all. She’d just pretended it had. That knowledge scared her as nothing had in years.

‘Our marriage ended when you walked out.’ Though it had taken her far longer to realise it. The memory of her desperate hopes and frantic phone calls, all unanswered, made her itch with embarrassment.

‘When I walked out? Talk about selective memory!’ Orsino shook his head. ‘There’s no mistake. I gave the hospital your name.’

Poppy blinked owlishly at the man before her. He’d orchestrated this?

She darted a glance towards the door. Why stay and let him manipulate her?

Yet something welded her to the spot. Pity for his injuries? Better that than the alternative, that somewhere, deep down, she still cared.

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