THE FINAL FALSON SAYS I DO by LUCY GORDON

Author:LUCY GORDON, [GORDON,, LUCY]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ROMANCE
Publisher: HARLEQUIN
Published: 2013-12-01T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

‘ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT,’ Freya said in a soothing voice. ‘No need to get agitated.’

She didn’t know it but there was every need. Agitation was growing in him with alarming speed. He hated her having another man, but most of all he hated his own reaction.

‘Just tell me who it is,’ he said.

‘And stop giving me orders.’

‘I’m not giving you orders. I’m pleading with you. Don’t you recognise the difference?’

‘Is there a difference? When a man says please isn’t it mostly an act, to hide the fact that he’s not giving you a choice?’

‘Is that experience talking?’

‘Yes, it is. Dan used to do it—and Amos too. I hear him talking to my mother. When he says, “Please, my dear...” there’s always a slightly ironic note that means he’s really saying, stop wasting time arguing.’

‘And of course you’ve decided that I’m tarred with the same brush as my father?’

‘Well—’

‘Come on, we’ve discussed this before, so let’s have the truth. In your eyes I’m as big a bully as he is—just a bit more cunning in how I go about it.’

‘Look, I’m sorry, I—’

‘Too late to be sorry. My Amos side has taken over. Tell me what I want to know or I’ll do something violent.’

‘Oh, yeah? Such as what?’

‘Such as this,’ he said, and stamped his foot hard on the ground. ‘Ouch!’

‘Is that the best you can manage?’

‘I’m afraid so,’ he said, pulling off his shoe and rubbing his foot.

‘Have you hurt yourself?’

‘Yes—my ankle and further up. Ouch! Ouch!’

‘I’m not surprised. You slammed it down so hard that the shock must have gone right up your leg. Here, let the nurse do her job.’

She took over, removing his sock and rubbing the foot while he breathed hard.

‘That’s better,’ he said with relief. ‘But could you go a bit harder on my ankle? Yes, like that. Ahh!’

When she’d done his ankle she moved further up his leg, massaging the calf muscle until its tension relaxed.

‘Thanks,’ he said at last. ‘I think I’ll survive now.’ He pulled on his sock and shoe, saying wryly, ‘Perhaps I’d better give violence a miss in future.’

‘Yes, you’re not very good at it, are you? I guess it just doesn’t come naturally to you.’

‘Oh, I don’t know. In the years we’ve known each other I can remember a dozen times when I’ve wanted to thump you.’

‘But you never did. Admirable self-control.’

‘Self-control, nothing. I was just scared of how hard you’d thump me back.’

‘You do me an injustice. I’m a nurse.’

‘But a nurse would know exactly where to thump to reduce me to a shivering wreck.’

‘Don’t tempt me.’

‘Yes, ma’am. No, ma’am. Whatever you say, ma’am,’ he said, saluting vigorously. ‘Why are you laughing?’

‘I was thinking suppose that policeman came upon us again just now.’

‘The one who thought I was attacking you?’

‘Yes. Imagine how confused he’d be.’

He joined in her laughter before saying, ‘I’d have to explain to him that Freya the goddess has all sorts of secret knowledge and skills that she keeps to herself, and that the rest of us had better be very careful.

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