The Honeymoon Proposal by Hannah Bernard

Author:Hannah Bernard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

MATT didn’t sleep at all for the rest of the night, and Jo never came back to bed. When he went downstairs early in the morning, he found her on the sofa, dark circles under her eyes, and her head resting on an embroidered cushion. A blanket was draped over her, and he fought the urge to tuck her in closer. He touched her hair with the tips of her fingers. Short bristles, still.

It would grow back. Somehow that had become his mantra these days.

Esther was standing in the door when he straightened up, a frown darkening her face. She beckoned for him to come to her, and he did so, sighing.

“Why is Jo sleeping on the sofa?” she demanded. Matt patted her shoulder.

“Butt out, Esther.”

“That’s disrespectful.”

“So is interrogating us about our personal life.”

“It’s just not right, Matthew!”

He kissed her on the cheek. “Jo needs to wake up in twenty minutes, for work. Will you wake her? She doesn’t have an alarm clock down here and I know she hates being late for work.”

“I’ll wake her,” Esther said grudgingly. “I’ll give her a piece of my mind too.”

“No!” He pulled Esther with him to the kitchen and pointed to a chair. “Sit down, Esther.”

She did, rather to his surprise. He put his hands on his hips and loomed over her, hoping to intimidate the old lady for once. “Don’t interrogate Jo. Don’t push her. This is not your problem. Leave us to handle it.”

“You are having problems, aren’t you? And don’t give me that nonsense about snoring. I know Jo wouldn’t let that keep her away from you at night.”

“If we are, they are our problems. Not yours.”

“There are professionals who can help with such issues,” Esther said, fiddling with the sash on her robe. “I know I pushed you into marriage. If there is a problem, I feel responsible. There must be something we can do about it. Isn’t there?”

“Don’t worry about this. Just leave us to it. It’s our marriage now—despite your fingers in it, and yes, you shouldn’t have pushed us, but it’s over and done with now. You’re not our marriage counselor, okay?”

Esther nodded. “I won’t talk to Jo about why she’s on the sofa,” she said with a sigh. “But I really should have a talk with you about why she’s the one on the sofa. That’s not gentlemanly.”

“I’ve got to go, Esther,” he told her, glad to have a good reason to escape. “Save your gentleman lecture until later, okay?”

Esther scowled at him. “Fine. But don’t think you’re off the hook.”

“Never,” he assured her, and headed for the front door. Jo was still on the sofa, sound asleep as he passed her.

No, he wasn’t off the hook.

The investigation was finally over. Jo’s name had been cleared.

Matt gnawed on a pencil and stared at the investigative report. It was thorough, detailed, and left no room for doubt. There was even a warning that she’d have excellent grounds to sue and a recommendation that the company settle with her quietly and peacefully if that was in any way possible.

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