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RELUCTANT WIFE 29
Last Updated:
2023-03-21 02:58:32
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YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) RELUCTANT WIFE 30
‘The next morning I realized I was deluding myself. Greece had become my home. I never truly wanted to be a choreographer in London, I did it all for Petros.’ Again he threw her a critical look. ‘Oh I’m not saying I don’t enjoy dance, I do. But I just don’t feel it’s the direction I should be going in. I need something more.’‘So why didn’t you return to Greece immediately?’‘I couldn’t. I was tom, Peter needed my help, as I did his, and then I’d lied to you about those men at the nightclub. You thought I’d bedded each and every one. I was so ashamed that you actually believed me, when I could force myself to think about it, that is,’ she said in a soft voice, remembering how bad she’d felt the next morning.Alexis reached for her hand. ‘That’s all in the past. You really don’t know what you gave me that first afternoon at the bakery.’‘I know what you gave me,’ she said with a grin.‘What?’‘Birds of paradise plastered to my behind!’He laughed so loudly that several hospital visitor
Last Updated : 2023-03-21YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) RELUCTANT WIFE 31
What I can’t understand is that Petros won’t even discuss this with me. He knows that I know about this farce, and he won’t even acknowledge the fact,’ commented Carrie as they took breakfast on the terrace.Carrie looked cautiously at Alexis. Over the past ten weeks they had hardly spoken of what they had secretly entered into in London. Their child had grown inside of her, their relationship a steady progressive wonder. But always she was waiting for the bubble of happiness to burst.‘Maybe he’s waiting imtil he’s had the operation. We know that he lied about that. He’s waiting for a heart transplant, not some kind of bypass. If it’s any consolation he lied to me too,’ he returned unsmilingly. He picked up the coffee pot, poured two cups then asked, ‘And what, might I ask, are you doing today?’‘Jonathan has asked me to help with the new donkey. It needs to swim in the sea to strengthen its muscles. Jonathan, Andreas and myself are going to take him out in the boat and swim him back
Last Updated : 2023-03-21YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) RELUCTANT WIFE 32
‘Yes. I’ve made progress. I’ve foimd out that your friend Marsha is definitely involved. She has been all along: she got into drugs when she was modelling. Not in a big way then, but she knew all the contacts. She knew a few of the high society pimps, they’re all in it too. We’re arresting most of them as soon as we have this side of the operation in the bag. I’m gonna need all your help here, Alexis.’He nodded. ‘It’s yours. I just need to make sure that Carrie is safe.’They got in the Mercedes. ‘Don’t worry, Alexis. I’ve got my best man looking after her this very minute. You know Tate. I put you onto him. He’s my man.’Alexis stared. ‘You mean that son of a bitch who bedded my sister whilst he was working for me? The same one is looking after Carrie?’ He shook his head. ‘Oh no. That is simply not on. I want Carrie at the bakery with me.’‘It could be dangerous, Alexis. This is a very dangerous matter,’ James soothed, ‘And what do you mean Tate bedded your sister? He was on duty.’
Last Updated : 2023-03-21YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) RELUCTANT WIFE 33
Now was not the right time. He needed time to really talk to her, really sit down at length and make her imderstand. Their future needed sorting out. He didn’t want to keep her within a marriage that was bound to fail. He loved her too much for that. He smiled as he opened the back door; now he knew whatlove was. He knew he’d been in love with idea of loving Carrie for years, but reality was far different from his daydreams, and in truth, he’d been scared when she’d accepted that stupid deal of Petros’s. So why had he gone along with it?Love didn’t mean getting together because of a child, it meant sharing life with someone you wanted to be with, someone who cared, someone who felt the same about the fundamental things. Tonight she’d been so near and yet so far. He’d wanted to hug her to him, but he wasn’t sure she felt the same. Could he salvage the love she had for him? He wasn’t sure, and he hated this vulnerable feeling.If she loved him would she forgive him?He heard a cough f
Last Updated : 2023-03-21YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) RELUCTANT WIFE 34
‘Tell him,’ Alexis said to Carrie. ‘You tell him.’Carrie looked across at Petros with tears in her eyes. Although he’d used her like a pawn, she loved him. He’d obviously thought she needed his help in finding a husband.Squeezing his hand she said with a smile, ‘Alexis and I were married over ten weeks ago, in London. It was what we wanted.’‘I don’t just walk away from that kind of commitment Petros.’ Alexis’s words had a ring of truth about them. Carrie turned to look at him, questionsrushing about in her head, but they would have to wait.‘Ha! You two have had the last laugh. Ha, that’ll teach your mother!’ he scoffed, all at once looking sleepy. He waved Alexis away with his hand. ‘Go and see Helena, and don’t be too hard, she’s suffering too.’ He held onto Carrie’s hand. ‘Forgive me.’‘Of course I forgive. I love you, don’t I? I just wish you could have told me about all this. Trying to run other people’s lives, Petros, is a foolish thing. Interfering with destiny is wrong.’H
Last Updated : 2023-03-21YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) RELUCTANT WIFE 35
The big built American smiled stiffly at his partner’s sense of humour. He hated the name Garry. ‘I’ll help, she’s a nice kid, certainly beat me at my own game.’Their search of Athens was extensive. Alexis had recruited several Greek police officers, and one holidaym^ police officer from Britain, who was a friend of Garry’s.They all met outside the bakery to be briefed as to the last time Carrie been seen. They tracked her down to the tavema just up the harbour where the waiter told them about her taxi.‘She was not very well, I think,’ said the waiter to James.‘Alexis. Over here. She got in a taxi, he believes it was to the harbour front where they hire the boats. He said she looked shocking, and very tired.’Alexis was at the end of his tether, tormenting himself with guilt. ‘If anything has happened to her ...’‘Come on, she’s a sensible girl. I know she’ll be all right,’ commented James without a frown. Inside hewasn’t feeling quite that confident. He wondered why she had gone
Last Updated : 2023-03-21YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) RELUCTANT WIFE 36
Alexis sat her down on the striped chaise longue and took hold of both her shaking hands. He shrugged his broad, strong shoulders. And she noticed now just how tired and drained he did look, and her heart went unselfishly out to him.‘Where do I start?’ he asked, his hands tightly clinging to hers. He was shaking too, as nervous as she was.Swallowing convulsively, Carrie suggested quietly, ‘From the clinic, with Helena.’Alexis smiled. ‘Helena has been very, very naughty. I’m afraid she felt the lash of my temper the other morning. You only heard half the conversation, before you ran out.’Half the conversation, she thought tiredly. She looked into his eyes; as in most of their exchanges there was nothing to read in them. He was well and truly locked in his shell. Confirming what she’d heard Helena say was easy. ‘I know she manipulated us. She bought me for you.’‘You could say that, yes. But she had her reasons.My mother has lied about it all these years.’ Alexis halted her outburs
Last Updated : 2023-03-21YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) RELUCTANT WIFE 37
‘Champagne, anyone?’ Graham said as he popped the cork, ‘By the way, congratulations, love. I’m pleased all’s going well with the baby.’‘Thank you.’ She knew he was a man of few words so his good wishes meant a great deal to her. He lifted the bottle of champagne at her. Carrie shook her head, ‘I’ll have fruit juice.’‘Peter has been so looking forward to this. He’s going to love living next door to you. We’re just so grateful.’ He looked at Alexis. ‘You really don’t know what you’ve done for us. We love Peter, we’d do anything for him.’‘Oh, don’t you worry, you’ll work hard at the sanctuary.’ Alexis drank from his champagne flute. ‘I couldn’t believe it when Carrie told me you were with the police, working within the dog-handling section. Your experience is bound to come in handy.’‘I’m pleased you think so, Alexis.’The young crewman came in to serve dinner, but Carrie looked away, not sure she could eat anything at the moment, even though everything looked so deliciously appetizi
Last Updated : 2023-03-21
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YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) INTIMATE STRANGERS 23
‘G’day Kerrien, my darling girl, had a nice time?’ She was nodding and smiling encouragingly but Kerrien could say nothing. ‘Lovely day, thank you. It’s good of you to feed me again,’ she added. “Come on in. Make yourself at home,” she urged. ‘Must use the bathroom, if I may,’ Kerrien asked. Brett shoved his mother out of the room and Kerrien could hear the whispered voices rising and falling. ‘For heaven’s sake boy, do I get the champagne out or not?'*I don’t know Mum, she hasn’t given me an answer yet.” Kerrien listened in growing discomfort. She was beginning to feel coerced, trapped. If she said yes, it was going to be for all the wrong reasons. If she said no, she might just be acting foolishly out of some misplaced sense of romanticism. She went slowly back to the family room, where Brett was waiting for her. ‘Do I get my answer yet?’ he asked. The blue eyes were shuttered and she could read nothing from them. “Yes Brett, yes I will marry you.’ She wondered why she didn
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Sleep was impossible and Kerrien paced her room for much of the night. Ashton was evidently going through some personal crisis which seemed to exclude both herself and the children. What was he talking about with her and Brett? News? Excited? He could only think that they were getting engaged. She wondered where he had got that idea. It was the very last thing she would have wanted him to think, when all the time she desperately wanted jum. She also wished that his future with Martine was less certain. Double wedding indeed! Ashton said little the next morning before rushing off to work. She caught him staring at her a couple of times, as if looking for some clue in her face. If he believed something special had recently happened to her, he did not voice his thoughts. ‘I won’t be home for lunch and don’t wait dinner for me tonight. I may be out. Have you decided when you’re going out at the weekend?’ he asked. ‘Saturday, if that’s OK,’ she replied. ‘I'll organize things before I go
YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) INTIMATE STRANGERS 21
‘I haven’t felt this way about anyone before,’ Brett said. She drew a quick gulp of air and her reeling senses came back to earth. ‘And you’ve had plenty to choose from, I suppose.’ The harsh words hit him like a slap across the face. “I’ve never tried to pretend anything different,” he defended, a hurt expression in his eyes. “Look, you may be innocent or try to give the impression of being innocent but I know a true response when I feel it. Yes, OK, call it experience. Tell me, do you intend going through your entire life celibate and end up a sour spinster?’ ‘I think I'd better go,’ she said, bristling at his accusation. ‘Kerrien, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it. I want you Kerrien, on whatever terms you insist on making. Think about it. I can offer you everything you’ve always wanted.’ His face looked almost child-like in its pleading, like Ben or Jodie begging for just a few minutes longer, before going to bed. She almost smiled at the thought. They may want to stay up longer, Br
YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) INTIMATE STRANGERS 20
‘I thought you had something vital to tell me,’ Ashton said at lunch. ‘Something that couldn’t wait a moment longer.’ ‘Perhaps I’ve got things in perspective a little better,’ Kerrien replied, twisting her fingers together in her anxiety. ‘What I have to talk about is important but something has come up that I must deal with and quickly. I have to see Brett and the sooner the better.’ He stared at her, peering into her eyes as if he could read something in them, as if he could somehow see into her mind to know what she was thinking. She was an enigma to him. One minute bursting with some news she needed to discuss urgently with him and the next, planning an evening out with her boy-friend. He had no doubt as to the reason for her sudden need to meet Brett. She had to give him an answer to the vital question and having made her decision, she obviously couldn’t wait to tell him. ‘Look, I know it isn’t really my evening off but things have been hectic lately and I am still owed some t
YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) INTIMATE STRANGERS 19
Kerrien sipped a cup of hot chocolate in the cafeteria, her hands wrapped round the comforting mug. She hoped that Kate and her friend didn’t have the same idea. Kerrien had no prejudices about people’s right to choose their sexual partners but somehow, Kate’s whole attitude to life suddenly seemed to have become clearer. All these nasty, sometimes spiteful . remarks were probably made because Kate didn’t know how to cope with the cards that life had dealt her. She did genuinely seem fond of the children but perhaps felt that Ashton would be less than understanding if he knew that his sister loved another woman. It took some getting used to but Kerrien was convinced that she was not mistaken. The way the two women had looked at and spoken to each other showed quite clearly that they shared a deep relationship. It may also explain why Kate was so resentful of Kerrien. Her easy going manner with people was something of a contrast with Kate’s own more restrained nature. She wondered if
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“So what do you say Kerrien? Will you stay with us, for as long as you can?’ His deep, soft eyes were pleading with her. She felt again that urge to wrap her arms round him and hug him better but she knew that any physical contact with him would spell disaster to her own strength of purpose. ‘Think of the children,’ he added, knowing this was his trurmp card. She genuinely loved them and would never let them suffer. Besides, it would mean that she would still be around in his life and that meant a great deal more than he cared to admit. ‘I need to think about it. I’ll stay for a while, certainly. At least until you have made whatever arrangements you plan to make. Don’t worry.’ Her heart was near breaking as she spoke. She desperately wanted to be gone once Martine was living here. She couldn’t bear to see the other woman doing all the things she wanted to be doing, having the exclusive love of the wonderful man she herself loved so much. If he should ever find out how she felt, she
YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) INTIMATE STRANGERS 17
Once Ashton had left for work, Kerrien decided that she simply couldn’t face another evening staying at home. She dialled Brett’s number and swallowing her stubborn pride, asked if he was free that evening. She was taking a slight risk that she wouldn’t have to babysit but as she hadn’t taken any time off for ages, it was not unreasonable to expect a free evening. His response was very positive. If he had made other plans, it was not obvious. He suggested a movie and then a meal out. It sounded exactly what she needed to take her mind off things here. When Kate eventually turned up, sometime after eleven, Kerrien had started the lunch preparations. She made some coffee for them both. Kate seemed edgy and moody. Things were evidently not going as well as she would have liked. But, she obviously controlled her wandering thoughts and agreed to mind the children for the evening, if Ashton was out. The woman seemed subdued and uncommunicative, so Kerrien left her alone and went to play wi
YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) INTIMATE STRANGERS 16
The next few days were difficult. Kate bad only one topic of conversation — the wedding — and seemed totally unaware of the discomfort of those around her. The children were silent and withdrawn, reminiscent of the time when Kerrien had first arrived in Australia. Kerrien herself was thoroughly sick of hearing about the fabulous designer wedding dress Martine was planning, and whether Ben should be dressed in green or cream velvet. Either was equally revolting, or so Kerrien thought and she instinctively knew that Ben would agree! 'I think you should start looking around for another job,” Kate suggested brightly one morning. 'I see. Your idea or Ashton’s?’ Kerrien asked. ‘It must be obvious even to you that this situation can’t go on. Once they’re married, I expect they will be starting a new family and Martine is sure to want someone of her own choice, to look after the new baby as well as Ashton’s two. Besides, Ben will be at school and you surely wouldn’t want to be hanging arou
YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) INTIMATE STRANGERS 15
It was nearly lunch-time when Kerrien returned from her trip to drop Brett home. A quick hallo to Margaret and a coffee before she had left, made her later than she intended. She’d then taken a couple of wrong turnings, her mind pre-occupied. The journey took longer and longer, it seemed. There was strange feeling of unreality about everything, as if she was in the middle some sort of dream that would end when she awoke. The house was quiet and Ashton’s car was missing from its usual place. He must have gone to work, even though she’d thought he wasn’t on duty this weekend. Perhaps he had gone out — to be with his fiancée she thought miserably. She had to keep experimenting with the words, so that she would get used to it. How could he want to marry someone who was so negative towards those two lovely children? It was obvious to anyone with half a mind, that Martine couldn’t care less about them. It was equally clear that the children also felt the same way about their father’s fiancé
