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RELUCTANT WIFE 33
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YOUR 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
YOUR 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
YOUR 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
YOUR 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
YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) INTIMATE STRANGERS 1
SYNOPSISAshton reached out and touched her cheek almost paternally, but the touch seemed to burn like fire and her heart was racing. What could be wrong with her? First she’d been breathless from Brett’s kiss and now a mere touch on her cheek by Ashton and her mind was racing out of control. She must take care or any simple gesture of friendship would begin to take on too great a significance. Kerrien kept telling herself that she was only in Australia to take care of Ashton Philips’ children and not to fall in love with him. Brett was surely a much safer bet? Particularly when Ashton’s sister Kate and his girlfriend Martine made it clear that there was no room for Kerrien in Ashton’s ordered life... CHAPTER 1This was really the start of her new life. Kerrien held her breath as the undercarriage of the big plane creaked down. Brisbane’s airport rushed up towards her. It had been a long, long flight and she felt almost light-headed from lack of sleep. She had never travelled so far
YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) INTIMATE STRANGERS 2
‘Great. Kerrien it is. And please call me Ashton. Can’t all live under one roof and be starchy and formal, can we Kate?’ His sister said nothing but the glare spoke volumes. There was definitely a problem here that Kerrien needed to sort out, if she was to make a success of this new job. After all, she had taken a huge gamble, travelling round the world, leaving everything she had known. When Mum had died, there seemed to be nothing to keep her there, in the little English Midlands town where she had lived all her life. Mum’s illness had always made it impossible for her to move away before. Memories of her father, who had left them when she was only eighteen months old, were non-existent. Her mother had coped single-handedly. When Kerrien had seen the job advertisement in a specialist magazine, the idea of a completely fresh start had seemed appealing. Not really expecting to hear any more, she had been pleased to get an interview at the rather exclusive agency. She was even more s
YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) INTIMATE STRANGERS 3
Despite her long sleep during the evening, Kerrien slept soundly that first night in her new home. She awoke early to the sound of a strange hammering noise. It was not quite that, but she couldn’t decide what else it could be. Looking out of the window, she saw the noisy creature. It was a kookaburra, a beautiful bird sitting in the tree outside her window, making its strange noise. She smiled and went for a shower. She dressed in a pair of shorts and a tee-shirt that had, in truth, seen better days. They would have to do until she could get to some shops and replace them. She went through the house towards the kitchen. Kate was already there, preparing breakfast and, seemingly, lunch as well. ‘Good morning,’ Kerrien said brightly. She was going to remain cheerful, whatever disapproving looks were sent in her direction. ‘Oh and thank you for the delicious meal last night. I did enjoy it and it was very kind of you to leave it for me.’ ‘Well, don’t think it’s going to become a habit
YOUR LOVE (ROMANTIC SERIES) INTIMATE STRANGERS 4
Hand in hand, they wandered back to the car and he helped her in. He drove her home in almost total silence. When they arrived, he leaned over and kissed her again, gently but very thoroughly. ‘Call me when you’re free and we'll do a spot of sightseeing. I only need short notice. Dad is pretty cool about time off.’ Brett worked in the family electrical business and, as with most things, seemed to be very free and easy — about their lives. As she was getting out of Brett’s car, she noticed a light go on in Kate’s room. Obviously, she had been looking to see who was outside. She turned back and leaned over to plant another kiss on Brett’s cheek. He looked surprised. ‘That one was for Kate’s benefit,’ she chuckled. She awoke early the next morning and collected the children for breakfast before Ashton himself was ready. The two children sat quietly at the table munching their cereal. Kerrien had put the coffee on and was making toast when Kate came through. ‘Conscience pricking is it
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