A Convenient Husband by Kim Lawrence Page B

‘is not one of them. I’ll make us some breakfast, shall I?’
    â€˜I’m not hungry and I don’t recall offering you any breakfast.’ Her cheeks refused to cool as quickly as she’d like.
    â€˜I assumed that was a mere oversight.’
    â€˜No, a rude and calculated rejection.’ Which he seemed to be coping with irritatingly well.
    â€˜You ought to eat.’
    He subjected her small person to a critical examination. His expression suggested he hadn’t found much to approve of. ‘You’re too thin.’
    â€˜Luckily for me beauty is in the eye of the beholder!’ Wanted, one short-sighted, sensitive hunk. A tall order by any standards!
    â€˜This could eventually work in your favour. I mean, a lot of guys could be put off by the notion of taking on a readymade family.’
    â€˜I suppose you would know all about being shallow and selfish. Actually, I can do without men like that!’ she told him with confident contempt. ‘In fact, I can do without men full stop.’
    With a mouth like that he somehow doubted it. Rafe had a sudden strong impulse to test his theory about generously passionate lips. You can’t blame it on the booze now, mate!
    â€˜Is that what put your vet off?’
    When it came to insensitivity, Rafe was right up there with the all-time greats.
    â€˜For the last time, he wasn’t my vet, and, no, actually, it was something quite different.’ He hadn’t believed her when she’d said she really didn’t want to marry him so she’d had to resort to the truth—he hadn’t been able to get away fast enough then.
    â€˜Found out about your snoring, did he…?’
    Something flickered in her eyes before her glance slid unobtrusively away from his. A speculative frown tugged gently at the taut, unlined skin across his broad brow.
    How would Rafe react if she told him? Embarrassed, pitying…? Taking a deep breath, Tess lifted her chin and, pushing aside the intrusive shaft of self-pity, pinned a stoical expression on her face. Major shock, hold the front page…life isn’t fair! She’d had plenty of time to get used to the idea, but sometimes, as now, it still caught her on the raw.
    â€˜I don’t snore.’
    One dark brow shot up. ‘Want to bet?’ he drawled. From where he was sitting he opened the fridge door with the toe of his shoe. ‘Well, what do you know?’ he drawled, turning a cheerful face to Ben. ‘Bacon and, unless my eyes deceive me, eggs too. Free range, I hope…’ He turned to Ben. ‘Tess must have forgotten.’
    â€˜The only thing I’d forgotten,’ she announced, gaining very little satisfaction from viciously slamming a cupboard door, ‘is how infuriating and thick-skinned you are!’
    â€˜But you miss me when I’m not around…right…?’
    She didn’t pause to think about the possible consequences of replying honestly. ‘Weird as it might seem,’ she agreed tartly, ‘I do.’
    Rafe turned to look at her in time to see a shocked expression appear on her face. He found he could readily identify with the emotion.
    â€˜Which just goes to show how starved for adult company I must be.’ Her attempt at making a joke of it didn’t quite come off. I always did have lousy timing, she reflected grimly…
    â€˜I miss you too, Tess.’ Wary green eyes clashed and locked with thoughtful brown.
    â€˜You miss someone to boss around,’ she accused gruffly when the silence started to get hard to ignore.
    â€˜There aren’t many people in the world you can be yourself with, warts and all.’
    â€˜You mean you’ve got a licence to be unconscionably rude and generally awful with me!’
    â€˜Here’s to bad manners!’ Rafe agreed, appropriating Ben’s juice beaker to toast her with.
    Tess tried to look severe, she tried not to smile back, but his good