To Make a Marriage by Carole Mortimer Page A

to…?’
    Adam had the distinct impression that he, for one, didn’t want to know. But quickly following on the heels of that realisation was the fact that he wasn’t going to have any choice in the matter!
    â€˜The conclusion I’ve come to is that the two of you should sort out your own lives before you start telling me what I should or shouldn’t do with mine!’ Rome told them bluntly.
    Adam looked warily across at the other man, and, without so much as glancing at Andie, he could feel her sudden tension. What exactly, he wondered, did Rome mean by that remark…? More to the point, what was he going to say next?
    Rome gave a humourless smile as he took in their stunned expressions. ‘Not so pleasant when it’s directed at you, is it?’ he derided. ‘For instance, Adam—’ Rome turned to him ‘—it’s way past time you stopped this carefree bachelor life, settled down with one of those beautiful women you’re always seen parading around with, and raised your own family instead of sharing mine. And, as for you, Andie—’
    â€˜That’s enough, Daddy,’ she told him through stiff lips, her face very pale now, her hands clenched at her sides.
    â€˜But—’
    â€˜I said that was enough!’ she burst out.
    Rome gave another heavy sigh. ‘Maybe it is,’ he conceded evenly. ‘Now if you’ll both excuse me,’ he said as the sound of the front door opening could be clearly heard, ‘I have to go out there and persuade Audrey out of doing something I’m going to regret for the rest of my life!’ The door closed decisively behind him as he left the room.
    The silence he left behind him was so filled with tension Adam felt as if he might reach out and touch it.
    But he certainly dared not reach out and touch Andie, he realised as he looked across at her. That barrier seemed to have fallen between them again; her expression was remote, her gaze, when it met his, cold…
    â€˜Well, I must say, I’m really impressed that the two of you found Audrey’s behaviour so damned funny!’ she finally burst out, eyes flashing deeply green.
    The adage ‘attack is the best form of defence’ came unbidden to Adam’s mind…
    He had no idea why; after all, Andie’s outburst was probably merited. Except… ‘I didn’t find it in the least funny,’ Adam told her sharply. ‘If you must know, I was trying to calm Rome down by making him see the funny side of it!’
    Andie gave him a scornful look as the sound of raised voices could clearly be heard outside in the hallway. ‘I don’t think Audrey appreciates your efforts any more than I did! Sitting down here laughing about the situation like a couple of—’
    â€˜Schoolboys,’ Adam finished for her, starting to feel angry himself now. Why did this woman always misinterpret what he was trying to say or do?
    â€˜Exactly.’ She gave him another scathing glance. ‘A “different species from another planet!’” she repeated.
    â€˜But with superior intellect,’ he repeated dryly, striding forcefully across the room to lightly grasp the tops of her arms when he received no answering smile from Andie.
    â€˜You know, Andie, you’ve certainly lost your sense of humour the last few weeks,’ he told her.
    Andie looked up at him unsmilingly. ‘Probably because I see very little to smile about the last few weeks,’ she responded. ‘Now, if you wouldn’t mind releasing me…? I’m tired and would like to go to bed.’
    Adam looked at her searchingly. She did look tired. But it wasn’t just that. There was also that hardness about her eyes and mouth. And he could tell by the way she strained against his hold on her arms that she did not like him touching her… Had it really come to that, to a point where she couldn’t even bear him to touch