To Trap A Temptress (Southern Sanctuary - Book 2) by Jane Cousins Page B

all-day outing
to another island surrounded by others would not be breaking any of his
rules.  Even better it would give her an entire day to get her head in
order.  Perfect, she had everything under control once more… just the way
she liked it.
    *                     
*         
            *
    “They’re
saying what?”  Nell’s mouth was wide open, her face drained of all colour.
    “I’m
so sorry.  It’s completely ridiculous but I thought you should
know.”  Julie looking bemused reached over to squeeze Nell’s hand. 
    “I
… I…”  Nell was so flabbergasted she couldn’t even form the words.
    Julie
laughed.  “I know.  I didn’t know what to say or do when I first
heard it either.”
    “But…” 
Nell didn’t know whether to laugh or cry herself.  “Who started the
rumour?”
    “Oh
I think we could both take a guess at that.”  Julie sipped her orange
juice casting a longing look across the breakfast table at Nell’s untouched
steaming cup of coffee.
    “Let
me just state categorically here and now for the record that Drum is not an
escort and I’m not paying him to have sex with me.”  Nell’s voice came out
slightly louder than she intended, casting an anxious look around she was
relieved to note that the poolside breakfast dining area was all but empty
except for them. 
    “Please.” 
Julie waved a dismissive hand in the air.  “Jealous much.  Anyone
with half a brain can tell by the way the man eats you up with his eyes that
he’s completely gone over you.  No man is that good an actor.”
    “Thanks…
I think.” 
    “I
just want to know why you’ve never said anything to me before about him?” 
    “Well.” 
Nell took a big bite of fruit salad.  “It’s pretty recent for one.” 
She doubted her friend would believe how recent.  “And secondly you’ve had
a lot on your own plate, what with planning the reunion and the baby.”
    “Which
reminds me I haven’t thanked you yet.  I know they say being pregnant is
supposed to make you glow and feel in touch with your inner goddess and all
that malarkey but let me tell you morning sickness twenty-four hours a day for
three months just makes you want to kill yourself and take all those smug know
it all people offering advice with you.  That peach herbal tea you sent
was a God send.  I promise to never make fun of your natural healing
practises again.”
    “So
noted for the record.  Getting back to my little problem.  Where
everyone here thinks I’m so sad, desperate and lonely that I have to pay a man
to have sex with me.  What am I going to do?”
    “Nothing.” 
Julie scraped butter over a slice of banana bread.
    “Nothing?” 
Nell whispered back dubiously, aware of a large group of people entering the
dining area with laden plates from the buffet.
    “There’s
nothing to be achieved by you confronting Devon.  Just keep doing what
you’re doing.  Oooh, you have to try this banana bread, it’s scrummy.”
    “Julie
focus.  What do you mean keep doing what I’m doing?  Everyone
arriving is giving me not so subtle knowing looks and I can practically hear
the grapevine vibrating from here there’s so much speculation going on.”
    “Big
deal, let them talk.  All they have to do is see you and Drum together to
know that the whole story is baloney.  Your biggest worry shouldn’t be
what gossip is doing the rounds but what Devon will do next.”
    “What
do mean by that?”  Nell hissed under her breath, trying to force her lips
into a casual smile, hyper aware that she had an audience of intrigued gossip
mongers watching her every move.
    “Well
you know how Devon’s always been jealous of you.”
    Nell’s
mouth dropped open in shock for the second time that morning. 
“Me?   Why?”
    Julie
laughed shaking her head.  “Well your marks for one thing.  You were
always coming top of the class.”
    “Well
she could have studied harder and