Читать книгу Instant Mother - Emma Richmond, Emma Richmond - Страница 6

PROLOGUE

DESPITE the bitter April wind that made all other pedestrians huddle into coats and scarves, Alexa swung along with her languid, easy stride. Coat unbuttoned, jean-clad legs looking impossibly long, groceries clutched to her chest, she seemed not to have a care in the world.

Unaware of the amused glances she was receiving, her lovely amber eyes full of impish humour, generous mouth pursed in a wry smile, she strode along the square towards her restaurant, and no one seeing her would have guessed at her inner trepidation. She had a wedding party to cater for that evening and she’d never cooked on such a large scale before. Sixty guests, and although they would all be eating the same food it was still a bit daunting.

Unconsciously shaking her head, sending the profusion of long chestnut curls flying, she told herself not to be a fool. She could do it; of course she could. Whatever else she might lack, it certainly wasn’t confidence.

‘Hello, Alexa,’ a dry voice murmured from beside her.

She halted, her eyes widening in pleased surprise. She knew that voice. Quickly turning her head, she stared at the tall bear of a man who was standing outside the newsagent’s. He looked as sexy as ever, long, dark raincoat flowing open in the wind, green eyes full of amusement, and she gave a delighted laugh.

‘What on earth are you doing here?’

‘I might ask the same of you.’ His beautiful eyes steady, relaxed, indolent, he asked softly, ‘Following me, Miss Gifford?’

‘No!’ she laughed. ‘Why would I be following you?’

‘I have no idea. So what are you doing here?’

With a funny little grimace, she murmured irrepressibly, ‘Cooking?’ Indicating the restaurant ahead of them, she added, ‘I own it.’

‘Oh, dear.’

With a gurgle of laughter, she shook her head at him. ‘You live here now?’

‘From time to time.’

Smile widening, she insisted softly, ‘I didn’t know. Truly.’

‘Now why don’t I believe you, I wonder?’

‘I don’t know. It’s the truth.’

He gave an amused smile. ‘I don’t think truth and Miss Gifford should ever be used in the same sentence, do you?’

‘Yes! I never tell lies!’

‘Just bend the truth a bit?’

‘Avoid explanations,’ she corrected. ‘And you don’t have to see me, speak to me. You can stay out of my way!’

‘Oh, I will,’ he promised softly. ‘Being in your way is—dangerous.’

Her grin widening, eyes alight with mischief, she murmured, ‘Just because there have been one or two accidents whenever we’ve met...’

‘One or two? You nearly got me killed in Romania...’

‘I didn’t start the landslip!’

‘Flooded my apartment...’

‘It was a burst pipe!’

‘Wrecked my car with me in it...’

‘I dented your bumper! Don’t exaggerate, Stefan.’

‘And now you’ve followed me to Canterbury.’

‘I haven’t followed you!’ And she hadn’t. It was pure coincidence.

‘How long have you been here?’

‘Three months. Come in for a meal some time.’

‘And get poisoned? No, thank you.’

‘Don’t be silly. I’m a very good cook.’

He gave a lazy smile, shook his head at her. Glancing at his watch, he said, ‘I have to go. I’m flying back to the States this morning.’ Then, a hint of devilry in his amazing eyes, he dipped his head and kissed her warmly on the mouth. ‘Be good,’ he said softly, before turning and walking away.

Mouth tingling, she watched him, then gave an infectious chuckle. His dark hair was still too long, she saw, still brushed back and curling up over his collar. People turned to watch him as he passed, because he commanded attention.

‘Hey!’ she suddenly yelled. Hurrying to catch him up, she asked breathlessly, ‘Will I see you again?’

He halted, turned his head, and smiled. ‘Possibly. ’

Allowing him to walk on, eyes still full of warm amusement, she hefted her purchases into a more comfortable position. ‘Possibly’ meant—yes?

Unaware of the pedestrians forced to flow round her, she watched until he was out of sight. A man who made women feel just a little bit special. Not because of what he said, or did, just because he was. And it was, what? Almost a year since she’d last seen him? A lot could happen in a year. And had.

Retreating the few paces to her restaurant, she nudged open the door and edged inside.

‘You’re looking very pleased with yourself.’

Turning, she smiled at Linda, her pretty, dark-haired assistant, and handed over the shopping. ‘Am I?’

‘Mmm. So, who was he?’

‘He?’ she queried. ‘Who?’

‘The hunk you were just talking to.’

‘Oh, Stefan.’ With that odd little smile in her eyes, she murmured softly, ‘He thinks I’m trying to kill him.’

‘And are you?’ Linda asked wryly.

‘No,’ she laughed.

‘So tell.’

‘Nothing to tell,’ she denied as she led the way into the kitchen. ‘We met in an orphanage in Romania. They’d advertised for people to help renovate the old building, take out supplies. And he was absolutely useless at anything practical,’ she remembered with a grin. ‘He was eventually allowed to wield a paintbrush.’

She’d flirted with him outrageously—because he was the sort of man every woman would want to flirt with. He’d been good company, generous and kind, and yet, thinking about it now, she realised that she knew very little about him. Everyone else had shared backgrounds, family, but not Stefan. He hadn’t talked about himself at all. A man of mystery. Yet, of them all, he was the one who remained most firmly in her mind.

Still smiling, a rather reminiscent smile, she began unpacking the shopping.

‘And now he’s here. Tsk, tsk,’ Linda reproved, ‘David won’t like it.’

‘David needn’t know,’ she denied vigorously. ‘Even if there was anything to know, which there isn’t.’

‘Then why are you smiling like that?’ Linda persevered. ‘If you were really in love with David—’

‘Don’t be silly,’ she interrupted impatiently, ‘being in love doesn’t mean you don’t notice other attractive men. It doesn’t mean I want him or anything. I just—like him.’

‘David still wouldn’t like it,’ Linda persisted. ‘Especially the kiss.’

‘A kiss between friends,’ Alexa insisted. ‘It was nothing more. Meant nothing more.’ Puzzled by Linda’s persistence, she examined her face, until Linda flushed and turned away.

‘Sorry, none of my business.’

‘No,’ Alexa agreed quietly. ‘And I don’t expect we’ll meet again.’ But she hoped they would. Hoped it very much.

Her wish was granted. Six weeks later, he came in for a meal.

With a delighted laugh, she went to greet him.

‘Don’t poison me,’ he warned.

‘I won’t,’ she promised solemnly.

‘I have a niece to spoil. I fly over every six weeks.’

‘I’m glad,’ she said softly. ‘It’s good to see you again.’

‘Mmm,’ he agreed, that delightful smile in his eyes.

She seated him, gave him extra attention—and was aware of Linda’s disapproving glances. She didn’t care. It was good to see him again. He was a friend, and friends deserved special treatment.

‘No tummy ache?’ she teased when he’d finished eating.

He shook his head.

‘Then come again.’

He did.

Every six weeks, regular as clockwork, he would come along for a meal. Just one night—the first night of his stay in England. He would go to his hotel straight from the airport, register, dump his bags, and then come along to see her. But in September, everything changed.

She was busy that day, and so it wasn’t until late in the evening that she had a chance to talk to him. Collecting the jug of coffee, she walked over to his table where he was staring rather broodingly into his empty cup.

‘Need topping up?’ she asked quietly.

As though awakening from a dream, he looked up, stared round him as though surprised to find himself alone. ‘Sorry, Alexa, I didn’t realise it was so late.’

‘That’s all right. Day off tomorrow.’

He smiled rather absently.

‘More coffee?’

‘Only if you join me.’

Collecting another cup, she joined him.

‘Problems?’

‘Mmm. Need a husband, Alexa?’

Surprised, she just stared at him. ‘A husband? No. I’m already in... I mean, I have...’

‘A lover?’ he queried with a lopsided smile. ‘Yes. David, isn’t it?’

‘Yes.’ A little frown in her eyes, she asked gently, ‘What’s wrong?’ When he didn’t immediately answer, she reached out, put her hand over his. ‘Tell me.’

He gave a deep sigh, looked up. ‘I told you about my sister and brother-in-law being killed in a plane crash earlier this year?’

‘Yes,’ she agreed gently.

‘And about Jessica? My niece?’

‘Yes, that she was living with her grandparents, and that you’d applied for eventual custody.’

‘Yes. There was a court hearing today, and, although they will grant guardianship, they won’t, at the moment, grant custody.’

‘Because they want you to be married?’ she asked understandingly.

‘Mmm. They don’t like single gentlemen looking after little girls. Understandable, I suppose.’

‘And so she’s to stay with her grandparents?’

‘Yes, but they’re elderly, and although they love her, as she loves them, as a long-term solution it just won’t work.’

‘I’m so sorry.’ When he didn’t answer, just stared down into his coffee, she watched him for a few moments in silence. Such a strong face. A good face—and long, dark lashes that a girl would kill for. ‘Don’t you know any other women?’ she asked with a sympathetic, if disbelieving smile.

‘Not in England. And I can hardly ask any women of my acquaintance in the States to come all the way over here, give up their lives, for the sake of my niece, can I?’

‘Perhaps not.’ In an attempt to lighten his mood, she teased, ‘And what on earth makes you think that I might make you a good wife?’

He looked up, held her eyes with his. ‘Because you’re fun, and gentle—and you don’t bore me.’

‘Didn’t,’ she corrected. ‘I might have changed.’

‘And have you?’

She smiled, shook her head. ‘I don’t think so. I’m still erratic, scatty...’

‘Warm, friendly,’ he put in. ‘We lived in pretty close proximity in Romania without coming to blows.’

‘True,’ she agreed with a smile as she remembered the spartan accommodation, the shared meals. ‘Have you been back?’

He shook his head. ‘You?’

‘I drove over at Christmas to take some bits and pieces.’ Searching his face, she asked kindly. ‘What will you do?’

‘I don’t know.’ Summoning up another smile, he murmured, ‘I’d better go. You’ll want to close up.’

‘It doesn’t matter. Stay if it helps.’

‘Thanks, but... It’s odd,’ he murmured, ‘you find yourself examining every woman you meet with a view to—motherliness.’ A rather wry smile in his green eyes, he got to his feet.

‘Will you stay over here now?’

‘Can’t My contract in the States doesn’t end until February. I’m trying to get out of it, but...’ With a little shrug, he added, ‘I’ll see you in six weeks.’

But six weeks later she was in hospital with head injuries from a car crash and the restaurant was temporarily closed.

Six weeks after that, it was closed permanently. David had gone, her livelihood had gone, and Alexa was waiting in Stefan’s hotel for him to arrive.

A hat covering her shorn head, too thin, nervous, she watched him check in and then slowly walked to join him as he waited for the lift.

‘Do you still need a wife?’ she asked quietly.