Read Online Make Love Not War by Margaret Tanner - Free Book Online

transport strike held us up quite a bit. After that, the concrete suppliers went on strike, and that put us behind some more.”
    Even the foreman didn’t appear to be too worried about the delay, but one glance at Bryce’s face and she knew he wasn’t happy with the holdups.
    “Can’t you hurry things along? I want this finished before summer ends.”
    “We’re doing the best we can, boss. The men have been working heaps of overtime. With the Christmas break coming up, I don’t think we’ve got a hope in hell of completing it in the time frame you set.”
    “I realize that now. Couldn’t you persuade the men not to take their holidays until the job’s finished? I’d be prepared to pay a bonus to any man willing to work.”
    “Have a heart. Most of these men have got school-aged kids. They like to go away with their families over the long school break.”
    “Don’t you think I know that?” Bryce gave an exasperated sigh. “See what you can do. They could have an extra week or so later on in the year, plus a bonus. Put it to them, will you, Duncan ?”
    “All right, I don’t hold out much hope. Most of them would have planned their holidays by now.”
    “Do what you can. Even if half a dozen men stayed on the job, it would help. Not much point in my hanging around here now. Come on, Caroline. I’ll call in again next week.”
    She followed Bryce back to the car with the foreman a step or two behind them. He opened the passenger door for her.
    “Thanks.”
    She could tell by the way Bryce’s hands clenched the steering wheel that he was angry.
    “What a waste of damn time,” he bit out, before starting the engine.
    By the time they arrived back at the office, it was lunchtime. She went straight to her desk and put her bag in the drawer while Bryce stalked into his office.
    “Oh, darling, there you are.” Shereen’s saccharine sweet greeting reached Caroline’s ears before the door closed with a click. Why did she cling to the hope that Bryce might feel something special for her one day? Pigs would fly to the moon first.
    Why didn’t he take Shereen to the business dinner? She looked decorative enough. Maybe he did need someone to take shorthand notes, after all. She typed a letter out through a blur of tears. Would she never learn?  To Bryce Harrington she was merely a capable pair of hands that ensured his office ran on oiled wheels. Nothing more. Nothing less.
    About twenty minutes later, Bryce and Shereen strolled out of the office together. “I’m going to lunch, should be back about two,” he threw over one shoulder. Shereen waved to Caroline, who could hear the woman’s twittering laugh as they disappeared down the corridor.
    He didn’t come back until nearly three o’clock. Some lunch. She was tempted to tell him she didn’t want to go to the dinner after all. She didn’t, of course. A few crumbs were better than nothing, and there was the dress the company had paid for. On principle she had to wear it.
    She arrived home at about five-thirty and had a quick cup of tea. Kerry had already left with Trevor to attend a silent vigil organized by the ‘ Save our Sons ’ organization. They didn’t have the luxury of a bath, so she took a long, leisurely shower. After washing her hair, she dried it with her drying wand, lifting up the strands and letting them drop until they fell in silky folds about her shoulders.
    The pale orange dress highlighted her fair skin and she felt quite sophisticated. The small cameo locket she wore was a Dennison family heirloom. Because it was a warm evening, she decided against taking a wrap to cover her shoulders.
    She had sprayed a pair of high-heeled white sandals to match the frock and knew she had never looked this good before. Marvelous what an expensive outfit could do for a woman, even a plain Jane like her.
    At three minutes past seven, a knock sounded at the door and she almost ran to open it. “Count to thirty, you don’t want to appear too