Read Online A Convenient Husband by Kim Lawrence - Free Book Online

humour was contagious.
    Rafe and Ben were halfway through the meal she’d grudgingly prepared—Rafe had even gone so far as to feed Ben several spoonfuls of his mushed-up version—when Tess saw the big shiny car draw up. ‘Oh, no!’ she wailed, throwing her hands up. ‘They’re here! It’s too early.’ Frankly, ten years hence would still be too early. ‘What’ll I do…?’
    Rafe watched her agitated routine with a bland expression and a quizzically raised brow. ‘Slam the door in their faces…?’
    â€˜If you can’t say something constructive,’ she hissed, rounding on him, ‘don’t say anything! The place looks a mess.’
    Rafe didn’t see the relevance of this inaccurate comment, but he knew women seemed to set great store by a dust-free environment. ‘It doesn’t, but you do,’ he announced with casual brutality.
    Tess caught her breath. There was such a thing as stretching friendship too far and Rafe was getting perilously close!
    â€˜Here, let me.’ She eyed him suspiciously as he levered his rangy athletic frame up from the chair. ‘For starters, you can take this thing off.’ Tess was startled into immobility as he calmly began to unbutton her long baggy cardigan. He slid it off her shoulders with a flourish.
    He did it very slickly, but then he had probably had a lot of experience removing items of female clothing…Perhaps she should have forced herself to eat breakfast; she did feel distinctly queasy.
    â€˜Well, what did you expect?’ she snapped tartly as he continued to look with obvious discontent at the simple slit-necked black tee shirt she wore underneath. She failed completely to appreciate how well it displayed her taut, firm figure and neat waist. ‘Besides, I fail to see what difference the way I look makes to anything.’
    â€˜Don’t be naive, Tess.’ Rafe lifted a distracted hand and, with a brooding expression, rubbed it back and forth over his unshaven chin. ‘Would you have turned up in your scruffy jeans for a big meeting when you were working in the City? No, you wanted to make the right impression and feel in control. Now is no different. I’m not saying clothes maketh the woman, but I am saying—and so will you, if you’re strictly honest—that the right outfit doesn’t do any harm. People like Chloe judge folk by the way they dress, the car they drive…’
    â€˜I don’t drive any more.’
    â€˜I haven’t forgotten that.’
    Maybe his thoughtful expression wasn’t significant. Maybe it was her guilty conscience making her see things that weren’t there.
    â€˜If you look good you’ll be sending a subliminal message to Chloe.’
    â€˜Saying what?’
    â€˜I’m in control…you can’t push me around.’
    â€˜I can’t make breakfast wearing stilettos and a sharp suit. I dress like every other mum…’ she explained obstinately.
    Rafe saw the precise moment when the meaning of what she’d said hit her. For a split second the depth of her anguish was there for him to see. He’d like to throttle Chloe and her celebrity boyfriend!
    Biting viciously down on her trembling lower lip, Tess steeled herself to meet the pity in his eyes. ‘Only, of course, I’m not.’ She spoke with quiet composure.
    â€˜Tess…’ Frustration was building steadily inside him. Why the hell didn’t she let him hug her instead of sprouting as many prickles as a porcupine?
    Tess shook her head in silent rejection of his empathy. If he was nice to her now she’d make a total fool of herself.
    â€˜Anyhow, this conversation is academic—it’s too late now for a make-over,’ she babbled nervously. ‘You can’t make a silk purse out of…leave my hair alone!’ she cried, batting away his intrusive hand.
    His objective achieved, Rafe thrust