Read Online And the Bride Wore Red by Lucy Gordon - Free Book Online Page A

that. I meant just now, making me think—’
    â€˜What?’
    She pulled herself together. ‘Making me think it was something really serious, instead of just fooling.’
    She could barely speak for the confusion of relief and fear that warred in her: relief that he was a free man, fear that it mattered so much. She tried to bring herself under control lest he guess the truth.
    Or did he already know? He was watching her intently but cautiously, as though trying to discover something that was important to him.
    â€˜I wanted to see you again,’ he said simply. ‘And that was the best excuse I could find.’
    The storm died down. The relief was still there, but now tinged with laughter. The world was bright.
    â€˜Well, I guess I’m glad you thought of something,’ she admitted.
    He took her hand. ‘So am I.’
    â€˜I’m still annoyed with you, but I forgive you—on a purely temporary basis.’
    â€˜That’s all I ask.’
    â€˜So what is your job in the hospital?’
    Lang shrugged. ‘I fill in a lot, do the stuff nobody else wants.’ He squeezed her hand gently. ‘Sometimes I get a good day.’
    He didn’t pursue the subject and she was glad. The attraction between them was growing slowly, delicately, and she liked it that way. Any sudden movements might be fatal.
    He was looking down at her hand, rubbing his fingers against it softly, and she had the feeling that he was uneasy again.
    â€˜What is it?’ she asked. ‘What terrible crime do you have to admit now?’
    â€˜We-ell…’
    â€˜Be brave. It can’t be worse than you’ve already confessed.’
    â€˜The fact is there have been some repercussions to the other night. Wei, the great blabbermouth, went home and sounded off to my family, telling them all about you.’
    â€˜But he doesn’t know anything about me—unless, of course, you’ve told him, which would be another abuse of medical privilege.’ She considered him, her head on one side. ‘You really are proving to be a disreputable character. Interesting, but disreputable.’
    â€˜This time I plead not guilty. Anything I know about you—which is frustratingly little—I keep firmly to myself. Wei’s method is to invent what he doesn’t know. The family’s curiosity is aroused, and now there’ll be no peace until I take you home for dinner.’
    â€˜Let me get this straight. You want to take me home just to save yourself from nagging?’
    â€˜That’s about the size of it.’
    â€˜It’s got nothing to do with wanting my company?’
    â€˜Certainly not,’ he said in a shocked voice.
    â€˜It wouldn’t mean that you were glad to be seen with me, liked me for myself, and maybe, I don’t know…?’
    â€˜Maybe thought you were the prettiest girl I’d ever seen and the nicest I’d ever been out with?’ he supplied helpfully. ‘No, nothing like that. Don’t worry.’
    â€˜You relieve my mind,’ she said gravely.
    He raised her hand and brushed his cheek against the back of her fingers.
    â€˜I think we should stay level-headed,’ he said. ‘I wouldn’t want to offend you by indulging in the kind of sentimental behaviour I know you despise.’
    â€˜That’s thoughtful of you. On the other hand, your family are going to expect us to seem at ease with each other. We mustn’t disappoint them by being too distant.’
    He nodded as though giving this judicious consideration.
    â€˜True. We need to get it just right.’
    Before she knew what he meant to do, he leaned across the table and laid his lips softly against hers.
    It was the briefest of contacts. No sooner was his mouth there than it was gone again. It might never have happened, yet it went through her like lightning, making nonsense of logic and control, leaving her changed and the world a