Read Online Claiming His Wedding Night by Lee Wilkinson - Free Book Online

wife.
    She found herself wondering how long he’d been married. Judging by what he’d said about travelling, probably not very long…
    Seeing he was watching her, and knowing how well he could pick up what she was thinking and feeling, she took a deep breath and queried, ‘What is your vineyard called?’
    ‘Wolf Rock Winery.’
    ‘Is that where we’re heading?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Is your wife there now?’ She had had to ask, and she was relieved that her voice had remained steady.
    ‘No, not at the moment.’
    She was just breathing a quick sigh of relief when he added evenly, ‘Though she will be soon.’
    Perdita was trying to come to terms with that knowledge when a thought occurred to her that made her go hot all over. Suppose Jared had told his wife about her ?
    She desperately hoped not. It would be bad enough having to face the other woman without her knowing about the past and that passionate and, in the end, infinitely bitter relationship.
    However, there was nothing she could do to change either the past or the present.
    All at once she felt dull and defeated and weary, emotionally drained.
    Watching her lovely face, sad now and oddly empty, Jared saw the paleness beneath the make-up, the shadowed eyes and heavy lids, the slight droop of her lips, and felt a strong urge to take her in his arms and hold her close.
    But enough anger and resentment still lingered to nullify that sudden surge of sympathy and he merely said, ‘In spite of your earlier rest, you still look shattered. Why don’t you get another hour or two’s sleep before we land at San Francisco?’
    Relieved at the thought of being on her own, Perdita rose to her feet, then, recalling what had happened the last time, paused to pick up her bag.
    As he had done previously, Jared accompanied her to the bedroom door, but this time he merely said, ‘I’ll ask Henry to bring you some tea well before we reach our destination.’
    When the door closed behind her, moving like a zombie, Perdita slipped off her shoes and once more removed her skirt and jacket before stretching out on the bed.
    Though she recognized that the room was at a comfortable temperature she felt chilled, cold inside, and pulled the soft lightness of the duvet over her.
    She was on the verge of sleep when her mobile rang.Reaching for her handbag, she retrieved her phone and mumbled, ‘Hello?’
    ‘Dita…?’ Martin’s voice held a mixture of relief and impatience. ‘I’ve had a lot of trouble getting through to you. What the devil’s going on?’
    ‘Didn’t Helen explain?’
    ‘It’s been very hectic this end and when she couldn’t reach me she left a text message which I’ve only just picked up.
    ‘As I couldn’t immediately get through to you, I talked to your father. He confirmed that you’d gone to the States as Calhoun’s guest, and that you were staying at Salingers’ headquarters in New York.
    ‘I know the negotiations are urgent, but I’m not too happy at the thought of you going off with a man none of us know anything about.’
    Perdita was trying to find something reassuring to say when he queried, ‘So what’s Calhoun like? Is he a married man?’
    The question brought a tide of emotion surging back, but she answered as levelly as possible, ‘Yes, he’s married.’
    Then, hoping to divert further questions, she asked quickly, ‘So how are things going at your end?’
    ‘As I said, pretty hectic. But, with a little bit of luck, it will have been worth it. Mr Ibaraki is quite happy to…’
    For a short while he talked business, then he asked, ‘So is Calhoun’s wife there?’
    ‘I understand she’ll be joining him.’ This time, caught unawares, Perdita’s voice shook betrayingly.
    Martin picked it up at once. ‘What’s wrong?’ he demanded. ‘You seem upset.’
    ‘Nothing’s wrong,’ she lied valiantly. ‘I’m just tired. I didn’t sleep very well last night, and it’s been a long journey.’
    Martin, who disliked travelling,