Read Online In Separate Bedrooms by Carole Mortimer - Free Book Online

she did so that she liked everything about him: the way he looked, the way he dressed, his obvious closeness to his family, even his concern that her mother shouldn’t be worried about her this weekend, and that he had personally gone to see her mother to reassure her. Mattie couldn’t think of too many men who would have done that!
    The only thing she didn’t like about him was the thought of those four girlfriends.
    The only thing!
    Surely the fact that he had had four women in his life at the same time should tell her something else about him? Something such as, she would be an idiot to fall in love with him herself!
    Except that she already knew it was going to prove very difficult for her not to, when she was spending four days with him in romantic Paris …!

CHAPTER FIVE
    ‘W E ’ RE going for four days, Mattie, not four weeks!’ Jack complained good-naturedly as he loaded her heavy suitcase into the back of his car on Friday morning.
    Mattie didn’t qualify his remark with an answer, merely gave him a lofty stare, having already noted his much smaller case in the boot.
    She knew that she had probably overdone things with her clothes, but never having been to Paris before, in spring or any other time, she hadn’t really known what the climate would be like, and she hadn’t wanted to show her ignorance by asking Jack. Checking in the newspaper the last few days hadn’t been much help either; yesterday it had rained in Paris, and the day before there had been sunshine. Very much like English weather, in fact.
    So she had simply packed all the new clothes on which she had splashed out yesterday, along with everything else she already owned that she thought might be suitable.
    ‘We women like to be prepared for any eventuality,’ her mother was the one to laughingly answer Jack, having come outside to greet Harry, his Bearded Collie.
    The dog was even now running excitedly between their legs, more like a puppy than six years old, his long grey and white coat freshly brushed, his eyes bright, his tail wagging happily. Obviously Harry hadn’t realized yet that he was actually staying here.
    Jack raised dark brows in Mattie’s direction. ‘Do you have the kitchen sink in there too?’
    ‘And a spare bath plug,’ she replied tauntingly.
    ‘Now that just may come in handy.’ He chuckled. ‘I once stayed at a hotel where it took them two days to come up with a new bath plug because the last guest had stolen the original!’
    ‘Well, if you will stay in these cheap places …!’ Mattie derided, knowing full well that this man would only ever travel first class.
    Jack grinned unconcernedly, looking extremely fit and handsome in black fitted trousers and a black shirt, a cream jacket lying on the back seat of his car.
    Mattie hadn’t known what she should wear to travel in either, finally deciding on her best pair of jeans, teamed with a white fitted tee shirt and black jacket. She looked smart, but comfortable, she had decided a short time ago when she’d checked her appearance in the mirror.
    Whereas Jack looked exactly what he was: a wealthy sophisticate who had obviously done this dozens of times before.
    Not with Mattie, he hadn’t!
    Her pulse had started beating a little faster just at the sight of him, the butterflies in her stomach telling of her inner excitement—or was it nervousness …? Whatever, it was the strangest sensation, shyness, and anticipation, mixed up with something that felt like fear, and yet wasn’t. Very strange!
    ‘Shall we take Harry round to his room and get him settled in?’ Her mother briskly took charge of the situation. ‘After all, you two will have to be on your way shortly,’ she added practically.
    Considering this was the first time Mattie had ever gone anywhere with a man, Mattie considered her mother was taking all of this very calmly. What exactly had Jack said when he’d come to see Diana the other morning? She certainly hadn’t got a straight answer from