Read Online Love For Sale by Linda Nightingale - Free Book Online Page A

Paul, he’d dial her cell. She knew Paul. His ringtone, All My Ex’s Live in Texas ¸ played from the phone in her handbag. Damn, she didn’t want to deal with a Q&A from her ex. She had much more pleasant activities to pursue.
    Christian frowned, looking as if he’d like to cover his ears. “Are you sure you won’t answer, March? Someone is desperately trying to get in touch with you.”
    “That someone belongs to my past. I want him to stay in the past.”
    “Ah.” He chuckled. “Your ex?”
    “Yep. I emailed him that I was going on vacation. I didn’t give him my return date. Why is he pestering the holy hell out of me?”
    “Regarding the children, perhaps. They’re not yours, but you love them.”
    She grabbed the cell. “That detail wasn’t in my profile.”
    “I am learning the kind of person you are.” He stroked a finger down her arm, sending a yummy shiver over her. “You would love them.”
    March blew him a kiss, wandered to the kitchen and took a deep breath. “Here goes. Hello, Paul. What’s so important?”
    “Paul Jr. saw you return from your trip.” He paused. “With a man.”
    Her ex tried to put everyone on the defensive. The truth was aggressive but damn difficult to force up her throat. “Yes, with a man. Paul, I’m…engaged.”
    “Engaged?” His voice rose. “You went on vacation for a week and came home with a fiancé? Where did you go anyway? Did you meet him on the Internet?”
    “A friend introduced us. My week was like a page from The White Cliffs of Dover. Something like, ‘I had no thought then of husband or lover, I was a traveler, the guest of a week, yet when they pointed the White Cliffs of Dover, startled I found there were tears on my cheek’.” She held the phone away from her ear, expecting a tirade.
    “You and your romance novels. Get a grip, March. This is real life.”
    A movement in the living room distracted her. She turned from staring into nowhere and watched Christian walking toward her. Quite simply, he took her breath away, and she lost the thread of her conversation with Paul. He came into the kitchen, halting close enough to embrace her. Her lover delivered the Mimosa with a smile, but his pupils were dilated, shading his eyes darker blue, his expression angry. Mayfair hadn’t even missed that small detail—that strong emotion darkened people’s eyes.
    “Why do you take his bullying?” Christian whispered.
    “For the boys,” she said aside.
    “For the boys.” Anger darkened Paul’s voice. “Don’t bring that son of a bitch around my kids.”
    Christian reached for the phone, but March dodged. “No. Let’s not make it worse.”
    “What?” Too many beers affected Paul’s enunciation. “Does he want to talk to me? Put him on. I’ll tell him exactly where to get off.”
    “You’ll do nothing of the sort.” She leaned against the counter, her back rigid. “Calm down, Paul. Why are you acting this way? We’ve been divorced for a year. Our only common denominator is the boys.”
    “If he won’t allow you to see them, we’ll petition the court for visitation.” Christian added fuel to the fire.
    March was thrilled he was willing to stick up for her, but at the moment, she wished he’d shut up. With his strength, her new husband could fold the old one into an envelope. Tears filled her eyes as she wished for the peace of their honeymoon in England.
    “Petition the damn court.” Indignation ratcheted Paul’s voice louder. “They’re my kids by blood. Not yours.”
    She lost control, her hand fisting at her side. “You’re being a raving asshole.”
    Realizing what she’d said, she glanced at Christian. He stifled a laugh, his blue eyes sparkling. She was glad he was amused not shocked to the bottom of his British socks.
    “Paul, I’ll visit the kids without…” She refused to give Paul his name. Christian was her beloved dream. Speaking his name to an ogre might break the spell. “My husband will not come with