Read Online The Surgeon's Miracle / Dr Di Angelo's Baby Bombshell by Caroline Anderson / Janice Lynn - Free Book Online

horribly aware of how grand it all was and how out of her depth she’d felt last night amongst all the socialite butterflies, and he flashed her a smile.
    ‘That would be my preference,’ he said honestly, ‘but I don’t want you to be bored.’
    ‘Oh, I won’t be bored,’ she assured him instantly. ‘How could I be bored? Look at it! It’s so beautiful here, all this stunning countryside.’
    His mouth lifted in a wry smile. ‘All I see is a pile of responsibilities stretching away into the hereafter. It should go to Will, really. He’s the one who loves it, the one with the vision. He knows every inch of it far better than I ever will. You ought to ask him to give you a guided tour.’
    ‘I’d rather you showed me.’
    His smile softened. ‘So would I. We’ll take a drive this afternoon, go for a walk in the woods—we could have lunch out, if you like, rather than stay here. There’s a pub in the village down on the river, it’s rather nice. Or we can take a picnic and eat it in the folly. I’m sure there’s something in one of the fridges we can steal.’
    ‘Shouldn’t we be here for lunch? The dutiful son and all that?’ she asked, but he shook his head, his eyes glinting with mischief.
    ‘Only if you want to brave Charlie again.’
    ‘Oh, poor Charlotte. I think I’ll pass,’ she said with a contrite smile. ‘I feel so guilty when she tells me you’re virtually engaged.’
    ‘Don’t. It’s just her wishful thinking, she’ll get over it one day.’
    ‘In which case, a picnic in the folly sounds perfect. Won’t the caterers mind if you raid the fridge, though?’
    His smile widened. ‘No,’ he said confidently. ‘We’ll steal it from the family kitchen. The caterers for tonight’s extravaganza will be working in the visitors’ centre—they’ve got a big catering kitchen over there and it’s perfect for such a large function, but the cooks who work in the visitors’ centre restaurant will be doing lunch in the house, and they won’t mind if we steal something from the buffet stash. They love me.’
    His grin was cocky and boyish and endearing, and she could easily see how they might indeed love him. It wouldn’t be hard at all, she thought wistfully, and felt sorry for Charlotte all over again.
    They went in through the back door, into the family kitchen where they’d had breakfast with the dogs, and found breakfast cleared away and the team of cooks in full swing preparing lunch for the house guests; they greeted him with smiles and told him to help himself, so Andrew swiped a few slices of asparagus and mushroom quiche still warm from the oven, a bowl of salad and a handful of crusty rolls, put them in a basket with a bottle of spring water and some plastic cups and a bunch of grapes and some cheese, and they headed off in the car. She took her borrowed boots and jacket, and they drove to the edge of a wood, parked the car and walked to the folly.
    ‘Oh, it’s beautiful! The walls are all painted!’ she exclaimed, her eyes wide as she stepped inside and stared around.
    He saw the moment she registered the content, thesoft colour that swept her cheeks, the muffled laugh through fingers pressed lightly against her lips. ‘I understand now why she thought it was lewd and uncivilised, but really they’re lovely,’ she said, turning to him with a smile, and he smiled back, watching her as she looked again at the paintings of naked lovers frolicking in the woods; her eyes were entranced, and he was pleased he’d brought her here—pleased he’d had the idea of the picnic and that she hadn’t wanted to do all the tedious and organised things that the others would be doing. This way he had her to himself, but the downside was they were alone in a room designed for lovers, a room filled with images that heated his imagination and made his thoughts run riot.
    Thoughts filled with images of him and Libby.
    And that was worrying. It wasn’t supposed to be like this; she was