Free Romance of a Lifetime by Carole Mortimer

at least managed to salvage the apartment from her marriage, forcing herself to go back there and confront the demons that awaited her. Martin hadn't seemed interested in moving back into the apartment himself, and as it had been a wedding present from her father she hadn't had too much difficulty holding on to it.

    She had tried, so briefly, to talk to her father of the reason for her accident, but he had told her she shouldn't have reacted like a fool, that the other woman didn't matter because she had been the one married to Martin, the one expecting his child.
    With reasoning like that on her father's side it was no wonder her mother's marriage to him had failed!
    'Beth?'
    For several seconds she looked blankly across the table at Marcus Craven, and then the full realisation of where she was and who she was with returned to her. 'You've shown me some of Venice——'
    'But it's only early afternoon——'
    'And I've taken up enough of your time for one day.' She smiled with a noticeable lack of warmth, signalling for the bill. 'I'm sure you have relatives, friends, you would like to visit.'
    'My family come from Northern Italy,' he instantly dismissed. 'And I thought we were friends.' Her scepticism at this claim must have shown in her face because he laughed softly. 'Acquaintances often become friends,' he reasoned. 'It's a natural progression in the relationship.'
    Her head went back, her eyes narrowed. 'And just how far do you expect this relationship to "progress"?'
    'I expect nothing except friendship,' he shrugged.
    'Don't you?' Beth derided.
    His mouth tightened. 'Have I asked you for anything else?'
    His type didn't ask, she just stopped herself from saying. But maybe she was being unfair to him; he had just been good company today. But he was too handsome, too intelligent, too smooth, to only be interested in being 'good company'.
    Until a year ago she had never experienced cynicism; now she viewed everything in that light, was sure, with the exception of her mother, that everyone had an ulterior motive for most of their actions. And she didn't believe Marcus Craven was just wasting his time on her—he expected something back in return.
    'Not yet.' Her hand was completely steady as die raised her glass to her lips, nodding her thanks to the waiter as he brought her the bill. 'Lunch in return for your time this morning.' She took some notes out of her bag.
    Marcus caught her wrist as she would have thrown the notes down on top of the bill. 'You can't buy everything, you know,' he rasped.
    Martin had been bought as a husband for her, her father's money had seen to that, and the only thing Martin had given up, the only thing, had been his name.
    'That hasn't been my experience,' she said dully, removing her arm from his hand with little effort, turning to pick up her bag.
    'I really do appreciate this morning; I don't want you to think I'm at all ungrateful.'
    'Do you always deliver an insult with a thank-you?' he bit out hardly.
    'I wasn't meaning to be insulting.'
    'No?' he frowned disbelievingly.
    Beth sighed. She had enjoyed her morning with him, and if she hadn't started thinking about Martin and her father she would have thanked this man politely at the end of the day and none of this conversation would have taken place.
    'No,' she said heavily. 'I really have appreciated the time you've given me this morning, but there must be other things you need to be doing.'
    'I can't think of any,' he told her drily.
    They were going round and round in circles here, both of them being as stubborn as the other. 'Then perhaps you would like to walk me back to the hotel,' she compromised. 'I thought I would go to my room and rest for a while.'
    He gave a rueful smile. 'The pat on the head with a kick in the teeth?'
    'Not at all.' She stood up smoothly, looking cool and attractive. 'It happens to be the truth.' And she would much rather deal with the truth nowadays, no matter how painful it might prove to be.
    Then why had