Free An Innocent Affair by Kim Lawrence

the bloody hole. Anna did rather lay it on thick. Anyhow, what’s the problem with Alex dropping in here for a few minutes each night?’
    â€˜He thinks Hope’s a bimbo. I think you should—’
    â€˜Hold it there,’ Adam replied noting with alarm the determined expression on his wife’s face. ‘I’ve told you before, Anna, it’s not a good idea to get involved with your sisters’ love lives.’
    â€˜But Alex is your friend…’
    â€˜I’d like it to stay that way.’
    â€˜Will you two stop discussing me as though I’m not here? I’m quite capable of sorting out my own problems.’
    â€˜Exactly,’ said Adam. His wife looked less than convinced, but to Hope’s relief she didn’t contradict him. She’d just have to rely on Adam’s influence on Anna.
    Â 
    A week later, as she sat staring nervously at the clock on the mantel, Hope didn’t feel quite as capable of coping with the bizarre situation she’d been forced into. But she had the speech worked out. She’d be polite, but firm.
    There’s absolutely no need for you to come here again, Alex. Yes, that hit just the right note—confident but not aggressive.
    It was eight-thirty, and it was snowing. Fred Wilson, their nearest neighbour, who was looking after the farm while her parents were away, had kindly stacked a fresh pile of logs in the hearth of the inglenook. There was a glass of red wine at her elbow, the smell of the casserole her mother had left was permeating the house and she had a good book. She ought to be feeling relaxed. Instead she was jumping at every creak and groan.
    She’d knocked thirty seconds off her time getting to the door. She had to dispel any illusion of helplessness that might be lingering in Alex’s mind, and these little details were all-important.
    I don’t know what I’m worrying about; he’ll probably be relieved that I don’t need him. Not need him? She gave a deep sigh. If only that were true. Come clean,Hope, she told herself, you’re really afraid that the moment you see him all those admirable principles of yours will go sailing out of the window. If he tries to make love to you again you might just take what he’s offering, even though it isn’t nearly enough.
    I’m pathetic and feeble, she thought, frowning with self-disgust. What if he thinks I engineered this, put Anna up to it?
    This novel idea made her sit bolt-upright. The dimly lit room suddenly took on an entirely different aspect. Seen through his eyes the log fire, subdued light and soft music might take on an entirely more sinister slant. What if, horror of horrors, he thought this was all part of the seduction process?
    She pulled herself hurriedly to her feet and hitched her crutches under her arms. The music could go for a start, and she needed light—lots more light!
    Her shriek would have done justice to a banshee.
    Of course she shrieked. Anyone would if they came into contact with a solid chest of large proportions in a house that ought to contain nobody but herself.
    â€˜For crying out loud, woman, you nearly gave me heart failure!’ Alex took her by the shoulders and regarded her as if she was mad.
    â€˜You!’ she spluttered indignantly. ‘What about me? What do you think you’re doing, skulking about? How exactly did you get in?’ Her indignation at having her set piece ruined was growing by the second.
    â€˜Get in? A key, of course. The one your mother gave me. My God, you’re still shaking. Anna said you were nervous about being alone out here, but I thought she was exaggerating.’
    â€˜She didn’t tell me she’d given you a key,’ said Hope, nursing a strong sense of injustice. With a family likemine, who needs enemies? she reflected bitterly. ‘And I’m not nervous! You startled me, that’s all.’
    â€˜I had no idea you were so highly