Free An Innocent Affair by Kim Lawrence Page B

when you have to drive defensively. That weird section of society who feel they’re immortal were out in force. Suicidal tendencies don’t begin to cover it. I also had to change a tyre on the hard shoulder, which was the finishing touch to a very frustrating day.’ He moved his hand and it nudged her wine glass. Quick reactions stopped the contents from spilling.
    He might be tired, she reflected, but he isn’t slow. I’m sure the last thing he wanted to do was come here. It was terrible to be designated a boring chore. I expect he’s longing for his own hearth. He obviously works too hard, she decided with a frown.
    â€˜This is your seat.’ He made as if to move.
    â€˜No, it’s all right. I’ll sit here.’ The back of her knee made contact with the sofa. ‘Do you want some wine?’ The offer came out in a rush. Silently she despaired of her behaviour. A little chink of vulnerability in his armour and she was getting all mushy and protective. Alex is the last person in the world who needs protecting, she reminded herself sternly.
    His slanted brows shot towards his hairline. ‘To celebrate our truce? I’m all for that.’
    â€˜Don’t push it, Matheson,’ she growled, without any real conviction. When his eyes smiled he really was incredibly attractive. He was just incredibly attractive full stop.
    â€˜Let me get the glass,’ he said as she reached into the bureau cupboard.
    â€˜Don’t you dare. I’m getting tired of telling people I’m not helpless.’
    â€˜No, but you are vulnerable. Thanks,’ he said as she handed him the wine glass. ‘How many times were your parents cut off last winter?’
    â€˜I don’t know; I wasn’t here.’
    â€˜But you’ll agree they were?’
    Hope nodded reluctantly. ‘We usually are.’
    â€˜Then I can perfectly understand your mother’s concern; it’s about time you did too. I’m all for independence, but I’ve no great admiration for stupidity!’
    â€˜Are you calling me stupid?’
    â€˜Let’s not start name-calling.’ He looked at her over the top of his glass and Hope viewed his pacifism with suspicion. ‘Shall we just take it as read that you’re as obstinate as a mule?’ he continued smoothly, ignoring her snort of outrage. ‘I’m the closest neighbour you’ve got if anything goes wrong, and it’s very little inconvenience for me to spend ten minutes every day to check things.’ He made it sound as though she was making a fuss about nothing.
    â€˜The Wilsons are closer,’ she pointed out pedantically.
    â€˜As the crow flies,’ he agreed, ‘but they’d have to trek across four fields to get here if the roads were blocked. They are already looking after the livestock, aren’t they? Do you want to impose on them even further?’
    â€˜I still think it’s totally unnecessary.’ She already knew she’d lost. It was awful! She was going to see him every day for the next three weeks. Every day she’d be the chore he had to do at the end of the day. Every day she’d be in a state of breathless anticipation by the time he arrived. All that emotional turmoil, and for what? I can’t cope with all this anticlimax, she thought bleakly.
    â€˜Fortunately,’ he said wearily, closing his eyes, ‘I’m not too bothered about what you think.’ His big body slumped in the armchair.
    She’d had a puppy once that could do that—fall asleepwithout warning—often in the strangest locations. This was the first time she’d seen a person do it.
    â€˜Don’t fall asleep!’ Panic sharpened her voice.
    â€˜What…? God, no.’ He rubbed his hands over his face roughly and shook his head ‘Sorry. It must be the heat.’
    â€˜It doesn’t matter,’ she responded gruffly. She couldn’t help feeling