Free Love in Another Town by Barbara Taylor Bradford Page B

so had his words and his delivery. He had been almost, but not quite, abrupt with her. This was unlike him. Also, she had detected a nervousness in him, and she could not help thinking he was about to break off with her. What else could it be?
    She sat down heavily on the bed, shivering suddenly, even though it was a lovely May morning, warm and sunny outside. Her heart sank. Yes, that was it. He was going to end their relationship. Sighing, she lay back on the pillows and closed her eyes, thinking of Jake Cantrell. It was exactly a week ago today that they had first made love here in this bed.
    Crazy, exciting, passionate love. He had been insatiable, unable to get enough of her, bringing her back to bed after they had eaten her potluck supper of scrambled eggs. And she had felt the same way; desire had overwhelmed her.
    It seemed to Maggie that they hadn’t stopped making love since then, although this was not strictly true. They had managed to do an enormous amount of work together at the farmhouse, or the site, as he called it.
    But, now that she looked back, he had been odd for the last couple of days, withdrawn and shy with her. It suddenly struck her that his demeanour had been the same as it had on the first night they had met with Samantha to discuss
The Crucible.
    Opening her eyes, Maggie resolutely pushed herself up and left the bed. She went back to the bathroom, finished her toilet, and then returned to the bedroom to dress for the working day ahead.
    Since it was warm and sunny, she chose a pair of lightweight navy blue gabardine trousers with a matching jacket and took out a white cotton T-shirt. Once she was dressed, she hurried downstairs to her office and put her papers in her briefcase.
    A few minutes later, just before nine, she left the house, knowing it would take her a good half hour to drive to the farm near Bull’s Bridge Corner in South Kent.
    Jake’s pick-up truck was already parked outside the old red barn when she arrived. Bringing her Jeep to a standstill, Maggie alighted, picked up her briefcase and slammed the door.
    As she went into the farmhouse, heading for the kitchen, she braced herself, not knowing what he was going to say to her, not knowing what to expect.
    He stood up when he saw her and smiled faintly, almost apologetically, but he made no move in her direction, as he would normally have done.
    Maggie thought he looked drawn, on edge, and his light green eyes, usually so full of vitality and life, were dull and anxious.
    â€˜Hi,’ Maggie said from the doorway.
    He nodded. ‘Thanks for coming early. I wanted a chance to talk to you before the other guys arrived. Come and sit here at the table, Maggie. I brought a Thermos of iced tea. Would you like some?’
    She shrugged, then walked into the room briskly. ‘Why not?’ Sitting down at the table she waited for him to pour the tea, thanked him and said, ‘Why didn’t you want to talk to me on the phone, Jake? What’s this all about?’ Maggie heard the strain and anxiety in her voice and she was annoyed with herself.
    Jake cleared his throat several times, and explained, ‘I’ve been feeling terrible this past week, Maggie, really awful. Ever since we made love last Wednesday.’ He cleared his throat again. ‘I … I … look, I just haven’t been fair to you.’
    Staring hard at him, she asked, ‘What do you mean, Jake?’
    He shook his head, and looked embarrassed when he said in a sudden rush of words, ‘I haven’t been exactly honest with you. It’s not that I’ve lied to you, because I haven’t, but there’s something I should have told you. And I guess I’ve had a very guilty conscience. I just couldn’t stand it any longer. That’s why I wanted to see you this morning.
Explain.’
    â€˜What is it, Jake?’ Maggie asked, sounding slightly perplexed. ‘What are you trying to say to me?’
    â€˜Last