him the two of us have met, of course, but I don’t think he would like the idea of the two of us—discussing him in this way.’
‘I’m sure he wouldn’t,’ Betty agreed instantly, obviously relieved at the suggestion. ‘It was just that when I saw you leaving the hotel earlier I couldn’t resist coming and talking to you. And I’m so glad I did.’ She smiled. ‘I shall very much look forward to seeing you again this evening,’ she finished.
‘Thank you,’ Mattie said, before turning and walking slowly back to the hotel.
What on earth did Jack think he was doing? Okay, soMattie accepted he found the attentions of his future brother-in-law’s sister a pain in the— He had wanted to put this Sharon off without offending anyone. But what on earth had he imagined the rest of his family were going to think about him bringing a ‘girlfriend’ with him this weekend, especially as he had never done such a thing before?
Exactly what Betty Beauchamp obviously thought: that Jack was actually serious about her.
She could only conclude that Jack hadn’t thought about that side of things at all, had just seen a way to rid himself of Sharon’s unwanted attentions—while at the same time have a little fun at Mattie’s expense.
Well, they would just see later today who was having fun and who wasn’t!
CHAPTER EIGHT
‘M ATTIE , I— What are you doing?’
Mattie almost laughed out loud at the stunned look on Jack’s face as she launched herself into his arms, her face raised expectantly for his kiss.
She looked pointedly into the sitting-room behind him, instantly stepping back. ‘I thought I had better show some affection, in case we weren’t alone,’ she said—knowing very well that they were. But Jack couldn’t possibly know that she had looked into the sitting-room a few minutes ago when she’d heard him arrive back from the airport and already knew they were by themselves!
Jack glowered darkly. ‘Very commendable, I’m sure.’ He ran a hand tiredly through the dark thickness of his hair. ‘If a little misguided. I’m hot, sticky, and tired,’ he explained at her raised brows.
Actually, he looked absolutely shattered; perhaps trying to sort out the situation between his eldest sister and her husband had taken its toll!
But Mattie was in no mood to feel in the least sorry for him. ‘Hardly in the mood for love, hmm?’ she teased, blue eyes glowing mischievously.
But not too mischievously, she hoped; she didn’t want Jack to realize this early in the day that she was completely aware of the game he had been playing with her. No … she certainly didn’t want him to realize that yet …
‘Would you like me to order you some lunch whileyou take a shower and freshen up?’ she offered, knowing by his quizzical expression that, after the way they had parted last night, he was totally confused by her friendly behaviour. Which was exactly what Mattie wanted him to be. It would serve him right if he were to think, after the intimacy of the evening they had spent together yesterday, that she was taking this whole thing seriously.
Which was how, during the hours when she’d waited for him to return from the airport, she had decided to play it. Given what she now knew, it would probably frighten the life out of Jack if he believed she was really falling for him.
‘I got your message, by the way,’ she informed him casually, having been handed a letter by Reception when she’d returned to the hotel after her walk early this morning. It hadn’t been a very long message: ‘Gone to the airport. Don’t do anything until I get back. Jack.’
Don’t do anything until he got back …! What did he think she was, an obedient pet as blindly devoted to him as Harry was? Because if that was what he thought—
‘So I see,’ Jack drawled at the obvious fact she was still here. ‘You—’
‘Would you like some lunch?’ Mattie pointedly picked up the telephone receiver. ‘I ordered a club
‘I’m sure he wouldn’t,’ Betty agreed instantly, obviously relieved at the suggestion. ‘It was just that when I saw you leaving the hotel earlier I couldn’t resist coming and talking to you. And I’m so glad I did.’ She smiled. ‘I shall very much look forward to seeing you again this evening,’ she finished.
‘Thank you,’ Mattie said, before turning and walking slowly back to the hotel.
What on earth did Jack think he was doing? Okay, soMattie accepted he found the attentions of his future brother-in-law’s sister a pain in the— He had wanted to put this Sharon off without offending anyone. But what on earth had he imagined the rest of his family were going to think about him bringing a ‘girlfriend’ with him this weekend, especially as he had never done such a thing before?
Exactly what Betty Beauchamp obviously thought: that Jack was actually serious about her.
She could only conclude that Jack hadn’t thought about that side of things at all, had just seen a way to rid himself of Sharon’s unwanted attentions—while at the same time have a little fun at Mattie’s expense.
Well, they would just see later today who was having fun and who wasn’t!
CHAPTER EIGHT
‘M ATTIE , I— What are you doing?’
Mattie almost laughed out loud at the stunned look on Jack’s face as she launched herself into his arms, her face raised expectantly for his kiss.
She looked pointedly into the sitting-room behind him, instantly stepping back. ‘I thought I had better show some affection, in case we weren’t alone,’ she said—knowing very well that they were. But Jack couldn’t possibly know that she had looked into the sitting-room a few minutes ago when she’d heard him arrive back from the airport and already knew they were by themselves!
Jack glowered darkly. ‘Very commendable, I’m sure.’ He ran a hand tiredly through the dark thickness of his hair. ‘If a little misguided. I’m hot, sticky, and tired,’ he explained at her raised brows.
Actually, he looked absolutely shattered; perhaps trying to sort out the situation between his eldest sister and her husband had taken its toll!
But Mattie was in no mood to feel in the least sorry for him. ‘Hardly in the mood for love, hmm?’ she teased, blue eyes glowing mischievously.
But not too mischievously, she hoped; she didn’t want Jack to realize this early in the day that she was completely aware of the game he had been playing with her. No … she certainly didn’t want him to realize that yet …
‘Would you like me to order you some lunch whileyou take a shower and freshen up?’ she offered, knowing by his quizzical expression that, after the way they had parted last night, he was totally confused by her friendly behaviour. Which was exactly what Mattie wanted him to be. It would serve him right if he were to think, after the intimacy of the evening they had spent together yesterday, that she was taking this whole thing seriously.
Which was how, during the hours when she’d waited for him to return from the airport, she had decided to play it. Given what she now knew, it would probably frighten the life out of Jack if he believed she was really falling for him.
‘I got your message, by the way,’ she informed him casually, having been handed a letter by Reception when she’d returned to the hotel after her walk early this morning. It hadn’t been a very long message: ‘Gone to the airport. Don’t do anything until I get back. Jack.’
Don’t do anything until he got back …! What did he think she was, an obedient pet as blindly devoted to him as Harry was? Because if that was what he thought—
‘So I see,’ Jack drawled at the obvious fact she was still here. ‘You—’
‘Would you like some lunch?’ Mattie pointedly picked up the telephone receiver. ‘I ordered a club
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