Single Girl Abroad (Mills & Boon M&B) (Mills & Boon Special Releases) by Kelly Hunter Page A

I-think-I’ve-lost-my-car-keys-panic, but bone-deep fear and anguish. ‘Yes,’ she said faintly. ‘I would be okay with that.’
    ‘And would it help to make your problem go away?’ asked Luke more gently.
    ‘That’s irrelevant,’ said Jianne.
    Luke sat back in his chair and his gaze cut to Madeline. What next? he seemed to say.
    ‘Does Jake
want
a divorce?’ Madeline asked Luke with a questioning shrug. Heaven knew how, but she seemed to be acting as Jianne’s mouthpiece rather than Jacob’s. Maybe it was a solidarity-between-women thing.
    ‘Not if it causes Ji problems,’ said Luke.
    ‘He’s such a sweetheart.’ Madeline barely resisted rolling her eyes. Because from where she was sitting, Jake’s amenability was more a sign of problem avoidance than active co-operation. ‘Would he consider resuming his marriage to Jianne in order to make her problem go away?’
    ‘He’s not that sweet,’ said Luke dryly.
    ‘Just checking. What if he were to
pretend
to be back in Jianne’s life for a time?’ Madeline said next. ‘Would he do that?’
    ‘He doesn’t need to
do
anything,’ said Jianne, finally finding her voice. ‘That’s what I’m trying to tell you. I don’t need his help.’
    ‘Better for you, though, if Jacob remains your husband on paper,’ said Madeline. ‘At least for now.’
    ‘Yes,’ said Jianne reluctantly. ‘Better for me.’
    ‘Tell Jacob that Jianne doesn’t want a divorce,’ Madeline told Luke.
    ‘If Jacob wants a divorce he can have one,’ said Jianne stubbornly.
    ‘If Jacob had wanted a divorce he’d have gotten one,’ countered Madeline. ‘Enough with the divorce talk.’ Time to find out exactly how big Jianne’s problem really was. ‘Is this man your father wants you to hook up with a violent man?’
    ‘He’s obsessed,’ said Jianne quietly. ‘He’s always been obsessed with me.’
    ‘So you’re scared of him,’ said Madeline.
    ‘I’m not comfortable around him,’ said Jianne. ‘I go to a great deal of trouble to ensure that I’m never alone with him.’
    ‘Well, you’re scaring me,’ murmured Madeline.
    ‘Can’t your family do something about him?’ asked Luke. ‘Like cut him out of your life? I seem to recall your father’s had plenty of experience when it comes to turning away people who want to see you.’
    Jianne flinched but made no comment.
    Madeline shot Luke a warning glance. ‘Jianne, why does your father support this man’s behaviour?’ she asked more gently.
    ‘Guanxi,’
said Ji.
    ‘Guanxi?’
echoed Luke.
    ‘Indebtedness,’ explained Madeline. ‘Jianne’s father owes this man a favour. Clearly a big one.’
    ‘A daughter is not a
favour
.’ Luke’s eyes hardened. ‘Ji, have you told this man you’re not interested in him?’
    ‘Of course I have. In a thousand different ways, including verbally and by letter. Do I look like a mindless puppet to you?’ Jianne’s eyes flashed.
    ‘Rhetorical question, right?’ murmured Luke.
    ‘One of the lessons I learned during my time with your family was how to stand up for myself. After standing against Jacob I realised I could stand up to anyone.’
    Brave words, but Madeline was still mulling over Jianne’s comments about having to manoeuvre so as to never be alone with the man. ‘What if you asked Jacob along to a couple of events that you knew this man would be at, and then made sure to introduce them, and then left with Jacob, and then maybe stayed the night with Jacob—’
    ‘Maddy,’ interrupted Luke with a small negative shake of his head.
    ‘Somewhere big enough that you could have separate rooms—’
    ‘Maddy.’ Louder this time.
    ‘So that if this pest followed you he would see that you were well protected and unavailable and go away.’ She turned to Luke. ‘What? Too complicated?’
    ‘Let’s just say I can see a few problem areas,’ murmured Luke.
    ‘I see them too,’ added Ji. ‘Thank you. Really. And thank you for joining me for a meal