Marriage by Deception by Sara Craven Read Free Book Online Page A

wanted to keep had been ‘Chapter’ and ‘One’, she’d decided to have a break and do some tidying in the garden.
    She knew exactly what was to blame for this cranky restlessness. Last night’s ill-judged rendezvous with Sam Alexander, that was what, she thought grimly. And let it be an everlasting lesson to her not to interfere.
    Because he seemed to have taken up residence in a corner of her mind, and she couldn’t shift him.
    And the most disturbing thing of all was that she kept remembering him in ways that made her skin burn, and an odd trembling invade her limbs.
    All things considered, she was quite glad she couldn’t remember her dreams.
    But nothing happened, she thought, irritably shovelling the defeated weeds into a plastic sack. We had dinner—and he kissed me. But that’s no big deal. I should have seen it coming and dodged. My mistake. But there’s no point in making a federal case out of it.
    I’d be better off deciding what to say to Colin when he comes back tomorrow, she told herself, as she stripped off her gardening gloves.
    Because she knew now, without doubt, that there was no longer any future in their relationship, and she would have to tell him so.
    At first she thought she’d say it when he rang that evening. But that would be the coward’s way out. The relationship might be irretrievably stale, but after two years he deserved an explanation face to face.
    She wondered how upset he would really be. It had occurred to her some time ago that anyone who seriously wanted to marry Colin would have to get past his mother first. Colin’s flat might be self-contained, but he was still where Mrs Hayton wanted him—on the other side of the wall—and she wouldn’t let him go without a struggle.
    The fact that this didn’t bother me unduly should have warned me that things weren’t right, Ros told herself. If Colin was really the man for me, I’d have fought for him tooth and nail.
    She went indoors and made herself a sandwich lunch. She’d just sat down to eat it when the phone rang, making her jump uneasily. Just as she’d done with every other call that morning.
    ‘Oh, pull yourself together,’ she adjured herself impatiently. ‘It can’t possibly be Sam Alexander. You’re being paranoid.’
    ‘Ros?’ It was Janie. ‘I’ll be back on Sunday night—probably quite late.’
    ‘Everything’s going well?’
    ‘Ye-es.’ Janie hesitated. ‘Martin’s parents are really nice, but I think I was a surprise to them. And they say it’s too soon to be making wedding plans,’ she added glumly.
    ‘How does Martin feel?’
    ‘Well, naturally he doesn’t want to go against his family,’ Janie said defensively. ‘But we’re trying to talk them round.’ There was a pause, then she said in a lower voice, ‘Did you contact “Lonely in London” for me?’
    Ros swallowed. ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Yes, I did. I—I think he got the message.’
    ‘You’re a star,’ Janie said. ‘Must dash. We’re taking the dogs for a walk.’
    I don’t feel like a star, Ros thought as she replaced the receiver. More like a black hole.
    And why didn’t I tell her the truth? I could have made a joke of it. Hey—I checked him out personally, and you had a lucky escape. A haircut from hell, and he buys his clothes from a street market.
    She looked at her plate of sandwiches, decided she wasn’t as hungry as she’d thought, and went back to her study.
    But by mid-afternoon she still hadn’t made any real progress on the rewrite of her book.
    Maybe if I chose a different background, she thought. A different period—the Wars of the Roses, perhaps. Something that would give me a fresh perspective.
    She’d need to do some research, of course, she realised with sudden relish, and a trip to the local library was infinitely more appealing than staring at a blank computer screen. Or allowing herself to become prey to any more ridiculous thoughts…
    On her way down she grabbed her jacket and bag from