Paradise Found by Dorothy Vernon Read Free Book Online Page A

forgotten. I’m wearing another man’s ring.’
    â€˜I’m not the only one who forgot that.’
    â€˜That’s true, and I’m ashamed.’
    â€˜You don’t have to be, Zoe.’
    â€˜Don’t have to be?’ she gasped incredulously. ‘Don’t try to explain that, Matt. I don’t think you could.’
    â€˜If that’s so, it’s not for the reasons you think.’
    She didn’t believe that. Nothing could justify her behavior. He knew she was right; he had just said that to save face. She was furious with him for his part in what had happened and even more furious with herself for letting herself feel that way about him, for enjoying his caresses. Some of that fury turned back on him. Her driving need was to punish.
    She laughed. Even to her own ears it sounded unnaturally high and brittle. ‘I’m so sorry, Matt.’
    â€˜Sorry?’ he queried, frowning.
    â€˜Tony being in hospital is only part of my guilt. I feel ashamed for using you. You hit the nail on the head a bit too accurately. Tonight should have been my wedding night, and I felt angry at having to spend it on my own. A woman dreams about that, even if it isn’t a new experience.’ She couldn’t resist that. Then, on a softer, extra hurtful note, ‘Perhaps
because
it isn’t a new experience. So you see, when you started messing around, I thought, why should I be deprived? But it wouldn’t be fair to use you because the man I really want isn’t available.’
    He didn’t say a word. He looked as if he didn’t trust himself to open his mouth. His anger was like a black volcano ready to erupt. He turned on his heel and left.
    It didn’t occur to her to wonder how he would get home, but the knowledge came to her anyway when she heard the urgent revving up of an engine. Of course, he’d taken her car.
    It was a long time before she managed to drag herself into her bedroom and, ultimately, to bed. The pressures left from the day were unbelievable. Her wedding hadn’t taken place. Her bridegroom lay in a hospital. And what should have been her wedding night had almost been consummated by another man.

CHAPTER THREE
    Matt arrived in her car the next day in time for the afternoon visit to the hospital. The pattern of the previous day was followed. Matt, who drove, parked her car where she had parked it the day before. Nerissa was waiting in the house for them, and Matt drove them to the hospital in his car. If Nerissa noticed the below-zero coldness between Zoe and Matt, she tactfully refrained from making any comment.
    Tony was obviously still in considerable pain, despite the influence of painkillers, and Zoe, who was not a very demonstrative type of person in public, surprised even herself by holding his hand in an extra loving way and kissing him with the kind of warmth better saved for private moments. She couldn’t make up her mind who disapproved most, Matt or Nerissa.
    On the way back they talked between themselves, leaving her feeling curiously isolated. When they arrived at the house Nerissa said, ‘Are you coming in, Zoe?’ Zoe was on the point of saying no. Perhaps that was obvious from her expression, because then Nerissa said, ‘I think you should. Practicalities will have to be discussed. In any case, there seems little point in your making the journey to your apartment and then coming back here in time to make the evening visit to the hospital. You may as well stay and have tea with us.’
    It seemed a rather grudging invitation, but Zoe concurred. Though how practicalities could be discussed without Tony there was a puzzle to her.
    Zoe half expected Matt to decline afternoon tea, but he accepted a cup and she was conscious of his eyes on her when he sat down at the other end of the sofa.
    Nerissa settled into her favorite chair on the other side of the long occasional table. ‘Now, about the