Strange Bedfellow by Janet Dailey Read Free Book Online Page A

 
    The sharp side of his double-edged remark sliced at Dina. She paled at the censure, but otherwise retained a firm hold on her poise.  
    The meal was an epicurean's delight, from the soup to the lobster thermidor to the ambrosia of fresh fruit. Blake made all the right comments and compliments, but Dina noticed he didn't seem to savor the taste of the various dishes the way she remembered he had in the past. She had the impression that dining had been reduced to the simple matter of eating. Food was food however it was prepared, and man needed food to live.  
    Coffee was served in the living room so Deirdre could clear away the dishes. Again Dina was kept at Blake's elbow. Chet was on the far side of the room. As she glanced his way, he looked up, smoke blue eyes meeting the clear blue of hers. He murmured a quick excuse to the older woman who had him cornered—a Mrs. Burnside, an old school friend of Norma Chandler—and made his way toward her.  
    Through the cover of her lashes, Dina dared a glance at Blake and saw the faint narrowing of his gaze as Chet approached. The smile on Chet's face was strained when he stopped in front of them. Dina guessed he was trying to find a way to tell Blake of their engagement and she wished there was a way to let him know that Blake was aware of it.  
    “It seems like old times, Blake,” Chet began, forcing a camaraderie into his voice, “coming over to your house for dinner and seeing you and...” His gaze slid nervously to Dina.  
    “Chet,” Blake interrupted calmly, “Dina has told me about your engagement.”  
    The room grew so quiet Dina was certain a feather could have been heard dropping on the carpet. All eyes were focused on the trio, as if a brilliant spotlight were shining on them. She discovered that, like everyone else, she was holding her breath. After the savage anger Blake had displayed upstairs, she wasn't sure what might happen next.  
    “I'm glad you know. I...” Chet lowered his gaze searching for words.  
    Blake filled in the moment's pause. “I want you to know I don't bear any ill feelings. You've always been a good friend and I'd like it to continue that way.” Dina started to sigh with relief. “After all, what are friends for?”  
    No one except Dina seemed to pay any attention to the last caustic comment. Chet was too busy shaking the hand Blake offered in friendship. The others were murmuring among themselves about the moment for which they had been waiting all day.  
    “Naturally the engagement is broken,” Blake joked with a smile that contrasted with the sharply serious light in his eyes.  
    “Naturally,” Chet agreed with an answering smile.  
    And Dina felt a rush of anger that she could be tossed aside so readily without protest. For that matter, she hadn't even been consulted about her wishes.  
    Immediately she berated herself. It was what she wanted. Blake was alive and she was married him. She didn't want to divorce him to marry Chet, so why was she fussing? A simple matter of ego, she decided.  
    After the confrontation over the engagement, the party became anticlimactic. There was a steady trickle of departures among the guests. One minute was wishing Mrs. Burnside goodbye and the next she was alone in the foyer with Blake, his eyes watching her in that steady, measured way she found so unnerving.  
    “That's the last of them,” he announced.  
    Dina glanced around. “Where's your mother?”  
    “In the living room helping Deirdre clean up.”  
    “I'll give them a hand.” She started to turn away.  
    But Blake caught her arm. “There's no need.” He released it as quickly as he had captured it. “They can handle it by themselves.”  
    Dina didn't protest. The day had been unconscionably long and she felt enervated from the physical and mental stress she had experienced. What she really wanted was a long night of hard, dreamless sleep. She started for the stairs, half aware that Blake was following.