The Housewife and the Film Star by Doris O'Connor Read Free Book Online Page B

himself on anyone, Sven, he's just…"
    Her whispered words brought him back to the present. Sylvia was looking at him warily. Her eyes searched his face. The single worry line between her brows made him wonder how much of those latest thoughts had been mirrored on his face. He forced a smile on his lips.
    "Just what? He is not taking no for an answer, is he? Which makes him a jerk. I told you, you'll have in me the image of the doting boyfriend, and, if that doesn't work to make the man back off, well…"
    He let the words trail off, a sneer on his face, as he imagined how satisfying it would be to plant a fist in the man's face.
    "And that would make you as bad as him, Sven. Sheesh, what is it with you men, thinking violence is the answer to everything?"
    A heavy silence descended between them, as Sylvia shrank in on herself again. His gut churned at what he read in those tortured eyes of hers for just a second before she resolutely stared out of the window, her hands clenched in her lap.
    "Not the answer to everything, no . That would be sex, lady."
    Relief washed over him, when the color returned to her cheeks.
    "You would say that."
    "Don't knock it until you've tried it , baby, at least not with me."
    The feminine sound of strangled exasperation made all his blood rush south. Six months without sex had clearly robbed him of the ability to control his body, making him feel like a horny teenager. At least there was some small satisfaction in the way her breathing sped up, and a slow blush spread across her exposed cleavage. He wasn't the only one feeling the heat.
    "Step on it, George, will you?"
    The sooner they got this dinner over with, the sooner he could work on getting her out of his system.
    ****
    Stood on Peggy's door step Sven stared down at five fo ot nothing of starched elegance that was Sylvia's sister-in-law. The polite smile on her face didn't reach her eyes, and those silver-grey orbs narrowed when she opened the door, and Sylvia tensed against him. Peggy's gaze travelled upwards, and her mouth formed a silent O.
    "I, well … Sylvia, you really should have said you were bringing … um … company."
    She looked positively flustered for all of a nanosecond. Her eyebrows shot up to her hairline, when he pulled Sylvia a bit closer into his frame. He dropped a kiss onto the one exposed shoulder he'd been itching to kiss since he'd first seen her in the elegantly sexy dress. The vibrant color brought out the blue in her eyes and hinted at the luscious curves hiding underneath. His gaze settled on Peggy's in a quiet challenge, and, against Sylvia's dire predictions, she stepped aside, and gestured them in.
    "You better come in. Edward, Henry, Sylvia is finally here. Perhaps I'll be able to rescue dinner after all."
    "I'm sorry we're late , Peggy. It's —"
    "Entirely my fault of course," Sven interrupted, giving Sylvia's waist another reassuring squeeze. "Please forgive my tardiness, but my driver was delayed, and then I had to play a game of football with Timmy, of course, and you know how it is."
    "Timmy?" Peggy echoed, looking from him to Sylvia.
    "Yes, surely you're familiar with your nephew. You know, this high … little dynamo with a very hard head?"
    Sylvia's strangled laugh made his own lips twitch, and they shared an amused look, before the arrival of Peggy's husband and a man whom he presumed must be Harry broke the moment. Sven's own eyes narrowed taking in the competition. Harry had to be in his late fifties, if the receding grey hair was anything to go by. Deep brown eyes met his for an instant, before the man forced his lips into a smile, dismissing Sven as easily as the imaginary speck of dust on his immaculate business suit. Sylvia and this ? Over his dead body. The surge of jealousy at the thought of the man's pudgy hands on her made him clench his jaw so tight, his teeth ground together. Sylvia's startled glance up at him forced a smile on his face, and he turned his attention back to