The Secret Sinclair by Cathy Williams Read Free Book Online Page A

living conditions.
    ‘I know,’ Sarah apologised, following the critical path of his eyes. ‘It’s not fantastic, but everything works. And it’s so much better than some of the other places I looked at. I don’t even know where
you
live …’
    Raoul, who had been staring at a dramatic rip in the wallpaper above the dresser, met her eyes and held them.
    He couldn’t understand whether it was her familiarity that was making him feel so
aware of her
—inconveniently, frustratingly,
sexually
aware of her—or whether he had just managed to make himself forget the attraction she had always had for him.
    ‘Chelsea,’ he said grimly, sitting on one of the chairsat the table, which felt fragile enough to break under his weight.
    ‘And … and what’s it like?’ She could feel hot colour in her cheeks, because he just dominated the small space of the kitchen. His presence seemed to wrap itself around her, making her pulses race and her skin feel tight and uncomfortable.
    Coffee made, she handed him a mug and sat on the other chair.
    ‘It’s an apartment.’ He shrugged. ‘I don’t spend a great deal of time in it. It works for me. It’s low maintenance.’
    ‘What does that mean? Low maintenance?’
    ‘Nothing surplus to requirements. I don’t like clutter.’
    ‘And … and is there a woman in that apartment?’ She went bright red as she asked the question, but it was one that had only occurred to her after she had left him. Was there a woman in his life? He didn’t give the impression of being a married man, but then would he ever?
    ‘What’s the relevance of that question?’ He sipped some of the instant coffee and looked at her steadily over the rim of the mug.
    ‘It’s relevant to this situation,’ she persisted stubbornly. ‘Oliver’s your son, and he’s going to have to get used to the idea of having a father around. I’m the only parent figure he’s ever known.’
    ‘Which isn’t exactly my fault.’
    ‘I know it’s not! I’m just making a point.’ She glared at him. ‘It’s going to take time for him to get to know you, and I don’t want him to have to deal with a woman on the scene as well. At least I’d rather not. I suppose if you’re married …’
    Having never had to answer to anyone but himself, Raoul refused to be railroaded into an explanation of hisprivate life—although he could see the validity of her question.
    ‘No. There’s no little lady keeping the home fires burning. As for women … I’ll naturally strive to ensure that a difficult situation isn’t made even more difficult.’
    ‘So there
is
someone.’ She tried desperately to take it in her stride, because it really wasn’t very surprising. He was sinfully gorgeous, and now wealthy beyond belief. He would be a magnet for any footloose and single woman—and probably for a good few who
weren’t
footloose and single.
    ‘I don’t think we should get wrapped up in matters that don’t really have much to do with this … situation. We just need to discuss what the next step should be.’
    ‘Come upstairs and see him. I can’t have this conversation with you when you don’t even know the child you’re talking about. This isn’t a business deal that needs to be sorted out.’ She stood up abruptly and Raoul, put on the spot, followed suit.
    ‘He’s sleeping. I wouldn’t want you to wake him.’ Raoul was more nervous than he could ever remember being—more nervous than when he had chased, and closed, his first major deal. More nervous than when he had been a kid and he had stared up at the forbidding grey walls of the foster home that would eventually become his residence.
    ‘Okay. I won’t. But you still have to see him, or else he’s just going to be a
problem that needs solving
in your head.’
    ‘Since when did you get so bossy?’ Raoul muttered under his breath, and Sarah spun around to find him looming behind her.
    Standing on the first stair, she could almost look him in the eye.