To Make a Marriage by Carole Mortimer Read Free Book Online Page B

stickiness of his clothing before taking a large swallow of the fiery liquid.
    Adam gave the older man a pitying glance. He loved Rome like the father he had never known, or perhaps—more acceptably to Rome!—like an older brother. But, at this moment, he could cheerfully have physically shaken the other man to help try and make him see sense. In his business life Rome knew no rivals, became master of every venture he went into, and yet on a personal level he couldn’t see the love right in front of his nose!
    â€˜I don’t remember Barbara ever throwing wine over mein an effort to show her love for me,’ Rome commented at Adam’s continued silence.
    â€˜Barbara obviously had more subtle—ways, of showing you what an idiot you can be!’ Adam replied.
    â€˜Thanks for nothing!’ The older man scowled.
    He looked so much like a disgruntled little boy in that moment that for some reason Adam began to see the funny side of this situation, his mouth twitching as he made an effort to hold back his humour—at the other man’s expense. Rome definitely looked less than his usually suave self with the sticky wine all down his shirt-front, and as for the indignant expression on his face…!
    Rome’s gaze sharpened suspiciously as he looked at Adam through narrowed lids. ‘You wouldn’t happen to be laughing at me, would you?’ he accused with slow deliberation.
    The grin Adam had been trying to suppress suddenly refused to be held back any longer. In fact, it came out as more of a choked chuckle!
    â€˜Damn it, you are laughing at me!’ Rome grated indignantly, slamming down his now empty glass. ‘Would it be too much to ask,’ he continued between gritted teeth as Adam began to chuckle in earnest now, ‘that you share the reason for this—this childish humour?’
    Adam couldn’t help it; Rome’s angry indignation, on top of everything else, was simply too much—and he burst into a loud shout of laughter. Rome was priceless. Absolutely priceless. The man was as much in love with Audrey as she was with him—and was fighting capitulation every inch of the way!
    Why else had he been in such a foul mood ever since Audrey had handed in her notice? Why else had he been so insulting to the poor woman that she had resorted to throwing wine over him? Why else had Rome broughtBarbara into their conversation just now, if not as a defence against the love he felt for Audrey…?
    The man was as head over heels in love with Audrey as she was with him—he was just terrified of admitting it. To the extent he was willing to let Audrey walk out of his life?
    Adam sobered slightly. ‘I was just thinking it’s a pity it wasn’t red wine Audrey threw at you—it would have had a much more dramatic effect visually. Very much like blood, in fact,’ he added with relish.
    Rome didn’t return the humorous smile that accompanied that last statement as he looked at Adam thoughtfully. ‘You have a warped sense of humour, Mr Munroe,’ he said.
    â€˜And you, Mr Summer, have no sense of humour at all at the moment,’ Adam came back uncaringly.
    Rome looked down at his shirt-front, pulling the damp material away from his chest. ‘This shirt is silk,’ he complained.
    Again Adam had to hold back his humour at the other man’s expense. ‘Just tell the dry cleaners you had the shakes and missed your mouth!’
    â€˜Very funny,’ Rome rasped—but there was at last a responding vestige of a smile on his lips. ‘I’ve a good mind to ask Audrey to pay for it to be cleaned!’
    Adam grinned. ‘And risk having the bottle thrown at you next time?’
    Rome looked crestfallen. ‘You know, I’ve known Audrey for twelve years now—and I had no idea she had such a violent temper!’
    Adam looked surprised. ‘All that suppressed passion has to be released