Page 73 of Seduction Under the Southern Stars

“Four p.m., after he finishes at school.”

“At his house?”

“Yeah. I guess his wife will be there.” I pull an eek face.

“He said she was all right about it, didn’t he?” she asks.

“Yeah, but I wonder how true that was? It can’t be much fun finding out that your husband has a twenty-eight-year-old son.”

She tips her head to the side, thinking about it. “I don’t know. He said she was terrific, and solid as a rock. It sounds as if she’s sensible—I like her already. Edmund’s probably anxious about meeting you, and he was certainly nervous about telling her. If it was me, and it happened before my husband and I met, I’d want to try and be supportive and encouraging. I’d be thinking of the young man who must have struggled at home if he had to go to Greenfield. They must have talked about that and what happened with Don.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

“Will you tell Edmund about him? Explain why you ended up at Greenfield?”

“Perhaps. I’ll wing it.”

Her expression turns wry. “Of course you will.”

“It’s the way I roll. I’m adaptable.”

“You mean disorganized.”

“Po-tay-to, po-tah-to…”

She laughs and looks out of the window for a moment. “I spoke to Fraser last night,” she admits.

“Yes, I know.”

Her eyebrows rise. “What do you mean?”

“I had a text from him.” My lips curve up. “It was like an essay. You know Fraser—lots of very polite bollocking. He wasn’t a happy bunny.”

Her eyes flash. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry.”

“Ah, no worries. I understand. He’s just looking out for you.”

“Even so… that was out of order. I am sorry. I am going to have to talk to him about it. He is a sweetheart, but I am twenty-four and able to make my own decisions now about who I spend my time with.”

“That’s what I told him. Anyway, I promised I’d take care of you while we were away, and he seemed happy with that.”

Actually, after the text essay, Fraser had called me, and we’d had a lengthy discussion about Elora. He’d been quite open with his fears for her, not just for her physical safety, but for her mental and emotional well-being too. I listened, because I respect him and his love for his sister, but when he asked me to promise that I wouldn’t make a move on her, I refused to comply.

“Not because I’m going to,” I told him. “But because it’s not your right to ask that.”

“You want me to tell her I need her to work?” he asked, his voice hard and very un-Fraser-like. It was like being bullied by a teddy bear. “Because I can do that.”

I hesitated. “I promise with all my heart that I won’t do anything to her that she doesn’t want done.”

“Fuck you. Maybe Dad was right about you.”

Ouch. That stung. I looked out of the hotel window. “Maybe.”

There was a moment of silence. Then he said, “Sorry. That was uncalled for.”

I sighed.

“Just… take care of her,” he said roughly.

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