Page 97 of Modern Romance Collection February 2025, 5-8

Engaged in Deception

Kim Lawrence

“You’re tired.” Joaquin reached out his fingertips, touching the bruise on her cheek.

Clemmie shivered. “Post head injury fatigue apparently.” Maybe that was why she couldn’t stop thinking about putting her head on his shoulder, which was so temptingly close.

They were engaged. It would be the most natural thing in the world to react to the impulse and feel his arms circle her, his fingers in her hair. She’d close her eyes and breathe in the clean male scent of him.

They were engaged. No matter how many times she thought it, it didn’t seem real, and yet at the same time it felt so right.

Frustration bubbled up inside her. How could she not know, not remember, not remember being kissed or...? Her glance drifted to his mouth, the firm, sensual line of his lips.

Why should she feel guilty for staring? It wasn’t as if she’d woken up and found herself engaged to a total stranger. She’d woken up and found herself engaged to her best friend.

How had it happened?

When had it happened?

To my loyal writing companion chocolate and my husband, who brings me the chocolate!

CHAPTER ONE

THEFOOTSTEPSCLEMMIEregistered as she was halfway down the narrow alley—a shortcut from the library to the main road—did not have her quickening her pace. The clip-clop-clatter of the senior librarian’s favourite spiky ankle boots was unmistakable.

Clemmie turned and waited.

‘Clem, I caught you!’

The older woman paused to catch her breath as she pressed one hand to her dramatically heaving chest and the other to her pink-streaked bleached crop to protect it from the wind. Clemmie’s boss was waging a one-woman war against the mousy librarian stereotype and, as she liked to boast, she was winning!

With a questioning shake of her head Clemmie waited for her to catch her breath. To make Lily run in those heels it had to be a problem.

‘You were catching the train home tonight?’

Still puzzled, Clemmie nodded and shivered. The alley was a wind tunnel.

‘I haven’t packed yet,’ she admitted ruefully as she pulled her hood up protectively over her red curls. ‘But hopefully I’ll get a late train tonight, or if not first thing...’ A possible reason for the chase occurred to her. ‘Has Prue called in sick? I thought she looked a bit off this morning. Do you want me to do a shift tomorrow morning? I could if you’re pushed, and leave later,’ she offered.

‘Prue was just hungover,’ her boss inserted drily. ‘I despair of you—you are such a pushover. I know you swapped shifts with Prue last week. She takes advantage.’

‘I didn’t mind. So, what is...?’

‘I wanted to give you a heads-up in case you were heading straight for the station. It’s the trains.’

‘What about the trains?’

‘There aren’t any—its rail Armageddon!’ she declared dramatically. ‘All over the news. I just heard there’s a major points failure and a goods train derailment. No casualties, thankfully. And apparently the strike talks have broken down again.’

Clemmie pushed out a sigh, her breath turning misty white in the cold, damp air. ‘Just what I need.’

‘You could hire a car? Wait...can you drive?’

‘I haven’t driven since I passed my test, and that was eleven years ago.’

She couldn’t afford to run a car, or for that matter hire one. A depressing thought had she been the sort of person who allowed herself to be worried about such things.

‘But don’t worry. I’ll think of something. You go indoors; you’ll freeze to death,’ she added as an extra-strong gust blew her hood off. For several seconds she was blinded by her red curls.

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