Page 18 of Marriage Bargain with His Innocent
CHAPTER FOUR
‘THAT,’GEORGINASAIDless than an hour later, once Rose had retired for a brief rest before dinner—which she had prepared even though Matias had told her not to bother, that he would make sure a caterer was on board when they arrived, ‘was awful.’
‘You look as though you could do with a drink.’ He poured them both a glass of wine and then stood back to look at her coolly. ‘I had my doubts about this hare-brained idea of yours, but I have to admit that my mother is a different woman to the one I visited three months ago.’
Georgina accepted the proffered glass of wine and stared moodily into the clear liquid as she swirled it round and round and wondered how a couple of hours spent with a woman she dearly loved could end up being as wearying as if she’d run a marathon up Mount Everest carrying weights.
But the questions had been exhaustive and had called for a repertoire of invention she had not foreseen when she had embarked on—as Matias had called it—herhare-brained scheme.
When did they first know...? Where did they go when they met...? Had they met in Cornwall on the sly...? What about getting engaged...? Summer wedding or winter...? What sort of rings did she like...? There was an excellent jewellers not too far away—she knew the one... Oh, don’t mind me...you probably think I’m getting ahead of myself...
By the time the conversation had settled into something resembling normality Georgina had been wrung out. And Matias hadn’t helped matters.
‘I didn’t appreciate your hands all over me,’ she bristled now, sipping her wine and hunching into herself as she looked at him severely over the rim of her glass. ‘I know it’s important that we maintain a...a...realistic...er...front, but you don’t have to touch me all the time!’
‘Point taken,’ Matias said piously. ‘Although I thought you might welcome the way I’ve thrown myself into this situation without grumbling.’
‘And is there really any need for us to go exploring tomorrow?’
‘What do you suggest we do, as a loved-up couple with stars in their eyes?’ Matias returned coolly. ‘Go our separate ways and communicate via email while I’m here? Don’t forget that I didn’taskto get embroiled in this situation but here I am. Rather, hereweare. I propose you go with the flow and cut back on the steady stream of objections.’
It still got on his nerves that he was doing something he hadn’t banked on doing—especially something he hadn’t generated himself. But Matias had enjoyed himself this evening. His mother’s attitude towards him had been subtly but noticeably different. Less...wary. It surprised him how much he had liked the unexpected thaw when he’d always considered himself as hard as nails when it came to accepting the shortcomings of his relationship with his mother.
He’d always known that she judged him for the life choices he had made and, crucially, for not being able to attend his father’s funeral. But, despite that, their relationship had meandered along, with neither party doing the other any harm. He’d fulfilled every obligation when it came to supporting his mother financially. Whatever she wanted, big or small, he did not hesitate to provide. And if there was a certain distance between them, then Matias accepted that it was simply the way it was. Irreversible and inevitable and not that unusual when it came to family dynamics.
Except it wasn’t.
His mother had embraced him. She had teased him. Had laughed with genuine warmth. Her guarded affection had been replaced with an open show of love and it had felt like the reconnection he had never imagined possible.
And as for the touching that Georgina had talked about... He’d liked that as well.
She wasn’t bony, like the catwalk models he was accustomed to dating. Her skin was soft and smooth, and those intermittent touches had put him in mind of what it might feel like to touch arealwoman—which was a phrase he would have scoffed at only days ago.
Helikedthe smallness and the roundness of her...he liked the way her breasts were generous and lush...he liked the shapeliness of her legs. Touching her haddefinitelynot been a hardship.
‘Your mother doesn’t expect us to be all over one another!’ Georgina was protesting now, heatedly.
‘She didn’t look distraught at the sight.’
‘Well, I won’t be joining you for dinner tonight.’ She stood up and primly smoothed her hands over her trousers. ‘I have stuff to do.’
‘Stuff? Whatstuff?’
‘None of your business.’
‘Oh, buteverything’smy business now that we’re a couple...’
‘You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?’ Georgina gritted.
Matias delivered a cool, mocking smile.‘Enjoying?’
Georgina flushed, because of course he wouldn’t beenjoyinganything. He’d been shoved into playing a part with a woman who got on his nerves most of the time and whom he didn’t fancy at all. He would rather steer clear of her. Instead, where was he? Having to put on a show of physical affection for the sake of his mother.
‘I have a job coming up,’ she said, opting for a conciliatory tone. ‘I’m photographing some food for an up-and-coming young local chef. It’s a good job because she’s going to be using some of your mother’s produce—that should be free advertising for the farm. I need to start working on my templates.’
Matias grimaced. ‘I’ve never seen your work,’ he mused. ‘I’ll have to put that right. And, for the record, while I’m here I’m going to use the opportunity to try and persuade my mother to leave this house. It’s too big. Naturally there are memories, but isn’t that what photo albums are all about?’
Georgina shot him an incredulous look from under her lashes. ‘You’reimpossible, Matias. How can you be so cold and unfeeling? Not that anyone would guess with that touchy-feely show you put on for your mother. You’re a brilliant actor. But... I’m really glad you can see a difference in your mum. I know you got dragged into this, and it helps that you can see why I ended up doing what I did. Anyway...’
