The Husband Assignment. HELEN BIANCHINЧитать онлайн книгу.
‘I’ll start dinner, sweetheart.’ The house favored open-plan living, and the lounge adjoined the dining room, both of which were visible from the kitchen.
There was chicken and vegetable broth left from yesterday, and she peeled potatoes, carrots and added broccoli to go with the steamed chicken. Better to stick to something fairly bland for the next day or two.
She had just added water to the saucepan when she heard the singsong peal of the doorbell. She reached for the kitchen towel, dried her hands and crossed into the lounge.
‘Doorbell,’ Emma announced solemnly as Stephanie moved into the hallway.
The only person who popped in without forewarning was her neighbor, and she opened the door with a ready smile, only to have it fade as she recognized the man on the landing.
‘What are you doing here?’
‘I believe we’ve already done that,’ Raoul said with musing mockery. He held out two brown paper sacks. ‘I brought dinner.’
‘Why?’ she demanded baldly.
‘Why not?’ he posed lightly.
‘Mommy?’
Stephanie closed her eyes, then opened them again, spearing him with a look that spoke volumes before turning toward her daughter. ‘It’s okay, darling,’ she said gently. ‘Go back into the lounge. I’ll be there in a minute.’
‘Hello, Emma.’
His voice was calm, soothing…friendly, warm, damn him!
‘Hello.’ Emma was openly curious, and not at all intimidated. ‘Who are you?’
Raoul sank down onto his haunches in one fluid movement. ‘A friend of your mother’s.’
‘What’s your name?’
‘Raoul.’
‘Are you having dinner with us?’ the little girl queried solemnly.
‘Would you like me to?’
Oh my, he was good! Stephanie shot him a glance that would have felled a lesser man.
‘Yes.’
Unfair, she wanted to scream.
‘Mommy?’
‘I’m sure Raoul—’ she hesitated fractionally over his name ‘—has plans for the evening.’
‘Do you?’ Emma asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
‘No plans,’ Raoul assured.
Dammit, he was enjoying this!
‘You can watch my video,’ Emma invited, offering a generous smile.
‘I’d like that.’
Stephanie met his eyes, glimpsed the silent query lurking there and wanted nothing more than to close the door in his face. ‘I don’t think it would be a good idea.’
‘I promise to be on my best behavior,’ Raoul declared solemnly.
Don’t you get it? she wanted to demand in anger. You’re not welcome. And never will be, a silent voice echoed.
He inclined his head, aware that she was teetering on the edge, and anything he said at this point could work to his disadvantage.
‘Please, Mommy.’
Blind trust. To a child, everything was simple. If only it was as simple for an adult!
Stephanie inserted the key and unlocked the security door. ‘Come in.’ Her voice was polite, but lacked any pretense of enthusiasm or graciousness.
‘You’re big,’ Emma declared as he entered the lobby, and he smiled.
‘Maybe it’s because you’re small.’
‘I’m three,’ the little girl pronounced proudly.
Raoul indicated the paper sacks. ‘If you lead the way, I’ll deposit these in the kitchen.’
It was a comfortable one-level house, relatively modern with average-size rooms. Raoul’s presence seemed to diminish them, and she was supremely conscious of him as he followed her down the hallway.
It was almost as if all her fine body hairs stood on end in involuntary protection. Which was crazy, she silently chastised. Already she was fast becoming a mass of nerves, and he hadn’t even touched her.
What would you do if he did? Don’t think about it. It’s not going to happen.
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