The Unfaithful Wife

He frowned and then his brow cleared. ‘It might count against you in the divorce...you’re right. Sensible girl. After the hell he’s put you through, why should you pose as the guilty partner? It might affect your settlement.’

‘I don’t want Nik’s money.’

Paul’s bright blue eyes narrowed. ‘Don’t be silly, Leah. I know you already have your father’s inheritance but—’

Leah tensed. Why was all the talk about money? ‘A history of chasing wealthy women’... Nik’s jibe returned to her. Angrily she thrust it away. ‘We’ll have to talk about that.’

‘I’m only thinking about you. You’re not used to roughing it. I couldn’t bear to feel I was dragging you down.’

‘You wouldn’t be. I’ll be free and we’ll be just like any other couple,’ she reasoned in a rush. ‘You should go now. You shouldn’t be here...’

‘Relax, for God’s sake.’ Paul was wandering round the room, taking careful account of the antique furniture and scrutinising the remainder of the pictures. ‘How much of this stuff is yours?’ he enquired, with a low whistle of admiration.

Leah heard the tone of suppressed excitement, saw the avaricious look in his face and something died inside her. All Paul seemed able to think about was what she would bring with her.

Her deadened eyes fell on her mother’s elegant little writing desk, passed on to her by her father after her wedding, the only piece of furniture in the entire house which belonged to her. Something buzzed at the back of her mind as she looked at it but she was too upset by what she had just seen in Paul to be able to concentrate.

‘None of it’s mine. In fact, I signed a pre-nuptial agreement before my marriage and I don’t get anything,’ she lied shakily. ‘And the problem in Paris with my father’s estate? I’m afraid that money has to go towards settling his debts...’

‘Debts?’ Paul gaped at her. ‘You’re having me on.’

‘No; when I walk out of this house I’ll be penniless.’

‘But you never told me that!’ he condemned, and then fell suddenly silent. His mouth compressed. ‘You shouldn’t move out without giving it very careful thought. God knows, I’m only thinking of what’s best for you—’

‘Of course,’ she managed.

‘I would feel really bad if you gave all this up purely for my benefit.’ His smooth insincerity twisted her stomach. ‘I mean, suppose it didn’t work out between us? I have to be honest. I’m not sure I could handle that responsibility. We both need to think very carefully about what we’re doing.’

He said he had an appointment. He wanted to extract himself without embarrassment and mull over what she had told him. Leah felt like an automaton, was scared to feel again. You fool, you fool, echoed at the back of her head. She had fallen for the first smoothie to pay her attention. And of course Paul had listened, supported, encouraged. He had flattered her battered pride, buttered her up with compliments. Naturally. He had wanted her to leave Nik but only if she brought Nik’s money with her.

She went back upstairs and worked frantically to complete her packing. Nothing had changed, she told herself. Paul might no longer figure in her future but she didn’t want Nik there either. She was finished with Nik, finished with the past. And she damned well didn’t need any man to lean on! Three in a row. Her father, Nik, Paul. All of them using, manipulating, abusing. And what had she done? She had put up as much resistance as a boneless, brainless rag doll! Her anger was so great, she could hardly contain it.

Her cases downstairs, she called a cab. Boyce hovered.

‘I won’t be needing you,’ she said, and when he argued added, ‘I’m leaving him.’

Boyce looked shattered. But everybody would know soon enough, she reasoned.

The cab came. As it drove off she took a last look back at the house and it was scary knowing that she was leaving security behind. The cab driver was very helpful about suggesting a hotel. She checked in and went out immediately to buy a newspaper. Finding somewhere to stay and a job were her only priorities.

A knock on the door of her room sounded at ten that night. Leah slid off the bed and unlocked the door. She took one devastated look at Nik and attempted to shut it again. His golden features taut and furious, he planted a hand against the door and thrust it back to the wall, forcing her to retreat.

‘How the hell did you know where I was?’

‘Boyce had the wit to follow you.’ Nik leant back against the door and locked it.

‘He had no right to do that,’ she said bitterly.

‘He works for me and you’re a prime target for kidnapping. He did what he had to do,’ Nik bit out. ‘Just as I’m about to do what I have to do.’

Leah stiffened, clashing with murderous black eyes. ‘And what’s that supposed to mean?’

‘I’m not letting you go,’ he breathed fiercely.

Pain slivered through her but her sapphire eyes gleamed with contempt. ‘You’re like a dog with a bone you buried and forgot about. You had no interest in that bone until somebody else dug it up!’

‘You are my wife.’

‘Since when? Since when was I your wife? You think feeding and clothing covers it?’ Leah jibed helplessly. ‘Well, you can keep your clothing and your food and your rotten money because I don’t want any of it. Any more than I want you!’

‘You always wanted me...’

‘You missed the boat. I got over you a long time ago,’ Leah flung with a sort of embittered enjoyment that was new to her.

‘But you still want me to pay,’ Nik slotted in, strolling fluidly closer. Shimmering dark eyes assailed hers with force, the anger he was controlling blatant in that hard stare. ‘So you walk out without even telling me. I didn’t even qualify for a note—’

‘And what did you expect? Dear Nik, it’s been a lousy five years, goodbye? That’s about all I could have to say to you!’

‘You brought him into my house,’ Nik murmured roughly.

Leah stilled, her hectic colour sliding away, utterly silenced by the news that he was aware of Paul’s visit.

‘And no doubt if it had suited you you would have taken him to our bed as well!’

An edged laugh was torn from Leah. The smouldering tension in the atmosphere was so thick she could taste it but she refused to be intimidated. This confrontation was long overdue. And finally she was having her say. ‘We never had a bed, so fulfilling that ambition would have been a little difficult!’

‘Stop it,’ Nik grated, a tiny muscle pulling at the

corner of his compressed mouth. ‘I am trying not to lose my temper.’

‘I don’t want you and your temper in this room. I want you to leave—’

‘Not without you.’

‘Why? What’s so special about me?’ Leah demanded tempestuously, out of control as she had never been before, her stormy emotions feasting on every acid word. ‘Why don’t you marry one of your bimbos, Nik? Or am I missing something here? Were the bimbos as much of a front as our marriage was? You see, I am not as dumb as I used to be. Why do you want me to stay so badly? Could it be that you’re gay?’

The instant she said it she regretted it. She hadn’t meant to go that far in her need to lash out. A shudder ran through Nik, naked outrage flashing across his savagely handsome features.

‘No...not gay,’ he bit out with considerable effort. As he spoke, he shrugged off his jacket and ripped at his tie. ‘Maybe you need a demonstration...’

Leah blinked, her blinding surge of rage having more or less vented itself on that final accusation which she was guiltily aware had, for Nik, been the ultimate insult. ‘What are you doing?’

‘Something I should have done years ago.’ He tore his shirt out of his beautifully tailored trousers and pulled it over his dark head, discarding it in a heap with the rest.

‘Would you please put your clothes back on?’ Leah said unsteadily, and she knew she sounded ridiculous, which didn’t help.

‘Scared you’d see something you might like? Cristo...’ Nik intoned rawly. ‘To think I was about to waste time courting my wife! To think I was going to do bloody stupid things like buying you flowers and taking you out! Get on that bed...’

‘Have you gone crazy?’ Leah gasped in disbelief.

Before she could move, Nik caught her up in his powerful arms and dumped her down on the divan behind her. He came down on top of her so fast that she hadn’t a hope of evading him. Waves of shock coursed through her.

‘You’re my wife,’ Nik growled down at her, as if that were sufficient justification.