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knew she’d never be strong enough to renege on her promise to accompany him. She loved him too
much, wanted to be with him too much, to refuse. He might marry Vivian, but at least Kathryn would
have a few memories to tuck away.
“You’re walking me to death,” Phillip groaned, hobbling with exaggeration to the nearest bench
in the busy mall. He eased down with a stage sigh and smile.
“We’ve only been in five shops,” she reminded him. “You can’t possibly be tired.”
“Five shops, where you tried on fifteen outfits each,” he corrected.
She plopped down beside him, sighing wearily. “Well, I’m depressed,” she said. “I had to do
something to cheer me up.”
“ I’m not depressed ,” he said with a sigh. “Why did I have to come along?”
“ To carry the packages,” She said sensibly.
“But, Kathryn, love, you haven’t bought anything.”
“Yes, I have. In that little boutique we just came from.”
His eyebrows lifted. “What?”
“This.” She handed him a small sack containing a jeweler’s box with a pair of dainty sapphire
and diamond earrings inside. “Aren’t they lovely? I charged them to Blake.”
“Oh, no,” he groaned, burying his face in his hands.
“Anyway, you can carry them,” she said, “so you’ll feel necessary.”
“How will I ever survive all these honors you confer upon me?” he asked with mock humility.
“Don’t be nasty,” she chided, pushing against his shoulder with her own as they sat side by side.
“I really am depressed, Phil.”
He studied her dejected little face. “What’s wrong, kitten? Want me to slay a dragon for you?”
“Would you?” she asked hopefully, her green eyes wide. “You could sneak up on her while
she’s sleeping, and ...”
“Your eyes need checking,” he remarked, lifting an eyebrow at her as he folded his arms and
leaned back against the wooden bench. “Vivian isn’t a dragon.”
“That’s what you think,” she muttered. “Wait until she’s your sister-in-law and see if you still
like her.”
“Vivian? Marrry Blake?” He sat up abruptly, staggered. “Where did you come by that piece of
utter nonsense?”
“It isn’t nonsense,” she told him, sulking. “She’s just his style. Beautiful, sophisticated and
blond.”
“That’s his taste, all right. But do you really think he’s got marriage on his mind?” he asked with
a wry grin. “That isn’t his style.”
“Maybe she’s something special,” she grumbled, hating everything about the woman. She glared
into space, hurting in ways she never had before. “She told me that Blake wanted her over here to
meet us.”
“I know. She’s the power behind her father. She controls everything he does, or haven’t you
noticed her ordering him around?”
She shifted on the bench and crossed her legs. “Blake spends all his time with her. Don’t tell me
it’s just for business reasons,” she replied, smoothing the close-fitting designer jeans over her thighs.
Her eyes dropped to her cream-colored cowboy boots and she grimaced at a scuff on the toe.
“You and I spend a lot of time together, too,” he reminded her. “But we’re just friends.”
She sighed. “That’s true.”
“And Blake hates it.”
Her eyes jerked up. “What?”
He grinned. “He’s jealous,” he laughed.
She went cherry pink and averted her gaze.
“Your nuts!”
“Am I? He’s crazilly possessive about you. He always has been , but in the past few days
almost afraid to sit beside you when he’s at home.”
I’m
She felt her heart racing at the words. She hoped against hope that they were true, even while she
knew they weren’t. “He’s just the domineering type,” she corrected nervously. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]