In Bed With...Collection

Will Templar laughed and pressed her hand reassuringly. ‘My son made the claim of beauty and brains. Since both are in evidence, I just thought I’d add my observations to the list. A very great pleasure to meet you, Sunny.’

The feeling of being patronised instantly raised Sunny’s hackles. ‘Is this a case of let the fun begin between you two?’ she challenged. ‘Shall I just sit down and eat while you get on with it?’

‘Sassy, too.’ Will Templar grinned, patting her hand in approval. ‘I think I’ll let you entertain me instead.’

‘If you’re not careful, Dad, Sunny may very well eat you for lunch.’

‘I did notice her teeth, my boy,’ he retorted good-humouredly. ‘A smile to dazzle you with before chomping.’

‘Beware the bite,’ Bryce tossed back at him. ‘Mine, too.’

‘I do love a good fight,’ Will Templar confided to Sunny, wrapping her arm around his as he drew her towards the table. ‘Especially when I win.’

‘I’m the winner here,’ Bryce declared, his eyes hotly assuring Sunny she was the top prize to him.

‘I can see that,’ his father conceded. ‘But who spurred you on to take a wife?’

Again the feeling of being a mere cipher between them goaded Sunny into further speech. ‘Actually, Mr. Templar, I took Bryce as my husband.’

‘What?’ He looked flabbergasted at her temerity.

Sunny smiled. ‘You could call it a mutual taking. I did have equal say in it, you know.’

Bryce laughed.

His father looked askance at her. ‘You have a very smart tongue.’

‘Smart brain, too,’ Bryce chimed in. ‘What would you like to drink, Dad?’

‘I’ve got to stick to juice.’

‘Sunny?’

‘I’ll have juice, too, thanks, Bryce.’

‘I had Rosita bring out a bottle of Krug champagne,’ his father pointed out.

‘Lovely,’ Sunny warmly approved, ‘but not on an empty stomach.’

He pulled out a chair from the table and waved her to it. ‘Then sit down and eat,’ he commanded, put out at not having everything go his way.

Sunny grinned at him. ‘Thank you.’

He shook a finger at her. ‘You…are a very provocative young woman.’

‘You mean…not a yes-woman?’ Sunny tilted at him before reaching for a corn chip and the avocado dip. ‘Having a mind of my own has always worked better for me, Mr. Templar. I see no reason to give it up just because I married your son.’

She coated the chip with dip and popped it in her mouth, feeling highly invigorated for having stood up for herself.

‘Here’s your juice, Sunny.’ Bryce set a filled glass in front of her.

‘What about mine?’ his father growled. ‘I’m the invalid around here.’

‘I thought you were fighting fit, Dad.’

‘Two against one is not a fair fight.’

‘You asked for it. Now if you’ll stop assuming Sunny is a walkover, we could have a really pleasant lunch together.’

‘Just testing her out.’ He settled himself on the chair at the head of the table, gesticulating at Bryce. ‘You bring a stranger into the family. How am I supposed to know her mettle if I don’t test her out?’

‘You could try trusting my judgment,’ came the ready advice as Bryce set a glass of juice in front of his father.

‘Huh! Men can get blinded by a woman’s beauty.’

Bryce raised an eyebrow at Sunny. ‘Am I blind?’

She grinned at him, having just tried the corn dip and found it as delicious as the avocado one. ‘No. Just besotted. But that’s okay because I’m besotted, too.’

Will Templar barked with laughter, vastly amused by the exchange. ‘Oh, that’s good! Very good! If you’re not careful, Bryce, she’ll be giving you the rounds of the kitchen.’

‘A novel thought,’ he retorted, pulling out the chair at the foot of the table and relaxing onto it.

‘Novelty wears off,’ came the sardonic reply. ‘She might be compliant now, but…’

‘You know, Mr. Templar,’ Sunny cut in sweetly. ‘Where I come from, it’s rude to talk over a person as though she’s not there.’

His silvery grey eyes narrowed on her. ‘No respect for authority. I’ve heard that about Australians.’

‘Then you’ve heard wrong. We do respect an authority who shows us respect.’

‘Just what position do you hold in our company, young woman?’

‘I do sales presentations. And I work hard at commanding respect, Mr. Templar. I do not lie down and let people steamroll over me.’

‘But you’re married to Bryce now,’ he said sharply. ‘Do you expect to keep on working?’

‘Do you have a problem with that, Mr. Templar?’

‘What about children? Do you figure on having any?’

She flashed a look at Bryce who smiled back at her, confident of her reply and perfectly content to let the conversation run without his interference. His eyes said she was doing fine with his father.

‘Yes, we do,’ she said, smiling her own pleasure in the prospect of having a family with Bryce.

‘Do you intend on working then?’

‘Being a mother will have priority, but it does take nine months to make a baby, Mr. Templar. Do you think I should twiddle my thumbs until one arrives?’