Bride By Blackmail

He gave an acknowledging inclination of his head. ‘Is it something you’ve always wanted to do? Or—?’

‘Would you care for another brandy, Jed?’ Sukie cut in firmly, obviously intending to change the subject, not at all happy that the conversation was focused on Georgie.

Which was perfectly okay with Georgie—she wasn’t happy about it either!

‘No, thanks.’ Jed answered Sukie dismissively, not even glancing her way as he did so. ‘Have you always known you wanted to be an author, Georgie?’

Her eyes narrowed on him warningly. He knew damn well she hadn’t always wanted to be an author, that until two years ago her only ambition had been to be his wife, to spend the rest of her life with him.

Which, in retrospect, was no ambition at all!

‘I’ve always known I wanted to be something,’ she replied with firm dismissal. ‘It seems I’ve been lucky enough to find a career that I not only like but which one publisher at least thinks I’m good at.’ That knowledge still gave her an inner warm glow.

‘How do you feel about having a working wife, Andrew?’ Jed looked at the younger man mockingly.

‘I feel absolutely fine about it,’ Andrew came back, sounding perplexed. ‘Most women want a career of their own nowadays—to be more than just some man’s wife.’

‘Do they?’ Jed murmured softly.

‘Of course we do.’ Sukie was the one to answer lightly, linking her arm with Jed’s. ‘Maybe that’s where you went wrong, Jed,’ she added teasingly.

Jed continued to look at Georgie for several long minutes, before he straightened and turned to Sukie, his smile wry. ‘Maybe it was,’ he murmured in agreement. ‘Although, listening to my wife, I would be hard pushed to find anything I did right!’

‘Ex-wife,’ Georgie heard herself correct, heated colour entering her cheeks when she realised—as Sukie and Andrew had no idea of her past relationship with Jed! To them she probably sounded as if she was being rude again.

‘I stand corrected.’ Jed gave an acknowledging nod of his head, lips curved into a humourless smile as he dared her to add to that admission.

It was a challenge she had no intention of taking him up on—they had talked about Jed Lord and his defunct marriage far too much already this evening as far as she was concerned!

‘Are you staying the whole weekend, Mr—Jed?’ She corrected herself before he could do it for her. ‘It’s a beautiful area. I’m sure Sukie would love to show you some of the surrounding countryside.’ She received a grateful smile from her future sister-in-law at this suggestion.

‘You’re right; it is a beautiful area,’ Jed drawled dryly. ‘Unfortunately, I’m leaving in the morning.’

Unfortunate for whom? Georgie’s raised eyebrows conveyed her amusement. Certainly not for her; she couldn’t wait to see the back of him!

Also, she couldn’t believe he was enjoying this encounter any more than she was; the two of them had made their opinions of each other more than plain the last time they had spoken at length together.

‘What a pity,’ she answered, completely disingenuous.

‘Isn’t it?’ he came back, with the same insincerity, laughter crinkling the lines around his eyes as he met her gaze.

Georgie drew in a sharp breath, knowing that the two of them weren’t behaving very well. They really were going to arouse suspicion if they didn’t stop this verbal fencing—right now!

She turned to Andrew, her hand resting lightly on his arm. ‘Shall we go and make our excuses to your parents now, darling?’ she suggested. ‘We’ve both had a busy week, and I’m sure you must be tired after driving down here.’

Andrew brightened at her obvious concern, making Georgie feel doubly guilty. Firstly, because she knew her desire to escape to the privacy of her bedroom had nothing to do with concern for Andrew, and secondly, because she knew how upset and confused Andrew would feel if he knew it had everything to do with getting away from Jed Lord!

‘I hope you’ll excuse us, Jed?’ Andrew said politely. ‘It’s been a great pleasure meeting you,’ he added warmly, shaking the other man’s hand before putting his arm firmly about Georgie’s waist to steer her across the room to where his parents sat, softly conversing together.

“‘A great pleasure” meeting him?’ she muttered to Andrew sceptically.

He gave her waist a light squeeze. ‘I’ll explain later,’ he promised.

Having made her excuses to Andrew’s parents, Georgie could once again feel Jed’s piercing grey gaze burning into her back as she walked to the door, knowing her movements lacked their normal graceful fluidity, but unable to do anything about it. She wouldn’t be able to relax again completely until she was safely away from Jed. Make that until Jed was far, far away from the Lawson home!

Although she did breathe a little easier once she and Andrew were outside in the hallway.

She was grateful for the fact that Jed hadn’t given away their previous connection, but at the same time she questioned why he hadn’t. It certainly couldn’t have been to save any embarrassment on her part; Jed just didn’t work that way.

‘You didn’t enjoy this evening, did you?’ Andrew enquired ruefully, his head tilted as he looked down at her questioningly.

Georgie looked up at him quizzically. ‘Whatever makes you think that?’ she delayed.

Had she and Jed given themselves away after all? It wouldn’t be so surprising if they had; they certainly hadn’t spoken to each other like people who had just been introduced…

Andrew laughed softly. ‘I know, from personal experience, that my family is enough to cope with without someone like Jed Lord thrown in for good measure!’

She frowned. ‘I had the impression a few minutes ago that you actually liked the man.’

Andrew grinned. ‘That was the impression I intended giving.’

Georgie still frowned, not altogether sure she was happy with this explanation. She hadn’t believed Andrew capable of subterfuge, but his explanation now gave a different impression completely…

‘But why?’ Her expression showed complete confusion.

Andrew elaborated as they continued to make their way up the stairs. ‘My father owns some land that the L & J Group is interested in purchasing for yet another of their luxury hotels. You’ve heard of the L & J Group, haven’t you?’

Heard of them—she had once been part of them!

‘Hasn’t everyone?’ she dismissed dryly.

‘Hmm,’ Andrew sighed. ‘Anyway, Dad’s playing hard-to-get with this piece of land,’ he explained.

‘Good for him!’ Georgie came back vehemently. A little too vehemently, she realised, as Andrew looked at her in surprise. ‘Sorry.’ She grimaced. ‘But even on such short acquaintance I got the impression that Mr Jeremiah Lord is a little too fond of having his own way.’

Andrew nodded slowly. ‘He does give that impression, doesn’t he? Makes you almost feel sorry for his ex-wife, doesn’t it?’

Once again Georgie gave him a frowning look. ‘Only almost…?’

‘Well—he isn’t my type, you understand,’ Andrew replied, ‘but I got the distinct impression from Sukie’s behaviour towards him that Jed Lord is rather attractive to women.’

It would have been impossible to miss Sukie’s interest in Jed! ‘I didn’t find him in the least attractive!’ Georgie exclaimed forcefully.

‘I know,’ Andrew agreed. ‘Actually, darling, it might have been a little more politically correct—for the sake of father’s business deal, you understand?—if you hadn’t shown your dislike of the man quite so openly.’

Her eyes widened at the unexpected rebuke. ‘I can’t be less than I am, Andrew,’ she responded. ‘And being pleasant to a man I dislike is not—’

‘Don’t take it all so seriously, Georgie!’ Andrew cut in teasingly, obviously realising he had gone too far. ‘I love you just the way you are.’