Secret Son, Convenient Wife(29)

“He’s back at the house, but Tate will be bringing him down to see the swans soon.”

“Does he like the swans?” he said, looking a bit preoccupied as he dropped the reins and let the horse amble over to the water’s edge.

“Yes, he does.” There was a momentary lull. “Rolly, is something the matter?”

Indecision crossed his face, then, “My dad wants me to go visit my mother.”

She should have known it would be a family problem. There didn’t seem to be any other kind right now.

She felt sorry for the teenager. He’d been nice to her, and helping him would certainly stop her from thinking about her own problems. “You don’t want to visit her?”

He shrugged. “She married someone else, but I don’t like him much.”

“Why not?”

“He doesn’t want me there. He just wants my mom.”

Gemma totally understood not being wanted, and her heart squeezed for him. “I wish I could tell you it shouldn’t be like that, but sometimes no matter how much we wish for something, it still doesn’t happen.” She didn’t want him to feel too down about it all, though. “But I have absolutely no doubt you’ll get through it.”

A spark of hope brightened his eyes. “Really?”

“Really. And think about how happy it will make your mother if you visit her,” she said. It would be wonderful if her own mother would be as happy, but Gemma knew that wasn’t about to happen.

The teenager gazed at her speculatively. “You know a lot about life and things, don’t you?”

“No more than anyone else.”

Suddenly, he looked at the top of her head. “Hey, you’ve got something in your hair.” He took a couple of steps forward and reached to pick it off. “It’s only a gum leaf. I get them in my hair all—”

“Gemma,” Tate’s voice snapped behind them.

Gemma spun around at the same time as Rolly did. “Tate!” she exclaimed, feeling her cheeks instantly flush with a heat she had no control over.



A guilty flush, Tate decided, unable to believe this was happening again. Peggy had told him she’d gone for a walk down here, but this was more than that. This was a rendezvous.

No wonder she’d put Nathan to bed. Was no man—no boy—safe from his wife? Did she need male attention all the time, no matter what the age of the cohort? Their marriage wasn’t a bed of roses right now, but couldn’t she at least remain faithful while they were still on their honeymoon?

Clearly not.

“Er…where’s Nathan?” she asked, as if she was trying to smooth things over. “I thought you were bringing him down here to see the swans.”

Tate knew that was an outright lie, but he leashed his immediate reaction. What was between him and Gemma stayed between him and Gemma. “He’s still sleeping.”

“Hi, Tate,” Rolly said, a slight flush to his cheeks that told Tate more than he wanted to know. “Long time, no see.”

Tate gave a short nod in acknowledgment. “Rolly.”

The teenager looked at Gemma then nervously back at Tate. “I was just letting the horse drink from the lake. Your grandfather told me I could.”

“I know.”

“So…you don’t mind if I continue that?”

“No, I don’t mind.” The kid was pretending he was nervous over bringing the horse here, when they both knew that was just an excuse.

“Great. Thanks.” Rolly picked up the reins and scampered up on the horse. “I’d better be getting back or my dad will come looking for me.” He glanced at Gemma and gave a quick smile. “Thanks, Gemma.”#p#分页标题#e#

It was just as well the teenager took off after that. Tate gritted his teeth. God, how could he have been so stupid as to let his guard down with her? Gemma was beautiful, but she wouldn’t turn him into a fool again.

“Tate—”

“I don’t want to hear it, Gemma.” He stepped forward and put his hand under her elbow, intending to walk her back to the house.

She took a couple of steps with him, then pulled away. “You’re overreacting.”

“Am I?” He didn’t think so. How could he forget what had happened with Drake?

“Rolly was merely getting a leaf out of my hair.”

He gave her a skeptical look. “Is that what you call it these days?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said dismissively, sending his blood pressure soaring.

His jaw clenched tight. “How long has this been going on?”

“Nothing’s going on,” she snapped, but she had turned pale. “I met Rolly by accident the other day when I brought Nathan down here. This is only the second time I’ve run into him.”