To Make a Marriage(19)

But they had made a start. He had managed to kiss her lightly a couple  of times today without her jumping like a startled doe. In time he hoped  they would be able to find that easy friendship that had once existed  between them.

Even if being Andie's friend was the last thing he wanted to be!

Being pregnant definitely suited Andie, that nausea she had experienced  initially having all but gone now, leaving her with a contented glow  that made her infinitely desirable. In fact, he was going to find great  difficulty in containing that desire until after their wedding in three  weeks' time.

'I forgot to tell you,' he said casually as he drove her back to her  apartment later that afternoon. 'I called Jonas's office earlier too-'

'You did have a busy morning,' Andie murmured derisively, her smile totally relaxed as she looked across at him.

'It's the way I am,' he admitted ruefully. 'If something needs fixing,  then do it. Now. Not later. I spoke to someone called Dorothy. Jonas's  secretary, I presume-'

'And watchdog.' Andie laughed. 'Danie swears that if Dorothy hadn't  approved of her she may have had a fight on her hands where marrying  Jonas is concerned. She's talking nonsense, of course. It's obvious to  anyone with eyes in their head that Jonas absolutely adores Danie.' She  frowned wistfully.

Adam wasn't unaware of her wistfulness. As he wasn't unaware of the fact  that Andie had to wish their marriage was going to be the love-match  her sisters' were.

But a lot of couples had started life together on less than they had  between them; there was absolutely no reason why their own marriage  shouldn't be as happy and successful as Harrie and Quinn's obviously  was-Danie and Jonas's too, he shouldn't wonder.

He reached out and briefly touched her hand. He would make this marriage  right for them. For Andie's and the baby's sake, he had to!

'Dorothy didn't seem to think there would be any problem with our seeing Jonas on Monday,' he continued lightly.

Andie quirked teasing brows in his direction. 'The Munroe influence wins out again!'

'Actually-' he grinned '-it was the Summer influence this time! It seems  that, as Danie's sister, you come in for preferential treatment where  Jonas Noble is concerned.'

Andie snorted. 'I told you Dorothy is in charge!'

Adam didn't particularly care who made the decisions, as long as he got  to share this pregnancy with Andie. 'We have an appointment to see Jonas  at two o'clock on Monday. Apparently he isn't usually available on  Monday afternoons, but for you he'll make the exception.'                       
       
           



       

Andie nodded. 'Jonas runs a free clinic twice a week for women who need his professional help but can't afford to pay for it.'

Adam felt himself bristle with resentment at the undoubted admiration  for the other man in Andie's tone. He had met Jonas Noble at the wedding  a couple of weeks ago, had found him charming enough. But, knowing how  difficult Danie could be on occasion, Adam didn't doubt the other man  had a lot more to him than that surface charm. He just didn't like the  fact that Andie obviously thought so too!

'We can have lunch together again, if that suits you,' Adam said stiffly. 'And then go on to the clinic.'

She paused. 'I can't think of anything else I have to do on Monday. Or  any other day, for that matter,' she muttered, obviously alluding to the  fact that she was no longer working, her diary remarkably empty after  years of being tied to a tight working and social schedule.

'Try to keep three weeks on Saturday free, too, hmm?' he teased.

'I'll try.' She laughed huskily, obviously mellowed by the success of their engagement luncheon.

And it had been a success, the others taking their cue from Adam, and  treating their engagement and impending marriage with all the excitement  it should have. There had even been a couple of jokes about two matrons  of honour; Harrie was sure that Danie wouldn't want to be left out.

After years of putting any thoughts of marriage from his own mind, Adam  found he was quite looking forward to the wedding in three weeks' time  too. Andie was going to be his wife, and that was something he had never  thought would happen!

'Would you like to come to dinner this evening?' Andie offered as they  reached her apartment, Adam having already reluctantly explained that he  would have to at least show his face in his own office this afternoon.  Reluctantly because, now that Andie had agreed to marry him, he found he  didn't want to let her out of his sight!

'You mean you can cook, too?' he said with mock-surprise.

Andie's eyes gleamed in the confines of the parked car. "'Too"?'

'You make love rather beautifully,' he told her.

Her gaze no longer met his, heated colour in her cheeks now. 'Don't  patronise me, Adam,' she said. 'I was awkward and inexperienced.'

'You could never be awkward in anything you do, Andie.' He reached out  and gently touched one of her hot cheeks. 'And you were lovely in your  inexperience. I'm only sorry-'

'I have to go, Adam,' she announced abruptly, reaching out to open her  car door before getting out onto the pavement. 'Don't get out,' she said  as he would have done exactly that, bending down to speak to him. 'I'm  making dinner for seven-thirty, if you would care to join me.'

Too far, too soon, Adam acknowledged heavily as he drove away. Obviously  that night was still something Andie would rather not talk about. Even  if she now carried the physical proof of that night inside her.

But he wished she had let him finish saying how part of him wished he  could have given her the same gift she had given him that night three  months ago, that his own experience hadn't far outweighed her own. There  was nothing he could do to change it now, but how he now regretted all  those other relationships that had meant nothing to him.

The last thing he wanted, or needed, after the enjoyable lunch with  Andie and her family, was to see that familiar figure waiting for him  outside his office.

Not here.

Not now, he wanted to cry.

The woman arched an eyebrow. 'You don't look pleased to see me, Adam,' she said.

He was never pleased to see her. How could he be?

'Aren't you going to invite me in, Adam?' she demanded as someone  brushed past them in the corridor on their way to the office further  down.

She knew, damn her, that the last thing he wanted was for anyone to see  him talking to her. To add two and two together, and come up with-

'I suppose you had better,' he rasped, pushing open the outer door,  nodding tersely to Andrew, his assistant, as he walked straight past him  and through into his own office.

All the time knowing she would be following him. He could hear the softness of her breathing, smell her perfume.

That perfume. He had smelt it in his sleep for years. Until Andie's perfume had replaced it … !

He sat down behind his desk, eyes steely grey, totally unmoved by the faded beauty this woman had become. 'What do you want?'

She tilted her head, giving him a considering look. 'There's something different about you … ' she commented thoughtfully.                       
       
           



       

Adam felt himself stiffen. How could she tell! How did she know? Had  just the thought of having Andie for his wife really made him look  different?

Because if it had he would have to do everything in his power to hide  that difference from this woman. At least until three weeks on Saturday.  When his marriage to Andie would be a fait accompli.

When this woman could no longer do or say anything to change that!





CHAPTER EIGHT




THERE was something different about Adam this evening.

Andie had noticed that difference as soon as he'd arrived shortly before  seven-thirty to join her for dinner at her apartment. For one thing  there had been no smile on his face. And for another, he hadn't even  attempted to kiss her hello …

Strange how she had already become used to those light kisses of his,  and how much she had missed that casual intimacy this evening.

She watched him below lowered lashes as they ate the avocado and prawns  with marie-rose sauce she had prepared for their first course. Adam ate  the food automatically, not even seemingly aware of what he was eating.  Although he complimented her on the choice once his plate was empty.

Andie removed the plates, looking down at him thoughtfully. 'What did you just eat?'

Adam blinked up at her. 'I-well-it was prawns and-and something, wasn't it?' he said falteringly.

'And something,' she agreed, becoming more and more convinced that Adam's thoughts were definitely elsewhere.

Unless he had finally realised that they were going to be married in a  matter of weeks, that they would spend a lot of their evenings together  like this … ?

'I'll go and get the second course,' she announced abruptly.

'We'll go and get the second course,' Adam told her decisively as he  stood up. 'I have no problem with eating at home, but I do object to  having you wait on me.' He followed her out to the kitchen.