Wife for a Week(18)

Within five minutes she’d discovered that their host clipped his own hedges and spent an hour every morning practising t’ai chi. That he owned an extensive art collection and that Jasmine was an accomplished silk painter. Five minutes and Jasmine was giggling, John was smiling, and even the po-faced Kai had relaxed his guard, and it was all Hallie’s doing as she charmed them with her warmth, wit and enthusiasm for life. Whatever the moment held, she embraced it; be it a computer game or a kiss, she gave it everything she had.

Damn but the woman could kiss.

‘Do you collect antiquities?’ John asked her as she bent to examine a little jade horse set on a marble pedestal.

‘My father does. John, this is exquisite. Early Qing dynasty, isn’t it? I’ve never seen one in such good condition.’

Nick blinked at her knowledge of little green horses. John beamed at the compliment.

‘Kai will drive you to some of our smaller private galleries in the morning if you wish. There you will find many beautiful pieces. Perhaps even a memento of your stay with us.’

‘Perhaps.’ Hallie smiled easily, her glance encompassing them both. ‘I don’t want to disrupt any plans you have in place but I’d love to see the New Year decorations in the city as well. And the lion dancing…Maybe buy some oranges…’

Jasmine was nodding her head in vigorous agreement. John’s gaze was wry as it rested on his daughter.

‘My daughter has also suggested she show you these things. Would tomorrow be suitable?’ And to Jasmine, ‘You will let Kai know when you wish to leave.’

‘But, Father, surely we can go alone.’

‘No.’ It was the first time Nick had ever seen him refuse his daughter anything.

‘But, Father—’

John Tey held up his hand and there was instant silence from Jasmine.

‘Kai will accompany you.’

Jasmine bent her head in acquiescence. ‘Yes, Father.’

‘So it is settled.’ John was back to playing charming host. ‘Come, Nick. You must try the spring rolls. Jasmine makes them herself.’



As far as Hallie was concerned the evening passed pleasantly and far too quickly, the problem being that as soon as they retired for the evening she and Nick would have to confront that big red bed. The sofa was gone, that much was certain, and the floor was made of marble. She certainly wasn’t going to sleep on a marble floor, nor did she expect Nick to. No, they were going to have to share the bed and somehow she was going to have to keep her hands to herself.

So she was slightly nervous as they headed for the guest suite, slightly bug-eyed as he followed her into their room, loosening his tie as he closed the door before automatically proceeding to the buttons of his shirt. Habit, that was all; there was nothing sexual about it. But she couldn’t let him continue.

‘Bathroom,’ she said sternly, pointing the way.

‘Right.’ Nick scooped up his toiletries and headed for the bathroom without another word.

One week. Be professional. She could do this.

Hallie’s gaze slid to the bed.

How on earth was she going to do this?

By the time he’d finished in the bathroom and Hallie had had her turn and slipped into her Mickey Mouse singlet and boxers-for-girls she had it figured. Fortunately, Nick wasn’t in bed yet. He was standing at the window, a dark silhouette against the night sky, and if she thought he looked good in a suit it was nothing compared to what he looked like in tight black boxers.

‘I’ll take the floor,’ he said.



‘You can’t take the floor. The floor is too hard. Anyway, I have a plan.’ Hallie strode over to the bed and began stacking cushions straight down the middle of it.

‘This is your plan?’ he asked, somewhat sceptically.

‘This,’ she said, busily stacking cushions, ‘is the Great Wall of China. You are the Mongol horde and I am the Emperor’s finest troops.’

He looked as if he wanted to laugh, caught her glare, and must have decided against it.

‘Well, that hardly seems fair,’ he said finally. ‘Why can’t I be the Emperor’s finest and you be the barbarians?’

‘Fine. Just stay on your side of the wall, okay?’

‘I will defend this wall with my very life.’

‘Whatever.’ That’d teach her to mix metaphors with a computer games master. She slipped beneath the covers and lay down. Moments later Nick approached the bed and the mattress dipped as he lay down. Her plan was working. And then Nick’s head and torso appeared above the cushions, his elbow skewing them haphazardly.

‘The Emperor’s troops are allowed on the wall, right? I feel like I should be patrolling it.’