Page 12 of Promise Me Love
He tossed the wet towel aside and came towards her, his face impassive as he watched her. ‘Do you want to leave, Beth?’
‘No! But neither do I want to cause you any upset. Your…your friends seem to have entirely the wrong idea why I’m here and it must be making life awkward for you.’ Her face was flushed when she’d finished, but he seemed remarkably unperturbed by the idea.
‘It’s their problem what they think. I’m a free agent, Beth. I’m not accountable to anyone for my actions. Forget about it. Now is that coffee I can smell?’
Beth sighed, realising it was pointless to argue. One thing she had learned these past weeks was David’s determination to have things his own way. Both in his business and private life he was cool and decisive, rarely displaying any emotion as he dealt with problems. She had come to admire the firm way he took control, the razor-sharp intelligence he displayed which cut through to the heart of a problem, even while she silently warned herself not to start relying on him too much to solve her problems. David wouldn’t always be around to help her.
‘I’ve just made a fresh pot. Would you like some toast to go with it?’
‘You don’t have to act as unpaid housekeeper as well, Beth. That wasn’t why I asked you to stay here.’
There was an edge to his deep voice which irritated her. ‘I know that! But making a slice or two of toast is hardly a union issue. I want to do my share around the flat, David.’
‘Fair enough, but understand that it’s your choice. I don’t expect anything more from you than you are already doing. Frankly, your work has been of such a high standard that I feel I’m taking advantage of you by paying you so small a salary.’
‘You’ve given me more than enough…a home and a job. Not many people would have done what you have.’ She led the way along the hall into the kitchen and picked up the pot to pour the coffee then set it down again with a clatter. ‘If anyone is being taken advantage of it’s you! And why? Because I was too stupid to read the signs!’ She slammed her hand down on the counter, fury shining in her eyes. Her emotions had run the gamut, moving from shock, despair and sorrow to this red-hot anger at what Andrew had done to her. ‘I can’t believe that I was stupid enough to be taken in like that! I should have realised there was something fishy about the way he acted, but I swallowed everything he told me, all that rot about how he couldn’t see me of a weekend because his parents were elderly and they expected him to visit them, how he couldn’t invite me back to where he lived because the chap he shared with left it looking like a pigsty! Do you realise that I actually admired him for it?’ She spun round, glaring at David across the room, yet unaware that she was doing so because her thoughts were all turned inwards, plagued by the memories of how she’d been duped. ‘I actually admired his devotion to his parents, his consideration of my feelings! I even admired him for the fact that he limited the number of nights we met so that he could work late at the office in the hope of getting promotion. How could any woman fall for that, the oldest story in the book, and not suspect a thing?’
Her face was flushed with temper, but he just watched her calmly. ‘It’s easy to be wise after the event. Now you can add it all up and see the pattern of his deceit, but then…’ He shrugged. ‘What does amaze me is your determination not to ask him for help. Why shouldn’t he pay for what he’s done, Beth?’
‘You know why! I’ve explained it before. Why keep on asking the same question!’
‘Because hopefully it will jolt you into seeing sense!’ He started to button his shirt and tuck it into his trousers, his face set with a cold cynicism. ‘You may rant and rail against what Andrew did, but how do you really feel about him? I think you are still in love with him and that’s why you won’t do anything that might harm him.’
‘No! You’re wrong. I hate him for what he has done. Do you hear me—hate him!’ She rounded on him in fury, but he met her angry gaze levelly.
‘I doubt that, otherwise you’d see the sense of what I’m trying to tell you. Why is it, Beth, that women are so blinded by their love that they can’t see what fools they’re being?’