“Harry is thinking of staying in London for a while,” Daniel said. “Looking up some old contacts. He hates staying in hotels, and we thought he might stay with you instead. A friendly face as it were. You can spend some time together.”
Not in this lifetime.
Josh didn’t like the guy; he was creepy like his dad.
A look of alarm flashed across Lexi’s face, quickly blanked out. “I’m not sure there’s room.”
“You have that huge house, Alexia,” her grandmother said. “How can you be so selfish? Of course, if you sold it, you could buy an apartment for us to use when we’re in the city. A single girl hardly needs eight bedrooms.”
“She’s not single,” Josh pointed out mildly.
“Of course not,” Daniel said. “But all the same, the two of you hardly need a house that size.”
“I like my house. It belonged to my mother.”
“Sentimental nonsense,” her grandmother snapped.
A flush was spreading across Lexi’s cheeks, her eyes flashing. Then the anger was wiped away. “Of course Harry can come to stay. I’d love to spend some time with him.” She pushed her chair back. “Now, I’m sure you’ll excuse us, but Josh and I have a lot of catching up to do.”
“Really, Alexia, finish your dinner.”
He watched the war of wills between the two women. He thought Lexi was going to fold, but she squared her shoulders. “Thank you, but I’ve had enough.”
Her grandmother pursed her lips. “There’s a more delicate matter to discuss, but perhaps Daniel and I could visit you at your office tomorrow and talk in private.”
Lexi gave a small nod. “Call my secretary. She’ll let you know when I’ll be free.”
Josh pushed his chair back and rose to his feet. “Great meeting you all.” Not. “Enjoy the rest of your meal.”
He walked around, settled a hand on her waist, and led her from the dining room, all the time feeling their eyes on his back.
“Whew,” she muttered as the double door swung shut behind them. “Well, that went better than expected.”
He searched her voice for any hint of sarcasm, but she appeared genuine. He wondered what these dinners were normally like. “So, I’m good at being stupid?”
She glanced at him sideways. “No. I suspect they realized you were toying with them. Unfortunately, they aren’t stupid either, just narrow-minded.”
“Some people grow up expecting everything on a plate for them. They can’t see past that.”
“Not you though?”
“No, not me.” Hell, he’d grown up expecting fuck-all, and that’s what he’d usually got. He hesitated at the door. “You want me to take you home now? We still need to have that talk.”
She gave a little shrug. “Home’s probably not the best place for a private conversation.”
“You don’t live alone?” He hadn’t expected that. Did she have some sort of live-in-lover? Somehow he didn’t like that idea. Hell, he’d respected his wedding vows.
“No, not quite.”
And what the hell did that mean? But it was none of his business, and he led the way out of the front doors and handed his ticket to the waiting valet.
“I get the impression you don’t like Harry.”
She screwed up her face. “Honestly? I don’t know him that well. But he makes me…uncomfortable.”
“You shouldn’t have said he could stay then.”
“Sometimes it’s easier.” She gave another shrug. “I doubt he’ll stay long. It’s really not his sort of place.”
The car drew up in front of them, and they were silent as the valet climbed out and they got in. Josh pulled out into the road and for a few minutes he just drove. She appeared tiny next to him, hunched over, somehow diminished by the dinner. A rush of rage bombarded him at her family’s behavior, and then a twinge of guilt that he was making things worse.
Not my problem.
He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. Where to go? They could go to a bar but he’d had enough of other people for the night.
Why was he feeling so reluctant to push the annulment?
Lexi’s poor little rich girl situation really shouldn’t get to him.
But it did.
Chapter Four
Lexi stared out of the window at the passing streets. It was nine-thirty and still daylight. Dinner had only taken an hour and a half. It had felt much longer.
Her grandmother had been strangely quiet, allowing Daniel to do most of the talking. That worried her a little. Her grandmother had always had the control in that relationship. And why did they want Harry to move in? To spy on her? Or something more sinister?
God, she had to reel in her imagination. But she’d overheard a conversation once, just before she’d left for good. Daniel had apparently thought it would be an excellent idea for her and Harry to marry.
Yeah. Super idea. Not.
That hadn’t been what decided her on her somewhat drastic course of action, but it had certainly given her a nudge in that direction. Her feelings for Harry could be summed up in one word.
Ugh.