Joanna did remember. She felt a constriction in her throat and turned her attention back to the laundry. ‘Sex isn’t everything,’ she murmured, half hoping he wouldn’t hear her. But he had.
‘You keep telling yourself that.’ Matt was tired of trying to get through to her. He dragged a hand through his hair and allowed it to rest at the back of his neck. Then he regarded her with disillusioned eyes. ‘You know what? That’s it. I’m out of here.’
He shook his head. He should have realised that if she’d wanted to see him again, she’d have stayed in Miami. But after their night together, he’d actually hoped she might have had a change of heart.
He had to wonder how she’d react if he told her that since the takeover of Carlyle Construction, he’d been protecting her father’s reputation. He doubted she’d believe that either, but the temptation to explode the saintly myth she’d created about her father was almost irresistible.
* * *
Angus was so grateful when Matt rescued the company. He got the old man out of a hole so deep he had to wonder how he’d got there in the first place.
But that didn’t trouble him until later. Businesses did fail, he knew that, and he’d never suspected that it was her father’s addiction to gambling that was to blame. He doubted he’d have found out at all if it hadn’t been for NovCo’s accountants. Naturally Angus’s financial statements had been audited, and his dirty little secret had been exposed.
Of course, when Matt had found out Angus had begged him not to tell anyone, particularly Joanna. And had it not been for the fact that Matt himself had arranged for it to be concealed the reasons behind Carlyle Construction’s collapse would have been disclosed. Even Oliver had been doubtful of his son’s magnanimity. Matt had broken the law himself to give his father-in-law a second chance.
In the meantime Angus promised to give up his online gambling. And because there was no way Matt could enrol him in Gamblers Anonymous without everyone finding out what had happened he’d had to trust the old man to keep his word.
Matt had known how much this would upset his wife if she learned of her father’s addiction. In consequence, Matt had destroyed all the evidence of the old man’s guilt and kept it to himself.
Until he’d discovered for the first time that Angus’s word meant nothing at all.
* * *
Thinking about it now, Matt abandoned any hope of appealing to her. Let her go on believing he had lied to her. He no longer had the will to care.
‘I’ll send you my new address, should you need to get in touch with me,’ Matt said at last, feeling his headache worsening. He lifted a hand as she started to protest, and added, ‘It’s a courtesy, nothing more.’ He squared his shoulders. ‘Have a good life, Joanna. I, for one, intend to do the same. But in spite of everything, I’ll never regret those years we spent together.’
He wondered in passing what she thought her father had done with the millions he’d made out of selling his business to NovCo. Without thinking it through, he let his tongue get the better of his good sense.
‘This apartment’s okay,’ he said casually. ‘But I’d have expected you to spend some of the money Angus left you. He owned his own house, didn’t he? And he was still getting a dividend from his shares.’
‘The solicitor said—’ she started. And then broke off before saying shortly, ‘Don’t concern yourself on my account. I’m quite happy here.’
I doubt it, thought Matt tiredly. But apparently common sense had died along with everything else.
Cursing his conscience, Matt took a step towards her and for a moment Joanna was sure he was going to pull her into his arms. His lean dark face was suddenly too close to hers and she could smell the subtle tang of his deodorant, mingling with the faintly musky odour of his skin.
And right then, all she could think about was how powerful he was and how wonderful it had felt to have his arms around her again. She couldn’t help herself, she swayed towards him, but he put out a hand to keep her at bay.
‘Not again, Jo,’ he said roughly, his fingers curling around her wrist. ‘It’s too late. I’ve got no intention of being your fall guy again.’
‘You were never my fall guy.’ Joanna could feel a sense of panic gripping her at the knowledge that if he walked out of here now, she might never see him again. ‘Matt—’
But he wasn’t listening. Releasing her, he started for the door. Then obviously against his will, he turned back to cup her neck and drag her towards him. He bent his head and took her mouth almost savagely. It was a hard kiss, almost as cruel as his fingers, but her senses swam as soon as he lifted his head.
‘You can have your divorce,’ he told her harshly, despising the urge he still had to take her to bed. ‘I’ll have my lawyers contact yours as soon as I get back to the States. I just hope it keeps you warm on all those cold nights to come.’
JOANNA WAS CROUCHED over the toilet in the bathroom when she heard someone knock at her bedroom door.
It could only be her mother, she thought unhappily, dragging herself to her feet. Glenys had been worried about her the night before when she’d thrown up after supper. Evidently the fact that Joanna hadn’t as yet come down for breakfast had added to her concern.
When she emerged from the bathroom, her mother was standing in the bedroom doorway, her blue eyes, not unlike Joanna’s, narrowed in dismay. ‘Oh, darling,’ she said. ‘Have you been sick again? Do you think it was that risotto we had for supper yesterday evening? Lionel swore those prawns were fresh that morning, but, I must admit, I had my doubts.’
Joanna blew out a breath and managed to straighten her shoulders. It was tempting to let her mother go on thinking that it was something she’d eaten that had caused her upset stomach.
But it wasn’t. She’d been fighting off the truth for over three weeks now. And it wasn’t going to go away.
‘I’m sure the risotto was fine,’ she said, putting off the moment. ‘You look nice,’ she added, in an effort to divert herself. And it was true, in a pink silk tee and short dungarees, her mother looked younger than she’d done for years.
‘Thank you, darling.’
Glenys smiled her pleasure and, moving to the mirror above the vanity, Joanna gave her own appearance a critical appraisal. The loose-fitting tank and khaki shorts hid the slightly enlarged shape of her breasts, which her mother might or might not notice. Pushing back her hair, she twisted it into a careless knot and then turned to face her mother again.
Glenys looked anxious. ‘Are you still planning on going back to London tomorrow?’
Joanna bit her lip. ‘I have to,’ she said, managing a smile. ‘And I have enjoyed this break. It was just what I needed.’
‘Well, I must admit I was delighted when you said you were coming down again. Two visits in less than a month. It must be a record.’ She paused. ‘Is it anything to do with Matt?’
‘Why should you think that?’
‘Oh, I don’t know.’ Her mother looked anxious. ‘Has he been to see you again?’
‘No.’ Joanna was defensive. ‘I told you, Matt and I are getting a divorce.’
‘Well, I know what you said...but ever since you got here a few days ago, I’ve felt you had something on your mind.’
And of course, she had.
‘David