bathroom.
âLunch,â she said, setting the bag on the table.
With a grateful look, he eased himself into the chair and dug in.
âDonât you have to take some medicine?â she asked.
âLater.â
âBut . . .â
âI need a clear head.â
âListen, I donât want you to get infected and end up in the hospital on my watch. Give me those meds. Let me see what you need to take.â
She read the humor in those expressionless eyes and realized they werenât so mysterious after all.
âAre you one of those nagging women?â he asked.
âProbably.â
He nodded toward the luggage rack. âTheyâre in my bag.â
5
An hour away in Williamsburg, Nicholas Doyle felt his life was as perfect as it could get. He owned a beautiful spacious home. His brother Corey lived in a smaller house on the property. Nicholas had money to spare. And he had a suitable wife. Who could ask for more?
He glanced up from his papers to look outside and relish the few minutes he had to himself. His secretary was due any moment.
Huge multipaned windows took up most of one wall. He loved his home, but most of all he loved his office, which was on his enormous estate just a short stroll from the house.
Tall evergreens between the house and office afforded him some privacy. He gazed at them now, thinking to give the gardener instructions to add some colorful flowers for the summer. He saw movement, then cursed.
His wife, Deana, was headed to his sanctuary. He plastered a smile on his face and anticipated the insipid reason she would give him to breach his lair. No matter what, there were always small sacrifices, he thought.
âGood morning, dear,â he said, standing to greet her. She wore black slacks with a tasteful blue silk blouse. Her skin was soft and flawless.
âOh, Nicholas. I wanted to check with you to make sure youâre available for the polo match Saturday afternoon.â
He clicked an icon on his computer screen and his calendar appeared. âItâs on my schedule.â
âOh, good. As youâre the largest benefactor for the charity event, they want to make sure you make an appearance. Many people want to properly thank you, darling. Especially me.â She leaned up on tiptoe to kiss him. He wrapped his arms around her slim body and pulled her tightly against him, giving himself up to losing a few minutes to indulge her. âThank you, darling,â she said after their lips parted.
âYouâre welcome.â He tapped her on the end of her cute little button nose. âBut you didnât have to make the trip out here. You could have called my secretary. Lana has my schedule.â
Her eyes hardened as much as someoneâs as sweet as hers could.
She was perfect for him, he thought. Smooth, aristocratic features. Belonged to the proper organizations. Their marriage made it easier for him to fit in with the elite, mostly old-money crowd. And she didnât ask a lot of annoying questions. After all, she was glad to rope a man with money. Her parentsâ old money had run out years ago. Theyâd been living on fumes before he came along. Of course he owned her parentsâ house now. But he let them live there as if it were their own. He didnât want it. Their estate was less than half the size of his.
As the old saying went, ânew rich was better than no rich.â
âI missed you at breakfast,â Deana said. âYou left early this morning. Do you thinkââ she started hopefully.
âIâll see you at dinner,â he interrupted before she could ask to have lunch with him. âIâm expecting an important phone call.â He flashed her a smile as hers faltered. But he glanced pointedly at his watch.
âIâll see you at dinner, then,â she said.
Unfortunately at that moment, his secretary entered. âTraffic was a bitch. Nicholas, Iâm so sorry Iâm