Read Soliman, Wendy - The Name of the Game (BookStrand Publishing Romance) for Free Online Page A

surprise at the lack of lighting from any source other than the fire, but he made no comment on it. Seeing the open bottle of wine and two glasses, a momentary shadow passed across his face. His obvious jealousy cheered Ashley.
    “Drink?” she asked him sweetly, proffering the bottle. “Although, if you’ve got to drive all the way back to Southampton, you probably shouldn’t indulge.”
    “The hell with that.” He took the glass from her hand and settled himself at one end of the settee. She took the armchair opposite, as far away from physical contact with him as possible. She was suddenly grateful for the lack of light. She absolutely didn’t want to look at him or for him to read her expression.
    “Happy birthday,” he said again, raising his glass in her direction. “Oh, and I have something for you.” Putting his glass down, he reached into his jacket pocket and produced a small, wrapped package.
    “It’s hardly appropriate now,” she told him in a cold tone.
    “Ashley, please!” He placed the package on a side table and took up his glass again. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am about Eve turning up yesterday.”
    “Oh, you don’t need to. I’m sure I can imagine your feelings perfectly well,” she said scathingly. “After all, her visit has effectively put paid to your bit on the side.”
    “Is that what you really think? After everything we’ve been to each other, how can you —”
    “Grow up, Matt! You’ve had your fun. But now you’ve been caught out and it’s over.”
    He shook his head. “There’s an explanation.”
    “Really! You can explain how your ‘estranged’ wife is pregnant. Go right ahead. What’s stopping you?” She folded her arms beneath her breasts and glared a challenge at him, willing herself not to cry. “That’s one I’d love to hear.”
    “Unfortunately, it’s not straightforward.” He ran a hand through his hair, offering her a beseeching look she pretended not to see. “I can’t tell you yet, much as I’d like to. There are other considerations involved. Vitally important ones. I just need you to trust me. I swear to you that everything I’ve said about my feelings for you, about our future together, are the gospel truth.”
    “For God’s sake, what sort of idiot do you take me for?” She stood and paced the room, furious that he seemed to think she’d believe him and fall into his arms. “No, don’t bother to answer that. I think I can work it out without your help.”
    He dropped his voice to a persuasive whisper. “If only you knew what I’m going through.”
    Ashley lost it then. He’d broken her heart, and she was supposed to feel sorry for him! As fury gripped her, so her voice became icily calm.
    “What you’re going through? Sorry, Matt, you must forgive me, but somehow I hadn’t got round to seeing it in that light.” The look she threw him, full of withering contempt, would have quelled a less determined man. “I was ecstatic yesterday when you said we could eat out anywhere we liked, do you realize that?” She didn’t give him a chance to respond. “I really thought you were as fed up as I am with skulking around, never doing anything together.”
    “I am. That’s why I—”
    “Matt, we both ride, but you haven’t even been with me to see Lucius, just in case you’re recognized. I’ve never been to Lingfield to see your horse, presumably for the same reason. Or perhaps because your mother might ask questions about me that you’d prefer not to answer. Hell if I know which, nor do I much care anymore. I thought it was all because of your sons, to protect their feelings, and that eventually it would all be worked out.” She paused in her pacing to shake her head. “I realize now just how gullible I’ve been.”
    He stood as well and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Ashley, don’t!”
    She shook his hands away and continued to pace. “At last I thought we were getting somewhere. We’d dine out together