Read The Marriage Merger for Free Online Page B

the camps with their
self-image more mutilated than their bodies; how they were amazed
to find that there was always another child worse off than they
were; how the counsellors and therapists detected the children’s
abilities and taught them to use those abilities to help one
another.
    He watched her lips as she spoke, fascinated
by the softness, the perfect shape, of them. She wore no make-up,
her complexion flawless cream lightly tinged with pink. He wondered
idly how long she had spent in England’s cool climate and how long
before Australia’s heat would dust freckles across her pert nose.
He thought of the silky loveliness of her long slim limbs and body
and how smooth her skin would feel under his touch ...
    “Don’t you agree, Braden?”
    He wrenched his brain back to the
conversation. “I’m sorry, I missed that. I was a bit preoccupied
with a business problem,” he lied.
    “I would have thought Caitlin would be
occupying your mind right now,” she chided. “I was saying that I
thought it would be a good idea if Caitlin didn’t know that I’m a
therapist. She’s responding well at the moment because she sees me
as a friend. If we tell her the true purpose behind the exercises
she might refuse to continue them.”
    “You certainly seemed to have gained her
trust. So I’ll bow to your judgement in this regard.” He saw the
flush of pleasure on her cheeks at his words. “I’ll be working here
for the next few days, so if you need my help at all I’ll be only
too pleased to assist.”
    He rose and walked around the desk and half
sat on the corner nearest her chair. A smile twisted the corners of
his mouth. “I do care about Caitlin, you know.”
    The blood surged in his veins when Jenna
placed her soft, smooth hand on his and said, “I know you do.”
    Her gaze flew to his and he knew she felt the
tingling jolts that flowed between them. Her palm was cool, but it
fired his blood and hot desire flashed in his groin. A spark of
triumph exploded in his brain when he saw that desire reciprocated
in her eyes, then the moment passed as she abruptly pulled her hand
away.
    “It’s getting late. I’d better start cooking
dinner.” She walked quickly to the door.
    He wanted to grab her, feel her silky smooth
skin again, but only used his voice to stop her.
    “Do you always wear bikinis when you’re
working, Jenna?”
    She stared back at him, as though his neutral
tone held some hidden meaning. Compared to a lot of bikinis, he
knew hers were quite modest, but he couldn't help the little spark
of irrational jealousy in wondering if her colleagues had been
privy to the sight of her glorious figure.
    “I normally wear one-piece swimsuits in my
work, but I’d sent them along with my winter clothes straight to
Sydney to be held until my arrival. I thought I’d be spending a
week here with Jeff having a holiday.”
    “I’ll do my best to find a replacement for
you as soon as possible so you can have your holiday,” he said
coldly, rebuked by her words, but she shook her head.
    “Caitlin needs me. I’ll stay until Mrs
Jenkins returns. I still have a little over five weeks before I
start my new job and she'll be back before then.”
    “Thank you,” he muttered. “I appreciate you
giving up your holiday for Caitlin.”
    A deep, warm smile lit up her face. She
turned and left the room.
    Her voice had held such sincerity, and her
eyes so much caring he had felt instantly ashamed. Had he been a
cynic so long he’d forgotten genuine people still existed? Apart
from Alicia and Caitlin, he could think of no-one he knew who
exhibited the tenderness and caring that seemed part of Jenna’s
nature.
    The cold wall of protection he had built
around his heart seemed to constrict even tighter. He tasted the
salt of fear. Never again. If you cared about someone you ran the
risk of being hurt.
     
    “Well, that’s another one of your talents
Jeff forgot to mention.” Braden eased away from the table with