Borrowed Wife Read Free Page A

remain awake, and as she opened her
eyes a little later she was startled to find Logan in the room, looking down at
her with cool detachment.
    ‘When did
you last eat?’ he asked coldly. ‘Don’t’ bother to lie. Your skin looks
transparent. You’ve lost weight. You’re practically withering away.’
    ‘Are you
surprised?’ she began, trying to sit up. He pushed her down to the pillows, his
hand against her shoulder.
    ‘Answer
my question,’ he grated. ‘When did you eat?’
    ‘I don’t
know. I can’t remember. Yesterday—perhaps, Yesterday lunchtime, I think. I’m
not sure.’  
    ‘You’ll
eat now,’ he ordered, his hand coming to her back as he helped her to sit up.
‘Get dressed. There’s some soup ready for you. It’s about all you can take
after a spell of starvation.’
    ‘I don’t
need your help,’ Abigail managed to snap sitting, but pulling the sheets to her
neck. ‘I’m capable of feeding myself in my own good time. If you’ll leave, I’II
get dressed.’
    Logan ’s face twisted in anger, his hand coming out to
tear the sheets from her grasp.
    ‘Get
dressed!’ he ordered harshly. ‘I’ve seen you in far Iess than you’re wearing
now. I’ve touched every inch of you. Don’t get coy with me, Abigail. When
you’re dressed I’ll take you through to the dining room. You will eat before
you leave this building, otherwise you’ll not leave at all.’
    She felt too shaken to
argue and she slid from the bed, reaching for her skirt and blouse, trying to
pretend that Logan wasn’t there. In any case, he had moved to stand by the
window and glare down into the street, his hands in his pockets, his whole
demeanour one of rage.
    ‘I’m ready.’ Her quiet
announcement had him turning around, his eyes running coldly over her, and then
he came forward and opened the door, leading the way to another room, where a
table was set for her and a bowl of hot soup had just been brought. It was not
a big room but it was luxurious and Abigail glanced round surreptitiously.
    The executive dining room,’
Logan growled. ‘This was done two years ago, long after you fled. It’s small
but cozy.  You can eat. Nobody is about to burst in here.’
    Who would dare? She
thought. Logan was here. He looked as if he was going to stay, too. He sat
opposite and just stated at her unwaveringly and Abigail found it impossible to
eat.
    ‘I—I
can’t eat.’ she began, and, if anything, Logan’s lips tightened even more.
    ‘You’ll
eat,’ he ordered. ‘If you do not, then you’ll still be here in the morning and
soup will be brought for you every half-hour during that time.’
    ‘You
can’t do this!’ Abigail protested. ‘You have no right whatever to—’
    ‘Might is
right,’ Logan reminded het shortly ‘Eat your soup. If my presence spoils your
appetite then I’ll go out for a while, but escape is impossible. You came here
demanding entrance to my office. You announced your marital status and the
whole building is quivering with anticipation. I would know before you even got
to lift,’
    He stood
and walked out and Abigail stared after him anxiously. Coming here had been a
mistake. She knew instinctively that she had made a false move in this deadly
game. She had reminded Logan of her existence and if he could make further use
of her possibilities he would do so without hesitation. That was why he was
making her stay.
    She
turned her attention to the soup. Now that he was not sitting there looking at
her she felt the pangs of hunger. It was delicious soup anyway and she buttered
the hot rolls and ate—it was the first time she had eaten in ages. She had not
been lying when she had told Logan that she could not remember when she had
last eaten. The days seemed to have rolled into one and all she could remember
was hot coffee, morning, noon and night.
    With the
usual immaculate timing he came back in as she finished and Abigail stood and
faced him defiantly. 
    ‘I’ve eaten as ordered