The One That Got Away Read Free Page B

so that she could mop up more of the blood, and there’d been bruises on
Angie’s skin, old ones and new, and the nurse’s compassionate eyes had turned
icy as she’d turned to him and said, ‘I’m sorry. Could you please wait
outside?’
    He’d lost his lunch in the gutter on the way to get the car;
still reeling from the blood on his hands and the sure knowledge that accident
or not, this was his fault, all of it.
    Like father, like son.
    No goddamn control.
    Angie hadn’t known he was Max’s brother, just now.
    Logan didn’t think anyone could conjure up that level of horrified dismay on cue. Or the hostility that had
followed.
    ‘So what was that all about?’ asked Max, his easygoing nature
taking a back seat to thinly veiled accusation. ‘You and Evie.’
    ‘Do you really intend to marry her?’
    Do you love her, was what he meant .
    Do you bed her? Does she scream for you
the way she did for me?
    ‘Yes,’ said Max, and Logan headed for the sideboard and the
decanter of Scotch that always stood ready there. He poured himself a glass and
didn’t stint when it came to quantity. Didn’t hesitate to down the lot.
    ‘I’m guessing that wasn’t a toast,’ said Max, and his voice was
dry but his eyes were sharply assessing. ‘What is wrong with you?’
    ‘Did you protect your money? Has she signed a prenup?’
    ‘Yes. And, yes. We also restructured our business partnership
to reflect proportional investment. Evie’s no gold-digger, Logan, if that’s what
you’re thinking.’
    ‘You’re in business with her
too?’
    ‘For the past six years. She’s the other half of MEP. You know
this already. At least, you would if you’d been paying attention.’
    ‘I did pay attention. I knew you had a business partner.’ He’d
known it was a woman. ‘I just...’ Didn’t know it was Angie. ‘So this
marriage...is it just a way to get your hands on your trust money?’
    A simple no was all it would take. A simple no from Max, and
Logan would dredge up congratulations from somewhere and be on his way. All Max
had to do was say no.
    But Max hesitated.
    And Logan set up a litany of swear words in his brain and
reached for the decanter again.
    Leave it alone , an inner voice
urged him. It’s past. It’s done . Plenty of other
women in the world. Available women. Willing women.
    Angie had been willing.
    ‘Does she know you’re marrying her
to gain access to your trust money?’ he asked next.
    ‘She knows.’
    ‘She in love with you?’
    ‘No. I’d never have suggested it if she was. It’s only for two
years. And we’ll be working flat out for most of it.’
    ‘Right. So it’s just a marriage of convenience. No broken
hearts to worry about at all.’
    ‘Exactly,’ said Max.
    Leave it alone, Logan. Keep your big mouth
shut.
    But he couldn’t.
    No way he could have Evangeline Jones for a sister-in-law and
stay sane. It was as simple as that.
    ‘And if I said I already know your soon-to-be wife? That I met
her a long time ago, long before she ever knew you? That for a week or so we
were lovers?’ Logan’s voice sounded rough; the firewater was not, so he drank
some more of it before turning to face his brother. ‘What then?’
    Max stared at him for what seemed like an eternity. And then
turned and strode from the room without another word.
    * * *
    Caroline Carmichael lingered once they reached the
suite; a glorious eastern-facing bedroom with en suite, bay windows overlooking
the garden and a sweet little alcove stuffed with a day-bed, and alongside that
a bookcase full of surprisingly well-worn books.
    ‘It’s very feminine, isn’t it?’ murmured Caroline. ‘I’ve never
put Max in this room before. Then again, he’s never brought a fiancée home
either.’
    ‘I’m sure we’ll be fine.’ One big bed, one day-bed. Evie
couldn’t have asked for a more suitable room.
    Logan Black was Max’s brother. Everything was just fine.
    ‘Because I can put you in the adjoining room if you’d