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Hurt and feeling dejected, Lesley slowly removed her hand.
“Tell me something,” he said in a tight whisper. “Do you still love him?”
Him? This made no sense to Lesley. “Jordan?”
“Of course I mean Jordan. You were almost engaged to marry him, or have you conveniently forgotten?”
The question took her by such surprise that Lesley didn’t immediately answer. A cold feeling invaded her heart, extending out in ripples until it reached the very tips of her toes.
“You think I’m in love with Jordan Larabee?” She didn’t honestly expect him to answer. The very ridiculousness of the question was lost on him.
“Yes,” he responded tautly.
“I see.” She wrapped her arms around her middle and stiffened. With a dignity she wasn’t feeling, she straightened her shoulders and headed toward the library door.
“Answer me,” he demanded. “You’re the one who’s so fond of asking questions, aren’t you? Not more than five minutes ago it was of utmost importance to know the reason Carl and I had argued.”
She paused, facing the door. After a prolonged moment she turned around. “Do you honestly believe I’m the type of woman who would allow another man to make love to me night after night if I cared for someone else?”
Zane opened his mouth, but said nothing.
“Only a fool wouldn’t recognize how much I love you, Zane.” Having said that, she opened the door and walked out.
* * *
Two hours later, Zane wandered outside, breathing in the fresh night air in an effort to clear his thoughts. He owed Lesley an apology. He’d behaved like a jealous idiot and she had every right to be angry with him.
He strolled to the viewpoint and was surprised to discover he wasn’t alone. Carl sat on the concrete bench, staring into space. Zane sat at the opposite end.
Neither seemed inclined to speak.
“If I asked you to, would you shoot me?” Carl asked.
“Shoot you?”
“At this point it would be a kindness.”
His friend was talking in riddles. “Is there a moral to this story?” Zane asked.
Carl wiped his hand down his face. “I keep telling myself this is a nightmare and I’ll wake up and it’ll all be over.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing that a good horsewhipping wouldn’t cure.”
Zane braced his elbows against his knees. “I’m feeling much the same way. I just made a colossal fool of myself.”
“You, too?” Carl muttered.
“It must be something in the air.” Zane leaned back. “Is there any particular reason you’re looking to stand before a firing squad?”
“Yeah. I’m seriously thinking I’m going to marry that little she-devil.”
CHAPTER TEN
THE ATMOSPHERE ATthe breakfast table the following morning was decidedly cool. Eyeing Lesley wearily, Zane pulled out the chair across from his wife and poured himself a cup of coffee.
Lesley ignored him. He would have willingly apologized the night before if she’d been awake. But by the time he’d climbed into bed, his wife was curled up in a tight ball on her side of the mattress, fast asleep. Or so she wanted him to believe. Zane knew otherwise, but in this instance the old adage about letting sleeping dogs lie seemed appropriate.
