Page 62 of Her Fantasy Husband

She eyed him up and down, lingering on his bare feet—no doubt he’d made some social gaffe by opening the door not fully dressed.

Like I give a shit.

“What?” he asked. He knew he sounded unfriendly, but he hated this woman for what she had done to Lexi.

“I’ve been trying to see Alexia, but she appears to be avoiding me.”

“We’ve been…busy.”

“I’m sure. Is she here?”

For a second he thought about denying it, but Lexi couldn’t avoid her forever. “Come in. I’ll go tell her you’re here.”

She followed him inside, and he led her into the kitchen to wait. “Help yourself to coffee,” he said

“Perhaps we could have a word before you go.”

He didn’t want to. Really, he didn’t. He knew with a certainty that he wouldn’t be interested in anything she had to say. All the same he heaved a huge breath and turned around. “Go on.”

“I’d like to understand what my granddaughter sees in you, Joshua.”

“Please, call me Mr. Slater.”

She gave a tight smile. “You’re good looking enough, if you like your men a little rough.”

“Thanks.”

“But what have you possibly got in common with Alexia? I’ve looked into your background. You’re a nothing. A nobody. So I don’t know why Lexi is with you. Sex, I’m guessing. You’re her piece of rough.”

Bitch.

“Or she feels sorry for you.”

Even bigger bitch.

The words took him back to that long ago meeting with the social services when he’d almost begged them to let Evie stay with him. They’d been kind, sort of, as much as they could be in those circumstances. They’d pointed out that he had absolutely nothing to offer Evie. That there were complete strangers out there who could give her far more than a penniless seventeen year old, with no education and no job, ever could.

“Of course, there’s also the possibility that she married you to gain access to her trust fund.”

He was no longer seventeen, and he was far from penniless, and he wouldn’t be pushed around by someone who thought they were superior just because they’d been born with money. “Sounds like something out of a novel.” He gave her a smile back that didn’t reach his eyes. “And why should she have felt the need to do that,Granny.”

She pursed her lips. “Who knows? Young people today never have enough money.”

“Or perhaps she didn’t trust the people who were meant to be looking out for her.”

This time the smile was patronizing. “We’re herfamily, Joshua. I’m aware someone like you wouldn’t understand that.”

“Actually, I understand it all too well.” Yeah, he knew all about how well family could look out for each other.

She considered him, head cocked, like some sort of bird of prey about to peck his eyes out. “You know, I could make it worth your while if this marriage to Lexi could be made to…disappear.”

Jesus, she was trying to bribe him now. She really did have a low opinion of him.

He took a step closer, let his eyes go cold and saw her swallow. “You say you’ve looked into my background, so you know a little of what I’m capable of. You hurt Lexi, and I will come after you. And I’ll warn you—I don’t play by the same rules.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“Yeah. Now, I’ll go tell Lexi her sweet little grandma is here. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled.”

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