Page 8 of Marriage Bargain with His Innocent
‘No,’ Georgina said with genuine honesty, because at the time there had been one thing and one thing only on her mind, and that had been the fastest way to bring Rose back from whatever dark place she was getting lost in.
‘Well, perhaps it should have.’
‘I just thought—’
‘Georgie,’ Matias interrupted heavily, standing up to indicate that the conversation was at an end, ‘you’ve always been like my parents. Warm-hearted, but essentially lacking in that practical gene which can sometimes appear harsh but which is the one that makes sense at the end of the day. Now, do you want some fondant?’
‘I’ve lost my appetite. And if bypracticalyou mean hard as nails and cold as ice, then I’m very glad that I was bornwithoutthat particular gene.’ She stood up as well. ‘You may pride yourself, Matias Silva, on seeing the world from yourpracticalpoint of view, but that doesn’t necessarily make you ahappyguy, does it? Yes, it might make you awealthyone, but there’s a great big world out here that is rich and rewarding and has nothing to do with how much money you have in your bank account.’
‘We’ll agree to differ on that one.’
Georgina swerved past him and strode, head held high, towards the front door.
‘For God’s sake, Georgie, you can still stay the night in my house.’
‘I’d rather not, as it happens.’
‘Well, where’s the B&B?’
‘Somewhere in west London—but I’m happy to make my own way there.’
‘Just give me the address and I’ll get my driver to drop you. It’ll be a damn sight more comfortable than trekking on the Underground or trying to work out which bus goes where.’
He didn’t give her time to object. He flipped his cell phone out of his pocket and positioned himself in front of the door so that she couldn’t run away.
Matias had said what he’d wanted to say but he still felt guilty. He knew that she would see his lack of co-operation in her hare-brained scheme as a lack of concern for his mother. Nothing could be further from the truth. He had never had much in common with his parents—had always seen their idealistic, holistic, hippy approach to life as charming but irresponsible—but that didn’t mean that he hadn’t loved them in his own way.
His biggest regret was the fact that he hadn’t been able to make it back for his father’s funeral. He’d been abroad, and it had all happened so damned fast. The flight connections to get him back to Cornwall had not been quick enough. He’d been too late. He’d never had the chance to fix the relationship he’d had with his father—a relationship that had been broken over a period of years as Matias had become ever more distant from his tree-hugging parents, whose ideologies he had never been able to grasp.
He’d failed as a son and, even though he’d spent his adult life trying to make up for it, by assiduously making sure his mother was taken care of, Matias knew that there was a yawning chasm between them for which the small, round, feisty copper-haired woman in front of him had judged and sentenced him a long time ago.
But as far as Matias was concerned involving him in something like this without first consulting him just wasn’t on.
‘My driver will be here in five minutes.’ He looked at her and she squirmed resentfully under his piercing gaze. ‘What will you tell my mother?’
‘Do you care? Maybe I’ll tell her that I showed up here and sadly found you in bed with a blonde.’
She sighed. She had no one but herself to blame for the mess she found herself in. Matias had every right to refuse to go along with her. He had his jam-packed life to lead, after all.
‘I won’t say that.’
‘I didn’t think you would.’
‘Because I’m so predictable?’
‘Because you’re not the sort.’ He paused. ‘Iwillcome down to Cornwall,’ he murmured thoughtfully. ‘Maybe next weekend, and I’ll stay for a little longer than I usually do.’
‘I’ll make sure to keep out of your way,’ Georgina inserted politely. ‘It might make for fireworks if we’re supposed to be in the throes of a hostile break-up.’
Matias looked at her and reluctantly grinned. ‘Tell me why you’ve always been able to make me laugh even though we fight like cat and dog? No, scrap that. You’ll probably end up fighting with me again. What story will you spin for my mother when you break the disappointing news that we’re no longer a hot item?’
‘I don’t know. I’ll think of something.’
‘This wasyouridea,’ Matias mused, ‘but I’ll shoulder the blame for the break-up of a relationship that never was. It’ll be far more believable that I’m the baddie in this scenario anyway. I won’t be letting my mother down too much.’
He saw the flash of curiosity in her eyes and sidestepped it adroitly.
‘Fair’s fair, after all. Now... Safe trip back, Georgie.’ He hesitated. What else was there to say?
