Page 59 of Wife After Wife
“I wasn’t. God, Ana, I can’t believe he’s gone. He wasn’t even thirty. The death of a friend—it makes you take stock of your life, your relationships. Like Charles, starting over with Megan. At least he’s got it right.”
“How’s your wife doing? Megan told me she’s feeling brighter.”
Harry made a dismissive gesture. “Katie’s had these problems forever. She gets better, then something sets her back. She relies a lot on her faith—I’m not sure I’m much help. We got together years ago. Now it just feels like a habit.”
Ana fiddled with a pen, clicking the nib in and out, not meeting his eyes. “She seems lovely. I hope she’s better soon.”
“Are you still marrying Percy?”
Her eyes flew to his. “I—yes. Of course!”
He grinned. “Just wondered. Can’t let my most promising member of staff marry any old idiot, can I?”
Ana chuckled.
“Honest opinion? Not good enough for you.”
“So you’re my dad now?”
“If I was, I’d send him packing.”
“Wouldn’t work. Forbidden love is the best kind.”
“Isn’t it just?”
Ana’s smile faded. “Are you going to marry Merry?”
What should he say about the affair? His conscience told him to be honest. “No. It was only ever a casual thing. She knows that.”
“Actually, Harry, she doesn’t.”
“Oh? Then I need to talk to her. But let’s get through the funeral first. She’ll have an awful lot on her plate.”
“She told me you two are in love.”
Harry was filled with dismay. It was going to be harder to extricate himself from the Merry situation than he’d imagined. He’d tried to ignore her increasing clinginess, her neediness. That wasn’t what he’d signed up to at all. He should have ended it sooner. Now Ana would think he was a cad for dumping her when she was at her most vulnerable. And what Ana thought was all that mattered.
“Merry’s delightful, but it isn’t... it never was, serious. We’ve just—”
“Harry, please don’t share this with me. She’s my sister and you’re my boss; you’re putting me in a difficult position.”
“Ana...” He leaned forward, holding her gaze. His heart was in his mouth. “I can’t keep... I need to tell you. I want to be more than your boss.”
He’d said it.
Ana’s beautiful eyes widened, and he saw her intake of breath.
“Totally inappropriate boss behavior,” he said, in a lighter tone. “Wrong on so many levels. I’ve tried ordering my heart to behave, but... Ana, every time you’re near, I feel like I’m under a spell.”
“I—”
“You’re getting married, I know. Just be sure you’re making the right decision.”
The hesitance, the uncertainty in her eyes, gave him the encouragement he needed to carry on. “It’s over between Katie and me. Life’s too short. Don’t get married unless you’re one hundred percent sure. Promise me that.”
“I will. And—I am.”
But her eyes betrayed the lie.
