Rejection Runs Deep (The Canleigh Series, book 1: A chilling psychological family drama) by Carole Williams (uplifting novels TXT) 📕

thinning and there were lines around his tired eyes.  He had also put on a bit of weight; not yet obese but she could see that in a few years’ time he certainly wouldn’t be that attractive.  Bald and fat most probably.  Still, he wasn’t there yet and as he was the only ally she had in the world at the moment she had to keep him sweet.

“I was surprised to learn that you and Vicky had married.  I didn’t think she would ever forgive you for our little indiscretion at Canleigh.”

Barrie bragged openly.  “Vicky was, and is, besotted with me.  She’ll forgive me anything, given a bit of time and a little work on my part.”

They were on the motorway now.  Barrie shot the car into the outside lane and put his foot down, whizzing past cars and lorries at well over the speed limit.  Delia kept a sharp look out for lurking patrol cars.  She had only just left police custody.  She didn’t want to end up back in their care too soon.

“You’re very sure of yourself,” she said.  “Vicky might surprise you one day.”

Barrie steered the car into the middle lane, took his eyes off the road for a second and smiled at her.  A small red car swung out suddenly swung out in front of them in an attempt to pass a slow lorry.  Barrie banged the horn, swore under his breath and moved back into the outer lane, passing the car and lorry with ease and within seconds had left both far behind.

“Somehow, I don’t think so.  I only have to say the right things, do the right things and she buckles.”

“Um.  Yes, I suppose you’re right.  She always was a bit of a wimp.  So, tell me about this club of yours.  I can’t wait to see it.”

“I think you will be suitably impressed.  We’ve got the mix just right.  Vicky and Alex, who we met at Uni and decided to go in with us, look after the building, the staff, the bookings and the day to day running of the place and I … well, I have a wonderful time hosting and keeping all our patrons happy and wanting to return and bring all their friends, especially the women.  Believe me, I am really good at my job,” he grinned widely.

“Not too good, I hope.  My little sister would be most upset.”

Barrie didn’t reply.  Although he flirted outrageously with his patrons, so far he hadn’t succumbed to temptation with any of the women who pawed him every evening with their conversations full of never ending innuendo.  He just made vague promises to them, not wanting to rock the boat too hard with Vicky.  She was his meal ticket.  She was the one with the rich father who could pull countless strings on their behalf, or pull the plug at any time, so he had to be careful … and he usually was … but now he was throwing all caution to the winds … with Delia.  He knew it was crazy.  If Vicky and/or her father found out he would be done for but there was something about this woman by his side that made him want to continue down this path.  He had been thrown completely when Danby rang and asked him to put up the bail money for her and even knowing Vicky would throw her hands up in horror, it hadn’t stopped him agreeing.  He knew Delia would be grateful and he wanted her badly.  She was under his skin and he was going to have her, and blow the consequences.  He would deal with them when the time came.  Vicky loved him so much, he could surely talk his way back into her good graces if she ever found out.  He was going to chance it anyway.

“To be honest, things are a little tense between us at the moment.”

“Oh?”

“Vicky wants a baby … and so far, has had little luck.”

“I see … so everything in the Saunders-Smythe household isn’t quite so rosy then.”

Barrie shook his head but didn’t expand.  Vicky’s need for a child was consuming her, and driving him crazy.  He wasn’t too fussed about producing children and if they didn’t materialise it wouldn’t be the end of the world for him and having to only have sex if it was the right time of the month when there was the faint chance Vicky might conceive was becoming tedious and boring.  It was leading to rows and long, resentful silences which made having sex even more difficult and when they did there was no joy, just an urgent need to procreate.

Delia watched his beautifully manicured hands guiding the steering wheel.  He didn’t wear a wedding ring but there was a solid gold band with a crest of some sort on his right little finger.  She wondered if it was the Canleigh crest.  If so, he had no real right to it.  He might be married to a Canleigh but he wasn’t of the blood line.

“Are you sure you don’t want to get straight up to Canleigh and see how your father is doing?”  asked Barrie, changing the subject.  He was puzzled as to why Delia didn’t want to shoot up to Yorkshire.  Vicky and Ruth were with the Duke and he would have thought Delia would have wanted to join them as fast as possible.

Delia shook her head.  “No.  I’m sure we’ll hear all the news via Vicky … and I don’t think I want to answer all their questions about Richard and Rocky yet.  I’ve had enough at the police station.  I just want to stabilise myself a little before I see them all.”

“But your father … he is in a bad way apparently.  He might die.”

“Really,” Delia snapped.  “Well, that would be a shame, wouldn’t it?”

Barrie looked at her in astonishment.  She blushed, realising