The Contract by Marsh, Nicola (read aloud books .txt) 📕

the hard planes of his face. She hadn’t seen him smile like that in a long time and it warmed her heart.

“I love it. When Grandma came to live with us, she renovated these rooms. It’s the only place in this house I ever felt comfortable.”

“I know what you mean. It has a good feel about it.”

He looked at her and she caught her breath; his smile hadn’t dimmed and it did strange things to her insides, especially in the vicinity of her heart.

“You’re not doing that mumbo-jumbo stuff again, are you?” His eyes gleamed with amusement.

She tilted her head and sniffed. “Every place and every person has an aura. It is not mumbo-jumbo.” Heck, if he knew all the colours she saw around him at the moment, it would be enough to keep him in therapy for a year.

He held up his hands. “Okay, okay. Just checking. Don’t be so touchy.”

Unfortunately, his words conjured up a vision of him doing that, touching her with all the skill she’d come to expect from her talented husband. Her thoughts must have reflected in her eyes as awareness lit his steady gaze and he reached for her. Her eyelids fluttered shut as his arms slid around her waist and she waited for the first, scintillating brush of his lips. It seemed like forever since he’d last kissed her, their disagreement over her clandestine meeting with the property developer driving a nasty wedge between them and she longed for his touch.

“Steven, is that you?” The feeble voice came out of nowhere and they sprung apart like two dogs doused with cold water from a hose.

“Yes, Grandma. It’s me. And I’ve brought someone you’ll like to meet.” His slate eyes darkened to ebony as he ran a fingertip down her cheek. “Later,” he said, in a husky voice laden with promise.

Amber swallowed, trying to calm her pounding heart and steel her nerves for the meeting ahead. She followed him into a bedroom almost a mirror image of the lounge room. Lined, shantung curtains were pulled back to let as much light into the room as possible, a matching bedspread covered the high, four poster bed, where a frail lady with a shock of white hair sat up and stared at her with eager eyes.

“You must be Amber. Come closer, child. Let me see you.”

Amber stepped forward and held out her hand. “Pleased to meet you, Mrs. St. John.”

The old lady gripped her hand with surprising force. “Likewise, my dear. How is my grandson treating you?”

Amber noticed the shrewd gleam in the old lady’s eyes; though her physical appearance seemed fragile, she would bet nothing escaped her.

“I’m enjoying married life and all its challenges.” Amber couldn’t lie; she hoped the old lady bought her half-truths.

“You didn’t answer my question. After all, your marriage was rather quick. Is there anything I should know?” She stared at Amber’s stomach before casting Steve a pointed look.

Amber glanced from one to the other, totally confused by her husband’s quick negative shake of his head and his grandmother’s almost conspiratorial wink.

“No. I’m not pregnant. Steve swept me off my feet.” She hoped her answer would suffice. At least the latter was true; she hadn’t stood a chance when the smooth lawyer entered her life and turned it upside down.

The old lady snorted. “Well, I’m glad to hear you’re happy. Just don’t leave the babies too long. I’m not sticking around, remember?”

Steve stepped forward, filling the awkward silence. “Enough of that talk, Grandma. How are you feeling?” He bent and kissed her, his hand dwarfing her gnarled one as he held it.

“As well as can be expected, though this damn cancer knocks me down quicker than one of your mother’s barbs.” She grinned and it lit up her gaunt, wrinkled face, lending it a softer quality in the harsh daylight.

Amber blinked back tears, transported back to her mother’s bedside on that last day. “Be happy, my darling. Follow your heart, no matter what.” Her mother’s last words had stuck with Amber and she’d tried to follow them.

Now, as she stared at her husband with his head bent close to his grandmother’s, she wondered for the hundredth time if she’d done the right thing. She’d followed her heart and married a man she’d fallen for in less than a day, in the hope he might one day love her in return. She hoped her mum was right; following her heart would be one thing, having it break into a million pieces after years of unrequited love would be unbearable.

Steve stood and reached for her hand. “We must go. Grandma is tired.”

The old lady smiled. “You’re a vision, my dear. Steven is lucky to have found someone like you. Take good care of him.”

Impulsively, Amber bent down and kissed the papery cheek. “It’s been a pleasure to meet you. Take care.” She knew her words sounded inadequate but she meant them from the heart.

By the look on her face, the old lady truly loved her grandson, a trait they both shared.

Steve squeezed her hand and Amber knew she’d passed the first test. If only meeting her dreaded mother-in-law could be this easy.

He patted his grandma’s hand. “I’ll be down in Melbourne next week. See you then.”

The old lady waved at them, a sheen of tears glazing her eyes as they left the bedroom and closed the door.

“She’s incredible,” Amber said in a whisper, relishing the feel of her husband’s hand gripping hers. They rarely touched outside the bedroom, a fact she would like to change given half a chance.

She knew Steve’s coolness hid a wealth of fiery passion, a warmth dying to burst free if only he