A Convenient Husband by Kim Lawrence

would have surely discovered it on the repeat performance.
    Tess found herself feeling uncomfortable on Ian’s behalf. A quick glance in his direction revealed he wasn’t looking at Chloe, but at herself. She smiled tentatively back, relieved he was taking his fiancée’s admiration of a much younger man so well.
    â€˜You look marvellous.’
    Tess considered this observation a little unnecessary after all that drooling.
    â€˜Whatever brings you here of all places?’ Chloe persisted, placing her hands on his shoulders and kissing the air artistically either side of his face.
    Perhaps, Tess brooded, the stubble put her off. It wouldn’t me…Rafe’s eyes met hers over Chloe’s head and she blushed, as any girl would caught looking at a man as if he were a piece of cream cake she couldn’t wait to jam into her mouth.
    â€˜I always was eccentric.’ Chloe didn’t pick up on the irony in his voice—he hadn’t expected her to—but rather to his surprise there was no answering gleam of humour in Tess’s eyes either when he sought her gaze. ‘It is my home, Chloe.’
    â€˜Oh, I expect you’ve come to see your grandfather.’ Chloe looked happier now she’d come up with a reasonable explanation for finding him in her aunt’s company. ‘He’s not dead, is he?’ she enquired, with a worried afterthought.
    â€˜Silly me, of course he isn’t. I mean, he’s famous, isn’t he? It would have been on the news.’
    Rafe struggled to keep his face straight.
    â€˜I did come to see Grandfather,’ he agreed. ‘I arrived last night, actually, only I haven’t made it out there yet.’ He solicitously pounded Tess on the back as she began to choke.
    Tess, her eyes still watering, watched the smile fade from Chloe’s lips. She shot Tess a poisonous look before linking her arm through her partner’s and pulling him forward. ‘This is Ian!’ she announced with a verbal flourish.
    Shall I curtsy or just applaud? Tess wondered. It was obvious to her now why Ian hadn’t been troubled by Chloe’s interest in Rafe; the girl quite obviously worshipped him! Being worshipped must give a person a nice feeling of security, she mused wistfully.
    â€˜No need for introductions, Chloe, I know who Ian is. I never miss an episode.’
    It was impossible to tell from the older man’s polite expression if he believed Rafe’s outright and not very convincing lie, and from the slight wince Tess detected as they exchanged a manly handshake she suspected it might have been firmer than was strictly required on Rafe’s side. The urge to kick him intensified. What made him think she needed him to fight her battles for her?
    Ian, who had up to this point reserved his attention for Tess, turned to the young woman who proudly wore his ring upon her finger. ‘You didn’t tell me you knew Rafe Farrar, darling. I’m surprised we’ve never met before, Rafe.’
    â€˜Yes, it’s amazing,’ Tess agreed, casting a malicious glance towards Rafe. ‘Considering how Rafe hovers diligently around on the lovey fringes hoping someone will mistake him for someone really famous and take his photo.’
    Tess was immediately mortified that she’d allowed Rafe to provoke her into this display of shrewish bad manners.
    Ian’s understanding expression reminded Tess that everything she knew about this man had been gleaned second-hand from Chloe. Given this fact, something might well have got lost in the translation! Tess had taken it for granted Chloe’s love interest had an outsized ego and she’d hoped he had a mouse-sized intellect to match! Now it looked as if she was wrong on both counts.
    â€˜I hope Ben isn’t too tired after his early start to come out with us for the day. We’ve got a picnic…’
    â€˜I ordered it from Fortnum’s,’ Chloe