The Seduction Scheme by Kim Lawrence

who’s not part of the…’
    She could almost see him mentally back-pedalling.
    â€˜Part of the problem?’ she finished grimly.
    â€˜She’s very protective of you.’
    â€˜You’ve got to tell me now, Ben.’
    Benedict sighed, looked into her lovely face. which was flushed with emotion and tight with tension, and nodded. ‘Granted. It seems they had this lesson at school where everyone gave a potted biography of their father. When it was Charlie’s turn, she told everyone her father came from a sperm bank.’
    â€˜She what ?’
    â€˜I take it this information didn’t come from the horse’s mouth?’
    â€˜What do you think I am?’ she gasped.
    â€˜It’s what Charlie thinks that’s the problem.’
    â€˜And you know what she thinks?’ She didn’t even bother to hide her antagonism to the idea.
    â€˜Don’t kill the messenger, Rachel. Shall I make the tea?’ he offered, after looking at her pale, drawn features.
    â€˜Why not?’ She was redundant in every other way—why shouldn’t he take over the domestic tasks too? She knew she was being ungrateful and petulant but for the life of her she couldn’t stop it.
    â€˜This particular boy started making some nasty insinuations about your…er…sexual preferences and, as I said, Charlie’s very protective.’
    Rachel closed her eyes and groaned; it got worse. ‘She’s never asked about her father.’ If she had what would I have told her? she thought. How would I have explained about Raoul?
    â€˜Didn’t he want to be involved…?’
    â€˜He’s dead,’ she said in a flat, emotionless tone.
    â€˜I see.’
    Rachel lifted her elbows from the counter and straightened up, glancing at Benedict as she did so. What did he see? A tragedy that had separated young lovers? Whatever he thought it couldn’t come close to the truth.
    Had she let that youthful disillusionment sour her attitude to men? Where she’d imagined she was cautious had she actually been distrustful? Had she encumbered her daughter with her own prejudices and insecurities? Had she taken self-reliance too far? The disquieting questions refused to stop.
    â€˜My confidence in my parenting skills has just taken a nosedive.’
    â€˜Don’t knock what you’ve done, Rachel. Charlie’s an exceptional kid. It must have been hard alone…’
    â€˜I wasn’t alone,’ she put in impatiently. ‘The money I inherited from my aunt Janet meant I can live here in relative luxury—not up to your standards possibly, but most people wouldn’t complain. When Charlie was small Aunt Janet was always there for us. It was she who made me continue with my education; I had it easy compared to a lot of single mums. I had a safety net…’
    â€˜And a sense of proportion?’
    â€˜What?’ She faltered; he looked disconcertingly bored.
    â€˜Don’t you think you’re going a bit overboard with the unfit parent stuff?’ he drawled.
    â€˜That’s rich coming from you,’ she gasped incredulously. ‘You’ve only just finished telling me all the things I’m doing wrong!’
    â€˜Rachel, what I know about childcare could be fitted on the back of a postage stamp. Of course I’m going to tell you you should be expanding your social horizons; it’s in my best interests. We both know I’ve got an ulterior motive.’
    â€˜You have?’ Responding at this point might be construed as encouragement but the words that trembled on the tip of her tongue wouldn’t be censored.
    â€˜I want to be your lover, Rachel.’
    â€˜Just like that?’ she choked. She’d steeled herself for something much cleverer and more subtle. The simple brutality of the truth was totally devastating. She knew her colour was fluctuating in tune with the violent changes in body temperature she