Wife For Real. Jennifer Taylor

way of it—especially not any unsavoury gossip as to the state of their marriage. But surely it would make more sense in the not-too-distant future for Jordan to rid himself of a wife who didn’t fulfil his needs, and find another who did?

      Katherine gave a small, bitter smile as she glanced at him. But then why would he choose to go to all that trouble when there must be many women eager to supply everything he wanted without him making such a commitment? Jordan could easily have his cake and eat it. Katherine was certain that he did!

      He must have. sensed her watching him because he suddenly turned. His eyes darkened as they rested on her delicate face in its frame of soft blonde hair. The expression in them was hard to define.

      ‘Mmm, one might almost think that you missed me, Katherine. Did you? After all, it’s been... what... almost two months since we saw one another last?’ He laughed huskily. ‘They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, don’t they?’

      ‘So I believe. However, like most maxims, there is always another to contradict it.’ She gave a sharp laugh and felt her heart beat a little faster as she heard how false it sounded; she wondered if Jordan had heard its falseness too. Try as she might she could never be truly indifferent to him. There was just something about him which got under her skin no matter how hard she fought not to let it affect her. ‘Out of sight, out of mind seems appropriate in this case.’

      She looked away, yet she couldn’t deny that she felt shaken by what he-had said. Why on earth should he imagine that she missed him? The more distance there was between them the better, as far as she was concerned, and she would have thought he felt that way as well.

      The organist suddenly struck up the bridal march to announce the arrival of the bride. Katherine stood up with the rest of the congregation. Her arm brushed Jordan’s and she drew away at once, but it would be impossible to avoid touching him.

      The tiny village church was packed with guests and there was little room to move—far too little to avoid making repeated contact. Yet each time it happened Katherine felt another jolt of awareness run through her, so that by the time the ceremony was over her nerves where in shreds. Maybe it was that which made her overreact when Jordan took her arm as they followed the bride and groom down the aisle.

      ‘Let me go!’ Katherine dragged her arm out of his grasp as she glared up at him with stormy grey eyes.

      ‘Surely you’re going to forgive me darling?’ Jordan smiled, but his eyes were glacial as he took her arm again and held it firmly. ‘I did try to get here sooner but it was one delay after another. Flying back from Tokyo is a little more difficult than getting here from Mayfair!’

      Katherine heard someone behind them laugh in appreciation of Jordan’s wit. She only wished she could share their amusement. However, another glance at Jordan’s face warned her that it would be a mistake to cause a scene.

      In silence she let him lead her from the church, waiting until they were well away from the rest of the guests who were milling around as the photographer tried to organise them into groups. Only then did she wrench her arm free again, making no attempt to hide her displeasure.

      ‘Oh, dear, something does seem to have upset you. I suppose you’d better tell me what it is and get it over with.’ Jordan raised a lazy brow, although his face was hard behind the smiling mask. In the sunlight she could see silver streaks in the dark hair at his temples and the tracing of fine lines which netted his eyes at the corners.

      Jordan would be forty in a year or so’s time. He had lived his life on the edge for so long that the years had left their mark on him, even though they hadn’t softened his attitude. What Jordan James wanted he got; what he didn’t like he discarded. Katherine wondered slightly hysterically which category she fell into.

      ‘You know perfectly well what’s wrong!’ she retorted sharply, stung by the thought.

      ‘Even if I weren’t too damned tired to play guessing games, this is neither the time nor the place for them.’ He glanced over her shoulder, his eyes narrowing as he watched the crowd moving about. ‘We’ll be wanted in a moment, so if there’s something you want to say then let’s hear it, Katherine. I don’t want you creating scenes all day long because you’re spoiling for a fight.’

      His words took her breath away, and it took a few moments before she could speak. When she did her tone was like cut glass, each word sharp and clear, so that there would be no danger of him misunderstanding. ‘I’m not spoiling for a fight, Jordan. I’m not interested enough to argue over something as trivial as your sorry lack of manners!’

      ‘Indeed?’ He gave a soft laugh as he leant back against the trunk of a spreading oak tree. Sunlight filtered through its leaves, dappling his face with shadows, making it suddenly hard for Katherine to see his expression clearly. ‘So it’s my lack of manners which is bothering you, is it? I’m afraid you’re going to have to explain that, as I have no idea what you mean.’

      She drew herself up, feeling suddenly uneasy. What was it about the way Jordan was acting which made her feel as though boundaries which had been set a long time ago had been crossed? She tried to shake off the feeling but it stayed at the back of her mind, unsettling and disturbing.

      ‘It’s quite simple. I had no idea that you would be here today. I thought that you were still involved in negotiations for the new contract with the Japanese. Quite apart from the fact that Charles never mentioned you were coming home, I spoke to your secretary only a couple of days ago and that’s what she told me.’

      ‘And she was right. I had no idea I would be able to get back in time for the wedding until yesterday, and even then it was touch and go in case something went wrong. The Japanese struck a hard bargain, but in the end we managed to come to an agreement which suits us both.’

      Katherine didn’t doubt that. Nor did she doubt that the contract Jordan had secured would be a lucrative one. His business acumen was legendary, his hard-headed approach earning respect and fear from allies and competitors alike.

      J.J. Engineering had won contracts for an impressive list of civil-engineering projects worldwide in the past few years. The Japanese contract would be yet another guarantee that the firm would earn more kudos. It wasn’t what interested Katherine, however.

      ‘I see. However, hearing that you were still tied up, I naturally assumed that you would be unable to attend the wedding. I informed Mr and Mrs Hartley accordingly and offered your apologies. Turning up like this without warning is inconsiderate in the extreme, Jordan.’

      ‘Oh, dear, is that what’s bothering you? The table plan? Now I understand. You must forgive me, Katherine, but I hadn’t given any thought to that. How could I have been so lacking in the social graces? It’s a good job I have you around to put me straight whenever necessary, isn’t it?’

      Katherine’s face flamed at his sarcasm. She swung round, refusing to remain there and allow him to mock her. However, before she had managed to take even a step, Jordan caught hold of her wrist and stopped her.

      He swung her back to face him, his eyes devoid of any trace of amusement as he stared into her angry face. ‘Don’t lie, Katherine. If nothing else, at least do me the courtesy of telling me the truth. You don’t give a damn about upsetting Mr and Mrs Hartley’s arrangements, do you? It’s the fact that I turned up here without warning you beforehand that’s eating you, isn’t it?’

      He slid his hand beneath her chin, forcing her face up to meet his contemptuous stare. ‘What’s the matter, my sweet? Afraid that I might want to take a few more liberties now that I’ve overstepped the mark this far? Worried that I might be growing tired of this marriage of ours and thinking about changing the rules? And who could blame me?’

      He stared at her for one long moment more before abruptly letting her go. ‘I believe we’re wanted. I suggest we leave this discussion until later. I’m sure neither of us wants to spoil your brother’s big day.’

      He walked away, not bothering to look back to see if she was following as he joined the other guests. Katherine watched him pass some