Tomorrow they’d both move forward like mature adults.
Thankfully Lana was kept busy over the weekend. They both slept late in their separate beds, so that by the time they went to pick up Megan it was almost noon and Isabel insisted they stay for lunch.
Lana felt uncomfortable with Isabel’s and Cesare’s eyes on them, even guilty. If she and Matt had been on friendlier terms, she’d jokingly confess she felt like a teenager who’d had sex with her boyfriend and was trying not to let her parents know it.
As it was, they acted civil to each other until it was time to go home. She fully expected him to go out that evening, but to her surprise he went to the study. It was as if he was showing her he could be around her without making love to her again.
Or perhaps he was trying to show himself.
And that made her wonder, especially when she caught him watching her at odd times, his eyes darkening before he’d blank them out, as if a dial were turning on without his permission and he had to turn it off deliberately.
Unfortunately for her, she couldn’t stop her thoughts from turning to their lovemaking. If only she could turn that part of her mind off, perhaps she could get some peace. If only Matt didn’t affect her, she might have a chance at it. Truth to tell, she was dismayed at the way her body continued to want him again. It was as if there were still lively little sparks of desire floating in the air between them, in spite of her best efforts to put them out.
Her only consolation was that both of them were fighting this thing. She knew for sure that Matt wouldn’t attempt to make love to her again.
And she wouldn’t let him.
Thank heavens by midweek they were almost back to normal. Normal for them, that is.
Subsequently, when Matt walked into her office before lunch on Thursday she pretended she could ignore him.
“What are you doing?”
She glanced at him, then back to the computer screen. “Guess.”
He expelled a breath. “Lana, I’ve checked those old accounts and there’s nothing else there. If there was, I would have found it.”
“No, there’s something more. I can feel it. I—” She fell back in her chair as a thought made her heart skip a beat. “Are you saying you believe I didn’t do it?”
His eyebrow slanted. “Let’s say I’m giving you the slight benefit of the doubt.”
“How kind,” she drawled, pretending that even his halfhearted support didn’t thrill her. It did. Perhaps he was getting to know the real her. He had to know she wasn’t a person who would steal from others. Hadn’t returning the wallet made him see that?
She mentally slumped. She shouldn’t give too much credence to what he said. If he could make love to her while believing her a thief, then he could as easily change his mind about this.
“Come on. We’re going out to lunch,” he muttered.
Her mind whirled in surprise, then withdrew. “I’d rather stay here and look through these.”
“I want to go shopping.”
She sat up straight. “I told you I don’t want any clothes.”
“It’s not for you. I’m going to buy some things for Megan’s room.”
“Things?”
“Furniture.”
She lifted her chin. “I spent a lot of money on her furniture.” She saw his eyes flicker. “Not stolen money,” she said, feeling as if they were back where they started.
He inclined his head. “And you did well,” he conceded, “but I want her to have the very best. Now that she’s used to her new room, it’s time for new furniture.”
His words reminded her of a discussion at the ballet. “Didn’t I hear your friend Justin talking about buying baby furniture for his son’s room?”
He scowled. “Yeah, so?”
She tilted her head. “You don’t have to one-up him, you know.”
“I won’t even bother to reply to that,” he snapped, then looked at his watch. “I’ve made a booking and we’re going to be late.”
“Since when does that worry you?”
“It doesn’t.”
Sighing, she grabbed her purse and stood up. “I’ve already had a piece of cake for morning tea.”
“Your figure can handle lunch.”
The compliment sent the blood rushing to her head, but she concentrated on getting out of the room. He took her elbow as she passed him by, bringing her close but not too close as he walked her from the room and down the corridor. She wasn’t sure if his hold was to remind everyone she was his wife, or to let her know who was boss.
Probably both, she mused, knowing in either case it was a proprietary gesture and nothing more.
Ten minutes later they were seated at a restaurant with a glorious view of the Royal Botanic Gardens. The weather was perfect for a lunchtime walk or a jog, and many people were doing exactly that along the pathways. Others were sitting on the grass and taking in the harbor view.
Lana wished she was sitting out there in the sunshine, rather than sitting in here with Matt. Out there she could escape being close to him. In here there was no escape.
“We need to talk,” Matt said, once they’d ordered a light lunch. “About Megan.”
Her heart seemed to squeeze tight. Did he want a divorce already? No, then he wouldn’t want to furnish Megan’s room.
A wave of apprehension swept through her as her old fear rose. Perhaps he wanted Megan, but wanted to get rid of her? Perhaps he’d found a way to push her out of her daughter’s life?
He leaned back in his chair. “I’ve located a new day care center for her.”
Lana’s shoulders slumped. “Is that all?”
He scowled. “What did you think I wanted to talk about?”
“I thought you were going to finally offer to buy Megan off me.”
His eyes narrowed. “Would you sell her?”
She looked him straight in the eye. “I’d rather die first.”
Silence; then he said with a twitch of his lips, “Defeats the purpose, don’t you think?”
“You know what I mean.”
His humor disappeared. “I wouldn’t ask that of you, Lana. I can see you love Megan more than life itself.”
A warm feeling bounced inside her chest. “Thank you.”
Their gazes linked, and all at once Lana felt they connected on a level beyond the bedroom. For a moment they both saw a true part of each other, not the facade they sought to present.