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Back The Widow Save as PDF
Chapters (92)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. PART I
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. PART II
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
  27. 23
  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. 49
  54. 50
  55. 51
  56. 52
  57. 53
  58. 54
  59. 55
  60. 56
  61. 57
  62. 58
  63. 59
  64. 60
  65. 61
  66. 62
  67. 63
  68. 64
  69. 65
  70. 66
  71. 67
  72. 68
  73. 69
  74. 70
  75. 71
  76. 72
  77. 73
  78. 74
  79. 75
  80. 76
  81. 77
  82. 78
  83. 79
  84. 80
  85. 81
  86. 82
  87. 83
  88. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  89. MORE FROM VALERIE KEOGH
  90. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  91. The Murder List
  92. About Boldwood Books

Peter didn’t notice her hesitation. He’d set two places at the table, one at the end, one at a right angle to it. He pulled a chair out and smiled across the room to where she still hovered in the doorway.

She was being silly. Returning his smile, she took the offered chair and sat. ‘Thank you.’

There were chunky, squat candles grouped in a low, circular dish in the centre of the table, tall, slim ones in candlesticks on the dresser. Peter struck a match and lit them, then switched out the main light. Although possibly a little too dim, it was preferable to the odd glow from the overhead light and almost, almost made the atmosphere romantic rather than creepy.

Peter refilled her wine glass. ‘Right, I’ll go and dish up. Back in a tick.’

She’d have preferred to go with him rather than sit there alone in the unsettling half-light. Luckily, before she embarrassed herself by following, he returned with their meal. ‘I hope you enjoy it,’ he said, placing the plate on the table in front of her.

‘I’m sure I will.’ It certainly smelt delicious, and she was delighted to find it tasted equally as good.

They laughed and chatted as they ate, the level in the wine bottle quickly lowering until Peter went to the kitchen and returned with another.

Finally, she pushed her empty plate away. ‘That was absolutely delicious.’

He grinned at her. ‘Have I found the way to your heart?’

‘Good food always helps.’

He got to his feet and reached a hand to her. ‘Why don’t I show you the rest of the house?’

There was no missing the implication in his words. She smiled. Did it matter that she was finding him suddenly more sexually attractive thanks to his home? He had odd notions and perhaps the role of perfect girlfriend would have proved to be boring and impossible to maintain. It would be easier now. She might even see this crazy plan through.

As she took his hand and followed him up the stairs, she expected the night to be exciting and satisfying.

But she’d also expected him to drive a Porsche or Lamborghini.

Like his Ford Fiesta, he was surprisingly dull in bed.

10

Once Allison had decided what she wanted, it was easier to make sure she got it. It wasn’t difficult. All she needed to do was to give Peter what he wanted, to get what she needed.

The Thursday following their first night together, she headed back into the boutique where she’d bought the dress. This time, she spent money on smart-casual clothes. Well-cut trousers, silk shirts, a couple of dresses. She spent more than she’d spent for years, but she handed over her credit card without a twinge. This was investment dressing.