The Bachelor's Bed Read Online Free Page B

which made it all the more difficult to hurt them inany way. “I thought you were going to be traveling all summer.”
    â€œWe are, we’re just back to check on things.”
    Namely, him.
    Since his mother had been the only sister to have a child, the three of them felt they co-owned him. Growing up, Colin had been raised by committee. His father had bowed out under pressure; after all, he was only one man. As a result, Colin had been fiercely watched over, fiercely disciplined and fiercely loved.
    He was still fiercely loved, he had no doubt.
    He just wished they would do it from a greater distance. Jupiter, maybe.
    â€œI wanted to remind you,” his mother said. “Muffy is expecting you tonight.” She paused, then delivered the coup de grâce. “I’ve confirmed that you will attend.”
    â€œNow wait a minute….”
    â€œWe want to see you, darling. How long has it been?”
    Only two months, he thought desperately. Had she and his aunts only been on their annual shopping trek in Europe for eight short weeks? He struggled for patience, in short supply on the best of days and this wasn’t one of them. “We’ve spoken every week,” he reminded her firmly but gently, not pointing out that even from a distance of thousands andthousands of miles, she still tried to run his life. “And I’m not going to the auction.”
    â€œ Charity auction,” she corrected him. “It’s expected, Colin. It’s why we came back into town. Everyone will be there.”
    Gritting his teeth to bite back his comment, he opened the delicate machinery in front of him and adjusted the micro-module with one of his tiny precision tools. “I can’t. I have a—”
    â€œOh, Colin, I do so love you.”
    His heart softened. “I’m still not going.”
    â€œPlease? Do this for me. Honey, I don’t want to be a hundred years old before you make me a grandmother. I—”
    â€œStop!” He managed to interrupt and let out a short laugh. “Stop with the old. You and your sisters are the youngest old biddies I know.”
    â€œOh, you.” But his mother laughed, too. “This is the second time you’ve disappointed Muffy. Take a break from building those robot thingies and come out with us tonight.” Her voice gentled. “Have a social life, darling. You need to get married again and do it right this time. Please? For me.”
    He might have laughed, if she were kidding. But she never kidded when it came to this—seeing her only child taken care of in what she saw as matters of the heart.
    â€œPlease don’t hurt my feelings on this,” she said inthat quietly devastated voice all mothers have perfected.
    Guilt. Dammit. “You made the plans without consulting me.”
    â€œBecause you won’t make plans for yourself! Your divorce has been final for five years, Colin. Five years. Move on. Please, darling. For me. Move on.”
    The pain that slashed through him had nothing to do with his ex-wife. Lord, he needed a major pain killer. A bottle of them. Instead, he lifted another part of his advanced scale and ran a knowing finger over the trouble spot—the laser shaft. Complex plans for repair tumbled in his head.
    â€œI’m simply trying to better your life.”
    He could think of several ways to do that, starting with leaving him alone. Especially since with or without this project he was currently obsessing over, he would never again “better his life” with another female. “Save yourself the trouble, Mother.”
    â€œBut I want to die in peace.”
    He rolled his eyes. Great. Now the death speech, when she was healthier than anyone he knew and likely to outlive him by thirty years.
    â€œJust one night,” she urged. “That’s all I’m asking. Maybe she’s the one…”
    â€œNo.” He stretched his long, cramped legs over