Opposing Forces by Juliet Anderson Page A

know?”
     
    “She has a restraining order against him.”
     
    “Then she is free to date you.  You’re not bad looking, I suppose, and dating the Chief of Police would probably stop her getting arrested so often.”
     
    “I’m not about to date Maisie.  One of us would most definitely end up committing murder.”
     
    “Oooh, a crime of passion, that would be fun,” Sabina’s eyes lit up.  “But that would mean you actually showing an emotion.”
     
    Steffen decided it was time to change topics. “Have you decided what you’re going to do yet?  Heinrich is off on his travels soon and you’ll be left on your own.”
     
    No-one apart from her mother knew about her acceptance at Lausanne University and tonight was certainly not the time to announce it.  She went for teasing her brother instead. “Life seems so much more fun down in Lausanne.  I thought I might move down there. Your residence has ample space.”  Sabina batted her eyelids at her brother.
     
    “I have a good orderly life in Lausanne. The last thing I need is my sister ruining my perfect reputation.”
     
    “Maisie might find you more appealing if you showed her you had at least one family member who actually has emotions.”
     
    Steffen shook his head in despair, his sister was impossible.  He might lack emotion but he did pick up some strange vibes that evening. His mother and father had never been close, but he could not recall an evening when they did not utter one word to each other.  And Sabina too had no interaction with her father, it was almost as though he no longer existed.  Something was brewing but he took the sensible option and remained quiet.
     
     
    Steffen was up early the next morning, he needed to get back to Lausanne. Not only did he have a great deal of work to get through, he wanted to avoid any difficult conversations with his father.  He was surprised to find his mother up already.   She handed him a much needed cup of coffee.
     
    “Are you in such a hurry to leave us?” Bettina asked.
     
    “Of course not, Mother.” He kissed her cheek fondly. “I have a lot I need to catch up on.”
     
    “More like evading your father, I think.”  His mother always could see right through him.
     
    Steffen sighed heavily.  “We have managed to avoid any major arguments so I think it best to keep it that way.”
     
    “You put your father firmly back in his place last night. That is something you have never done before in public.”
     
    “I’m sorry but he annoyed me. How can he pass judgement on someone he has never met?” His brows knit together.
     
    Bettina was picking up distinct feelings from her son.  “You seemed to defend this woman quite vehemently. Is there something I should know?”
     
    Steffen shook his head.  “No. I defended her because she is a genuinely lovely person.  I also initially made the mistake of judging her too quickly.”
     
    “I saw the picture Max was referring too.  Miss Carrington is indeed a stunning woman and you both looked quite at ease with each other.”  She watched her son’s face for his reaction.
     
    Steffen laughed.  He could see where his mother was going.  “Maisie is impetuous and on the wild side.  She is not the type of woman who would make an ideal partner for the Chief of Police.”
     
    “Perhaps you should try dating someone with a little life in her as opposed to those…what did Sabina call them?...That’s right, emotionless sticks.”
     
    “I don’t do emotion, Mother.  You should know that.”
     
    “Of course you have to sweep emotion aside in your public life, but surely you want to settle down eventually with a woman you love?”
     
    Steffen frowned.  “Love is a complication I don’t need.  You and Father managed a marriage and three children without an ounce of emotion.”
     
    Bettina felt a wave of sadness rush over her.  It was true, she had married Hubert out of duty not love but despite the lack of feelings,