Her Man with Iceberg Eyes (8 page)

“It looked good on you,” Matthew interrupted.
“You can borrow the padded one again if you want.”

“...and a cardigan and some shirts and a
lovely warm robe.”

She noticed neither of them mentioned the
lingerie.

“Good work,” Diana said. “And you’ve met
Lottie now?”

“Finally awake,” Matthew confirmed. They must
have given her horse tranquiliser.”

“I don’t blame them,” Hamish muttered. “She
can be a hell of a drama queen.”

“Yep, she was having a moan about the food
when we arrived,” Matthew agreed, apparently not the least put out
to have Lottie referred to so unkindly.

Hamish and Diana laughed.

“Nothing wrong with
this
food,” Kate
said, spooning out a little more curry.

Diana nodded. “True. I wonder if Lottie could
make me a nice big pot of it for the party? Maybe a little
milder?”

“Consider it done,” Matthew said. “Although
she’ll probably achieve it by barking orders at Kate or me while we
skivvy for her.”

He turned to watch Kate. The soft lamplight
brought out dark red highlights in hair that otherwise looked
black. She’d pulled it away from her face and fastened it with the
big spring-clip so a luxuriant mane of waves tumbled down the
centre of her back. Her emerald green shirt emphasised the colour
of her eyes. And in the unbuttoned opening at her throat, his chain
sparkled and glimmered like a line of golden fire. Under the table,
his groin stirred. He parted his thighs, making no effort to
suppress the pleasurable sensation.

What was she really here for? So far, she’d
shown no real signs of interest in his work. Had sent his office
only the briefest of glances from the doorway when he’d given her
the house tour. And seemed more interested in the vineyard than
anything else. Rob Pleasance wasn’t associated with the wine
industry, so there was no danger of industrial espionage in that
direction. Undoubtedly, Rob might have shares in some of the
leading brands, but Matthew knew enough about him to be certain
wine wasn’t the focus of her sneaky investigations. He eased his
thighs further apart, leaning back in his chair to savour the
sensation, and thinking back to her frank appraisal as they sat
together in the sitting room. Thank God for big white paper
napkins, or he would have given his interest away entirely. And in
front of his brother and Diana, too...

It had been bad enough driving her around the
town. Worse sitting at the cafe, watching her across the table,
seeing the breeze flirting with her hair where his fingertips
itched to wander. Worse again every time her serious big green eyes
flicked up to his as they talked. He’d been half-hard for most of
the day.

She was cool and classy; no femme fatale.
There was nothing he could interpret as flirty encouragement or
sexy suggestion. Even when he’d teased her about the panties she’d
responded with annoyance rather than mirth. She was a total enigma.
A challenge and a temptation. And his to keep watch over until
Sunday.

Kate turned to Diana as she laid down her
knife and fork. “Can I be any help with the party?

“Another nice salad like this one? Everyone’s
bringing something, rather than getting caterers in. I’m hoping
that’ll get around the birthday present problem.”

“I’ll be lucky to get off scot-free there,”
Hamish muttered.

Diana touched his arm and sent him a fond
smile. “You must let them have their little jokes if they want to.
I happen to know Joanie and Len have been working away at something
on your behalf.”

Hamish rolled his eyes, and Kate laughed. It
felt good to be part of easy family banter like this. She’d missed
it since her parents had divorced. Being in the company of just one
of them hadn’t been the same. And trying to relax with any of her
father’s new ‘friends’ was excruciating.

“Time for dessert?” Diana asked, stacking
Hamish’s plate and cutlery onto hers, and rising. Kate sprang up
too, and reached for Matthew’s. The two women walked out to the
kitchen together, leaving the brothers alone. Kate made one more
trip to the dining room to gather the curry casserole, the rice
dish and the smaller bowls onto a tray while Diana retrieved her
Banoffie Pie from the refrigerator.

“This is
so
full of calories,” Diana
said with a guilty smile. “I don’t make it often, but for his
birthday...?” She attempted to stand a candle in the centre of it.
“Mmm—might have to do that at the table,” she decided as it leaned
drunkenly over.

“Shall we light it out here and I’ll carry
it?” Kate offered. Together they managed to get pie and candle to
the table. As soon as they appeared, Matthew began to whistle
‘happy birthday to you’ with surprising sweetness.

Wedges of pie and dark smoky coffee completed
the meal. Diana stacked the dishwasher. Conversation became
desultory, and finally Matthew rose. “Port in the spa, everyone?”
he asked, threading his long fingers around the stems of four
glasses set ready on the sideboard, and taking the bottle by its
neck. Kate tagged along uncertainly, wondering if she could escape
now.

But Diana ushered her into the changing room,
inviting her to choose from the half-dozen swimsuits kept there for
the use of guests. Kate slid into the plainest and most concealing
she could find, bundled up all of her hair on top of her head, then
followed Diana next door. Relief washed over her once she saw the
pool was huge.

Matthew stood fully clothed by the big
folding glass doors forming two walls of the room. His eyes
caressed her, burning down the length of her legs, blatantly
appreciating the curves of her breasts and hips. He unsnapped the
door-locks and slid the misted panels aside. Frosty air and
moonlight poured in, as magical as any film set.
Lord of the
Rings
mountains shimmered, crystal clear, impossibly close.

Diana submersed herself in the warm bubbling
water with an exclamation of pleasure, and Kate followed rapidly to
escape Matthews’s hungry eyes.

She sat mesmerised as he slowly pulled his
shirt free from his trousers. Long fingers slid the buttons through
their holes. With a shrug, he shimmied the shirt down his arms,
baring his body for her, still holding her eyes with his own.

Kate would not have noticed if someone had
punched her in the stomach. She’d stopped breathing. She’d stopped
thinking. She’d started wanting, mindlessly.

Her hands longed to smooth and stroke his
powerful shoulders and arms. Her lips and tongue needed to lick and
slide over his hard chest and lean torso.

His fingers located the catch on his
trousers, and the dark fabric slipped a little down his hips. This
granted her the briefest glimpse of an intricate band of tattooing
circling his waistline before he stepped away and disappeared into
the changing room.

Nothing had prepared her for this. She’d
arrived in Queenstown hoping for a job. She might still be
successful in her quest. She was coming to terms with her possible
new boss being famous...the house being so large and beautifully
appointed.

She had managed—just—to cope with Matthew for
the day. Had resisted his potent charm, fielded his intrusive
questions, not quite fallen apart when he stood too close,
arrogantly playing with her hair, caressing her ear.

But his taunting little strip-tease was her
undoing. His hard flesh was lean and streamlined. It was the body
of a fully mature man, with no boyish softness, no unwanted fat, no
hint of city slackness. The combination of his vineyard labours,
high-country photographic hikes, and the professional gym next to
the spa room had made him tough and toned, sinewy and sexy. She
might have imagined him as gorgeous as this, but now she
knew.

And so far she’d seen only half of him.

Desperately she turned to Diana as a
distraction.

“Matthew says I’ll need a proper party dress
for Saturday. Is he teasing me again?” she asked in a voice that
was less than steady.

Diana smiled. “For once he’s not teasing. We
thought we’d give everyone the chance to really dress up—quite fun
in mid-winter.”

Kate nodded, trying to think of anything else
to say. “He was most extravagant buying me clothes today, and now
he wants to pay for this dress as well. It’s embarrassing.”

“He wouldn’t know the meaning of the
word.”

She thought of the lingerie selection and
silently agreed.

“He’s probably quite enjoying spoiling you.
Lottie’s no fun to buy for. She practically lives in his old
shirts—well-daubed with paint.”

Kate smiled. She could picture that. “All the
same, it doesn’t feel right...”

“He does exactly as he wants, Kate—you’ll
have a job stopping him. This one’s bad enough,” she added as
Hamish padded in from the changing room.

“Who’s bad enough?” he asked, giving Diana’s
short blond curls an affectionate ruffle as he stepped into the
pool.

“You are, birthday boy, but your brother’s
even worse.”

“Matthew? Total shocker. What’s he done
now?”

“He wants to buy me a party dress,” Kate
murmured.

“Hit him up for shoes as well,” Hamish said,
grinning, and lowering himself into the water. “Ahhhh... much
better. What on earth does he want the doors open for? It’s cold as
sin out there.”

“Philistine,” Matthew said, surprising
everyone. Kate dared not raise her eyes to look at him. “Appreciate
the contrast...cold air and hot water. Moonlight on the mountains.
The noises of the night.”

Somewhere in the distance, a car backfired
and they all collapsed laughing. It broke the ice, and she was able
to relax and accept the glass of port he handed her.

She was slightly miffed to find there was
absolutely no more of him on display. A little less, indeed—there
was no glimpse of the tantalizing tattoo. He now wore blue
elastic-waisted board shorts that reached below the side of the
pool. From Kate’s low vantage point, she couldn’t see his legs at
all.

He switched off the wall lamps, and by the
time her eyes had accustomed themselves to the moonlight, he was in
the water with them. He raised his glass in a toast.

“To Hamish—happy fortieth. To Kate—happy
thirtieth.”

“How on earth did you know?” she asked,
dismayed.

“How do you think?” He half closed his eyes
and smiled, leaving her floundering. After a few seconds, he took
pity on her. “Lottie gave me your CV this morning. Date of birth,
swimming medals, business degree. Easy as that.”

“Happy birthday to you both then,” Diana
chuckled.

Kate and Hamish raised their glasses in each
other’s direction. The port was coal-black in the moonlight—rich
and persuasive. They all sipped in silent enjoyment as the water
fizzed and frothed around their shoulders.

“Perfect end to a good day,” Hamish said with
satisfaction.

“Was it a good day for you, Katie?” Matthew
asked.

In the half dark, in company, she found the
nerve to meet his compulsive eyes. “It had its moments.”

“Which were?”

The port had given her courage. She smiled
and listed the parts of the day he wouldn’t be expecting. “Lovely
flight—the mountains looked fantastic. Great to meet Lottie—a huge
surprise. Seeing this house. The landscaping here is amazing, and
my bedroom is beautiful. Meeting Diana and Hamish... ” She
paused.

“Lunch?”

“Oh yes, lunch was all right.”

“Shopping?”

“Good to get it out of the way.”

“Dinner?” he growled.

Hamish and Diana were chuckling.

“You’ve met your match there,” Hamish said,
giving his brother a friendly nudge.

“And I thought you were so
obedient,
Katie,” he murmured.

In an instant, her nerves jumped to full
attention.

“When what’s expected is fair, I’m happy to
oblige,” she said, finally looking away from him. It was as sharp a
rebuke as she dared give him in the current company.

Hamish set his empty glass aside with
care.

“Another?” Matthew asked.

“Best not. I won’t be safe to drive.”

“Enjoy the port and stay. Kate’ll be grateful
to have a chaperone. She’s worried I’m going to pounce in the
night.”

“I am
not
,” she gasped, astounded he’d
voice her thoughts aloud in front of Hamish and Diana. Because he’d
certainly been right. With Lottie out of the house, she’d conjured
up all sorts of sexy scenarios. Her face burned. Thank heavens for
the cool moonlight washing over the spa-room...

Hamish held out his glass, and she relaxed a
little. There’d be others in the house after all.

“So you’re a swimmer, Kate?” Diana asked.

“Not for a while now, but yes, I was
okay.”

“More than okay from what I read,” Matthew
softly inserted. “Commonwealth Games medallist.”

“Of
course
,” Diana exclaimed. “I knew
your name was familiar.”

Kate shot Matthew an annoyed glance. “I’ve
given up the serious competitive swimming now, but I coach talented
children every week.”

His gaze sharpened. “What about
this
week? You said you had nothing to prevent you staying here.”

“No, they’re doing some mid-winter pool
maintenance, so it’s fine.”

“You’re sure?”

Kate turned further toward him in
exasperation. “It’s absolutely fine. No classes.” She inspected his
impressive shoulders, and couldn’t help imagining the rest of him.
“Were you ever a swimmer?”

He raised a watery hand. “Swam like a
fish.”

“We lived in the water,” Hamish said. “Our
father had several postings up in the Pacific Islands. It was a
great life for kids.”

“I hated being sent back to New Zealand for
school later on,” Matthew added.

“You took it harder than me. But it should
have been easier for you—I was already here.”