Sweet Seduction Surrender (14 page)

The bottom line was: Hurt Genevieve to save face or have dinner with this strange man? I couldn't wound Genevieve, even to avoid pain myself. I'm not that kind of person. So, the decision was easy in the end, despite the angst it brought with it.

"I'm so sorry," I said, trying to convey honesty in my words. "But I have plans tonight I can't get out of. Perhaps we can meet tomorrow?"

Richard held my gaze for quite some time, his face blank, but there was depth behind his eyes. Shadows of something I couldn't decipher. Was he determining what argument to give? Deciding whether to push me or not? I couldn't tell, and then the mystery of his profound gaze passed. I felt like I'd witnessed something intriguing. Something that gave me hope that there was more to Richard Tremayne than I had thought. But with his eyes returning to a more lazy look, the intense feeling I had been seeking, vanished.

I wasn't sure what to make of my reaction to a simple look in someone's eyes. It was as though I was searching for something, something vitally important, but had found only a hint, a possibility, and no more. The disappointment in not finding what I wanted was more prevalent than I expected. Just what had I hoped he would do?

"That's unfortunate," Richard said, with a small smile. "I'm out of the city tomorrow on business. It will have to wait until Monday."

I frowned, realising the time-line for this project had just become more urgent. The sooner we had his pieces locked-down in the overall plan, the sooner I could design the final look. Without knowing that pre-requisite I could only do so much tomorrow. It would probably take at least until Thursday or Friday now, to finalise a design. I couldn't even offer a sufficiently accurate quote until I had some idea of his requirements. Without pinning down his signature pieces of art, the ten day time-frame would be impossible to achieve.

Richard didn't wait for my reply, just wandered off to the office at the back of the room and returned moments later with his catalogue.

"You can, at least, start with this today, I presume?" he asked in an arched tone that made me believe he was disappointed in my refusal to attend dinner this evening and therefore the consequent delay it caused.

I didn't particularly like letting people down, but Genevieve was family. I was committed to the barbecue, but that didn't mean I couldn't work around it. Gen had said she tired easily, perhaps I could get away from their house early enough for a late meeting.

"My appointment this evening is quite early," I began, taking the catalogue from Richard's hand. He stilled all motion, holding on to his side of the booklet, while I clasped mine. His eyes lifted hopefully to mine. He seemed genuinely interested in getting this project started. It made me feel more inclined to make this suggestion. "Perhaps we could meet for a drink afterwards?"

His mouth spread into that lazy smile and he released the catalogue at last.

"I think that would be a splendid idea, Catherine. What time?"

Ah, and now to guess how long Gen would want festivities to continue. Does getting tired mean bed by eight, nine or ten?

Perhaps the truth would be best. Richard's reaction to my suggestion seemed genuinely happy. For the first time I felt relaxed in his company.

"I have this family thing I have to attend," I admitted. "It starts at six, but I'm unsure how long it will go for. Can I phone you when it's over and we'll arrange to meet then?"

"How about I come with you, then we can skip out as soon as your obligations are met?"

His proposal was given in such an offhand way I was momentarily stunned into thinking it was appropriate. Then reality returned and I formed the words in my mind to deny him such a liberty. Family gatherings were no place for a business acquaintance to attend. How would Genevieve feel announcing her news with a stranger in the room?

He must have seen my reticence, because he took a step closer, dipped his face to peer into my eyes and said, voice low, "I was hoping we could be more than just colleagues, Catherine. I know we'll be discussing the design this evening, but I had intended to get to know you a little better as well. And for you to get to know me better, too. I would like to accompany you as your date."

Silence met his announcement. Date? I couldn't do a date. No way could I date. And him? I just met him. Even if I was in the market to date, I'm not sure he'd be who I'd pick. The whole time I'd been in his presence I'd been searching for something. Something powerful, something that I craved. And I hadn't found it. Not yet.

My eyes flicked over his face. Strong lines met my gaze, a soft smattering of stubble, that roughened up his look a little, graced his cheeks. The shadow adding character and depth I hadn't noticed before. And his eyes were a lovely colour. Browns and greens, a hint of autumnal golds.

"What are you afraid of?" he whispered, his voice sounding intimate despite the size and emptiness of the room we stood in. "Would your family be surprised if you turn up with a date?"

Yes. But that wasn't the real reason why I baulked at this idea. Apart from being unsure how I felt about this man, Jason would be there. I couldn't turn up at Dominic's and Genevieve's with another man. Not yet. It wouldn't be right.

But then, no one else knew what Jason and I had experienced together. Jason was acting as if I didn't exist, let alone as if we'd shared something so very special, so very personal, together. And let's face it, Gen was sure he'd be bringing one of his blonde busty bimbos to the event.

Oh, dear Lord.
I couldn't face that and hold my head up high. I couldn't swallow the humiliation.

Then, did I have to be the jilted lover?

My gaze swept over Richard again. He was still close, but not overstepping the mark. In fact he hadn't overstepped the mark once since I'd met him. Sure he was a little eccentric. But he was also often amusing, handsome and part of my world. My reluctance to accept any advances he'd made had all been because of Jason.

Damn! I would not let Jason Cain make a fool of me.

"I'm sure my family would be delighted if I brought a date," I said, a little breathlessly. Not because I was excited, but because I was a little scared.

I'd said the words, now I just had to live with them.

"Brilliant. Shall I pick you up at five-thirty?"

"It's a date."

Genny was acting even more blonde than usual. Forgetting where she put things, smiling to herself at strange moments, singing fucking stupid shit songs all the fucking time. If I didn't know any better I'd say she was in love.

Oh, wait. That crazy train had already pulled into the Genevieve Cain station.

And there was the prick now who had tamed my sister. Talking to the Olds as though he didn't have anything better to do than make happy with the in-laws.

Prick.

Ah, fuck it! I knew this was going to be a mistake. Coming here, tonight. Being around those two love-birds. Avoiding the stink-eye from Nick.

And... seeing Kate again. Let's be honest, that's the real reason why I was angrier than a drill sergeant during peace time on a sunny day.

Kate, Kate, Kate.

I sucked in a much needed gulp of air in the hopes it would blast the fuck out of the hole in my chest. If I wasn't careful, I'd turn into a pansy.

"What's your problem, Cain?" Nick, the second prick, asked, as he snatched a beer off the table at my side.

That was going to be my beer. I was guarding them for later. I gave him a glower as he twisted the cap off and chucked it in the bin. The beautiful hiss and aroma of barley and hops filled the space between us; the only thing that stopped me from growling out loud.

Nothing beats the calming influence of beer.

"Not got a problem," I replied, taking a sip from my own near-empty bottle.

"Then why the sour puss face?" he demanded, leaning against the bar as though he was settling in for a convo.

I so did not need another conversation with this dude. One heart to heart was enough, thanks. I think I'd pass on any more 'friendly' advice he might have to give.

"Bored," I offered as answer, then finished off my drink.

I had another bottle open and to my lips before he had a comeback. Maybe I'd just get pissed tonight, that way I could avoid everyone.

"Fuck, Cain," Nick exclaimed, loud enough for Genny to notice. I gave him a purposeful scowl. He flicked his gaze over to where my sister stood talking to Kels, and offered a smile and nod to let her know all's well. Even Nick didn't want to piss her off today.

Nick turned his attention back to me and leaned in, lowering his voice so we couldn't be overheard.

"You've been a bear with a sore head for weeks now. What's crawled up your arse?"

"Is it affecting my performance?" I asked, bristling.

Nick was a fair boss, but he ran a tight ship. I was used to falling into line where my job was concerned. It rankled with me that I may have let my personal... issues, roll over into my professional world.

"Not yet," Nick said ominously. "But since the lock-down you've been closed off. I keep expecting you to turn up in camouflage with a bag full of M4 Carbines and knock us all off."

My eyebrows rose on that delightfully whacked image.

"Fuck, I'm not unstable, Nick. Just..."

"Just what?"

"Maybe I just need to get laid," I said, the first thing that came to mind in order to distract him.

"So, where is your bimbo tonight? You going solo for a reason? Hoping to see some action here?" The last was said with a decided edge to his tone. A don't-fuck-with-me-fucktard edge.

And we were back at the heart to heart part of the night I would have liked to have avoided.

I held his frosty gaze, hoping mine was equally as chilling. Hell, I was going for freeze his fucking balls off with the glare I had going on. He didn't back down. That was why I respected the prick. But, shit, if he brought Kate up now, I would so fucking lose it.

"I did what you asked. I won't go back on my word."

"You better fucking not," he ground out, then abruptly did a one eighty and smiled all charming-like as Eva approached, a smirk gracing her lips.

"Hey, cowboy. Whacha doin' hiding over here?" She offered a pleasant enough smile to me, but turned a come-here-big-boy grin on Nick. He was so fucking lost. Pussy.

"Getting you a beer, angel. Got side tracked by Jase." He pulled a beer out of
my
stash and twisted the cap off for her. She took a sip with her hand wrapped around his on the bottle.

I almost gagged.

"Don't mind me," I grumbled, as they goo-goo eyed each other. Just fucking shoot me now.

"We won't," Nick replied, not taking his eyes off his woman.

"Good to see ya, Jason," Eva said, pulling Nick away to do God-I-don't-want-to-imagine-what.

I ran a hand over my face and sucked back another mouthful of beer. This was going to be a very long night.

"Hey, big bro," Gen's sweet voice broke the silence that had enveloped me in my little shitty hole. "Guarding the beer stash, I see." She knew me well.

"Best seat in the house, sis."

"You OK?" Oh fuck, not her too.

"Never better."

"You don't look OK."

I gave her a pointed look. "I'm hungry. When's the barbie being lit?"

She flicked a glance around the room, taking in all the happy-happy-fucking-joy-joy people milling about.

"Just waiting on Katie, then we can get started."

"Why not heat it up now? I'll man it if you want." Any reason not to be sitting in the room when Kate arrived, I'd grab.

Fucking chicken-shit.

"Are you sure you're OK?" What? "You look kinda pained. It can't all be about your stomach."

"Genny, I'm fine. Fucking leave it, all right." And that was a bad move, because Dominic was within ear shot.

"Ease off, arsehole." Yeah. Bad move. "You treat Genevieve with some respect."

"Jesus, Dom. She's my fucking sister. We've talked like this since we could form words."

"I don't particularly give a shit. She's my wife now." Well almost, but I didn't care to correct him, he was in lawyer mode. "I'll not have you upsetting her with your anger management issues."

Anger management. Well, fuck. I guess he had a point.

Another hand rubbed over my face.

"Sorry, Gen," I managed. Dom grunted, about as much approval as I'd get. Gen just bit her bottom lip, looking unconvinced. "Not sleeping well," I offered, in way of explanation. Just because it was the God's honest truth didn't hurt either.

"Oh, Jase," she said, reaching out to place a delicate hand on my shoulder. "Is there something I can do?"

Talk Nick 'round. Tell him I'm not a bad influence on his sister. Convince him I am worthy of her time. That she needs me as much as I need her. That I won't drag her down with me and ruin her life, that I'll treasure her above all else. Worship her.

Fuck.

"Oh, Jase," Gen repeated on a whisper.

And just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, what with fucking blurry vision making me look like a pansy, she arrived.

Her lilting voice echoed out of the hallway like a fresh breeze blowing away days of stifling grit and dust. My chest constricted painfully and I tried uselessly to suck in a breath. Fuck, that shit hurt.

"Hello, darling!" she was saying, and a small smile curved my lips at her familiar greeting. "What a beautiful evening for a barbecue."

It was now.

I heard Dominic grumble a few words out and then my world collapsed. Well, it was fucking teetering on a precipice for the past fortnight, all it would have taken was a stiff breeze to push me over. Or a fresh one.

"This is my friend Richard. I hope you don't mind me bringing him along, we're having drinks later."

Oh, fuck no. No, no, no, fucking no.

I stood up, making the beer bottles rattle in the ice bucket from the speed with which I bounded out of my seat. Gen had to take an alarmed step back. I automatically reached out and wrapped a hand around her upper arm to stop her tipping over sideways. But I wasn't concentrating on anything other than what Kate had just said. Those fucking awful God-dammed words.

My friend. What friend? I'd never heard her mention a guy by the name of Richard before.

Fuck, you douche, you spend one fucking weekend with her and you think you know the woman? Grow some fucking brain cells.

"Ow!" Genny cried, trying to pry her arm from my claw-like grip.

I glanced down at the bruise starting to form around my fingertips, and made an awkward yelping sound, flinging her arm away as though it burned.

"Jason!" she exclaimed. But didn't stop there. No, this was my sister, it would be too much to expect her to curb her tongue. "What the fuck's got into you? Have you lost your mind?" Yes, quite possibly. "That friggin' hurt, you moron! I'm going to have a bruise now. Won't be able to wear tank tops for a while. And I just bought a really cute one."

"What is going to bruise?" Dominic, entering my nightmare.

"Jason just squeezed my arm like he was having an epileptic fit, or something. What do they call it, petite mal? You know, when the patient locks up but doesn't shake all over."

"Let me see," he murmured, giving me a fuck-you glare while he stepped up to check on Gen's rapidly bluing upper arm. Ah, fuck.

My hand rubbed over my face and when I lowered it she was there. In the room, watching the entire scene play out, spotlit by the lack of conversation in the house right then. I couldn't look away. It was like I was being sucked into a vortex. A pulling, drawing sensation that I had no hope of fighting, no desire to avoid. I wanted to sink deep down into those beautiful pools of blue. I wanted to die there, if I could.

And oh God, she was gorgeous. Even more so than I remembered. Absolutely fucking spectacular.

But then Nick stepped between my view of heaven and me. Another fuck-you glare from an Anscombe brother and then he turned his attention to Kate. And the dickhead with her.

Who the fuck are you?

"Hey, sis. Who's this?" Nick asked.

Kate gasped at her brother's question. Or maybe at being interrupted mid shock and awe staring match with me. I don't know. But it was pained, in a way that sliced through my heart and fucking tore the shit out of it.

"This," she cleared her throat, then tried again. I wanted to reach for her. Soothe her. Let her know everything was all right. But it wasn't, was it? Nick had seen to that. "This is Richard Tremayne. I'm designing his art studio for him."

One look at the wanker beside her and I could tell he didn't want to be considered just a business acquaintance. A grin spread my lips, it was definitely on the evil side of the divide.

He thrust his hand forward for Nick to shake and said, voice a little louder than necessary, "We've just started seeing each other. Tonight's our first date, in fact."

I'm not sure how I got there, I don't remember taking the necessary steps. But the look of mortification on Kate's face at this twat's announcement made the distance covered to reach their side non-existent. I slipped my fisted hands into my jeans pockets and stared the motherfucker down.

"Gonna introduce us, Kate?" I asked in my most insincere voice. I couldn't give a fuck who he was. I wanted nothing more than to clock this intruder and carry Kate off like a fucking caveman after the event. I could even picture it. Every single glorious detail. It involved lots of blood,
his
blood. And Kate gripping my arse as she hung upside down over my shoulder.

"Jason Cain," Kate said, voice only slightly shaking, "this is Richard Tremayne."

Ah, but my Kate did what I asked without question, didn't she? Was it wrong of me to feel the tightening of my balls at that?

"Pleased to meet you," the fuck-knuckle said, holding his hand out for me to shake. I stared at it, not removing my clenched fists from my pockets. If I removed them, there
would
be blood.

His hand slowly lowered and a look of unease crossed his face.
That's right. I'm the one you should fear, arsehole.

"Ah, well," Nick was saying, sending me what-the-fuck looks in between each word. "This is Dom and Gen's house, but.." he looked around and noticed that the hosts had disappeared. I tried not to feel bad about that, it was probably because I'd upset Gen. "They seem to have vanished. So grab a beer and welcome to the madness." A definite glare directed at me on those last words.

"Great," Tremayne said through gritted teeth, eyes on the threat, not even glancing at Nick. Heh. "Would you like a beer, Catherine?"

My eyebrows rose on that. Who the fuck calls Kate, Catherine. I snorted. I didn't mean to, but come on! The fucktard was definitely not on the in. A smile spread across my lips. Kate rolled her eyes.

And just like that, I was lost. I have no idea what the imposter was doing. Hopefully grabbing a beer. He could have my last post. Good luck with that, beer guard was not as easy as it sounds.

"Can I have a word with you, Kate?" I emphasised her name. Her correct name.

"I..." she started.

"In the kitchen," I added, expecting nothing less than absolute obedience. She lifted her chin. Feisty. My cock swelled. Then, thank you God for all that is good in this world, nodded her head in agreement.