A Forbidden Temptation

by Anne Mather

  Grace was stunned. And hurt.

  She wanted to say Sean couldn’t be more wrong. That she wasn’t cold at all. That Jack was twice the man he was, in more ways than one. But she couldn’t do it.

  She wouldn’t give Sean that kind of ammunition to use against the other man, whatever the provocation. Instead, she schooled her expression and pushed herself to her feet.

  ‘Get lost, Sean,’ she said succinctly. ‘And don’t come back until you can pay Dad what you owe him.’

  ‘Hey, I don’t owe your old man anything,’ retorted Sean staunchly. ‘He chose to invest in the website. If it hasn’t worked out, that’s not my problem.’

  ‘You’re not serious!’

  ‘Of course I’m serious. People invest in stocks and shares all the time and get shafted. He can’t come crying to me because his investment hasn’t worked out.’

  ‘You bastard!’

  Grace got up from the table, her face suffused with angry colour. Sean rose, too, obviously furious that she’d insulted him within the hearing of the other girls.

  ‘Jack’s said something, hasn’t he?’ he demanded. His mouth compressed into a thin line. ‘He’s been blabbing about where the money’s gone.’

  ‘Jack’s said nothing about the money,’ said Grace contemptuously. ‘But if he knows you as well as I do, I’m surprised he lent you any money in the first place.’

  ‘I bet he has.’ Sean wasn’t listening to her. ‘I should have known he’d take any opportunity to put me down. Lisa always said—’

  He broke off at that point and although Grace wanted to leave, she felt frozen to the spot. What on earth had Sean been about to say?

  ‘He doesn’t understand what it’s like for me.’ As if regretting his last words, Sean seemed eager to change the subject. ‘I’ve never had any money to splash around.’

  Grace groaned. She could hardly believe now that she’d felt sorry for him when he’d lost his job. Or that she’d ended up paying his debts for him while he was out of work. The salary she’d earned at the CPS hadn’t been huge, but she’d been happy to contribute to their expenses. Which, in all honesty, was why she had so little money now.

  But then she’d discovered he didn’t own the apartment they were living in. The money she’d given him to help him out with the mortgage had gone into his pocket. He’d even been behind on the rent.

  What a fool she’d been.

  Then she’d lost her job, due to cutbacks, just after she’d found him with Natalie. In a way, it had come at exactly the right time. She hadn’t needed an excuse to leave, but one had been provided for her. If her parents hadn’t been involved, she’d never have seen him again.

  But they were involved and she’d been stupid enough to think that, whatever he felt about her, he wouldn’t let them down.

  ‘Look, if you want to see Jack, I suggest you go and see him,’ she said wearily. ‘Tell him you’re having problems. He might agree to help you out.’

  ‘You think?’ Sean’s scowl deepened. ‘So—you’ll come with me, right?’

  ‘You’re joking!’

  ‘No, I’m not.’ Sean regarded her derisively. ‘If you don’t want me to go into the pub and tell your old man he’s not getting his money back, you’ll do everything you can to keep me sweet.’

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  JACK WAS IN the study he’d furnished for himself on the first floor of Lindisfarne House when he heard the doorbell.

  He’d been engrossed in his study of his plans for the cottages, and trying not to think about Grace. He had decided to knock down the walls dividing the kitchen and living rooms to create a through room, which was both lighter and more contemporary in design.

  But the interruption meant he had to abandon the work and go and see who was at the door. The only person he really wanted to see was Grace herself, but he didn’t think there was much chance of that.

  Then he had an unpleasant thought.

  It was Sunday. How could he have forgotten? Sean came to visit his girlfriend at weekends. Bearing in mind what Jack had learned Sean had done with at least a part of the money he’d loaned him, it was possible Sean had decided to come clean about his debts.

  His pulse quickened in spite of himself.

  What if Grace was with him? He had wanted to see her again, but not with Sean.

  Nevertheless, the knowledge served to weaken the bitterness he felt towards the other man. However badly Sean had behaved, his own behaviour beat that hands down.

  He had a brief hope that it wasn’t Sean. He could see no sign of the Mercedes on his drive through the glass panels in the door.

  But when he opened the door, he saw the reason for his error. The car was parked at his gate and Sean was already halfway down the path towards it.

  But he heard the door opening and turned, his expression a mixture of disappointment and resignation.

  ‘Hey, Jack,’ he said, retracing his steps with evident reluctance. ‘I was beginning to think you weren’t home.’ He grinned. ‘Long time no see.’

  ‘Yeah.’

  Jack was no more enthusiastic for this meeting than his visitor. And despite his reluctance to see Grace in the other man’s company, it was obvious Sean was alone.

  ‘Can I come in?’

  ‘Sure. Why not?’ Jack stepped back from the door. Then, because he couldn’t help himself, ‘Isn’t Grace with you today?’

  ‘Uh...no.’ Sean shrugged his shoulders indifferently as he passed Jack. ‘She’s back at the pub. Helping her mum and dad.’

  ‘She didn’t want to come?’

  Jack knew he shouldn’t persist, but he couldn’t help himself.

  ‘I guess not.’ Sean walked into the living room and flopped down on a leather sofa. Then, shouldering off his jacket, ‘That’s better. And cooler. Do you have air conditioning or what?’

  ‘No. No air conditioning,’ said Jack evenly. ‘The walls are thick. They keep the inside of the house cool.’

  ‘And warm in the winter, I’ll bet.’ Sean nodded sagely. ‘There’s a lot to be said for old buildings. Present company excepted, of course, but some of these new developers don’t have any idea.’

  Jack made a non-committal movement of his head and regarded the other man expectantly.

  ‘I agree,’ he said. ‘But I doubt you came to see me to discuss modern architecture.’

  He paused, pushing his hands into the back pockets of his jeans and rocking back inquiringly.

  ‘I imagine you’ve got some news for me about the website.’

  Sean’s face reddened. ‘It’s getting there,’ he said evasively. ‘I’ve had a few problems to contend with, actually.’

  ‘Like what?’

  Sean was bitter. ‘I know you’ve been checking up on me. You always were a close-fisted bastard!’

  Jack’s eyes widened. ‘I don’t think it’s unreasonable to show some interest in my investment,’ he said mildly. ‘I wouldn’t be much of a businessman if I handed over one hundred thousand pounds without expecting some feedback.’

  ‘I told you at the time you gave me the money that I’d keep you informed of what was going on,’ exclaimed Sean resentfully.

  ‘But you haven’t, have you?’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Correct me if I’m wrong, but it has been over six weeks since we spoke last.’

  ‘Yeah, but I’ve been busy. Ask Grace, if you don’t believe me. This is the first time I’ve been up to Rothburn since that weekend we came here. And I only arrived this morning, so you can’t accuse me of avoiding you, can you?’

  Jack frowned.

  ‘I thought you came up every weekend.’

  ‘Is that what Grace told you?’ Sean sounded pleased. ‘She doesn’t like it when I neglect
her.’

  Jack’s nails dug into his palms. ‘She’d hardly tell me, would she? It’s nothing to do with me.’

  ‘No.’ Sean conceded the point. ‘But it’s not easy, trying to juggle two careers at once. If I’d had more time, I’d have got more done.’

  Jack’s gaze grew guarded. ‘You’ve had six weeks,’ he pointed out, and Sean pulled a face.

  ‘With shift work and a dodgy manager,’ he muttered gloomily. ‘You try finding inspiration in those circumstances.’

  Not to mention Sean’s trip to Las Vegas, thought Jack scornfully. Had he spent all his free time in bars and casinos? Just where did Grace figure in that scenario?

  ‘Anyway...’ Sean looked up at him. ‘If it’s an apology you want, you’ve got it. I haven’t been the most reliable of partners, I admit it.’ He pulled a wry face. ‘I’ll try to do better in the future.’

  ‘Right.’ Jack conceded the point. ‘So tell me, have you found other investors?’

  ‘Other investors?’ Sean was suspicious. ‘Why would you ask a question like that?’

  ‘It’s a reasonable question.’ Jack spoke evenly. ‘I’m wondering how much money we’re dealing with here.’

  Sean scowled. ‘What has Grace told you?’

  ‘Grace?’ Jack’s expression was guarded. ‘Grace hasn’t told me a thing.’

  Sean’s eyes narrowed. ‘So—okay,’ he said. ‘There are no other investors. It’s not that easy to find spare money in the present climate.’ He glanced about him. ‘Well, how about offering me a beer, Jack? I’m driving back to London tonight and I’m thirsty.’

  ‘You’re not staying over?’

  ‘Hell, no. I’ve got to be back at work first thing Monday morning.’

  Jack despised himself for his own reaction to this news. Was it possible Grace hadn’t slept with Sean since that first weekend?

  ‘Of course, I’d certainly have more time to work on the website if I was like you,’ he continued, apparently unaware that Jack’s demeanour had changed. ‘I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it must be nice to be a millionaire.’

  Jack held Sean’s gaze for a long minute. Was this the overture to another demand for money? The guy couldn’t be serious, he thought. He couldn’t possibly think Jack would send good money after bad.

  ‘Hey, I meant to ask you...’

  Jack had stepped into the hall to get Sean a beer—as that was all he was likely to get—when the guy’s voice called him back.

  And Jack prepared himself for the inevitable request.

  But that wasn’t it.

  ‘I understand you saw Grace the other evening, when she was out running,’ he remarked casually.

  Jack stiffened. ‘Yeah, I did,’ he admitted, wondering where in hell Sean was going with this.

  ‘I gather you showed her over your boat,’ Sean went on, his gaze speculative. ‘You and she seem to get along together pretty well.’

  Jack shrugged. ‘She’s a nice girl,’ he said tightly, inwardly wincing at his lack of honesty.

  But Sean’s next words drove every other thought out of his head.

  ‘You know, I wouldn’t mind if you wanted to take her out sometime,’ he said casually. ‘She’s lost touch with most of her friends here and I guess you could do with some female company yourself.’

  Jack’s jaw dropped. ‘You’re not serious!’

  Sean’s chin jutted. ‘Why not? Don’t look at me like that, Jack. It was only an idea.’

  ‘A bad idea,’ said Jack harshly, turning back into the hall. His teeth ground together for a moment. ‘I’ll get your beer.’

  ‘Hey, don’t be such a puritan, Jack.’ Sean got up from the sofa and came after him. He paused in the doorway, supporting himself with a hand on either side of the frame. ‘You like her, don’t you? And it’s not as if we’ve never done such a thing before.’

  Jack stared at him blankly. ‘I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,’ he muttered.

  ‘’Course you do,’ declared the other man blandly. ‘I mean, when we were at college in Dublin, we used to switch girlfriends all the time.’

  ‘Did we? I don’t remember that.’

  Jack gripped the frame of the door until his knuckles whitened. Despite Sean’s facile response, Jack had the feeling that there was more to this than met the eye.

  Was this about Grace, or was it about Lisa? Jack knew, with a feeling of resignation, he couldn’t be absolutely sure.

  He was grateful when Sean didn’t follow him into the kitchen but turned back into the living room. He didn’t think he could be civil to the man right now.

  Whatever way he looked at it, it seemed that Sean was bargaining with his girlfriend. Was Jack supposed to compensate Sean—financially, of course—for the privilege of screwing Grace?

  God, what a situation!

  He knew he could never treat Grace that way. In truth, in all this awful mess, she was the only shining light.

  He flung open the fridge door, scowling at its contents. Could he honestly drink beer with the other man without giving in to the disgust he was feeling and throwing him out?

  His own part in the affair might fill him with loathing, but Sean’s behaviour almost compensated for it.

  Of course, Jack had never cheated on his wife. But then, he’d never known what temptation was until he’d met Grace.

  Thinking of Grace in this context made him feel sick. Pulling out a bottle of beer—he was sure if he tried to drink anything, it would choke him—he tried to control his scattered emotions.

  And to cap it all, he couldn’t help wondering if Grace had known what Sean was planning to say.

  He knew if he wanted to retain any self-respect, he’d stay out of both Grace’s and Sean’s way in future. She might be innocent of any deception, but for his own sanity’s sake he couldn’t take that risk.

  Sean was standing by the window when he returned to the living room.

  ‘Great view,’ he said, accepting the beer Jack handed to him. ‘You’re a lucky man, Jack. But then, you’ve heard me say that before.’

  Jack frowned. ‘Yeah,’ he said tightly. ‘It was at my wedding, wasn’t it? You were complimenting me on finding Lisa. Telling me what a lucky man I was.’

  Sean shrugged. ‘Well, you were—you are,’ he amended, flinging himself onto the sofa again. ‘You can’t deny it, can you?’

  ‘As you are?’ suggested Jack, hooking a hip over the arm of the chair opposite. ‘What about Grace?’

  Jack didn’t know what was driving him, but he was heartily sick of trying to humour the other man.

  ‘Grace?’ Sean stared at him. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

  ‘Well, she’s a beautiful woman. You’re supposed to care about her, aren’t you? I’d say that makes you a lucky man.’

  ‘Yeah, yeah.’ Sean snorted. ‘What are you getting at, Jack? I haven’t said any different, have I?’

  ‘You’ve virtually offered me the chance of sleeping with her,’ retorted Jack harshly. ‘My God, I’d never offer a woman I loved in exchange for cold, hard cash!”

  ‘You didn’t have to.’

  The words were barely audible, but Jack had excellent hearing.

  ‘What did you say?’ he demanded, getting to his feet, and Sean had the grace to lower his head.

  ‘Nothing. I said nothing,’ he muttered in an undertone. ‘Forget it. You obviously don’t fancy Grace. I don’t blame you, actually. She can be a cold fish at times.’

  ‘I want to know what you meant,’ Jack persisted, crossing the floor and hauling the other man to his feet. ‘Come on, Sean. What are you saying? This isn’t about Grace, is it? It’s about Lisa!’

  ‘I don’t know what you mean.’

  ‘I thin
k you do. I spoke to Debra recently and she made some very interesting comments.’

  ‘Debra!’ Sean scoffed. ‘Surely you don’t believe a word she says. She’s been in love with you for years. She’d say anything to get your attention.’

  ‘I don’t think so.’ Jack stared into the other man’s eyes. ‘Why don’t you tell the truth for once? Or is that too much to expect?’

  Sean scowled. ‘Don’t tell me you never suspected.’

  ‘Suspected? Suspected what?’ Jack controlled the desire to get physical with an effort. ‘Are you saying you were having an affair with Lisa?’

  ‘As if you didn’t know.’ Jack’s restraint was giving Sean more confidence. ‘Yes, I had sex with her, Jack. Lots of times, as it happens. She was bored with you, man. All you could talk about was work—’

  His voice was strangled by the grip Jack suddenly had on his collar. Dragging Sean up in front of him, he got seriously in his face.

  ‘You know,’ he said almost thoughtfully, ‘Debra said as much, but I wouldn’t believe her. What about the night she died? Were you with her then?’

  Sean struggled to get some air, but it was a losing battle. ‘I—I might have been,’ he got out through a choked windpipe. ‘So what? I didn’t cause the crash.’

  ‘She was taking you home, though, wasn’t she?’ Jack realised that that was where Lisa had been going. She’d sworn to him that evening that she wasn’t going out, which was why her death had been such a terrible shock.

  ‘Maybe.’

  Sean was evidently weighing his options. The odds of telling Jack the truth against the unlikely event of being able to lie his way out of it.

  The truth won out, because he suddenly cried, ‘She was mad about me, Jack. You can’t blame me because I did what any red-blooded man would do.’

  Jack could, and he would. But gauging the satisfaction he’d get out of flooring the other guy, against the story Sean would no doubt make up to account for his injuries to Grace and her family, changed his mind.

  With a muffled oath, he opened his hands and let Sean stumble away from him.