Fated Attraction

by Carole Mortimer

  ‘I hope you know what you’re doing, Quinlan,’ Jordan muttered. ‘I wouldn’t wish this hellion on any man, let alone one I intend having as a business partner. This would be a one-way transition,’ he added warningly. ‘No trying to give her back once you realise how difficult she is to live with.’

  ‘I’m not difficult to live with—’

  ‘Damned impossible most of the time,’ Jordan acknowledged impatiently. ‘But maybe she’ll make you a better wife than she has me a—’

  ‘Careful, Somerville-Smythe,’ Raff warned harshly.

  ‘—sister,’ Jordan finished drily.

  ‘Oh, Jordan!’ She turned to him, knowing by the way Raff had instantly tensed that he was deeply disturbed by the revelation, that he was more bothered by this than his first assumption about their relationship. ‘Raff, I was going to tell you.’ She looked up at him imploringly.

  He wasn’t even looking at her, but staring steadily at Jordan. ‘Did you say ‘‘sister’’?’

  ‘There’s little likeness between the two of us, I’ll admit,’ Jordan nodded. ‘Rhea looks like our mother, and I—well, I suppose I must take after my father’s side of the family,’ he shrugged, because apart from his height he really looked little like their father either; Jordan’s colouring was much darker. ‘But yes, Rhea is definitely my sister.’

  At last Raff looked down at her, and there was such cold disdain in his eyes that Rhea-Jane felt almost as if he had struck her. ‘Rhea-Jane Somerville-Smythe.’ The name sounded obscene on his lips.

  She swallowed hard. ‘If you would just let me explain …’

  He pushed her sharply away from him as she would have reached out to him. ‘There’s nothing to explain,’ he told her glacially. ‘Whatever little game you’ve been playing here is over.’

  ‘Raff—’

  ‘I want you to leave here. Now!’ he grated harshly, his fury barely leashed, the move to sit down behind his desk seeming to be made more out of a need to put distance between himself and Rhea-Jane than actually to sit down. ‘Both of you,’ he added flatly.

  ‘But—’

  ‘Rhea, I think it’s best if we do go,’ Jordan put in quietly, obviously able to gauge the other man’s mood as being dangerously close to breaking-point. ‘Get your things together, and we’ll leave.’

  A sob caught in her throat. ‘But, Jordan—’

  ‘Now isn’t the time, Rhea,’ he comforted her, glancing at the stony-faced man who sat so still across the room. ‘Definitely not the time,’ he repeated with a pointed grimace.

  It had all gone so terribly wrong. If she could have just explained to Raff … But Jordan was right, he didn’t want to listen now. Maybe when he had calmed down she could just start to explain why she had behaved the way she had. Although looking at his face now, she had a feeling it could be a long time before she could do that.

  She felt numbed, and collected her case from her room as if in a dream. Jordan was waiting in the hallway for her, with no sign of the other man, and so she could only assume he was still in his study. Rhea dared not even risk trying to make her goodbyes to Mrs Howard, sure she would break down if she didn’t go now; she would have to telephone the other woman once she felt a little stronger.

  Saying goodbye to Raff was something she couldn’t even think about.

  Jordan didn’t say a word, just put her case in the back of the car before getting in beside her.

  He reached out and squeezed her hands as she clenched them together on her lap. ‘You can’t blame the man, Rhea,’ he soothed. ‘At the moment Raff is feeling very humiliated by your deception. Just give him time.’

  She just nodded wordlessly, too choked up to speak just yet.

  But Jordan’s own air of calm was to desert him a few days later!

  CHAPTER NINE

  ‘HE‘S taking this too far!’ Jordan stormed into the house, throwing his briefcase down with little regard for the expensive leather, and going straight over to the drinks cabinet to pour himself a glass of whisky, something he rarely did.

  Rhea-Jane watched him warily, looking up from the details of property she had been going over for the last few days in an effort to find somewhere suitable for opening up her agency. It didn’t look as if it was going to be as simple as she had first thought.

  Not that that would stop her; she was determined to do something with her life.

  Besides, she had to keep herself busy. So that she didn’t dwell on thoughts of Raff.

  She was too afraid to let herself even start to think about the way they had parted, knew she would break down completely if she did.

  She sat back in her chair now, looking across at Jordan. ‘What’s wrong?’ she prompted as he threw the whisky down his throat, his expression grim.

  ‘Quinlan,’ he grated.

  Rhea-Jane tensed at the mention of his name. ‘Raff?’ she questioned lightly. ‘What has he done to upset you?’

  ‘I instructed my lawyers to send Quinlan all the legal paperwork needed for the business partnership,’ Jordan bit out furiously. ‘They arrived back today,’ he added harshly.

  ‘Yes?’ She had tensed expectantly.

  ‘Unsigned!’ her brother burst out disgustedly. ‘With a terse letter attached to them saying he had changed his mind and decided not to accept my offer after all.’ Jordan shook his head. ‘The man is a fool. He knows damn well my terms were more than fair.’

  But at the time Raff had agreed to the business deal he hadn’t known Rhea-Jane’s name was Somerville-Smythe too, that she was Jordan’s sister. That had to be the reason why he had changed his mind.

  And he would lose the estate completely if he didn’t do something about his situation soon.

  Did he really think it was worth paying that price not to have anything further to do with her family?

  He had to. God, how he must hate her for her subterfuge!

  But she couldn’t let him make such a sacrifice out of disgust for her behaviour, she had to try and talk to him.

  ‘Now is the time.’ She stood up decisively, looking at Jordan challengingly as he realised she meant to go to see Raff. ‘He needs this business deal,’ she attempted to justify her actions. ‘He may regret he ever knew me, but that’s no reason to sacrifice everything he’s worked for for so many years. I’m going to see Raff now, Jordan,’ she stated firmly. ‘And don’t try and stop me because—’

  ‘I wasn’t about to,’ he drawled, sitting down in one of the armchairs. ‘I put through several telephone calls to Quinlan House today, and each time the housekeeper told me Raff was away.’

  ‘And you don’t believe that,’ Rhea-Jane sighed.

  Jordan raised dark brows. ‘Do you?’

  No, she didn’t; she was sure Raff wouldn’t go anywhere at a crucial time like this.

  But there was one way to find out, one person she could talk to who might know if Raff was away or not.

  She left Jordan in the lounge, and put a call straight through to Robert.

  ‘Well, well,’ he began. ‘If it isn’t Rhea-Jane Somerville-Smythe returned to the fold!’

  She groaned. ‘You’ve heard about that?’

  ‘About what?’ The frown could be heard in his voice.

  ‘You haven’t spoken to Raff?’ Rhea-Jane said cautiously, sure, now that she thought about it, that Raff wouldn’t have told his family about her.

  ‘Not recently,’ Robert drawled. ‘One of the crowd said they had seen you in town the other day,’ he said carelessly.

  ‘So you wouldn’t know if Raff was away at the moment?’ she sighed.

  ‘Of course he isn’t away,’ Robert instantly scorned. ‘Raff never leaves his beloved estate.’

  She frowned. ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Raff isn’t away, believe me.’ He sounded hurt by her lack of faith in him. ‘Mother would be down there caretaking the place if he was,’ he assured her. ‘But ‘‘the silence has been deafening’’, to quote a phrase,’ he added drily. ‘Has Jordan fin
ally agreed to let you have your inheritance, is that why you’re back in town?’ he continued interestedly.

  ‘Something like that,’ she avoided. ‘It’s just that Raff doesn’t seem to be taking calls,’ she added worriedly.

  ‘Oh, he often does that,’ Robert dismissed unconcernedly. ‘Especially if Mother is in one of her bossy moods. But you can depend on it, he’s there all right.’

  That was what she had thought, she had just wanted it confirmed before driving all the way to Quinlan House.

  ‘What have you done to upset my dear cousin?’ Robert probed mockingly. ‘Don’t tell me, he found out who you are and threw you out!’

  She couldn’t exactly blame him for his curiosity, but she had no intention of satisfying it!

  ‘You’ll have to talk to Raff about that,’ she answered evasively again.

  ‘He’s as tight-lipped as the proverbial clam, always has been,’ Robert grumbled. ‘I would be wasting my time asking him anything!’

  ‘You’re wasting your time with me, too,’ she told him in a bored voice. ‘I’ve got to go now, Robert, but I—’

  ‘Hey, wait a minute!’ His hurried protest interrupted her dismissive goodbye. ‘ ‘‘One good turn deserves another’’, and all that.’

  ‘When did you start talking in clich$eAs, Robert?’ she taunted. ‘It’s very boring!’

  ‘That isn’t nice, Rhea-Jane,’ he complained in a slightly sulky voice, having been convinced for years that he was such a fascinating individual no woman could resist him.

  ‘I’m in a hurry, Robert.’ Rhea-Jane sighed her impatience. ‘And anyway, you owed me a favour after the way you let me down with Jordan,’ she reminded him.

  ‘I’ve explained why I did that,’ he wheedled. ‘For goodness’ sake, Rhea, I only want you to come to a party with me on Saturday night.’

  ‘Why me?’ she prompted warily.

  He laughed softly, his bad humour gone as quickly as it had arrived; one thing about Robert, he was never in a bad mood for long. ‘Do I sense suspicion in your voice?’ he taunted.

  ‘In all probability,’ she said drily.

  ‘I’ve invited you out dozens of times in the past, Rhea—’

  ‘I hadn’t worked for your cousin then,’ Rhea-Jane derided.

  ‘If I promise not to even mention Raff’s name, will you come to a party with me on Saturday?’ he cajoled.

  He was good company when he wanted to be, and he had kept quiet about her identity to the rest of the family, much as it must have been a temptation to him not to be … ‘Oh, all right,’ she conceded without much enthusiasm for the idea.

  ‘You are a love!’ Robert’s grin could be heard in his voice. ‘I’ll pick you up about nine o’clock on Saturday night.’

  Rhea-Jane rang off, not wasting any more time even thinking about Robert. She could more than handle him, and she had more important things to think about.

  Like hoping Raff would be at Quinlan House, as Robert seemed so sure he was.

  ‘I’m going out for a while,’ she told Jordan briefly. ‘Do you think you could take a look through those?’ She pointed at the estate agents’ lists on the table. ‘You probably know what to look for better than I do.’

  And it would help take his mind off Raff!

  ‘But—’

  ‘I have to go, Jordan.’ She waved vaguely in his direction, her thoughts already miles away.

  Jordan probably knew exactly where she was going, but he wasn’t about to deter her!

  The two of them had got on a lot better together the last few days, Rhea-Jane having learned a new respect for Jordan and how hard he worked, Jordan seeming to at last accept that she had grown up. They had never mentioned Raff’s unexpected offer of marriage, and what Rhea-Jane’s answer to it might have been. But the knowledge was there, anyway. They both knew what she would have liked her answer to be.

  She and Jordan had never got on so well together, but it was a pity that understanding had come only because she had loved and lost Raff.

  She hoped, time and time again, on that drive down to Hampshire, that Robert was right about Raff’s being at the estate but just not receiving calls; especially ones from Jordan, Rhea-Jane’s brother!

  But Raff’s actions to her appeared to be a case of ‘cutting off his nose to spite his face’, and—God, she was getting as bad as Robert with his clich$eAs!

  But Raff was just being stubborn as far as she could see, was achieving nothing by it, except the possibility of losing the estate to the creditors. And he couldn’t really want that, no matter how stubborn he might be feeling at the moment.

  Mrs Howard looked surprised to see her when she opened the door to Rhea-Jane’s knock, which wasn’t surprising, considering the abrupt way she had departed only a few days earlier.

  Rhea-Jane hesitated in the doorway. ‘Is Raff at home?’

  The housekeeper’s expression suddenly became evasive. ‘Er—well—he is,’ she finally admitted awkwardly. ‘But—’

  ‘He isn’t receiving callers,’ Rhea-Jane finished drily, sympathising with the other woman’s embarrassment, but so thankful to know that Raff was in the house. ‘Don’t worry, Mrs Howard—’ she touched the other woman’s arm reassuringly ‘—I’ll tell him I let myself in,’ she promised her as she entered the house.

  ‘But—but—’

  ‘And I’ll let myself out again,’ she offered, smiling brightly before walking quickly down the hallway towards Raff’s study, sure he would be in there, and not wanting to give Mrs Howard time enough to collect her scattered wits, and try to stop her, and forewarn Raff. Forewarned was the last thing she wanted him to be!

  She knocked briefly on the study door before entering, having several seconds to look at him before he became aware that it was she who had entered the room, and not Mrs Howard as he had assumed.

  The intense feelings of love were quickly followed by anger. He was still working too hard, his face more strained than ever. There was no reason, except his own stubbornness, for him to be pushing himself like this.

  ‘Why have you changed your mind about going ahead with the leisure complex?’

  His head had snapped up at the first sound of her voice, his gaze becoming more and more glacial as he looked at her.

  He didn’t answer her immediately, just sat back in his chair and looked at her.

  Rhea-Jane’s first impetus had passed, and the longer he looked at her the more uncomfortable she became. And she knew that was exactly what he was hoping to achieve.

  But she hadn’t taken the trouble to change before coming out, had left immediately the decision was made, before self-doubt could make her change her mind, still wearing the jeans and casual top she had put on that morning to spend the day working at home.

  The longer Raff continued to look at her the more she wished she had taken the time to change into one of her ‘designer-label’ outfits; at least she would have felt more confident in them. Although she didn’t think Raff would have found her appearance any more pleasing in the clothing he had been so contemptuous of when they’d first met.

  ‘What,’ he finally spoke softly, dangerously so, ‘makes you think I’ve ‘‘changed my mind about the leisure complex’’?’

  Rhea-Jane blinked, frowning. ‘But—Jordan said—’

  ‘That I’ve decided not to follow through on his offer, after all?’ Raff finished slowly. ‘But that doesn’t mean I’m not willing to go into business with someone else.’

  Her cheeks had become flushed at the contemptuous way he had said ‘his’ offer, but her frown deepened at his last remark. ‘You’re still going ahead with the complex?’

  ‘Of course.’ He gave a slight inclination of his head.

  He just wasn’t interested in going into business with her brother, was his unspoken comment!

  She moistened her lips. Now what was she supposed to say? ‘But Jordan’s deal,’ she finally attempted. ‘Surely it was—?’

  ‘I would prefer not to discus
s any of that with you,’ Raff cut in with cold dismissal.

  It was meant as a slap in the face—and it felt like one!

  ‘Now, if you have nothing else to say …?’ Raff looked down pointedly at the work on his desk.

  ‘Raff, why won’t you at least listen to me?’ She went forward pleadingly. ‘I know you think I was playing some silly sort of game while I was here, but—but— Well …’

  ‘Yes?’ he prompted hardly.

  She swallowed hard. ‘I needed a job—’

  ‘With all the Somerville-Smythe millions?’ he snorted disbelievingly.

  ‘That’s just it,’ Rhea-Jane nodded frantically. ‘I had—’

  He stood up abruptly. ‘I’m really not interested, Miss Somerville-Smythe,’ he told her coldly. ‘And please don’t come here trying to interfere in my private business again.’ His eyes were narrowed. ‘Because it is my personal business.’

  ‘You asked me to marry you!’ she reminded him out of desperation.

  He remained unmoved. ‘We all make mistakes.’ He began looking through his work, obviously dismissing her.

  It was like a physical blow. She knew she had hurt him, but now he was trying to deliberately hurt her. And, although she had half expected it, he was still succeeding.

  ‘It wasn’t a mistake, Raff,’ she told him with quiet dignity. ‘And just for the record—’ she paused at the door ‘—my answer would have been yes.’

  She left the room, taking several deep breaths once out in the hallway before walking to the front door, her head back proudly. She might feel like skulking from the house in utter desolation, but she wasn’t about to do it.

  She managed to leave without bumping into Mrs Howard, which was probably just as well; her emotions were under very tight control, only relaxing slightly once she reached the sanctuary of her car.

  And then the tears began to flow, as she acknowledged to herself that she had hoped—and prayed!—Raff would make some attempt to stop her leaving.

  She should have known better.

  * * *

  Jordan was still up when she got in and, much as she didn’t feel like being seen by anyone just now, she knew she at least owed Jordan an explanation.