To Woo A Wife

by Carole Mortimer

  'How interesting,' she said sarcastically. 'Exactly what did Jarrett tell you about me?'

  'Just that I was to set up a meeting between the two o' you—'

  'Again, if he had this number, I still don't see why he had to involve you,' she put in with barely concealed annoyance.

  'At this present moment he's somewhere over the Atlantic,' Jordan explained to her. 'Spitting fire and breathing flames. He called me before he left, told me to set up a meeting with you. And when Jarrett is in that mood you don't ask questions like why!' His grimace could be heard in his voice.

  Jarrett was following her back to London, was even now on a plane bound for England!

  'I see,' she said, her tone measured. 'Well, when he gets back, I suggest you tell him the two of us have nothing further to discuss—'

  'I can't tell him that!' Jordan interrupted in protest. 'Have a heart, Abbie," he went on pleadingly. "Think of my poor children!'

  'I believe Jarrett told me you aren't married?'

  'I'm not,' he instantly confirmed. 'But I'm likely to remain childless too if I greet Jarrett with the message you just gave me!'

  He painted such a graphic picture that Abbie couldn't hold back her chuckle. 'How about if I agree to a meet­ing with you instead of Jarrett?' she compromised lightly, her curiosity piqued.

  'Same result, I'm afraid,' Jordan sighed. 'Personally, I can think of nothing I would like better than to meet the woman who has my big brother so stressed. But ever fearful of my future prospects as a father...!'

  'Okay, okay,' Abbie conceded with a laugh. 'Ten-thirty tomorrow morning, at my office. I'm sure Jarrett knows where that is—he seems to know everything else about me!'

  'You can be godmother to my first child!" Jordan promised with obvious gratitude.

  'I agree to the meeting,' Abbie continued firmly, 'on condition that you accompany Jarrett.'

  'Oh, I would love to,' Jordan assured her with obvious relish. 'Although I'm not so sure about Jarrett...'

  'That's the condition, Jordan,' she told him evenly. Take it or leave it.'

  'We'll take it,' he accepted hastily.

  'Ever conscious of your future prospects as a fa­ther...?' Abbie returned teasingly.

  'Ever conscious,' he replied. 'And, Abbie... I'm look­ing forward to meeting you tomorrow,' he added before ringing off.

  Charm in abundance, she acknowledged as she re­placed her own receiver. From never wanting to see Jarrett Hunter again, she had now been bamboozled— humorously cajoled!—into seeing not just Jarrett but his younger brother Jordan too!

  She should have told him to bring Jonathan along too; then she could have met the whole family!

  The three Hunter brothers in one room was just too much.

  For any woman.

  Including Abbie.

  'As you seemed so interested in meeting Jordan, I thought I might as well bring Jonathan along to meet you too!' Jarrett told her unapologetically as he faced her across the width of her office, flanked on either side by his two brothers.

  Abbie had been left dumbstruck when the Mr Hunters, whom, her secretary had told her were waiting to see her, had turned out to be all three of them!

  She had no doubt that Jarrett had neatly turned the tables on her. He stood so tall and imposing in the cen­tre, showing no ill effects from his long flight from Canada the previous night. To the left of him was a man equally tall, obviously younger, with dark curling hair and golden eyes that sparkled with devilment. Jordan.

  Abbie had no difficulty in identifying him. And to the right of Jarrett stood Jonathan Hunter, again as tall, and with those intriguing golden-coloured eyes, but far more debonair than his brothers in his tailored suit and hand­made shoes, with the sort of blond good looks that threw Tony's handsomeness into the shade. The good-looking member of the family...

  Singly, each of these men was too attractive for any woman's peace of mind, but as a trio...! They ought to have some sort of warning attached to them, reading something like, 'Danger: highly explosive!'

  'I do believe we've managed to render Abbie speech­less,' Jarrett drawled, stepping forward to break the tab­leau.

  Abbie blinked, shaking her head slightly—to clear her brain mainly, although it looked like a denial of Jarrett's claim. 'Not at all, Jarrett,' she returned smoothly, pleased when she heard her voice sound quite normal. She stood up to move gracefully around her desk, tall and slender in a grey fitted suit and contrasting black blouse, her hair secured at her nape. 'Future prospects still intact, I hope, Jordan?' She smiled as she held out her hand in greeting to the youngest man.

  He grinned, looking more devilishly attractive than ever. 'Still intact, Abbie,' he confirmed happily before releasing her hand.

  She turned to the blond-haired man. 'And by the pro­cess of elimination you have to be Jonathan.' Again she held out her hand in greeting.

  'Jarrett didn't tell us how beautiful you are,' Jonathan opined, holding her hand for a fraction longer than was strictly necessary.

  But only fractionally, Abbie realised; both the younger men were conscious of the ever watchful gaze of their older brother.

  She turned back to Jarrett with playful eyes. 'I would love to know exactly what Jarrett did tell you about me,' she mused.

  'Obviously not much,' he rasped before either of his brothers could reply. 'This is a business meeting, Abbie—'

  'Is it?' She arched dark brows questioningly. 'You didn't tell me that, Jordan,' she reproved lightly.

  The youngest man shrugged. 'I didn't know. Jarrett likes to play things pretty close to his chest—'

  'Jordan!' Jarrett snapped.

  Jordan gave another unconcerned shrug in Jarrett's di­rection. 'I stand corrected,' he muttered with an unre­pentant expression on his face.

  Jarrett's golden gaze returned to Abbie with narrowed assessment. 'Is it really necessary for these two to be here?' he demanded.

  She opened her eyes wide. 'I believe it was your de­cision to bring Jonathan?' Obviously it was a decision he now regretted, both his brothers were such dominant characters in their own right, Jarrett's attempt to wrong-foot her by bringing Jonathan along, as he believed she had him by requesting that Jordan accompany him, ob­viously having backfired on him. These two men might be slightly in awe of their older brother—although so far Jonathan had given no indication of it!—but they certainly weren't cowed by him.

  'Actually,' Jonathan put in, 'I thought I might come along to see what all the fuss was about. Jordan has done nothing but sing your praises since speaking to you yes­terday,' he explained huskily, honey-coloured eyes openly admiring as he met Abbie's gaze.

  'Having now met you, I can see why!' He grinned—instantly dispel­ling that languidly bored expression with which he normally seemed to view the world; the result was breath­taking!

  Abbie found herself smiling back at him—until she happened to glance at Jarrett. His scowl was enough to dampen any enjoyment on her part. He was right; his brothers were a distraction that she, for one, didn't need!

  She moved confidently to sit back down in the chair behind her desk. 'I just thought it might be nice to meet at least one of your brothers,' she commented.

  'Nice!' Jarrett echoed gratingly. 'I've never heard meeting these two clowns described as "nice"!'

  "There's only one clown in this family-—and it cer­tainly isn't me!' Jonathan observed, that languidly bored expression firmly back in place as he moved forward to raise Abbie's hand, lightly touching the back of it with his lips. 'I hope we meet again, Abbie,' he said.

  'In your dreams, Jonathan!' Jarrett said under his breath.

  Jonathan remained unperturbed as he unhurriedly re­leased Abbie's hand, mockingly returning his older brother's glare. 'Chink, chink, Jarrett,' he taunted.

  Jordan stepped forward, his eyes alight with that dev­ilment that seemed to be such a part of him, picking up the hand Jonathan had so recently released. 'I don't sup­pose you would consider being mother rather
than god­mother?' he suggested hopefully.

  Abbie laughed; this man really was irresistible! 'I don't suppose I would,' she refused, but the smile re­mained on her lips as he continued to grin at her.

  'Pity,' he said regretfully. 'Godmother it is, then.' He released her hand.

  'What the hell are you wittering on about, Jordan?' Jarrett didn't seem to be able to control his tension a moment longer, every muscle and sinew in his body taut.

  'Nothing of any relevance to you,' Jordan returned unhelpfully. 'I think we may as well go, Jonathan; we're obviously not wanted here; By Jarrett, at least,' he added with complete disregard for his oldest brother's glare.

  'We'll see you later, then, Jarrett,' Jonathan said.

  'Possibly,' Jarrett answered.

  'It really was good to meet you, Abbie,' Jonathan paused at the door to say.

  'I'll say it was,' Jordan agreed enthusiastically. 'I was intrigued by your voice, but the reality is so much more—'

  'Will the two of you just go?' Jarrett barked as he dropped down into the chair that faced Abbie's desk.

  Jordan grinned, shooting Abbie a conspiratorial wink before following Jonathan from the room, a wink Abbie couldn't help responding to with yet another smile—a smile that as quickly faded as she turned back to find Jarrett scowling darkly across her desk at her.

  He looked ready to commit murder—and she wasn't sure she wasn't the intended victim!

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Abbie had never smiled at him in the way she had just smiled at Jonathan and Jordan!

  Dear Lord, he was jealous! So jealous he could ac­tually have punched one—or both!—of his own broth­ers. He could hardly believe the way he felt towards the two brothers he had helped bring up. And all because Abbie had smiled at them!

  Why had she smiled at them?

  Okay, so Jordan was a tormenting devil, and Jonathan so good-looking he made statues of Apollo look dull and uninteresting, but that still didn't explain why— Hell, Abbie liked Jordan and Jonathan! But she didn't like him...

  He had been made all too aware of that when he'd returned to her ski-lodge yesterday morning and found her gone. His initial reaction, after speaking to Stephen in the bar, had been to go back up the mountain and explain everything to her, but he had decided that was madness, that it was late, and Abbie had probably al­ready gone to bed. So, instead, he had spent a sleepless sight planning what he would say to her when he did see her—only to find her gone when he got there! Back to England, the frosty Mrs Gregory had informed him— obviously still feeling slighted by the fact that he hadn't finished eating the meal she had prepared the night be­fore!

  Jarrett had been stuck in Canada several hours longer, unable to get booked onto a flight. In desperation he had turned to Jordan-—not Jonathan, he had decided even then; he didn't want Jonathan, with his lethal good looks, anywhere near Abbie—only to find that Abbie and Jordan had got on so well during their telephone con­versation, she had invited him to come along with Jarrett today! When Jonathan had also expressed an interest in meeting Abbie he had just given up; what did it matter if the whole family ended up besotted with her? She was the Ice Queen, anyway!

  But she hadn't been the Ice Queen with Jordan and Jonathan. Only with him...

  'Chink, chink', Jonathan had mocked him—and he was right; Abbie was fast becoming the chink in his armour!

  He glared across the desk at her. 'Satisfied?' he rasped angrily.

  She raised dark brows, coolly meeting his gaze. 'With what?' she bit out in a clipped voice.

  He sighed. In fact, he felt so filled with impatience he still wanted to explode. But not in front of Abbie. And he would much rather kiss her than vent his anger on her. But kissing her would be a mistake, too. Look what had happened the last time he kissed her...!

  'Why did you leave Canada so hastily, Abbie?' he asked without any further delay.

  'Did I?' she returned uncooperatively.

  He drew in a controlling breath, damping down his anger. 'It was my understanding you were there for some time,' he said flatly.

  'My arrangements are always flexible.'

  Especially if she met an intrusive bastard like him, Jarrett easily guessed. 'Stephen and Alison seemed as surprised by your sudden departure as I was; they came back on the same flight as me,' he supplied at her frown.

  'Alison and Stephen are used to my unpredictability by now,' she again dismissed.

  His mouth twisted with irritation. 'Well, I'm not—'

  'How did you get my home telephone number?' she interrupted.

  He was taken aback momentarily by her sudden change of subject. 'What?' He blinked.

  'My home telephone number—how did you get it?' she repeated in a steady voice. 'Not Alison and Stephen, surely?'

  He had the distinct impression that if he said yes Alison and Stephen would never be trusted by Abbie again. But Abbie had no need to worry on that score; the newly married couple had been decidedly unforthcoming, deciding they had already said enough by telling him of the dissent in the Sutherland family after Daniel Sutherland died, both of them refusing point-blank to give him any more information on Abbie.

  No, it had been someone else completely who had given him Abbie's home telephone number...

  'Reliable sources, Abbie,' he reminded her softly. 'Not so unreliable, after all, hmm?' he couldn't resist adding, starting to relax a little now that the disturbing presence of his brothers had been dealt with.

  Although Abbie looked less happy now, her mouth tightening. 'That telephone number has already been changed,' she told him coldly.

  His brows arched. 'Rather inconvenient for you,' he drawled.

  Her eyes flashed deeply violet. 'No more inconvenient than receiving unwelcome telephone calls,' she snapped back pointedly.

  She really was upset about this breach in her privacy, he realised. And, after the things Stephen had told him, he couldn't exactly blame her...

  His expression softened as he looked across at her. So cold and detached. So damned vulnerable...!

  'Abbie—'

  "What do you want, Jarrett?' she demanded causti­cally, her patience obviously at an end. 'I have a busi­ness to run, a—'

  'Where's Charlie today?' he queried mildly.

  She looked taken aback by the question, a frown fur­rowing her brow. 'What do you mean?' She moistened her lips in a nervous gesture.

  Jarrett watched the unconscious movement, wishing it were his tongue running over— Stop! He had decided, after talking to Stephen the other evening, that he would back off in that direction, give Abbie some space, time to get to know him. If only she weren't so damned beau­tiful, and, as he now knew only too well, so vulnerable.

  'I just wondered what you do with Charlie when you're at work?'

  He watched as she smiled at the thought of her daugh­ter. Hell, she smiled at everyone but him!

  'I rarely come into the office,' she supplied economi­cally. 'I usually work from home.'

  His mouth twisted. 'You decided to make today the exception?' And he knew exactly why; despite what she might have said earlier, Abbie was treating this exactly as a business meeting, had no intention of letting him into her private life, or close to her daughter, ever again!

  'Charlie is spending the day with a friend.'

  'As compensation for cutting short her skiing holi­day?' As he watched the colour creep slowly into Abbie's cheeks he knew that was exactly what had hap­pened. Poor Abbie. For all that Charlie seemed like a sweet child, her disappointment over the abrupt ending of her holiday must have been acute, a disappointment she had no doubt made plain to her mother. And that was his fault too, he was sure. Yet another black mark notched up against him in Abbie's eyes!

  'As I said, she's spending the day with a friend,' Abbie repeated evenly. 'Now, what business did you want to discuss? I thought we had covered all that in Canada,' she clipped. 'More than adequately!'

  Not as far as he was concerned. He knew Abbie neede
d to offload Sutherland Hotels—just as he knew she had decided he was the last person she would ever sell them to. He had never allowed personal likes and dislikes into his own business—

  'You've spoilt them, you know,' Abbie remarked in an amused voice.

  Jarrett stared, momentarily disoriented by the remark. 'Who?' He shook his head in puzzlement.

  'Jonathan and Jordan.' She relaxed back in her seat, a smile playing about her lips. 'Although there's no doubting their love and respect for you. Which is as it should be. In the circumstances,' she added softly.