He stared at her, a stunned look on his face—followed by anger, followed by...what?
She didn’t know, but rigidly she stared him out. He looked so stunned—did no one pull him up on his bad behaviour?
He sighed and closed his eyes. A groaning growl emerged from somewhere deep in his gut. ‘You’re right.’
She was.
‘I know you’re right.’ He kept his eyes shut. ‘I’m sorry I snapped. I was feeling guilty. I’ll go see them.’
Would that make him feel less guilty? About what? ‘Great.’
He peeled one eye open and looked at her. ‘You have to come with me.’
‘What?’
The other eye snapped open and he sat up, the vital energy sizzling from him again. ‘It’s the only way I’ll go. You promised me unlimited sex for the time I was back in the country.’
‘Back in New York,’ she clarified.
‘This is still New York,’ he said carelessly. ‘The cottage is in the Hamptons. You don’t come with me, I don’t go.’
She stared at him as if he was loco. Which clearly he was. ‘I can’t just turn up to your family home uninvited.’
‘I’m inviting you.’ He flopped back onto the pillows.
No, that still wasn’t okay. ‘Your family will get the wrong idea.’
He looked amused at her concern. ‘What—would it be so dreadful if they thought you were my girlfriend?’
She clamped her mouth shut for a second. Then breathed. ‘It wouldn’t be honest.’
‘We’re having sex round the clock. It’s not entirely dishonest.’
‘We’re having sexual relations, not a relationship,’ she said crisply, ignoring his laughter. ‘And it’s precisely because of that, that it’s not a good idea if I come.’
‘Your coming is a very good idea. There’s nothing I like more.’
‘Juvenile innuendo aside,’ she said loftily, ‘I don’t believe this is sensible.’
‘You didn’t want sensible. You wanted fun. And I can promise you fun.’
She was diverted by that tone in his voice. The thread of promise. ‘Wicked fun?’
‘So wicked you might not be able to walk.’
She stared at him. The extent to which he turned her on with just a look and a laughing tease was appalling. She didn’t want to have any nights without him. Not when she was having so few as it was. She didn’t want to miss a minute. And besides all that, she was curious. She wanted to know more about him. Wanted to understand why it was he didn’t want to go there without dragging a distraction with him.
He smiled. He knew he’d won. ‘I’ll tell them you’re a friend of George’s staying here—which is true—and that you’re coming to see some more of the US of A. I’ll even get you a separate bedroom. They won’t suspect a thing. I’m very good at sneaking around the house.’
‘I’ll bet,’ she said acidly.
He laughed. ‘We’ll go for a night. Maybe two.’
‘How are we going to get there?’ She frowned, all the practical problems hitting her at once.
He sat up and reached out for her wrist, drawing her back to sit on the bed beside him. ‘Well, I was planning on taking a car. If you can’t cope with coming in a car I’ve paid for, you could try to hitch a ride. Or you could go by train and we’ll pretend we don’t know each other at all...’
She elbowed his ribs. ‘Smarty pants.’
‘If you want to be with me, you’re going to have to put up with my making the travel arrangements. I’m very good at travel arrangements. It’s a family thing.’
‘I still don’t—’
‘Look,’ he growled and pulled her closer, his hands shaping her curves. ‘I want you with me. That’s the only way I’ll go. If you want to see me make happy family time with my parents then you just have to suck it up. I’m not paying you for sex. You are under no obligation to do whatever with me even if I pay for your travel arrangements.’
She chuckled and clutched at his shoulders as he rolled above her. ‘You really can’t forgive yourself for that mistake, can you?’
* * *
Three—lazy tourist fun but PDA banned—days later Caitlin put on the seat belt in the front passenger seat of a sleek Porsche convertible. The drive wasn’t nearly long enough for her to master her stupid nerves. And why on earth hadn’t he visited them sooner when it was less than a couple of hours’ drive?
‘I thought you said this was a cottage?’ Caitlin wheezed as they turned the corner and the house came into view. It wasn’t like the kind of cottages they had back in England. This was a three-storeyed wooden mansion with separate accommodation wings, a car-turning bay, expansive lawns and formal gardens. And that was only what she could see from the roadside entrance. Heaven only knew what incredible features she’d find round the back—beach side.
‘I shouldn’t be with you.’ She twisted towards him as he slowed down on the gravel drive. ‘This is your family...your mother.’ And a place that looked as if it would be featured in an episode of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. This was so out of her league.
‘Don’t worry about it. She doesn’t bite. I, on the other hand, just might have to.’
‘Stop it.’ She elbowed his upper arm.
‘Only if you stop worrying. As I said, I’m telling them you’re George’s special friend.’
But George was there, next to his parents, waiting at the top step to meet them. Along with another guy she didn’t recognise. Both younger men lifted their eyebrows, then their eyes narrowed and swift, sly smiles appeared.
‘Huh,’ James grunted as he killed the engine. ‘It’s a whole damn family reunion.’ He sent Caitlin an apologetic grin. ‘We might have to improvise.’
Caitlin hung back but her awkward feeling was momentarily swamped by curiosity as she watched James walk quickly up to his mother and envelop her in a huge hug. In a second he’d turned back to her to introduce her to his parents and to his other brother, Jack.
Irene, James’ mother, was petite, immaculately presented and had a beautiful, genuine smile.
‘It’s so nice of you to welcome me here. I know it was unexpected,’ Caitlin said, wishing she weren’t blushing.
Or that James was so obviously amused by her blush.
‘It’s a pleasure to have a friend of the boys,’ said Irene.
Caitlin bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself laughing at the woman’s reference to James, George and Jack as ‘the boys’. They were giants next to her.
George winked at her. ‘How’re you finding New York?’
‘Amazing. Thank you so much.’ She smiled at him.
He nodded easily. ‘When I left London Hannah had disappeared off the scene—buried in her manuscript research. I’ve never met a more “method” actress.’
Yeah, Hannah preferred to live her characters’ lives. ‘She gets very absorbed in her work,’ Caitlin said, refusing to let anything other than pride and enthusiasm sound in her answer. She was aware of James’ eyes on her as she answered. The disapproval she sensed from him about her lack of relationship with her sister was nothing short of ironic.
‘Your sister’s an actress?’ Irene asked with a bright smile. ‘You didn’t want to act too?’
‘I did do some acting work for a while,’ Caitlin fudged. ‘But I really don’t have the talent or the drive. I’m happier backstage.’
‘Oh? What do you do?’
Caitlin fixed a smile to her face and answered the kindly meant questions, all the while thinking of the dynamics. The polite welcome mat was fully unrolled for her, but there was no hiding the absolute joy in Irene’s eyes as she’d watched James walk up to her. No hiding the way she’d hugged him as if it had been forever since she’d been able to.
Just how long had it b
een? And why? Was it really only work that kept James from coming home more often?
‘I didn’t know you were still here,’ James said quietly to his twin as he watched Caitlin walk into the house with his mother. Jack had already gone ahead with his father, talking business no doubt.
‘I didn’t know you were bringing Caitlin,’ George replied.
‘She seemed lonely,’ James said blandly. ‘I thought she might enjoy a change of scene.’
‘Nice to see you being social.’ George’s brows knitted together. ‘How are the two of you rubbing along in the condo if most of the rooms are out of action?’
‘We figured it out.’ At George’s sly smile, James rolled his eyes. ‘You know how capable we are of bunking down when necessary.’
‘When necessary.’
There was no fooling his twin. Not in many things.
‘You haven’t been here in a while,’ George added.
‘Mmm,’ James mumbled a non-answer. ‘How’re you getting on in London?’
‘Nearly done. I’ll be glad to get home.’
‘You’re not enjoying that party lifestyle you appear to be living?’
George chuckled. ‘I’m jaded, brother. All the pretty women blur together after a while.’ He sent him a glance. ‘Whereas I assume you’re still doing the celibate monk thing?’
‘Hard to find playmates the places I go to.’
‘But you’re in New York for a few nights now, right? Easy pickings.’ George’s gaze wandered to Caitlin again. ‘Hard when you’ve got a roommate cramping your style though I guess.’
‘Guess so.’
‘But then she’s a very pretty roommate.’
James wasn’t biting. He refused to bite.
‘I’ve always thought she was the prettier of the two,’ George added.
‘You of all people should know it’s not nice to compare. Especially siblings.’
George laughed. ‘Good deflection, but don’t think I don’t have eyes.’
James tensed. ‘Look all you want.’
‘But don’t touch?’
James turned to face his brother head on. George wasn’t the right guy for Caitlin. Then again, nor was James. ‘Don’t,’ he said softly. ‘Don’t say anything, don’t do anything...just leave her.’ Leave her to me.
George mock-punched his shoulder. ‘I’m your brother. Sometimes it seems like you forget that.’
James looked into the eyes almost as dark as his own. ‘I never forget.’
‘Then don’t be such a stranger.’
* * *
Caitlin luxuriated in the shower, washing off the travel in the massive en suite. In fact the whole house was massive. The beachfront mansion had a small movie theatre, a bar, a spa and pool that overlooked their own private stretch of beach. It was unbelievably beautiful. But it wasn’t all perfect show home. It was warm, with pictures of the family all around, and as she’d been given the tour by his mother Caitlin couldn’t help but wonder why on earth James didn’t want to be here.
She’d requested some time to take a shower before dinner, deliberately giving James some space to have time alone with his family. At the knock on her door, she wondered if she’d taken too long. But it was him—telling her that dinner would be in another half-hour.
‘What have you been doing?’ She stared at him. He was covered with a sheen of sweat and had that edgy gleam in his eye.
‘Playing tennis,’ he answered briefly, pacing away from her already. ‘Half an hour ’til dinner, okay?’
She watched him walk down the hall, all popping muscles and curled-up fingers. What was with the hard-out tennis tournament within ten minutes of arriving? Wasn’t this a place to relax and catch up with his family? But he seemed to be as restless as he’d been in those first couple of days in New York—until he’d calmed down a touch and managed to actually sit still for a few minutes at a time. Then again, maybe that was how he and his brothers bonded? With their own mini-Olympics.
But if that was the case, why did he still look bothered?
‘We eat outside in summer, Caitlin.’ James’ mum smiled at her when she arrived in the lounge. ‘You don’t mind?’
James knew Caitlin wasn’t going to mind. The wooden deck overlooked the pool and the beach—an unlimited view to the horizon. And Caitlin did like a nice view.
At dinner James focused on his food, but his appetite had taken a hike hours ago—the second he’d pulled into the driveway. He regretted coming here already. He felt Caitlin glance at him, knew she noticed his silence. But he wasn’t the only quiet one: Jack was abnormally preoccupied tonight. James had seen him sneaking way too many looks at his mobile phone even for a workaholic like Jack. Something was on—the business, most likely.
‘This is your first time to New York?’ James’ dad asked Caitlin.
James glanced at her as she admitted it was.
‘What’s been your favourite thing so far?’
‘Oh, now that’s impossible, I’ve seen so many amazing things,’ she answered diplomatically. ‘James has been an amazing tour guide.’
‘James has?’ his mum asked.
Inwardly he winced as he saw the stunned expressions in his parents’ eyes. Even Jack looked up from his phone and sent him a sideways glance.
‘Um...yeah.’ Caitlin picked up on the prickle in the atmosphere and sent him a beseeching look. An apology? Uh huh. Too late she’d remembered he hadn’t wanted to come home. That he’d told his family he was busy. She didn’t yet know why he was so reluctant to be here, yet she was still sorry she’d dropped him in it.
He forced a grin, wanting to let her know it didn’t matter. He didn’t want her to feel awkward. ‘I couldn’t leave her alone to face the streets of New York,’ he explained with a lazy shrug. ‘Had to lead her through it. Wolves make the best guides, right?’
‘That they do.’ George chuckled.
‘How nice.’
With a sinking heart James saw the interest and amazement in his mother’s widened eyes. Oh, hell—what was she thinking now? That he was about to settle?
Never gonna happen, Mum. Sorry.
Damn. He listened as his mother pumped Caitlin for details on where he’d taken her in Manhattan. He knew he shouldn’t have come back for this visit. And he should never have brought Caitlin. He was only ever going to disappoint them.
All of them.
He glanced over the table, willing the meal to be over so he could escape. Part of him just wanted to haul Caitlin off to his room. He ached to be near to her again. Touch her. Hear her laughter. It made him feel good when he made her laugh.
But it wasn’t fair of him to use her as his distraction. It wasn’t fair of him to avoid talking about anything other than work or safe travel topics with his family.
He knew he needed to try harder, but all he really wanted to do was run. He didn’t know that he was ever going to be able to stare down the ghosts and memories that haunted him here, when he was with his family. When he was at work, it was easy. He loved to work.
Caitlin smiled her way through the amazing food and wine in the relaxed, stunning setting. His parents kept conversation flowing and were polite enough to explain and include her in on the little family jokes that peppered the conversation. The topic turned to adventures further abroad. She figured it was inevitable given they published travel guides. Jack was the current head of the family company—and a serious globetrotter. George, a venture capitalist, travelled widely looking at different projects to pump his money into. And then James travelled a different kind of route—to disaster-hit cities and remote villages. Two out of the three brothers, and their parents, entertained her by regaling her with their worst travel exploits.
She was conscious of James’ silence, of him watching her too closely. His
gaze wandered a little too far south of her face every so often. He really shouldn’t send her those smouldering looks when she was talking to his parents. She glared pointedly back at him but only got a wicked smile in return.
And she couldn’t help feeling that they were all playing it ‘safe’ somehow. Especially James. She had the feeling she was his shield. That her presence kept the conversation perfectly light. More than ever she wondered what the leashed undercurrent within him was all about.
‘I can’t wait to get you alone,’ he muttered as she helped him carry dishes inside after the meal. ‘You owe me, you know.’
Yeah but she had to be polite first. And so did he.
Back on the deck, as the setting sun splashed the sky in red and gold, she studied him and his brothers. Jack was wholly different from the twins—not quite as tall, but more solidly built and with blue eyes that pierced in a slightly unnerving way. She wasn’t sorry he was apparently welded to his mobile phone. Now she knew James so well she saw the scar was nothing on the real differences between him and George. James’ lips curved as he saw her looking from him to George and back again. His eyebrow flickered.
‘Did you use to trick people when you were younger?’ she asked.
‘The people closest to us always knew. But we liked to try it on with new teachers.’
‘Girls?’
‘Never. We’ve always had different tastes when it comes to women. Well,’ he corrected as George wandered closer, ‘George just has gluttonous tastes, while I’m more discerning.’
George lifted his shoulders negligently. ‘I see no reason to put limitations on myself. I love to love women. Lots of women.’
Caitlin chuckled.
‘Don’t encourage him,’ James said drily. ‘He’ll only start to flirt.’
‘What do you mean start?’ George asked. ‘I’ve been working on it all evening.’
‘Flirt away,’ Caitlin laughed. ‘You’ll get nowhere.’
‘You’ve not decided to become a nun?’ George asked, appalled.
Whose Bed Is It Anyway? Page 13