Taming the Last St Claire

by Carole Mortimer

  She couldn’t help thinking that, for twins, the two men didn’t look or behave anything alike. Jordan was dark-haired and golden-eyed, and Gideon had blond hair and chocolate-brown eyes; Jordan was effortlessly charming, while Gideon’s charm was much more subtle.

  So much of Gideon, it seemed, was hidden beneath the surface. That deep love for his family. His concern two months ago for Stephanie. The way he was insisting on taking care of Joey right now.

  Whatever the reason for Joey’s attraction to him—and the more she came to know him the deeper the attraction became—she hoped that the police managed to find and talk to Richard Newman very soon. Because she wasn’t sure how much of this togetherness with Gideon she could take without succumbing to the desire that raged through her every time she looked at him—when she wasn’t annoyed with him, that was.

  She gave him a reproving frown now. ‘That’s emotional blackmail.’

  He appeared unconcerned by the accusation. ‘So?’

  Joey grumbled, ‘It’s absolutely shameful to use my love for Stephanie in this way.’

  ‘Is it working?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Mission accomplished.’ Gideon gave an unapologetic smile. ‘I’ll wait here while you go up and get your things.’

  Wasn’t this going to be a lot of fun? The whole point of Joey’s thrice-weekly workout was to keep her fit, but it also involved her becoming hot and sweaty. Not something she particularly relished with Gideon looking on.

  ‘You’re wasting time, Joey,’ he drawled mockingly, as if well aware of her discomforting thoughts.

  Which no doubt he was! ‘How about I sign you in as my guest, and you can join me instead of just keeping an eye on me?’

  ‘Good idea,’ he agreed. ‘I usually go to my own gym every morning before work, so my stuff from this morning is still in the boot of my car.’

  Well, that little ploy hadn’t worked, had it? She should have guessed Gideon worked out in a gym on a regular basis; he obviously hadn’t acquired that muscled chest and the taut power of the rest of his body, just by sitting behind a desk five days a week.

  ‘Unless you think Jason Pickard might object to us spending the evening together?’

  Joey’s gaze sharpened suspiciously as she looked up at Gideon, but she was unable to read anything from his politely enquiring expression.

  She wasn’t deceived. ‘I’ve already told you—you have completely the wrong idea about my friendship with Jason. It isn’t like that.’

  ‘You seem very determined that I should believe you.’

  ‘Probably because I don’t want you to go around thinking I allowed you to…to kiss me when I’m already involved with someone.’

  Without breaking Jason’s confidence, Joey had no way of convincing Gideon of that; Jason might have chosen to confide in his parents now about the true nature of his relationship with Trevor, but that didn’t mean he wanted his very private life revealed to anyone else.

  ‘I don’t think that at all,’ Gideon said. ‘I believe I know you well enough by now to realise that double-dealing and two-timing just isn’t your style.’

  ‘Then why do you keep mentioning Jason?’

  ‘I didn’t realise you had the monopoly on teasing …’

  Teasing? Gideon had been teasing her?

  Joey stomped off, muttering, ‘I’ve created a monster!’

  Gideon’s smile was rueful as he watched Joey from between narrowed lids as she walked to her apartment building, very aware of the sexy sway of her hips and silkily shapely legs before she opened the door and disappeared inside. In much the same way Richard Newman had been aware as he’d watched her walk away from the coffee shop on Monday morning…

  Gideon’s smile faded. Just thinking about the other man having been that close to her was enough to strengthen his resolve to protect her in spite of herself. He had been stating the truth when he’d claimed that Stephanie would never forgive him if anything happened to her twin sister, but it was equally true that Gideon would never forgive himself, either.

  ‘Ready! ‘

  Gideon focused on Joey with an effort as she appeared beside him in the promised five minutes, his eyes widening as he saw she had used that time to change into a fitted white T-shirt beneath a black sports cardigan, and baggy grey tracksuit bottoms that rested low down on her hips above white and purple trainers.

  ‘You really are short, aren’t you?’ he commented. Once again, she reached only as high as his chin.

  ‘Or you’re just exceedingly tall.’ She shot him an annoyed glance as she unlocked her car and threw her sports bag onto the back seat.

  ‘Or I’m just exceedingly tall,’ he allowed dryly as he dug his car keys out of his trouser pocket. ‘You lead and I’ll follow.’

  ‘Now, there’s an interesting suggestion,’ she jeered.

  ‘I think we’ve exhausted “interesting” for one day, don’t you?’ Gideon’s smile was wry as he remembered the awkward way in which things had ended between them this morning.

  ‘Probably.’ She grimaced as she opened the driver’s door of her car. ‘I’ll see you at the gym.’

  Joey was very aware as she drove, as she had been earlier, of Gideon’s car a short distance behind her own—probably to ensure that no one cut in between their two cars; she could clearly see Gideon in the driving mirror every time she glanced at it. In fact, she was so focused on Gideon driving behind her that she doubted she would have noticed Richard Newman if he had been sitting beside her!

  Much as she might protest the necessity of having Gideon accompany her everywhere like this, she was grateful to him for bothering—even if his only reason for doing so was because Stephanie would never forgive him if he didn’t.

  She felt less grateful for that attentiveness an hour and a half later, when they met up in the bar for a reviving fruit drink at the end of their workout, and saw that he had barely broken a sweat despite the rigorous routine that she had witnessed surreptitiously as she’d moved around the apparatus in the gym—whereas Joey was dripping wet and very red in the face from her own exertions.

  Looking at Gideon, dressed in a black vest top that showed the width of his shoulders and the defined muscles in his chest, and a pair of long black shorts that emphasised the muscled length of his legs, wasn’t doing a lot to moderate her heart rate, either!

  Several other women in the bar were eyeing him appreciatively too. Glances that Gideon, admittedly, seemed completely unaware of as he sipped his orange juice. Although she very much doubted that was because he was bowled off his feet by her own sweaty appearance!

  ‘Have you heard from Lucan at all?’ Joey abruptly filled the silence that—for her at least—was starting to stretch awkwardly between them; in contrast, Gideon seemed perfectly relaxed and at ease as he sipped his juice.

  Gideon raised mocking brows. ‘He’s on his honeymoon, Joey. Of course I haven’t.’

  ‘Well…yes.’ She felt warmth colour her cheeks—as if they needed to be any redder! ‘I just thought …’ She grimaced; she hadn’t been thinking at all. Of course Lucan was on his honeymoon—and recalling the broodingly sensual way in which he had been looking at his bride at their wedding, they had probably spent all of the time so far in bed!

  Gideon took pity on Joey’s discomfort as he chuckled softly. ‘You just thought, because Lucan has always been a workaholic, that he wouldn’t be able to resist telephoning me to check on things, anyway?’

  ‘All you St Claire men are the same when it comes to your work.’

  He shrugged. ‘I’m guessing the beautiful Lexie has given my big brother a different perspective on what his priorities are in life. Just as Stephanie has Jordan,’ Gideon added with a frown, knowing he was still coming to terms with those particular changes in his two brothers.

  For so long it had been just the three of them, united against the world during those long, interminable visits to their father—until they’d reached an age where they could choose not to go,
and didn’t. Then the years they had spent at university and the three of them had been there for each other when they’d entered their chosen careers. Then Jordan had fallen in love with and married Stephanie, and Lucan had met and fallen in love with Lexie. Giving Gideon’s brothers a different focus in their lives in an incredibly short space of time.

  It was utterly ridiculous of Gideon to feel as if Jordan and Lucan had somehow left him behind. Especially when he had no more interest now in falling in love or getting married than he’d ever had—which was no interest whatsoever. He sincerely hoped that the desire he now felt for Joey was only a temporary aberration.

  But desire her he did. Even now, obviously hot and glowing from her time in the gym, Joey somehow managed to look desirable, in a fitted white sports top that clearly defined her bared breasts beneath, and left a six-inch expanse of her flat stomach bare. She had removed the grey sweats to reveal black Spandex sports shorts that clung to the slenderness of her hips and thighs and the tautness of her bottom; he obviously couldn’t see the latter at the moment, but he’d had plenty of opportunity to watch her earlier, as she’d moved around the gym. It was an opportunity he had taken full advantage of, admiring the slender curves of her body as she exercised—

  Damn it—that was enough!

  ‘Time we both showered, I think.’ Gideon sat forward suddenly, and placed his empty glass on the table.

  Joey couldn’t speak for several seconds as she was instantly assailed with an image of the two of them together in the shower, completely naked, as she lathered soap over every delectable inch of Gideon’s muscled body.

  Which she was pretty sure wasn’t what he had meant at all!

  Joey gave herself a mental shake as she placed her own empty glass on the table beside his. ‘Good idea. I’ll meet you downstairs in Reception afterwards.’

  She stood up to hurry away to the ladies’ changing rooms—before Gideon had the chance to notice, and question, the sudden heat that had returned to her cheeks.

  What was wrong with her? She couldn’t seem to spend a single moment in his company any more without her thoughts turning to the bedroom—or, in their case, the bathroom!

  Get a grip, Joey, she instructed herself firmly. Gideon was only spending his leisure time with her because he felt a family obligation to keep his sister-in-law’s twin safe. It wasn’t Joey personally he was concerned about. It was just that strong St Claire gentlemanly code of honour dictating that he ensured no harm came to her. Something she would do well to remember.

  Joey felt refreshed and fortified by the time she rejoined Gideon in Reception fifteen minutes later. Her hair was still damp from the shower, and falling softly onto her brow and nape, but she felt far less exposed in a cream fitted sweater and figure-hugging low-riding jeans than she had in her sports gear.

  Gideon, on the other hand, was once again dressed in the tailored business suit he had worn to work earlier. Although he had left off the tie and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his white silk shirt.

  Joey felt a little self-conscious. ‘I think I’m a little under-dressed to go out to dinner.’

  ‘Or I’m over-dressed.’ Gideon smiled.

  Joey’s stomach lurched, and her heart pounded loudly in her chest. So much for fortification—Gideon only had to smile at her and she was once again a quivering mass of desire!

  ‘Maybe I should go home and change first?’ he added at her continued silence.

  She shrugged. ‘I can always meet you somewhere—’

  ‘Not an option, I’m afraid.’

  ‘But—’

  ‘Come with me.’

  Joey blinked. ‘Come with you where?’

  ‘To my apartment, of course.’ Gideon looked down at her, noting how soft her red hair was without the gel she usually applied to achieve that wispy style. Her face was bare of make-up too, after her shower.

  Although he wasn’t quite sure about the horrified expression that had appeared on her face at his suggestion that she accompany him to his apartment to wait for him while he changed before they went out to dinner!

  It probably wasn’t a good idea, now that he thought about it. In fact he had no idea why he had even suggested it in the first place; he didn’t take women to his apartment. Any woman. Not even one he had offered his protection. Most especially when Gideon had the distinct feeling that he was the one Joey might need protection from once they were alone together.

  ‘Never mind,’ he said. ‘We’re only going to grab something quick to eat at a bistro, or somewhere equally as casual, before I make sure you get home safely, so I don’t suppose it really matters what I’m wearing.’

  ‘No! No, I—It’s fine if we go to your apartment first,’ Joey said, slightly breathlessly, her curiosity about Gideon’s home overriding her good sense in regard to whether or not it was actually a good idea for her to go anywhere near the privacy of his apartment with him.

  She was curious to know if his home was as lacking in complications as the rest of his life appeared to be.

  ‘I can guarantee you won’t like the white decor, or the chrome and black furnishings in my apartment,’ Gideon said with a brief smile, guessing her thoughts.

  ‘You don’t sound as if you like them very much yourself.’ Joey looked up at him thoughtfully as they stepped outside. Gideon’s face appeared grim in the single spotlight illuminating the Tarmacked area behind the gym where they had parked their cars earlier.

  ‘It was already decorated that way when I bought the apartment.’ He gave a dismissive shrug. ‘It serves its purpose in giving me somewhere to lay my head at night.’

  ‘And is that—’

  ‘It’s functional, Joey, which is all I’ve ever needed or wanted it to be,’ he said with finality, before striding across the Tarmac to his car.

  Definite end of subject, Joey acknowledged ruefully as she followed more slowly, knowing a sense of disappointment that Gideon’s home was as sterile of sentimentality as she had imagined it might be.

  ‘Damn!’ Gideon’s angry outburst interrupted Joey’s thoughts. ‘Damn, damn and double damn!’

  ‘What is it?’ She hurried over to where he stood beside his car. ‘What’s happened—?’ She broke off abruptly as she saw for herself exactly what had happened: a single, long and jagged gouge had been made all the way down the driver’s side of his car. ‘Oh, no!’ she breathed.

  ‘Oh, yes,’ Gideon confirmed grimly as he turned his attention to Joey’s car parked beside his own.

  He came to a halt as he saw there was an identical gouge, deep and jagged, on the driver’s side of her Mini.

  Gideon was pretty sure they both knew who was responsible for the damage….

  CHAPTER TEN

  ‘DRINK up, Joey,’ Gideon encouraged as he handed her one of the two glasses of brandy he had just poured. ‘You’ll feel better if you drink all of it,’ he instructed firmly when she only took a tentative sip.

  It was over an hour since they had left the gym and discovered the damage to the cars. An hour, during which the same two policemen they had spoken to earlier had driven out to the car park to assess and give their professional opinion of this second act of vandalism.

  The use of the St Claire name earlier today had obviously had some effect on their efficiency.

  The policemen had then offered their regrets that they obviously hadn’t yet managed to locate Richard Newman, let alone talk to him; that apology seemed to confirm that they also believed the man to be responsible for the deep gouges in the paintwork of the two cars.

  By the time the police left, Gideon had seen that Joey didn’t look at all her usual perky, confident self: her face had been pale, her hands—all of her, in fact—trembling almost uncontrollably. Her distress had been confirmed by the fact that she had raised no objections to his suggestion that they leave her car where it was for the moment and he would drive them both back to his apartment.

  Despite his earlier aversion to that idea, it had seemed the wisest
choice in the circumstances. His apartment building had a doorman downstairs and security cameras installed, and Joey’s obviously didn’t. Besides which, Gideon had no idea whether she had any reviving brandy in her apartment, and there was no doubt they were both in need of something after the shock of finding their cars deliberately damaged.

  The red of Joey’s hair was the only real colour in the Spartan comfort of Gideon’s sitting room. It comprised a glass and chrome coffee table sided by a black leather couch and two chairs, black and white prints in chrome frames hanging on the white-painted walls, a chrome and onyx standard lamp behind the couch, and a matching light overhead in the centre of the room.

  His own and Joey’s apartments were as different as the moon from the sun. Hers had all the warmth and comfort that made it a home, rather than just somewhere to store clothes and sleep at night.

  Joey shook her head. ‘I don’t understand why Newman has waited until now. If it is him doing these things—and I’m inclined to think that it is—’ she shuddered as she once again remembered actually talking to the man on Monday morning ‘—it’s been over two months since we—well, mainly you—’ she shot Gideon a rueful glance ‘—extracted Steph from any involvement in the Newmans’ divorce.’

  Gideon nodded grimly. ‘I didn’t understand the timing of this thing either, so I did some checking earlier today. The Newmans’ divorce went to court last Friday. Rosalind Newman went for everything she could get—including custody of the two children, with only agreed access for Richard Newman. It would seem to be a case of “hell hath no fury” etc …’

  ‘I’m inclined to think Rosalind Newman’s fury was justified where her ex-husband is concerned!’ Joey exclaimed, the brandy having revived her somewhat.

  Enough for her to recognise that he had brought her back to his apartment after all.

  An apartment that, with its white decor and black and chrome furniture, was as impersonal as Gideon had warned her it was. She loathed it!