His life had been shot to pieces over the last nine months. Hal was barely civil to him, the business no longer held the appeal for him that it always had, and just yesterday Jake had given him the three months’ notice his contract required. After almost sixteen years Jake was walking out on him; he hadn’t been able to believe it. Jake claimed he wanted to do other things with his life when Hawk pushed him for a reason. What other things? The hotel business was of more interest to Jake than it was to Hawk, and the shares he possessed in HS Hotels had meant he always looked after that interest. Yesterday Jake had offered him those shares with his resignation!
And through the whole of the last nine months he hadn’t been able to get this sprite out of his mind! It was stupid, insane, and he had told himself so a million times, but the memory of her persisted.
And now he found her looking like a shadow of her former self, as if a strong breeze might knock her off her feet and on to that tight little bottom he found it so dangerous to think about—and which had never been far from his thoughts all these months!
The cats were still the same, though, Pop stretched out on her legs, next to the ginger tabby and black cat, the two he hadn’t seen on his last visit, and so the cat lying at her feet, the ginger tabby, had to be either Pansy or Daffodil. Hawk found it totally out of character that he had remembered the cats’ names, but then when had he acted in character since meeting Leonie Spencer!
She didn’t look very welcoming, but after what he had done, who could blame her? Maybe if he told her he had come to make peace and not war—!
‘Thanks, June,’ she dismissed the housekeeper who was a new acquisition. ‘Mr Sinclair and I can manage now.’
Manage? She looked as if lifting that glass of lemonade to her lips might snap her slender wrist in two!
She wasn’t exactly beautiful, nothing at all like the sophisticates he was usually attracted to, but she had possessed an impish charm that had made it impossible for him to put her from his mind. Something had happened to her during the last nine months to rob her of even that.
Despite what she had told him about Laura that day he had believed Leonie to be the stronger of the two, the way she had jumped so ably to her sister’s defence reminding him of a cat with its kitten. Laura had come as something of a surprise to him, not just because she was an exact copy of Leonie but because her strength had been of a different kind; the certainty of knowing her own mind, her own feelings, and of instilling confidence in those around her to believe she did. If he hadn’t been so damned mad by the time he did meet her he would probably have respected that strength and entrusted Hal’s future happiness to her more than capable hands!
As it had turned out he had been unreasonable, his anger out of all proportion to the situation, asking more from them than he had the right to. Only Laura’s calm acceptance of waiting a year, her determination that they should, had prevented him from losing Hal right then and there.
Hal had argued, though, and he hadn’t stopped arguing, only his love for Laura keeping him to the promise they had both made. Hawk knew damn well it had nothing to do with respecting his wishes!
He had behaved like a damned fool, and in the end it had had little to do with Hal and Laura—and everything to do with this woman who was barely recognisable as the fighting bantam hen she had appeared then.
What had happened to her? Was she ill? Dying…?
* * *
Why didn’t he say something? thought Leonie. What was he doing here? There were still three months to go before Laura would finally agree to marry Hal. Oh God, nothing had happened to Hal, had it?
The colour drained from her hollowed cheeks. ‘Is it Hal—’
‘I told you, he’s in Acapulco,’ rasped Hawk. ‘What’s happened to you?’
She sat back self-consciously, aware of her scarecrow thinness. ‘I’ve been ill—’
‘You still are, by the look of you!’ He looked her over critically.
The same couldn’t be said for him; he looked as healthy as ever, his skin tanned darkly brown. He was lithe and virile in the light blue shirt that somehow managed to make his eyes appear the same colour, and fitted denims that moulded the firm contours of his legs and thighs. He exuded leashed vitality, making a mockery of the reference she had once made to his age; he was fitter than many men half his age.
‘You should have seen me when I first came out of hospital,’ she dismissed lightly. ‘Then you would see how improved I am.’
His eyes were narrowed. ‘What was wrong with you?’
She gave him a cool look. ‘I don’t believe that’s any of your business—you aren’t a member of this family yet!’
‘If you were that ill Laura should have told us,’ he bit out harshly.
‘Why?’
His expression darkened. ‘Are you really getting better?’
‘Really,’ Leonie confirmed dryly, wondering what all the fuss was about. The last time they had seen him he had given the impression that he didn’t care if both she and Laura disappeared off the face of the earth!
The inclination of his head seemed to say he was satisfied with her explanation—for now. ‘I see there’s a series of Winnie Cooper stories by Leonaura Brandon planned to be shown on television in the States in the winter.’
Good manners, and the fact that he seemed determined to engage in conversation even though Laura wasn’t here, dictated that she invite him to sit down on the adjoining lounger. But where this man was concerned she was all out of good manners. ‘Surprised they’d bother with such fourth-rate stories?’ she challenged.
He shrugged. ‘Only time will tell. You and Laura must be financially secure by now?’
‘We’ve always been financially secure,’ Leonie snapped resentfully. ‘All we’ve ever needed was a roof over our heads and enough money to feed ourselves—’
‘And the cats,’ Hawk drawled dryly as sharp claws dug into Leonie’s leg as Pop stretched on her lap.
‘And the cats,’ she conceded, unhooking the claws from her flesh. ‘Is that why you’re here?’ Green eyes flashed as she looked up at him. ‘To see if all that money has made Laura change her mind about loving Hal?’
‘Has it?’
She drew in a ragged breath. ‘It’s a pity men like you can’t see past the end of their chequebooks, otherwise you would have seen last year that Laura doesn’t have the least interest in money, our own or anyone else’s. In fact, she would probably have been happier if you’d just disinherited Hal so that they could have married straight away. But she knew Hal wouldn’t have been happy then, not without you or the money; you’ve both been in his life for so long he couldn’t do without either one of you!’
‘Men like me?’ Hawk echoed softly.
Leonie made a weary gesture as her head dropped back against the lounger. ‘I really don’t feel in the mood to argue with you just now, Hawk.’ Her voice was faint with fatigue.
He came down on his haunches beside her. ‘What the hell is wrong with you, that you tire this easily?’ He frowned darkly. ‘Are you sure your doctor knows what he’s doing?’ he scowled.
She gave a slight smile. ‘Very sure; I’m already so much stronger than I was. And I think you should know that Laura still loves Hal, and would if he had nothing at all!’
‘Good.’
‘Good?’ Her eyes widened. ‘You weren’t of that opinion the last time you were here.’
He shrugged, so close Leonie could see the dark shadow of the beard on his jaw where he was already in need of his second shave of the day. ‘Things change,’ he grated.
Leonie gave him a frown of suspicion. ‘What things?’
He gave an impatient sigh and straightened, thrusting his hands into his denims pockets, pulling the material tighter than ever across his thighs. ‘Are you pleased about the television series?’
Why did he keep changing the subject? Why couldn’t he just say what he wanted here—and it certainly wasn’t to discuss the television series!—an
d then go! ‘Yes, I—’ A sudden thought made her frown. ‘Do you have any shares in Westley Productions?’ she asked in a hushed voice, the sudden suspicion that had taken hold of her making her feel nauseous.
His gaze didn’t falter. ‘I own Westley Productions.’
‘For how long?’
‘Since it was created.’
Leonie swallowed hard. ‘My God, you couldn’t resist trying to buy us off, could you?’ she suddenly attacked. ‘And what is it now that you know that’s failed—a touch of blackmail? The series is dropped if Laura doesn’t agree to stop seeing Hal?’
‘Leonie—’
‘I can tell you now that the answer will still be no,’ she sat forward tensely. ‘Laura wasn’t even interested in the series, I was the one who persuaded her to take a look at it. I thought it would take her mind off her unhappiness because of Hal. You can keep your television series, Mr Sinclair, and shove it—’
‘Leonie!’ he rasped harshly. ‘That isn’t why I’m here at all. Why do you persist in casting me as the Black Knight?’
She gave a choked laugh. ‘I have no reason to see you in any other way. In fact a knight of any kind might be too much of a compliment—even the bad ones were possessed of a certain strength, a code that they followed. You’re just out to destroy lives!’
He had gone very pale, a nerve pulsing in his cheek. ‘Leonie, I know you and I got off to a bad start, but I’m here to try and make amends—’
‘Not to me, I hope,’ she scorned. ‘Laura might accept your apology—after all, you’re going to be her father-in-law soon. But I want as little to do with you as Laura’s and Hal’s marriage will allow the only other two members of their family. Which won’t be a great deal, I hope!’
Hawk’s mouth tightened. ‘I want—’ He broke off as he saw her stricken gaze move towards the house, turning to follow the direction of that gaze, his eyes widening incredulously as he saw the tiny bundle in the housekeeper’s arms.
Holly lay contentedly in June’s arms, showing she wasn’t yet desperate for her next feed, but at almost four weeks old she was starting to need less and less sleep between feeds, considering the rest of the time playtime. Leonie wished this hadn’t been one of those times!
She looked up reluctantly at Hawk Sinclair and could see by the ruddy hue of his cheeks that the baby’s existence angered him. She bristled defensively and sat up to take the baby, smiling her thanks at June.
‘I’ll bring the bottle out in a few minutes,’ the other woman told her, smiling brightly at the stunned Hawk before going back into the house.
Leonie kept her head down as she looked at the baby, the silence above her testament to the fact that Hawk had been rendered speechless for the second time since she had met him. It was when he regained his voice that she dreaded!
Holly gazed up at her with trusting blue-grey eyes, content just to be held, having put on weight since her birth, but still very tiny in the white Baby-Gro. Her hair gleamed golden in the sunlight, and Leonie shifted slightly so that the baby was under the shade of the bright-coloured umbrella above them. Holly began to blow bubbles to amuse herself.
‘No wonder Laura accepted my suggestion last year that they wait!’ Hawk suddenly exploded, his wrath as chilling as a north wind. ‘She’d already taken out insurance that guaranteed Hal would marry her!’
Leonie’s head snapped back. ‘That’s a lie!’
‘She knew I wouldn’t turn away Henry Hawker Sinclair the Fourth either!’ His eyes glittered with fury as he glowered over her.
The baby began to wave her arms about at the sound of the angry voices above her; until now she had never heard a voice raised in anger near her.
‘Her name is Holly,’ Leonie bit out precisely.
‘Holly Laura.’
‘What the hell does it matter what her first names are?’ he attacked viciously. ‘She’s a Sinclair!’
‘Holly is my baby—’
‘Don’t take protecting your sister too far,’ he scorned harshly. ‘That baby has to be at least three weeks old—’
‘Almost four,’ she confirmed.
He nodded impatiently. ‘Which means Laura must have conceived her almost the first night she and Hal met,’ he accused. ‘She was taking no chances on him changing his mind, was she?’ he added with contempt.
Whatever ‘amends’ he had come here to make it was obvious that knowing about Holly negated all of them; he was now more angry than ever about Laura and Hal. And Leonie just didn’t have the strength to fight for them right now.
‘Does Hal know about his child? Hell, of course he must do,’ he furiously answered his own question. ‘Damn it, I know he’s still mad as hell at me, but he should have told me about the child!’ He glared at Leonie. ‘Your sister certainly had me fooled with her sweetness and understanding routine!’
‘Hawk—’
‘They have to get married now, and soon,’ he accepted harshly. ‘But believe me, if I’ve lost this battle I’ve far from lost the war!’
Leonie felt a shiver of apprehension run down her spine; she knew he could still make things very unpleasant for Laura and Hal.
‘Holly is my baby, Hawk,’ she told him again, wishing she could sound more forceful.
‘She’s a Sinclair, damn it!’ He gazed down at Holly with dislike. ‘She looks exactly as Hal did when he was a baby.’
Leonie looked down at the fair-haired, pale-complexioned baby. She could see no resemblance to Hal at all, except perhaps that Holly’s eyes would soon turn completely grey. But Hawk seemed convinced he knew who Holly’s father was.
‘Where’s Laura now?’ he demanded aggressively.
‘With our publisher—You can’t go there and confront her with this, Hawk!’ she cried as he looked ready to do just that.
‘I assure you I can do exactly that,’ he bit out coldly. ‘By the time I’ve finished with her she’ll know exactly what I think of her method of trapping my son into marriage. She’ll also realise what a formidable enemy I can be; I haven’t even started yet!’
Leonie felt a sinking feeling in her chest; she wished she felt stronger. Before her illness she wouldn’t have hesitated to tell him exactly what she and Laura thought of his threats. Now she was shaking so badly with fatigue it was all she could do not to burst into frustrated tears.
‘Can’t you realise—and accept,’ she said weakly, ‘that Hal wants to marry Laura?’
‘He hasn’t got any choice now, has he?’ Hawk attacked. ‘Your devious sister took care of that!’
Laura didn’t have a devious bone in her body. But she did have the strength that Leonie lacked at the moment to stand up to this man.
‘You’re right, Hawk,’ she sighed. ‘I think it would be best if you spoke to Laura—’
‘Oh, I intend to,’ he warned, dangerously soft.
Leonie watched as he strode angrily across the lawn to the driveway, some of the tension leaving her as she heard his car accelerate away from the house with a screech of tyres.
Holly had tired of blowing bubbles now, her arms waving about in earnest as she decided that it was time for her afternoon tea. Leonie gave a smile of gratitude as June seemed to anticipate the need and came out of the house with the promised bottle. Holly latched on to it eagerly.
June looked Leonie over critically. ‘Mr Sinclair didn’t upset you, did he?’
She gave a wan smile. ‘Mr Sinclair never fails to upset me!’
The housekeeper lingered concernedly. ‘He seemed very—agitated when he left just now.’
Leonie gave a choked laugh. ‘Let’s not be polite; he was furious!’
‘At you?’ June frowned.
Leonie shrugged. ‘He doesn’t seem to approve of unmarried mothers,’ she evaded.
‘Hmph,’ June gave a disgusted snort. ‘In that case I hope he never comes back here.’
Oh, Hawk would be back, Leonie had no doubts about that!
CHAPTER TWO
MY god, thought Hawk, he ha
d been about to apologise, to admit he had been wrong about Laura Brandon’s mercenary intentions! She had taken out the most effective insurance to guarantee that he had no choice but to accept her marriage to Hal: she had had his grandchild.
He had been about to tell Leonie exactly how often he had thought of her the last nine months, admit how much he desired her. If the housekeeper hadn’t appeared with the child at that moment he would have told Leonie Spencer just how obsessed he had become with her!
That baby—Holly, Leonie had said her name was—was Hal’s daughter, there was no doubt about that. Hal had looked exactly like that when Amy had brought him home from the hospital; it had only been when he reached six or seven that his hair had darkened to the almost-black it was now. Hal was a father when he was nothing but a child still himself!
He could forgive Laura Brandon anything but that! Hal was too young to be a father, he had plenty of years before him to take on that responsibility. But Laura Brandon was older than him and had obviously decided that motherhood would assure her of a place in his life.
And it would. He didn’t doubt that Hal was overjoyed at the child’s existence. Holly was certainly a beautiful baby; she would probably have those cute little freckles on her nose just like her aunt’s in later years—
Hell, he wasn’t going to allow himself to think about Leonie Spencer again. She had to have known what Laura was doing, and all these months she had condoned it. She was as morally guilty as her sister.
Laura had already left her appointment with her publisher when he arrived at the office, and rather than backtrack all the way to the house and find she still wasn’t there either he put a call through to the house.
The housekeeper greeted him politely enough until he identified himself, and then her warm manner froze over. My God, thought Hawk, you’d think it was his fault Laura Brandon had used such trickery to gain a rich husband!
The woman informed him that Laura wasn’t home yet, and that Leonie was resting in her bedroom. He only just stopped himself from asking if she was feeling ill again! The welfare of the Brandon sisters was none of his concern.
Just One Night (Presents Plus) Page 4