by Sandy Curtis
“Just what the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Jenna walked slowly out of the pool, absently noting Braden’s quick intake of breath as his gaze travelled over her bikini-clad figure. She picked up her towel from a patio chair, aware that Braden’s face had paled slightly as the gesture provided him with a deep view of her full breasts.
“I’m doing my job,” she replied.
He turned and looked out over the river, but his voice was harsh. “Your job is to keep an eye on Caitlin, not risk causing further damage to her leg by cavorting her about in the pool!”
“Did it ever occur to you, Braden, that what I was doing with Caitlin just might be beneficial?”
He whirled back to face her, but before he could reply she spoke softly. “Jeff obviously didn’t bother to tell you when he was relating his humorous tales of my youth, but I have a degree in Occupational Therapy and for the past five years I’ve been working with children with injuries and disabilities.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I thought you knew. Or did Jeff only bother to relate my lesser accomplishments?” she replied tartly, then wished she hadn't. Why was she trying to antagonise him? Was she trying to get back at him for what he so obviously thought of her when she’d first arrived? It really wasn’t his fault that Jeff had given him the impression she was incompetent. But he hadn't had the courtesy to ask her occupation, and her professional pride was piqued. She wanted his respect.
“When you’re dressed I’d like to see you in my study so you can give me full details of your qualifications.” He strode back into the penthouse.
Braden had removed his suit coat and tie, and was busy making notations on a report he was reading when Jenna knocked on the open study door. He hurriedly scribbled another comment, then glanced up to catch Jenna gazing at the dark curls visible through his opened shirt. Their eyes met, and his skin tightened and heat rushed through his body at the blush that coloured her cheeks.
He was acutely aware of the good fortune which had brought her to them. For a reason he still couldn’t fathom, Caitlin had obviously decided she could trust Jenna implicitly. After the trauma of the past few months it was a miracle he wasn’t about to toss away. He realised his anger had been unjustified, and he had to admit to himself it had been partly fuelled by a spark of jealousy at the way the child had swiftly encompassed Jenna in her affections. And another part of the anger had been caused by the sudden surge of desire he’d felt when he’d seen Jenna again.
When she’d stepped from the pool his body had reacted so outrageously he’d had to turn away for fear that she would see the evidence. Before she came into the office he managed to convince himself that it was because of the stress and worry of the past months that his body was looking for a release. Any attractive woman would have had the same effect. But now he knew it wasn’t true.
In a voice husky with self control he asked her to sit down and explain her qualifications.
She told him how, after gaining her degree and working for two years with athletes with injuries she had started work in a children’s hospital, and it was there she had realised this was where her true vocation lay.
"I've always tried to incorporate swimming and water exercises into therapy as much as possible. The buoyancy of the water means no weight bearing down on joints, so it alleviates a lot of the pain otherwise involved in moving an injured limb. Once children realise they're able to move without pain, they relax into the programme and gradually build up stronger muscles and better flexibility."
She smiled, her joy in her work dispelling the guarded look she'd worn since he'd asked her to tell him about her job. "I let the kids have some fun in the pool, too. It helps lessen the pressure to achieve they sometimes feel they're under."
Fun was something Braden hadn't considered in years, but the thought of having fun with Jenna was definitely appealing.
She told him of the various jobs she'd had in Australia and overseas in the past two years, particularly working in camps for children with injuries and disabilities.
Braden watched her eyes sparkle and her colour heighten as her enthusiasm for her work shone through. He was accustomed to determined, hard-headed business people whose only enthusiasm was for profits achieved, and Jenna's eagerness and warmth were a revelation. An emotion so long forgotten he couldn’t put a name to it stirred in his gut.
He watched the animation in her shining green eyes as she spoke of children who arrived at the camps with their self-image more mutilated than their bodies; how they were amazed to find that there was always another child worse off than they were; how the counsellors and therapists detected the children’s abilities and taught them to use those abilities to help one another.
He watched her lips as she spoke, fascinated by the softness, the perfect shape, of them. She wore no make-up, her complexion flawless cream lightly tinged with pink. He wondered idly how long she had spent in England’s cool climate and how long before Australia’s heat would dust freckles across her pert nose. He thought of the silky loveliness of her long slim limbs and body and how smooth her skin would feel under his touch ...
“Don’t you agree, Braden?”
He wrenched his brain back to the conversation. “I’m sorry, I missed that. I was a bit preoccupied with a business problem,” he lied.
“I would have thought Caitlin would be occupying your mind right now,” she chided. “I was saying that I thought it would be a good idea if Caitlin didn’t know that I’m a therapist. She’s responding well at the moment because she sees me as a friend. If we tell her the true purpose behind the exercises she might refuse to continue them.”
“You certainly seemed to have gained her trust. So I’ll bow to your judgement in this regard.” He saw the flush of pleasure on her cheeks at his words. “I’ll be working here for the next few days, so if you need my help at all I’ll be only too pleased to assist.”
He rose and walked around the desk and half sat on the corner nearest her chair. A smile twisted the corners of his mouth. “I do care about Caitlin, you know.”
The blood surged in his veins when Jenna placed her soft, smooth hand on his and said, “I know you do.”
Her gaze flew to his and he knew she felt the tingling jolts that flowed between them. Her palm was cool, but it fired his blood and hot desire flashed in his groin. A spark of triumph exploded in his brain when he saw that desire reciprocated in her eyes, then the moment passed as she abruptly pulled her hand away.
“It’s getting late. I’d better start cooking dinner.” She walked quickly to the door.
He wanted to grab her, feel her silky smooth skin again, but only used his voice to stop her.
“Do you always wear bikinis when you’re working, Jenna?”
She stared back at him, as though his neutral tone held some hidden meaning. Compared to a lot of bikinis, he knew hers were quite modest, but he couldn't help the little spark of irrational jealousy in wondering if her colleagues had been privy to the sight of her glorious figure.
“I normally wear one-piece swimsuits in my work, but I’d sent them along with my winter clothes straight to Sydney to be held until my arrival. I thought I’d be spending a week here with Jeff having a holiday.”
“I’ll do my best to find a replacement for you as soon as possible so you can have your holiday,” he said coldly, rebuked by her words, but she shook her head.
“Caitlin needs me. I’ll stay until Mrs Jenkins returns. I still have a little over five weeks before I start my new job and she'll be back before then.”
“Thank you,” he muttered. “I appreciate you giving up your holiday for Caitlin.”
A deep, warm smile lit up her face. She turned and left the room.
Her voice had held such sincerity, and her eyes so much caring he had felt instantly ashamed. Had he been a cynic so long he’d forgotten genuine people still existed? Apart from Alicia and Caitlin, he could think of no-one he knew who exhibited
the tenderness and caring that seemed part of Jenna’s nature.
The cold wall of protection he had built around his heart seemed to constrict even tighter. He tasted the salt of fear. Never again. If you cared about someone you ran the risk of being hurt.
“Well, that’s another one of your talents Jeff forgot to mention.” Braden eased away from the table with a satisfied smile.
“Pardon?” Jenna asked.
“Jeff never said you were such a good cook.” Tiny lines crinkled the corners of Braden’s eyes. He had changed into tee-shirt and jeans that moulded to the lean muscular length of him so well she had had trouble concentrating on the cooking skills he praised. He admired the animal biscuits Caitlin had offered, and although she hadn’t smiled Jenna had seen the pleasure in her eyes. The roast lamb, baked potatoes and vegetables were cooked to perfection. But when he watched Jenna making the gravy she became so nervous she ordered him out of the kitchen, then hurriedly removed the lumps that had formed.
He refused dessert, then changed his mind at the sight of the fresh fruit salad, chunky with tropical fruits. Caitlin ate quietly but steadily, and now her eyes were heavy with tiredness. Jenna tenderly brushed strands of dark hair across the small forehead and lifted the little girl in her arms.
“You’re not such a big girl that I can’t carry you in to bed, are you Possum?” she asked. The small head sagged against her shoulder and as the little arms crept around her Jenna’s heart swelled with affection. Caitlin was such an easy child to love, and her need for acceptance and security triggered Jenna’s protective instinct. She was determined that somehow she would find a way to heal Caitlin’s psychological injuries as well as her physical ones. She knew it was possible for Caitlin’s hip and leg to recover completely, and she had seen some miraculous progress in other children similarly afflicted.
The wounds to Caitlin’s psyche were another matter. The physical scars, although permanent, would fade in time, but to Caitlin they represented the reason for her mother’s rejection of her. Jenna hoped that if Alicia could see Caitlin walking normally again she might be able to come to terms with her guilt and accept Caitlin as she was now.
After she watched Caitlin brush her teeth she tucked her into bed. For the past two nights Jenna had left a lamp on in the far corner of the room so Caitlin wouldn’t be completely in the dark. As she’d left the room she’d been puzzled by the taut line of Caitlin’s body under the covers and the look in her eyes. It was almost but not quite a plea, an entreaty that Jenna stay because there was something else to do. It had gnawed at the back of Jenna’s mind. Now she sat on the side of the bed.
She watched Caitlin’s little fingers linked together and suddenly realised that what she had surmised was the child’s distress at fearing sleep for the dreams it would bring was actually the clasp of hands in prayer. She covered the small hands with her own.
“Dear God,” she prayed aloud, “please look after Caitlin’s Mum and help her to get better, and keep her Daddy safe with you in Heaven.”
Caitlin’s tense look started to relax, and Jenna went to lift her hands away. The tension returned and Jenna realised she was meant to continue. “And please look after Uncle Braden and keep him safe.” With this addition Caitlin’s breath released in a satisfied sigh. She lifted her arms and her hug gave Jenna time to blink back the tears she could feel threatening to spill.
She turned to leave and saw Braden shadowed in the hallway. He walked to the bed and bent down as Caitlin opened her arms to him. The tender smile on his face transformed the hard lines and Jenna realised with a thudding heart how deeply she was attracted to that face and the man behind it.
Her initial physical attraction had changed to something far deeper. Sympathy, yes, but she had felt sympathetic towards other patients’ family members. There was something about Braden that pulled at her heart. He was a strong man with a forceful personality but the tenderness and caring he so obviously felt for Caitlin revealed more to Jenna than he would probably have liked. It was at odds with the cynical attitude he had displayed when she had originally told him she was staying because Caitlin needed her. He was an enigma she was tempted to unravel, but wary of doing so for fear of what she might discover.
When Jenna walked back to the kitchen she saw the table had been cleared, the dishwasher stacked and the kitchen cleaned up. Braden had said he had work to attend to, so Jenna decided to take advantage of her first time of being alone for days. She selected a CD and placed it in the stereo unit. Soft, flowing instrumental music filled the room.
Jenna relaxed back, closed her eyes and let her mind flow with the music. She conjured up scenes of peaceful lakes and gently meandering rivers. Then she concentrated on her breath flowing in through her nose and deep into her lungs. She imagined it coloured a soothing pale blue. Silently her mind repeated the words ‘I am’ in synchronization with her breathing. She felt her body relaxing more deeply.
She became aware someone else was in the room and her eyes snapped open. Braden was standing over her, and in the split second before he could disguise it, she saw the naked hunger on his face as he gazed down at her.
“You startled me.” Her voice was breathy.
“I thought you were asleep.”
“I was meditating.”
He raised a sceptical eyebrow. “I’ve always thought the concept excellent, but have never been able to carry it out sufficiently well enough to prove it.”
She smiled. “I felt that way for many years. Then a friend gave me a tape that made it so easy - took all the saffron-robe mysticism out of it.” Her heart did a double-flip as a smile that would charm any female from eight to eighty altered the contours of his face. For the first time she realised just how very attractive he was.
“Perhaps you might let me listen to the tape.” He moved to sit next to her and she shifted quickly so that their bodies didn’t touch. A knowing glint sparkled in the grey eyes. He was playing with her, she realised.
“I’m sorry,” her regret was genuine, “it was with the luggage I forwarded to Sydney. But I could teach you how to do it.”
“I’m willing to try anything. Once.” He wasn’t even trying to conceal his amusement now. Jenna’s less-than-placid nature sparked in answering challenge. She stood up.
“For your first time you’ll be a lot more relaxed if you lie down.”
Obligingly he kicked off his shoes and swung his legs up onto the lounge. He lay back with his arms folded across his chest.
“Put your arms down by your side,” she commanded. “You mustn’t have any part of your body touching another part.”
“What about touching someone else’s body?” he countered.
“Strictly forbidden,” she responded primly. “Close your eyes.”
She knelt beside the lounge and her tone softened as she began to describe the imagery involved. Her voice became mellow, fluid, soothing. She watched as Braden followed her hypnotic instructions. Gradually the tension left his muscles and his breathing became deep and regular.
Jenna kept up the steady flow of words, leading, guiding. And as she talked her gaze traced the outline of his face; the smooth forehead, the straight nose, faltered on the full lips that were invitingly parted just a fraction.
By the time her gaze lingered on the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest she was quivering. Desperately she tried to fight the rising desire in her blood. She could feel her nipples firming against the smooth satin of her bra and push against her soft cotton shirt.
Her voice grew husky. As though sensing the reason for the change Braden’s eyes opened and fixed on hers. Like a mouse mesmerized by the unblinking stare of a snake she froze. He slowly raised himself on one elbow, his head leaning towards hers. She knew he was going to kiss her, knew she should get up and run, but all coherent thought fled as his lips met hers.
It was a soft, gentle feathering of skin on skin, his warm breath mingling with hers, a faint woodsy tang of aftershave that lingered, then a
tentative flick of his tongue on her lips and her eyes closed. The faint moan that escaped her throat was all the response he needed. His hand twined into her curls as his mouth ravished hers.
It was like falling into a deep abyss of pleasure. Her body came alive like it never had before. Her breasts flooded with heat and a deep wanton ache pulsed in her groin. Her hands found the hard chest muscles they had craved to touch and stroked sensually over them. It was heady, intoxicating.
And frightening.
Somehow a fragment of her mind registered how badly she had lost control. Like a drowning person fighting her way to the surface she pushed away and fell back onto the floor, panting as though she had run a marathon.
She saw the glazed look in Braden’s eyes and a swift glance told her he was fully aroused. Her thoughts clarified and she suddenly realised the vulnerability of her situation. Braden was a strong man, and she would stand little chance of fending him off if he decided to take what his body obviously wanted.
But what terrified her more was the knowledge he wouldn’t have to fight her to get it. Nothing had prepared her for the devastating effect on her senses wrought by Braden’s kiss. If she had kept kissing him she would have ended up completely unable to stop him from taking what he wanted. And even more terrifying was knowing her body would have betrayed the restraints she had placed on herself for the past three years.
Fear panicked her tongue.
“Is this how you treat all your housekeepers?”
CHAPTER FIVE
Braden's face froze in astonishment. Jenna shrank back against the floor. Then a deep rumbling started in his chest.
He was laughing at her!
Humiliation burned her face. He must have guessed her fears and thought it funny that she should think he would not be able to control himself with her. Or perhaps he was laughing at her almost adolescent reaction to the intensity of her desire. She sprang to her feet, fists clenched in frustration and chagrin. “Well, I just hope you spell out the ground rules to your next housekeeper!”