by Janet Woods
‘Eloise,’ he murmured, his eyes scanning her from head to toe. He grinned when he spotted the black and gold leopard earrings she wore, and stooped to blow gently in her ear. ‘Very predatory.’
‘Sometimes I could kill you,’ she hissed when the shivers racing down her spine subsided.
Andrew’s soft chuckle reminded her they weren’t alone. Coloring slightly, she tore her eyes away from Patrick, first registering the fact that his dark blue shirt exactly matched the color of his eyes. She tried to unravel the knots he’d tied in her stomach, but they simply retied themselves when his fingers curled casually around hers.
‘Introduce your friend to Andrew. He’s dying to meet her.’
Not only was he reminding her of her manners, he was making it clear Andrew was strictly out of bounds to her. The dark look she shot him was absorbed by his smile, mocking, and very aware of his power to turn her into a bumbling idiot.
When introductions had been dispensed with she was drawn on to the dance floor and pulled into the circle of his arms.
She resisted at first, her body stiff and awkward, her senses desperately swimming against the overpowering physicality of him. Spots of color appeared in her cheeks when he murmured. ‘Relax, Angel, need I remind you we’ve been closer then this?’
Was she supposed to thank him when she was trying not to remember? And why expend her energy on resistance when the surging whirlpool of feeling inside told its own story? Go with the flow, Ellie. Enjoy it. She weakened, allowing it to suck her down, deeper and deeper, until she drowned in the essence of his closeness.
How she got through the evening she never knew. As far as she was concerned there was nobody else in the room but Patrick - yet she danced with others, laughed with others. Everywhere she turned he was there, smiling at her, his dark eyes drawing her to him. Tension built between them until the air was vibrating with it.
Finally the evening drew to a close. Patrick was by her side, his hands draping her wrap around her shoulders.
He kissed her in front of the departing guests, his mouth blazing a trail of fire against her lips. His fingers plucked the car keys from her bag. ‘I’ll drive.’
Things seemed to have been taken out of her hands. She gave the thinning crowd a cursory glance. ‘Where’s Anne?’
* * * *
‘Gone with Andrew to Jenny and Pete’s place. They have a chess tournament planned. Andrew will pick me up later.’
Faintly surprised, she stared at him. ‘Weren’t we invited?’
‘I declined.’
‘Why?’ She knew why. It had been obvious all evening.
‘I only play games I can win.’ The glance he gave her lacked its usual mockery as he escorted her to the car park and handed her into the passenger seat. ‘I received a check from your father’s auditor yesterday,’ he said almost casually.
Despite the jiggle of excitement she felt, Ellie tried to keep her voice just as casual when he started the engine. ‘That’s good.’
‘They paid me in full.’
‘Wonderful.’ She smiled to herself. ‘You sound surprised.’
‘It was unexpected.’ His smile held a warm intimacy. ‘Life’s crazy. I thought I’d hit rock bottom when I lost my truck, now everything’s happening at once.’ He threw her a teasing glance. ‘I’m beginning to think you really are a witch. My luck turned after you gave me that gold.’
‘What makes you think I’m not?’
‘Witches don’t drive cars like this, and I doubt very much if they have a couple of million dollars at their disposal.’
‘You shouldn’t believe all you read in the papers.’ She was astonished at her ability to act so well, and awarded herself an imaginary Oscar.
‘You mean you haven’t got all that money?’
Put like that, she didn’t have to lie a second time. ‘Not even one twentieth of it.’ Give or take a few dollars, she mentally added, crossing her fingers.
The windscreen wipers purred into life as they drove into a bank of mist. ‘That’s good,’ he murmured, his concentration diverted to the invisible road. ‘Keep an eye out for the creek signpost. This stuff seems to be getting thicker.’
‘The spotlight might help. The switch in under the dash on your right.’
‘This car’s got everything.’ His hand stroked against he leather covered steering wheel. ‘It’s wonderful to drive.’
‘It was the last gift my father gave me.’
Patrick didn’t bother hiding the envy in his voice. ‘Some gift.’
‘I expect you’d do the same for Todd if you were in the position to.’
‘I guess I would.’
The car slowed as the mist got thicker. She peered out of the window. ‘There’s the sign.’
‘Thank God for that.’ Slowing to almost a crawl Patrick edged them across the cement track through the creek. They drove into a seemingly solid wall of fog on the other side. ‘I hope we don’t miss the house.’
‘I left all the lights on.’
It was eerie. They seemed to be driving into a tunnel of reflected light. She opened the window and concentrated on the side of the road, intent on keeping the car away from the menacing shapes of tree trunks. She had the greatest of admiration for Patrick, who must have had nerves of steel to drive blind with only her instructions to guide him.
‘We’ve just passed that big rock, so should be able to see the house lights soon,’ she muttered when five more minutes had passed.
Three minutes later Patrick drew to a halt. ‘It can’t be much further.’
‘Turn off the lights.’
* * * *
It took a while before their eyes adjusted, and then she gave a triumphant cry. ‘There’s the glow from the house lights! We should be opposite the gate. ‘I’ll get out and guide you through.’
Seconds later they were inside. Ellie took the knot from her fog-dampened hair and shook it to her shoulders in an unconsciously teasing gesture. ‘I guess you won’t be going home tonight.’
‘I had no intention of going home,’ he growled, hungrily pulling her into his arms. ‘You knew that.’
Her need to give ignored the exciting sensual memory of their last encounter. This time it would be on her terms. When she’d finished with him he would know what loving was all about. Her eyes flirted with his. ‘My rules this time.’
‘Why do I get the feeling your rules come under the heading of revenge?’ A rueful smile lifted the corner of his mouth. ‘Do your damndest, Eloise. I won’t move a muscle.’
‘I wouldn’t bet on that,’ she whispered, her tongue exploring the salty hollow of his throat.
Something stirred gently against her and he chuckled. ‘Neither would I.’
* * * *
The bed was full of the scent of their loving. Tangled in the bedclothes, she breathed deeply of their mingled fragrances and smiled.
Patrick had coaxed her from slumber in the most delightful way, bringing her body to a relaxed state of awareness, then beyond into sublime ecstasy. She was fulfilled beyond measure, the subconscious behind her closed eyes alive with echoes of words whispered in the intensity of his passion.
Her creamy complexion turned a delicate shade of pink as she recalled them. How excitingly inventive the man was ... every promise followed up by action.
A kiss brushed against her cheek. ‘Tea for the grouch.’
Grouch? She’d never felt less grouchy and so alive in all her life. Opening her eyes a chink she gazed at him. He was dressed. His damp hair curled against his forehead, and the clean, soapy smell of him churned her feelings into an impossible happiness. She supposed she should get up and shower too, but her reluctance to leave her warm nest made her snuggle into the bedclothes.
‘Wake up, green-eyes.’ Andrew and Anne will be here shortly.’
She’d forgotten about Anne. Opening her eyes the rest of the way she scrambled upright against the pillows and smiled at him. ‘I wasn’t asleep, I was just recovering?’<
br />
His grin was wicked as he handed her the tea. ‘How does an uninhibited little witch like you know how to blush?’
Her arm provocatively covered one breast as she bore the cup to her lips. He leaned forward and kissed the other.
‘You’re shameless, Eloise. I’m not quite sure how to handle you.’
‘Liar,’ she breathed. ‘You’re an expert at handling me.’
‘That was due to your excellent tuition.’ His silky tone sent shockingly erotic messages quivering from one nerve end to the other. Before her eyes could issue an invitation he headed for the door. ‘I’ll run you a bath. Breakfast will be in twenty minutes.’
* * * *
Patrick had decided to trust her completely. With that thought uppermost in her mind, Ellie concentrated on what he’d told her.
After Todd was born his mother had become involved with a wealthy business man and had left Patrick.
‘How did you find out?’ she’d said.
‘From a private investigator. I learned they’d married and gone abroad.’
‘Taking Todd with them?’
‘There was no record of him leaving the country, and no answer to my letter inquiring of his whereabouts. Eventually, I went to England and confronted her.’
She’d placed her hand on his arm as his voice filled with bitterness.
‘She laughed at me - said I’d never see the brat I’d foisted on her again.’
‘Go on,’ she urged when his voice faltered. ‘I went to see her parents in Sydney. They denied there had ever been a child.’
Ellie gasped. ‘Denied their own grandchild? What sort of people are they?’
‘Wealthy.’
She ignored the barb. ‘What about his birth certificate?’
‘I discovered she hadn’t registered his birth.’ He gave a grim smile. ‘That’s when I asked Vera to help.’
‘And she found him?’
‘It was strange. She was able to pin-point a town on the map in Western Australia, then gave me a description of a house and the house number.’
‘And you got him back,’ Ellie said with a smile.
‘It wasn’t that easy.’ Patrick said morosely. ‘The authorities were reluctant to act without proof.’
‘So how did you get him back?’
‘I went to the house and confronted the couple looking after him.’ He shuddered. ‘The place was filthy. Todd recognized me and started to scream. The man back-handed him across the room. If his wife hadn’t called the police I think I would have killed him.’
‘Oh, God.’ Tears filled her eyes. ‘How could she have left him in a place like that? How did you prove he was your son?’
‘The foster parents got regular checks from his grandparents in Sydney. DNA tests did the rest.’ He gave an ironic shrug. ‘Once the story was put before the court I was awarded custody.’
‘Thanks for telling me.’
Her heart began to behave strangely when he gave a tentative smile. ‘There was a reason for it. Todd loves you, and I think–’
They both jumped as the phone began to ring. Startled by the noise a mouse scuttled across the floor and disappeared into the cupboard.
‘Bad timing,’ Patrick said with a grin.
‘Yes.’ Remembering the answering machine was on she turned back to him, waiting with bated breath for him to continue. ‘What were you going to say?’
He was going to tell her he loved her - his eyes showed it all too clearly.
‘I apologize for calling you on a Sunday, Miss Bryce.’
Her father’s lawyer.
‘Your instructions regarding the disposal of your investments have been completed.’
Her father’s lawyer!
‘All the smaller creditors ...’ Panic in her eyes, she made a grab for the receiver. ‘... have been paid–’
‘Thank you, Mister Wentworth.’ Curse you, Mister Wentworth!
* * * *
Patrick was rigid with shock. His eyes raked over her ashen face, found what they were seeking, then became flint.
‘If I can ever be of service to you again, please don’t hesitate to call me.’
‘Yes,’ she whispered. ‘Good-bye, Mister Wentworth.’
‘You lied to me.’
She discovered she was shivering. ‘It wasn’t exactly a lie.’
‘Don’t try and wriggle out of this.’ His voice was so tight with hurt that she could hardly bear it. ‘You lied by omission.’
‘You wouldn’t have understood,’ she said miserably.
‘You didn’t give me the chance to understand.’ He rose to his feet and stared down at her. ‘That was one expensive lay, Eloise. I hope I gave you your money’s worth.’
Face flaming, she shot from her chair and reminded him. ‘I don’t recall hiring you as a stud, but since you ask ...?’ Her lip curled. ‘You were definitely worth it.’
His finger hooked his jacket from the back of the chair. ‘It’s been nice knowing you, Ellie.’
‘You don’t understand.’ Desperately she tried to explain as she followed him from the house. ‘My father was an honorable man.’
‘No kidding?’
‘If he’d known the company was in trouble he’d have used that money to pay his debts. I only did what he’d have expected of me.’
‘Go back to the house,’ he roared when they reached the gate.
‘What about us?’ she yelled. ‘Doesn’t it mean anything to you?’
‘Us?’ Her heart sank as he turned and faced her. Etched on his face was the shuttered expression she knew so well. ‘If you think you’re important to me, forget it.’
‘Now who’s being a liar?’ If she’d been bigger and stronger she’d have shaken him until his teeth rattled in his head.
‘You overrate your attraction, Eloise.’ His eyes were slices of ice cutting into hers. ‘The bottom line is this. I detest being patronized or forced to accept charity. Got it?’
‘It wasn’t charity.’ Her heart was cracking open as he strode off. Suddenly furious she shouted after him. ‘What makes you so arrogant? You’re not the only person to get money back from the deal. If you swallowed your stinking male pride you’d realize you’re overdosing on self-pity. If you think I love you enough to put up with that you’re crazy. I wouldn’t marry you if you were the last man on earth.’
‘I didn’t ask you to,’ he flung over his shoulder. ‘Go and fly your broomstick, Eloise. Just keep it out of my backyard.’
Her empty lie mocked her. Who are you kidding, Ellie? You’d take him with or without a wedding ring. Just as certain, was the knowledge that he loved her as much as she loved him, and had been about to admit it before that damned phone call. She wondered how far she’d get if she sued the lawyer over it.
‘You love me, you stubborn brute,’ she whispered as he disappeared from her sight. ‘When you’ve thought things over you’ll be back.’
He was back within five minutes - in a taxi. Where did he find a taxi in the middle of nowhere? It became clear when Aunt Vera’s diminutive figure alighted from the back. Patrick marched past her with the cases and dumped them on the floor.
‘I’m sorry I can’t stay, Vera.’
His voice was so gruff she wanted to laugh. He’d been sprung by her aunt and didn’t know quite how to handle it.
* * * *
‘You left your toothbrush in the bathroom, Patch,’ she cooed, flicking a grin at his dirty look.
‘I’ll get it another time - the cab’s waiting.’
Aunt Vera laughed as Patrick almost bolted through the door. ‘That was very naughty of you, dear.’ Her eyes twinkled as they came to rest on her. ‘What have you been doing to the poor man? His aura is shot to pieces, and yours is disturbingly mischievous.’
She laughed as she hugged her aunt. ‘You should know. Why didn’t you warn me about him?’
‘But I did, dear.’ Aunt Vera beamed. ‘It was in the letter I sent you with your star chart. It’s such an event when
things are revealed during meditation.’
‘There wasn’t any letter.’
‘Wasn’t there?’ She thought for a second. ‘I must have forgotten to write it. It’s really quite simple, dear. You, Todd and Patrick were together in a past life. Todd passed over to the other side for lack of a wet nurse, shortly after you. Your souls have been searching for each other ever since.’
‘I see.’ She didn’t bother hiding her skepticism. ‘How exactly did I ... pass over? No, don’t tell me - Patrick strangled me in a fit of rage?’
‘Not so,’ Aunt Vera said indignantly, the dear boy wouldn’t do such a nasty thing.’ She gave a little laugh. ‘You’re not going to believe this, dear.’
‘Try me,’ she said with a sigh, knowing Aunt Vera would tell her anyway.
‘You dabbled in magic potions, and ended up on the ducking stool in the village pond.’
‘What exactly are you saying?’ An awful suspicion took form in Ellie’s mind and was confirmed by her aunt.
‘You were a witch.’ Aunt Vera patted her on the cheek. ‘Exciting, isn’t it?’
‘Hah!’ Staggering to a chair she sank into the cushions and stared at her aunt. Then she started to laugh, she couldn’t help it.
Chapter Nine
‘I’ll see you in a week.’ Anne gave a final wave as Andrew’s car purred into life. ‘Thanks for the tarot reading, Aunt Vera. I hope we meet again, some time.’
‘I’m sure we shall.’ Aunt Vera smiled happily as she turned. ‘It’s sweet of Andrew to drive her all the way back to Melbourne. She’s such a lovely girl. She deserves the happiness coming her way.’
Her aunt’s smile faded and Ellie absorbed her penetrating glance, trying to keep her eyes innocent. ‘I think it’s about time you and I had a little chat. There are disturbing influences in my home. Scruff’s peeved about something, and we have mice!
Aunt Vera nodded when Ellie gave a shame-faced grin. ‘Patrick said the smell of paint would bring them out, and they did.
‘What have you been up to in my absence, missy?’
* * * *
Four days later Ellie’s ears still burned when she thought of the lecture her aunt had given her on the perils of witchcraft. The book, a gift from a well-meaning friend, had been burned, and Scruff’s self-confidence restored to him by the simple procedure of hunger forcing him to resume his normal duties.