His Secret Temptation

by Cat Schield

  By the time she had finished drying her hair, she was feeling brave enough to return to the bedroom. An empty room greeted her and Caroline sighed in a blend of relief and regret. She quickly dressed in tan slacks and a high-necked cream sweater and slipped her feet into soft leather loafers.

  Simon was in the kitchen, sipping coffee by the French door that led out to the terrace and the pool beyond. He turned at her approach.

  “I didn’t know how you took your coffee,” he said, handing her a cup and gesturing to the cream and sugar containers on the counter. “Otherwise I would have brought a cup upstairs to you.”

  And caught her dressing, Caroline thought, half wishing he had. “I take it black.”

  “So do I. Another thing we should have known about each other.”

  “It takes a long time to get to know someone, Simon. We’ve only had a few days.”

  “It seems like I’ve known you forever.” He dusted her cheek with his thumb. “Why is that?”

  The caress mesmerized her. She captured the moment so she could replay it later. “Some people are like that. It’s as if they’ve known each other in another place and time.”

  What she should have said was that he didn’t know her at all. But was that true? Since arriving in Savannah he seemed tuned in to her thoughts and moods, reading her as if he’d had a lifetime of experience.

  Before Simon came up with a response, his mother swept into the room and stopped dead at the sight of them.

  “Goodness. Are you two up already up? I thought for sure you’d still be in bed.”

  Chapter Seven

  “No, we can’t use ivory napkins,” Elizabeth said into her phone, swerving around a slow moving truck as she checked her handheld for a phone number. “Why? Because the theme is black and white, not black and ivory.” She rolled her eyes in Caroline’s direction and shook her head.

  Right after breakfast, Elizabeth had commandeered Caroline, overriding Simon’s protests that he’d already made plans for the day. Apparently Simon’s mother intended to run some last-minute errands for that night’s party before joining a few friends for lunch. Elizabeth had been rather vague as to why she wanted Caroline along, but here she was, wearing one of the dresses Simon had bought her for just such an occasion and clinging to the passenger door handle as the Historic District streaked past her window at an alarming rate.

  “I’ll be there by two-thirty,” Elizabeth continued. “We have to find those white napkins.”

  Simon’s mother navigated Savannah traffic with the same task management style she used on every aspect of her life, by doing three things at once. Watching her multitask through making breakfast and organizing everyone’s schedule for the day, Caroline admired her technique for coping with her sons’ constant one-upmanship and guiding her husband away from the pancakes and toward the healthy cereal, all the while keeping Caroline engaged by explaining the background of the black-and-white gala.

  Caroline caught her breath as the stoplight in front of them changed from yellow to red and Elizabeth showed no signs of slowing down.

  “No. I don’t know where they are. That was your job. I handled almost everything else.”

  Their car sped through the intersection, causing motorists on a perpendicular course to slam on their breaks. A horn sounded, long and impatient.

  Elizabeth snapped her phone closed with an exasperated snort. “Sorry about that. I swear this is the most inept committee I’ve ever had the displeasure of working with.” She wheeled the car around a corner and fastened a sharp blue gaze on Caroline. “Now, where were we?”

  As much as Caroline didn’t want to distract Elizabeth from her driving, she sensed the woman wouldn’t have reached the age of fifty-five if she didn’t have an angel riding shotgun whenever she got behind the wheel.

  “Something about letting me in on a little secret.”

  “Oh yes.” Elizabeth changed lanes and shifted topics with the same finesse. “Don’t think badly of me, but when Simon first mentioned he was bringing someone home, I thought he’d created a girlfriend to keep me from setting him up with all my friends’ eligible daughters.”

  If Caroline had been drinking she would have choked. As it was, she gaped at Elizabeth, wondering if the woman read minds or just knew her son extremely well.

  “Why would you think Simon would do that?” Caroline forced light amusement into her tone, a happily engaged woman probing to see if her future mother-in-law was crazy. “Bring home a fake girlfriend, I mean.”

  “He’s done nothing but complain about how busy I keep him during the holidays. Surely he told you that?” Elizabeth didn’t wait for Caroline’s response. “I suppose I have interfered a little, but it’s been years since he was serious about a woman. I was beginning to lose hope that I’d ever see him get married.”

  “He told me he dated quite frequently before we met. Surely he would have found the right girl eventually.”

  “Don’t you mean, obviously he found the right girl eventually?” Elizabeth countered.

  Caroline could feel the color rise in her cheeks and wished her skin wasn’t so set on betraying her. “Of course.”

  “Until you showed up I really thought you were a ploy to get me to change all the plans for the holidays. And now that you’re here, I can see that my son is truly in love for the first time in his life.”

  Caroline’s stomach flip flopped. She couldn’t put any stock in Elizabeth’s observations, but a foolish part of her enjoyed pretending the fantasy was true.

  “How?” The question was irresistible.

  “It’s the way his gaze follows you wherever you go.”

  That was nothing more than Simon acting the part of love-struck fiancé to perfection. Of course, the fight they’d had last night over Dane’s interest in her had felt real.

  “Charles used to look at me like that.” Elizabeth’s expression softened. Even after thirty-five years of marriage she was still very much a woman in love.

  Caroline hoped she’d have the same luck someday. “He still does.”

  Elizabeth eyebrows lifted. She looked pleased by Caroline’s comment. “Yes. I do believe you’re right.”

  They crossed the Savannah River, and Caroline saw a sign for Hutchinson Island. A resort had been developed here that boasted shops, pubs and restaurants, all with views of the river and the spectacular Historic District.

  It became immediately apparent that Elizabeth had wanted her along for the sole purpose of showing her off. She introduced Caroline to her three friends, emphasizing her law school education, her attractiveness, and how much Simon adored her. Cheeks blazing, Caroline somehow bore it all with a polite smile, but felt more deeply mired in muck with each lie that passed her lips.

  After lunch they browsed the shops, giving Caroline the chance to buy Christmas presents for Simon’s family. She explained to Elizabeth that Simon had sprung the trip on her so fast that she hadn’t had an opportunity to do much shopping.

  They left the island at around one so Elizabeth could drop Caroline off and get to the country club where that night’s black-and-white gala would take place. As animated as Simon’s mother had been all day, as she turned the car toward home, she wore a pensive expression.

  “I’m glad Simon found you,” Elizabeth said, her announcement making Caroline’s heart ache. “I think you are just the woman to get him to settle down.”

  Settle down? What woman could possibly convince him to trade thrills for domestic bliss?

  “I don’t think settling down is something Simon will ever do.”

  “And that’s okay with you?”

  “What do you mean?” For a second Caroline forgot she and Simon were supposed to be getting married. “Oh, I wouldn’t want to change who he is. That’s the man I—” She took a bracing breath and finished, “fell in love with.”

  “So, you don’t think he needs to slow down?”

  Slow down? After meeting the Holcrofts, his mother’s question stru
ck Caroline as completely bizarre. “No offense, but I don’t think any of you understands what it means to slow down.”

  Silence filled the car for a long moment before Elizabeth burst out laughing.

  “Well, you’ve certainly got us all figured out don’t you?” As Caroline sputtered an apology, Simon’s mother reached over to pat her hand. “You’re bright, levelheaded and attractive. Here I’ve been fixing him up for years and he went and found the perfect girl all by himself.”

  “Perfect for Simon?” His mother’s words shocked Caroline to the core. What made her the right woman for Simon? “Do you really think so?”

  “Yes. You are exactly what my son needs in his life.”

  For the next hour, Elizabeth’s words haunted Caroline as she wrapped the gifts she’d bought and set them beneath the gold-and-crystal-festooned Christmas tree in the front parlor. She sat on the floor beside the tree. Her gifts blended in with the other presents, looking as if they belonged. But she doubted the items concealed beneath the Christmas wrap were of the same quality.

  Just like her. Simon had made sure her outward appearance helped her blend in, but she was nothing more than a cheap version of the real fiancée he would someday bring home.

  “Are you looking for your gifts?” Simon settled beside her on the floor, his thigh bumping her hip and sending a spark of awareness along her nerves.

  “My gifts? Why would I have anything? Your family didn’t know I existed until two days ago.”

  “I knew you existed.”

  Her pulse skipped and twirled as his gaze caught hers. Although one side of his mouth tipped upward in a mischievous grin, the light in his blue eyes looked pensive.

  “Simon, you didn’t—”

  “I know, I know. I didn’t need to buy you anything because I’ve already give you too much. You seem to forget that my family will expect me to give you some romantic token.”

  “Of course,” she murmured, shifting her attention away from Simon’s handsome face and toward the multitude of gifts beneath the Christmas tree. “We could just tell everyone we don’t exchange presents.”

  He’d probably bought her another outrageously expensive piece of jewelry she’d just give back to him at the end of the two weeks. It was foolish of her to wish that he’d buy something inexpensive and personal that she could keep as a souvenir of their time together.

  “And have Dane rub it in my face that he got Francine a better gift?”

  Caroline elbowed him in the ribs. “Honestly, it’s Christmas. Can’t you think about something other than competing with your brother?”

  “Well, now that you mention it, there’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot.” He cupped her face in his palm and turned her head toward him.

  She let her lashes fall to block the longing in her gaze. The craving for his kiss seemed to grow stronger with each minute she spent in his company. Last night, she’d spent hours staring at the ceiling, waiting for the bedroom door to open. With desire gnawing at her body and logic prowling through her mind, she’d been torn by what she’d do when he returned. Yet in the end, she hadn’t needed to worry.

  Now, with the first touch of his lips to hers, her doubts melted away. She knew what she wanted and accepted he could only be hers for a short time. She was tired of protecting her emotions, tired of shying away from anything fun or frivolous because it might distract her from her goals. She worked so hard. Why couldn’t she stop to smell the flowers just this once? Why not let Simon show her all the magic she’d been missing?

  He teased her with butterfly-soft kisses against the corners of her mouth and gently rubbed his lips over hers. His thumb grazed her cheek. He caught her lower lip lightly between his teeth and let it go just as quickly. If he had stormed her senses, she might have been able to resist the hot ache between her thighs. Instead, this slow, sensual assault on her defenses, the tantalizing blend of demand and entreaty, made her tremble with hunger.

  He ran his tongue along her lips, the inside of her mouth and the edge of her teeth. Half mad for more, Caroline sank her fingers into his hair and leaned backward, compelling him to follow her descent to the floor. Her brain shouted in triumphant delight as his weight pressed her into the carpet.

  “Caroline.” Her name on his lips sounded like a question. He kissed down her neck, finding sensitive areas she never knew existed.

  “Yes,” she sighed.

  She had no idea what she was agreeing to. It didn’t matter. He drew her ragged breath into his lungs and took her mouth in a hot, sexy kiss. Her body flared to life beneath the dizzying seduction of his mouth. Christmas and the Fourth of July came together with an explosion of fireworks and joyful peace. She felt both wild and calm.

  His heartbeat thundered in time with hers as one long, slow kiss melded into another. She lost all track of time, all sense of up and down. Her entire world consisted of Simon’s hands gliding along her hips, waist and ribs. His mouth covering hers. The swirling dance of his tongue with hers.

  But it wasn’t enough.

  She wanted more. To be closer. To savor the fire of his skin against hers.

  “Upstairs,” she pleaded. Her breasts felt full, but oh so neglected without his hands on them. “Please.”

  * * *

  Simon scarcely believed what he was hearing. Triumph roared through him, all consuming and unstoppable. Soft lips, sweet curves; what man wouldn’t get a little carried away? But just how carried away was he? His instincts warned him he was in deep trouble. How deep had yet to be determined.

  Rallying his last vestiges of rationality, Simon eased his lips from hers. He framed her face with his hands. The warmth of her skin set flame to his willpower as he stared down into her beautiful face.

  “Are you sure?”

  She licked her lower lip and peeked at him from beneath her lashes. Tension quivered in her muscles. Between her frown and the firm thrust of her chin she appeared balanced between uncertainty and determination. Did she understand what was happening between them? She’d admitted to being inexperienced with men and dating. Wasn’t it up to him to protect her while she was here? Especially when she needed safeguarding from him.

  Her lips parted, but before she could speak, Simon heard a commotion in the foyer.

  “Look who I found at the airport.”

  Dane’s announcement crushed any likelihood that this promising interlude would continue. Cursing his brother’s ill timing, Simon sat up and got to his feet. For a second, he couldn’t bring himself to look at Caroline. Would she be relieved that they’d been interrupted? Disappointed? Her reaction was a double-edged sword. Either way he was in hell.

  He drew Caroline to her feet and lifted her hand to his lips. “Looks like Hannah and Sarah have arrived.”

  She trembled as he dusted her knuckles with a kiss, but pulled free and turned aside. Her reaction kicked him in the gut.

  “I’ve been looking forward to meeting them.”

  Her polite retort seemed at odds with her impassioned plea a moment earlier. A quick glance her way confirmed her color was high, but she was pointedly not looking his direction.

  His heart contracted with remorse. He had no business staking a claim where none existed. She was not his fiancée. Hadn’t she pointed that out to him often enough? When would he get it through his head?

  “Then let me introduce you.”

  Suppressing the urge to retake her hand, he headed toward the foyer. She walked at his side, a somber, silent shadow.

  “You must be Caroline.” Hannah’s sky-blue eyes sparkled with delight as she threw her arms around Caroline and hugged hard. Blonde and petite, she was the spitting image of their mother, a big personality in a little package. “I can’t believe Simon’s getting married. What’s your secret?”

  “I’m sorry?” Panic brimmed in the glance Caroline shot at him.

  Hannah laughed. “Like you don’t know that every woman on the planet has struck out with my brother.”

 
“Not every woman.” Simon frowned at his sister. “Don’t make it sound like I’m some awful womanizer.”

  “Right.” Hannah winked at Caroline. “He’s been living like a monk.” She turned to a tall, slender brunette and caught her hand to pull her close. “This is Sarah. We’re expecting a baby in March.” Hannah curved her free hand over her protruding belly and gave her partner a loving smile.

  “Congratulations. Do you know what you’re having?”

  “We’re pretty sure we’re having a girl,” Sarah answered, covering Hannah’s hand where it rested on her stomach. “The ultrasound wasn’t completely conclusive, so we’ve picked out a few boys’ names as well.”

  Simon still couldn’t get over the idea that his baby sister was going to have a baby of her own. He remembered her in pigtails, terrorizing the boys on the playground and driving his friends crazy with her blunt questions and candid observations. The pool out back had been a popular hangout for all their friends. If his mother had any idea how much Hannah had learned about dating from talking to his high-school buddies, he wouldn’t have had any sort of social life whatsoever.

  Simon picked up his share of the luggage and followed Dane upstairs. Below them, Hannah began her own interview of Caroline.

  “Dane told me all about you on the way from the airport. He said you were graduating from law school this spring. We’ll have lots to talk about.”

  Dane led the way into Hannah’s old room, where the girls would be staying. Simon dropped the suitcases at the foot of the bed and turned to his brother.

  “How is she?”

  “She says she’s fine.” Dane shrugged.

  Simon saw his own uneasiness reflected in his brother. “But is she?”

  “I don’t know.” Dane’s impatient tone spoke volumes about his worries for their baby sister. “I couldn’t get a second alone with Sarah to find out what the doctor said.”