by Lee, Nadia
Natalie stood absolutely still. She felt as though someone had punched her in the solar plexus and couldn’t get enough air into her body.
“So don’t presume to tell me of the rights you supposedly have in this family. Your very presence is like a poison to me.” Louise’s face was completely composed and placid, but the words hit Natalie like bricks. “What kind of people throw their child away in a trash bin? Brian should’ve listened to me and given you up to an orphanage. It’s no wonder you couldn’t hold on to Marcus. Blood will out, and a man of his breeding can tell.”
Natalie swayed. She could barely think. This couldn’t be true. But…
“Now that you know, dear, do call off your hounds. We wouldn’t want the others to sniff out even a hint of trouble on our side,” Louise said, her eyes arctic.
Hounds? Wha —?
Suddenly, Alex appeared at the archway that connected the kitchen to the living room. Louise’s aspect changed instantly and completely, as though a movie had skipped a few frames. She glanced at his empty glass. “Would you like more wine?” Her voice was sweet, the very definition of hospitality.
He shot her an unreadable look. “I don’t believe so, no.” He placed his glass on the counter and pried the sauce from Natalie’s grip. “If it’s all right, I want to steal Natalie away from you to get an introduction to Brian.”
“Certainly,” Louise said, the picture of graciousness.
Natalie hurried outside with Alex, her mind reeling. The afternoon sun had warmed the temperature in the backyard, but she felt cold inside. Found? She had been thrown away and found?
Brian waved at her, gesturing at her to come to the grill. They walked toward him. His face was flushed from the heat of the grill and the beer. “Hi, honey. How’s my favorite girl?”
Louise had been needlessly cruel, but Brian had always tried to make her feel at home. She couldn’t ruin his party, no matter how disoriented she felt. She mustered a smile. “Hi, Dad.”
“Who’s your friend?”
* * *
Friend? Brian Hall was either stupid or diplomatic. Alex chose the latter.
“This is Alex Damon,” Natalie said.
Brian extended his hand. Alex put the barbeque sauce on a table next to the grill and shook it, carefully keeping his face pleasant. He resisted the urge to grind the older man’s knuckles together. That would be petty.
“Welcome.” The politician’s face never wavered, although he had to know about Alex’s relationship with the Rodales. “I heard you might drop by. Thanks for coming.”
“The pleasure’s mine.” Alex smiled, but he was sure it didn’t reach his eyes. “Nice party.”
“Thank you. Beer?”
Alex nodded and took an ice-cold green bottle from Brian. Not a bad guy, per se, but someone with something to hide. Wonder how he would react if he knew that Alex already had his men digging up facts. Evidence to stop him from meddling in something he had no business getting involved with in the first place.
“I didn’t know you were politically active in Virginia,” Brian said. “You’re from San Francisco, aren’t you?”
“Virginia’s on my radar at the moment, especially now that one of my companies here is poised for a big growth spurt. I think this year’s senatorial election could get very interesting, don’t you?”
Brian considered, then nodded. “Possibly. It’s hard to tell.”
“Incumbents always have the upper hand. But I also have a soft spot for underdogs. It’s hard to decide who should get my support.” Alex felt Natalie tense.
Brian smiled with genial good humor and took a drink of his beer. “As an incumbent myself, of course, I think I know what my constituents want better than someone with no experience.” There was a general murmur of agreement from the other men present.
“Of course. But a fresh perspective might be good for the state. Something a little more international. Although…you were in China for a while, isn’t that right?”
Alex was watching carefully, and so he caught the infinitesimal narrowing of Brian’s eyes. “Yes,” the senator said. “You’ve done your homework, I see. Not many people remember that these days.”
“I try to understand people as best as I can. It helps when you need to ask a favor or get someone to see things your way.”
“I imagine it does, young man.” Brian was looking at Alex very directly now, the intensity of his gaze beginning to disrupt the genial expression on the rest of his face. “Let’s hope that you don’t ask for too much.”
Natalie began to tug discreetly at Alex’s sleeve. “There are some other guests I’d like to introduce you to. Let’s let these guys get back to their grilling, or we’ll never eat.”
Alex smiled and allowed her to draw him off. He’d pushed enough for the time being and had no intention of causing a scene at this early stage of the game. Brian had turned back to the grill, but his gaze never left them as they walked away across the lawn.
* * *
“What was that all about?” Natalie said.
“Nothing. I just wanted him to know I wasn’t going to let his family bully you.”
“Oh.” She blushed, embarrassed. So he’d heard what Louise had said. She cleared her throat. “Thank you for helping me out with Belle and Louise. I thought after what happened this morning… Look, I’m sorry.”
Alex made a dismissive gesture. “Let’s start over, shall we?” He held out a hand as they walked. “I’m Alex.”
She took it with a small smile. “Natalie. Enchanted, I’m sure.”
“Well, I certainly hope so. So, Natalie, tell me something. Why didn’t you stand up for yourself back there, especially against your sister?”
“It’s…complicated.”
“Try me.”
She squinted up at him in the afternoon light. “You really want to know all this?” Apparently he did. “Well… Marcus—he’s my ex. We dated for three years and broke up six months ago. He immediately got engaged to Sandra.” She paused and shrugged. “Now they’re married, and she’s pregnant.”
Incredulity mingled with wry curiosity. “You still have a thing for him?”
She let out short laugh. “Uh, no. I guess I wonder what would’ve happened if we’d stayed together. But I’m not crying over him. It’s over, breaking up was the right decision, and I’ve moved on.”
“So what’s wrong with standing up to Belle?”
“What’s wrong is I’m not going to make a scene, especially when there are guests around. It would only make me look silly and make her want to get back at me. It wasn’t the first time she’s tried something like this. I’m used to it. And as for Louise… Well, she’s still my…mother.”
Natalie closed her eyes. It was difficult to get the word out. Even though she’d done her best to win Louise’s approval and affection during the first twenty or so years of her life, she’d never considered Louise her “mother.” More like a woman who tolerated giving her room and board, nothing more. She had a suspicion that if it wouldn’t have made the Halls look bad, Louise would have thrown her into a trash bin herself.
Natalie didn’t want to be morose around Alex. She took his arm and led him away from the other guests. “Can I ask you something?” she said, deliberately making her tone light.
“Hmm?”
“Do you have some kind of white-knight syndrome?”
He quirked an eyebrow.
“You seem very quick and eager to help. Twice in a row.”
Alex stopped and drew her to him. “I happened to see a damsel in distress and merely rose to the occasion.”
“You do that often?” She allowed her body to lean into his a bit. “Rise to the occasion?”
He looked directly into her eyes. “Whenever it’s required.”
She should feel scandalized. After all, this was her parents’ backyard. Instead, she felt nothing but feminine satisfaction that the attraction she felt for him wasn’t one-way. His breath tickled her skin, and she s
hivered.
“Cold?” he murmured.
She shook her head.
“Mmmmm…”
Alex skimmed her bare arm with his hand. It was an innocent gesture, but the tenderness of it was as intimate as a kiss. Glancing around, Natalie pulled him into the shadows under the deck. Sweet-smelling roses climbed the wooden beams that supported the structure and shielded them from the other guests’ view. Everyone was basking in the sun, and nobody paid attention to the shaded spot.
No wonder you couldn’t hold on to Marcus. Blood will out, and a man of his breeding can tell.
Natalie shut Louise out of her head and drew Alex closer. She could feel his strong heartbeat through his shirt, smell the man and a hint of subtle cologne. There was something about him that conjured up decadence and velvet and silk and sex and thrills and safety all at the same time in her mind. His arms circled around her, effectively caging her.
His head dipped, and his lips touched the hollow of her neck. He nosed the strand of white pearls around her throat out of the way, and his tongue darted out and licked her skin gently, then more firmly. She flexed her fingers against his shirt, grabbing a handful of the silky fabric. He let out a soft breath, as warm as melted chocolate.
She heard herself sigh. He responded by tightening his arms around her and tilting her face up for a kiss. She opened her mouth, inviting him inside, and felt him take control, tracing her upper lip, then her lower one, while his hands brought her pelvis closer to his. He was rock hard.
A slick heat began to gather between her legs. The sensation was pleasurable but also dissatisfying. She shifted, trying to quiet the building demand of her body, but it was no use.
She needed more.
His mouth was too leisurely to appease the greedy monster in her. He sipped her as if he had all the time in the world, as if he didn’t have a redwood digging into her belly.
She moaned and let go of his shirt. Her fingers tunneled into his hair. Rising on her toes, she pressed herself against him, and her tongue invaded his mouth for the unrestrained kiss she wanted.
He raised the hem of her dress, the air cool on her suddenly exposed skin. His hands massaged her upper thighs and grazed her bare butt. She hadn’t wanted lines and was wearing only a tiny thong under the dress. One hand traveled up her torso and lightly skimmed her breast. Her knees almost buckled; she tightened her arms around him.
“God, you’re sexy,” he rasped, his mouth hot on her neck.
Suddenly, steps pounded on the deck above them. Belle’s voice shouted, “Dad! Everyone! Dinner is served!”
Natalie jumped at the announcement and stared at Alex’s shadowed face.
He cursed softly. “This is the second time your family has interrupted us.”
His gaze lingered on her mouth, her breasts, her eyes. She smoothed her dress down and swallowed hard. The thin fabric showed the outline of her pebbled nipples. She was in no condition to join the others.
“You go first,” Natalie managed to say. Despite her effort, her hands trembled.
“Natalie—”
“Go on,” she said. “I’ll follow in a minute.”
He nodded, but there was a decisive glint in his eye. “There’s not going to be a third.”
Oh god. She shivered and watched as he retreated into the sunlight.
Chapter Seven
Charlie drove Natalie home. Alex had been a perfect gentleman throughout the meal, though there was a simmering hostility between him and the Rodales. She had no idea what could’ve caused it. Sometimes Rodale International and DDE bid on the same projects, but surely that couldn’t be the reason.
The moment Alex had excused himself from the table after the meal was over, Charlie had dragged her out. He hadn’t even given her a chance to say good-bye to anyone except her family and Emily. Once they’d gotten into the car, he hadn’t said anything. The ride home passed in silence. He hadn’t even turned the radio on.
Now, sitting in the Porsche in front of her condo, Natalie felt uncomfortable and disappointed that it wasn’t Alex taking her home. Maybe she could call him later. But then…she didn’t know his number. She should’ve insisted on staying until she could make her farewells properly…or something.
“What were you doing with Damon out there?” Charlie said suddenly.
“Huh?”
“You disappeared with Damon for a while. Went out in the yard. When I tried to find you, I couldn’t.” Charlie was looking straight out the windshield.
Natalie suppressed an inward sigh. She wasn’t in the mood to endure another session of accusations.
“Where were you?” she said. “You were my escort but disappeared for god only knows how long. You know I had to deal with Marcus O’Dell and his pregnant wife? Thank god Alex rescued me from that embarrassment. You were nowhere to be found.”
“I had important business to discuss. I—”
“You mean more important than being by my side when I needed you?”
He slapped the steering wheel. “I thought you were over O’Dell.”
“I am over him.” Suddenly, she was angry at Charlie. If he’d been around, she wouldn’t have succumbed to Alex…or used him to bandage her ego after dealing with Louise’s cruel comments. The memory made her hot and embarrassed. She should’ve known better. “Why are we even arguing? Alex just did something you wouldn’t do.”
“Hey!” Charlie yelled, surprising her. He rarely lost his temper and never with her. “You think it’s easy? That bastard’s trying to steal my company.”
“What?”
“That’s right. He’s been trying to take us over. Oh, it’s all behind the scenes, but make no mistake, it’s happening.”
She frowned. “That can’t be right. I know what’s going on at DDE, and Rodale is priced too high for us.” Alex was far too business-savvy to go after Rodale International. He hadn’t built his empire by paying more than he could afford.
“I’m not mistaken about who wants to fuck me over.”
She gasped. She’d never heard him curse like that before.
“And you”—Charlie raked his hair—“I know you didn’t just have a nice chat with him outside. I’m not stupid. You were pretty close to doing him. Or maybe I’m wrong and you did him already.”
“Doing him? Oh for—! Sure. Right in my-dad-the-senator’s yard. In front of all the guests.”
“I saw the way he was looking at you.”
“That’s your evidence? A man looks at me, and I’m ready to jump him?” She glared at him with a mixture of pain and guilt. “What kind of woman do you think I am?”
Clutching her purse, she opened the door. Charlie’s hand snaked out and grabbed her wrist before she could step out of the car. She struggled to free herself, but it only made his grip tighten.
“You’re hurting me!”
Suddenly, he let go. She jumped out of the car.
“Natalie—” Charlie began.
The emptiness inside her heart ached, and she was sick of Charlie and her family and everything. Charlie was one of her closest friends—actually, her only close friend from the Halls’ social circle. He’d been nice to her, been there for her when Louise and Belle did their best to make her feel inadequate. He was like a brother to her. How could it come down to this?
“I don’t want to talk to you right now.” She took a step back. “You should go home.” She turned around and stalked toward her condo.
“I’m sorry,” he called out from his car. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
He didn’t have to say it; she knew. It wasn’t fair to him that she couldn’t return his feelings, no matter how safe her heart would be with him. But she couldn’t pretend to feel anything beyond platonic love for Charlie.
Not when another man filled her thoughts.
Chapter Eight
Natalie padded barefoot around her condo, opening all the windows to air the place out. She’d been cleaning since breakfast. It was amazing that so much dust co
uld accumulate in two weeks, but she’d finally gotten it all. Now all that was left to do was to shove the vacuum back into the closet by the bedroom, which she did.
Matto rubbed his body around her ankles. She picked him up and scratched behind his ears. He purred, his eyes turning into two thin slits. She lay on the pale green couch in the living room, with him still in her arms. The light yellow curtains danced in the balmy breeze, and she closed her eyes.
Someone rang the doorbell. Natalie frowned. She didn’t normally have visitors on Sundays.
It was probably some salesman. She curled up and ignored it.
Ding-dong. Ding-dong. Ding-dong ding-dong ding-dong ding-dong ding-dong.
She opened her eyes and glared at the door. What was wrong with people these days? She put Matto on the floor. He growled with annoyance and ran over to the door. If he peed on whoever was there, it would serve them right.
Ding-dong!
“Coming!” She yanked the door open and gaped. “Belle. What are you doing here?”
Belle pushed past her and marched inside. “Isn’t it obvious?”
Despite her heeled sandals, she was still shorter than Natalie. Like Louise, Belle had excellent taste in clothes and accessories and just the right sort of wholesome blonde looks to be the angelic daughter of a U.S. senator, a mask that vanished like a crab into a hole whenever she was alone with Natalie.
Natalie shut the door and crossed her arms. “No. And I think it’s rude that you kept ringing my doorbell.”
“Oh please.” Belle spun around to face her. “I saw your car outside.”
“I could’ve been out with someone. Like Charlie,” Natalie said, feeling catty. It was no secret that Belle had a crush on him.
Belle glared at her. “You’re such a bitch. A mean bitch.”
“Original.”
Belle calling her names was nothing new. They’d never been very close, and once Charlie had made it clear that he was interested in Natalie, their relationship had deteriorated rapidly.
“Do you have to rub it in that you have everything?” Belle said, continuing to glare.
This was new. Belle had to be feeling more self-pity than usual if she thought Natalie had more than she did. Except maybe for Charlie’s affection, Natalie had always had less. The Halls had given her money, but they’d never acknowledged her. She’d made excuses for her family when they hadn’t come to her high school graduation. After all, it was Europe. But it had become painfully obvious how little she’d mattered to the Halls when nobody had shown up at her college graduation except Brian. The University of Virginia was only a two-and-a-half hour drive from the Hall residence.