James glanced over at Stella and she lowered her eyes, her lips rising at the corners. He placed a hand over hers and she gently clasped it.
Jared watched the tenderly hold between them. James seemed to have completely won over his family. Now his mother was also beginning to believe they were a true couple in every sense of the word. Somehow, this pretense on being a family with James Saunders was not a pretention any more.
He peered out of the window of James’ limousine and at the guests dressed in their finest. He remembered how he had detested these people for having more than they needed while his people suffered with the bare minimum. And tonight, he was going to pretend he was one of them.
They parted ways soon after James had introduced Jared as his son.
“Why, you cunning fox!” one whispered into James’ ear. “You’ve been hiding her. I don’t blame you. She is a stunner.” The man nodded towards Stella busily engaged in a conversation with his wife. “Your kids certainly chipped off the old block. Your son seems he’s already won a few female fans.”
James turned in Jared’s direction approvingly. A sense of relief washed over him as he watched the young man effortlessly garner the admiration of the women and the envy of the men about him. He had been needlessly stressed. Jared would be just fine.
CHAPTER 12
“Hello,” she interrupted the three men in conversation.
Jared turned. She was a blonde beauty with the brightest blue eyes he’d ever seen.
“Evelyn,” said one of them, immediately glowing upon seeing the woman. He was obviously affected by her presence. “We had been wondering where you’d gone?”
She smiled, not caring to respond to him at all, turning instead to Jared. “I’m Evelyn Callum,” she said, extending her hand.
Jared smiled and took it, lifting it delicately up to his lips. His eyes met hers as he kissed her hand. His prey had strolled directly into his trap, more than willing to be netted.
“Jared Ryder,” he said with as much charm as he could muster.
She cocked her head to the side with impression and then continued to walk past him, subtly indicating for him to follow her, breaking him cleverly away from his two companions.
“I didn’t know James Saunders had a son. As a matter of fact, no one knew he even had any children,” she said.
“How did you know I was Saunders’ son?” Jared asked, his brow lifted up with curiosity.
“It’s a small, tight-knit community, Ryder,” she replied cheekily. “News has a terrible habit of travelling fast.” Her eyes ran down him seductively. “Especially, if it involves someone as charming as you.”
He grinned. Evelyn was happily playing into his hands with no effort from him.
“How is it that James Saunders managed to keep such a secret?” she said, blinking her eyes in feigned bafflement.
He gave a low throaty chuckle. “James and Ma still needed to sort some stuff between them. Besides, I wasn’t quite prepared to accept James as my father.”
“And you are at peace now with your father?”
“I am here, aren’t I? In the midst of your beautiful company?”
She tilted her head up to him and smiled again.
A light knock rapped on her door and Ellie rolled her eyes.
“Who is it?” she called out as she assessed herself in the mirror.
The knob turned and Edmund stepped into her room. “You look beautiful,” he said softly, standing behind her, watching her with admiration.
“Edmund…,” she murmured lazily. She turned slowly towards him, her arms dangling lethargically by her sides. “Can I possibly skip this one?”
He walked up to her and wound his arms around her. “Honey, I know how you feel. But people will be expecting you? They see me enough on the job. But when it comes to social events, they would rather prefer interacting with my more feminine partner.” He gave her a small kiss on her lips. “And it is your dad’s traditional annual ball. You don’t want to disappoint him, do you?”
She rubbed his elbows affectionately. “I just haven’t been myself lately.” She took in a deep breath. “Let’s go.”
He first saw her when her pink chiffon stole fluttered in the breeze as she descended down the stairs. He lifted his eyes, straightening up to get a better view of her above the people passing by.
She hadn’t seen him yet, her face turning to the man beside her as she gave him a wide smile. When she leaned into him and muttered something into his ear, a surge of jealousy ran through him. He had wanted to race up to her and swing her to him, screaming at her to look at him, to see him and only him.
He forcibly lowered his eyes down to her sister. Evelyn was no less a beauty but he had already given his heart to Ellie. His eyes darkened, his jaw-line stiffened. It had all been going well… but only until Ellie arrived. He struggled to find his composure aware that she was nearing him. And like a magnet attracted to its opposite pole, his body rattled to draw closer to her as well. He turned his back to her, hoping that blinding her from his sight would also dismiss her from his mind.
“And how long do you intend to stay in Sector 8 before you return to the Capitol?” he asked, trying desperately to pay attention to the task at hand.
“Well, I intended leaving soon after the ball,” she fiddled with his shirt button. “But it looks like I might stay a little while longer. I’ve suddenly discovered I have interesting neighbors to play with.” She lifted her bright blue eyes, trying to enchant him with them.
He smiled and delicately pried her fingers away from his undeserved persecuted button.
“Really?” he said. “Perhaps, you could introduce me too. I wouldn’t mind having a game of toss myself.”
She chuckled. “Mr Ryder, you may have just given me an idea.”
“An idea about what? As far as I know, you never get them,” Ellie beamed with amusement as she wound her way around the tall man.
She had seen her sister in the far corner of the room, obviously smitten by the man before her. While it was not unusual for Evelyn Callum to be serenaded by handsome men, it was certainly a rare sight watching her blush from the presence of one.
She edged her way politely through the mass of guests around her. Perhaps, it was the elderly sister in her who wanted to tease Evelyn for having at last found a match to equal her seductive charms. But more than that, it was simple curiosity of finding out who had possibly won over her sister’s heart.
She heard Evelyn’s light chuckle that spoke a myriad in her opinion. It was one of those low throaty little lady laughs she often reserved for the men she was attracted to. She moved gracefully around the man to get a better view of him.
“There are some things that can’t be shared,” Evelyn teased as Ellie came into view. “No matter how close we are as sisters.”
Ellie lifted her face to smile at the man but he was staring back at her, frozen at his spot, a dark grimness in his eyes. At first, she wondered what she could have done to have caused him to lose his charm. But then as her gaze lingered on his square jaw, his beautiful well-shaped lips, his bronzen eyes, she paled, taking a faltering step back. She stumbled back in her shock and his arms shot out to catch her.
He pulled her harshly close to him. So unnecessarily close that he could feel her breasts press against his chest, her abdomen chaff against his pulsating groin as he held her still, his large hands splayed on her back, pinning her against him
“Ellie, this is Jared Ryder- James Saunders’ long lost son,” Evelyn introduced, blushing with embarrassment for Ellie. “I’m sorry, Jared. My sister’s being awfully clumsy tonight.”
“Not at all,” he breathed raucously on Ellie, his eyes still pinned on her and his lips almost grazing hers. “You do seem to be making it a habit, though,” he whispered into her ear.
Her eyes widened and she placed her hands against his chest to push herself away from him. He let her go, albeit reluctantly.
She panted rapidly and she
put a hand on her chest to calm herself down. Here he was, the man she had been pining to see all these months and when she finally did, he was busy wheedling his way into her sister’s panties! How could she have been so stupid?!
She looked alarmingly between the two of them. Had Evelyn already fallen for him like she had? If so, what could she possibly do? She was engaged. She had a man in her life. There was no reason for her to be worried about her sister falling for the same man she had been obsessing over these past months. Was there?
“Ellie, are you okay?” Evelyn leant into her. “Don’t worry. I don’t think many people saw that fall. There is no need to be embarrassed.”
“I’m sssorry,” she stammered, her eyes cast down to the floor, unable to look directly at him. Her stomach clamped, her legs wobbled beneath her on simply being this close to him.
“Ellie?” Edmund steadied her from behind her.
“She must have had one too many glasses, Edmund,” Evelyn chuckled. “She’s been falling off her feet for a while now.”
Edmund looked down at her, slightly puzzled. “But she hasn’t had a drink yet. Isn’t it so, darling?”
Ellie lay back into the comforting sturdiness of his chest. “No,” she murmured as she briefly closed her eyes. “It’s probably the heat and the crowd.”
“Oh, don’t be ridiculous, Ellie,” Evelyn scolded. “This has been one of the coolest nights so far. Dad paid the Weather Management fellas a lot to ensure that it was so.”
Edmund glanced up at the other man who was watching his fiancée with acute concern. “I’m Edmund Farriss,” he said, extending his hand. “I’m sorry but I don’t think we’ve met.”
The man turned to look at him. “I’m Jared Ryder,” he said, giving his hand a short shake. “James Saunders’ son.”
Edmund smiled. “Yes, I heard about you. Welcome to Callum’s Hill.”
Jared turned back to Ellie. “She doesn’t seem well. I could take her out for some fresh air.”
Ellie withdrew, startled by his offer. “I am fine. Give me some time and I’ll be okay. How about a dance, Edmund? That should put me in a better mood.”
Without waiting for an answer, she clenched his hand, half-dragging him to the floor.
Evelyn clicked her tongue in disapproval. “What’s going on with her? She’s been acting strange for a while now.”
Jared raised his brow. “What do you mean?”
“Well, she has been brooding in her bedroom these past few months, refusing to go back to the Capitol. That in itself wouldn’t have seemed so strange, except before she was always ready to head back as soon as she’d arrive at Callum’s Hill. Then a few days ago, she almost fought with Dad on taking a visit to Sector 8 Central. Do you think she may have caught a bug? On the other hand, it could possibly be her pre-wedding jitters to Edmund,” she trailed off into her thoughts.
Jared focused his eyes keenly on the woman who was swaying to the now soft music, her body attuned to the man who held her captive in his arms. It took him more than will power to keep himself from dragging her away and branding her proud and shamelessly as his own with his kiss.
“Would you like a dance?” he asked Evelyn in an unexpected terse tone.
Evelyn beamed unabashedly. “Well, of course.”
He glided with her through the room smoothly, just as he had been taught. Every part of him was in rhythm with her body; in tune with the slow, harmonious melody. He could feel strange gazes linger admiringly upon them, but his eyes were locked solely on one woman- the one who danced not a few feet away from him.
He knew she was thinking of him. She was having as much difficulty tearing her eyes away from him. The music changed tracks and she muttered something into Edmund’s ear. Giving him one final glare, she walked away and out the large double doors leading to the gardens.
“Evelyn, if you don’t mind, I need to check up on my sister,” he spoke hurriedly. “This is her first introduction to society and I want to be sure she is comfortable.”
“Oh, I’d love to meet her too,” Evelyn said, baffled by his quickness.
“I’ll be back soon,” he answered as if he hadn’t heard her, leaving her a small kiss on her cheek instead, hoping it would satisfy and stomp any growing curiosity. He made a quick dash for the doors before she could protest.
He managed to see her turn towards the orchards. He quickened his pace to catch up to her.
“You shouldn’t be out here at such time in the night. It’s dark and secluded,” he called out to her.
She turned to him, surprised that he had followed her. “What are you doing here?”
“Making certain you’re safe,” he said, nearing her. He stood before her, a breath apart, admiring the contours of her face, enchanted by the little unfettered tendrils of her hair whisk in the cool breeze. He touched them gently with his fingers. “You are not well.”
“It’s… it’s merely just a headache… from the loud music and the people…,” she stammered, trying to pay attention to what she was saying, instead of being swept away into a vision of them together. She closed her eyes. His small caresses to her hair, his fingers grazing the sides of her face, did nothing to help her at all.
She shook herself out of her hypnotic state. “You shouldn’t be here. This area is not permitted to guests.”
“Why are you running away from me then?”
She threw her jaw open, embarrassed that he should catch her like that. “I am not!” she denied, much too tenaciously though than she would have liked. She stepped away from him, afraid he would entrap her again in another mesmeric wave if he continued to look at her like the way he was doing. “I needed some air.” She raised her head to admire the arbor above her laden with apple blooms and fruit. “I don’t know why but for some reason this always had been my sanctuary- my perfect place.” She turned away from him, realizing she was uncontrollably wallowing back again in her thoughts of him. “You should go. I’ll be fine.”
He moved closer to her, his fingers playing tenderly with the ends of her long hair. “Why are you avoiding me?” he whispered, his breath brushing her bare shoulders.
“I’m not. How can I when I don’t even know you?” she whispered back, his breath pitting knots in her stomach, tingling her all over.
“Then why won’t you look at me?”
“Jared…,” she started.
“You know, that’s the first time you’ve said my name.”
“Jared, please,” she protested as she spun around, putting some distance between them. She felt her stole slipping from her elbow and she instinctively latched on to it. To her utter dismay, she discovered he had gripped the other end of it.
He fished her closer to him with it and she, caught in a mesmeric state, drew slowly towards him until he dropped the soft fabric to hold her face tenderly in his large hands. She rested her head against his palm, closing her eyes to feel his touch. His fingers were long and rough, his palm callous, evident of the hard manual labor he had endured through much of his life. She knew he had drawn even closer to her, his breath upon her face as he caressed it with the end of his nose. His thumbs were delicately stroking her jaw-line. He was different, he smelt different; he felt different. Different from…
Her eyes sprang open with sudden bewilderment, staring directly into his puzzled eyes. She pushed away from him.
“Stop!” she cried. She held her head in her hands as she stumbled about in confusion. “You need to stop,” she forcibly lowered her voice. “We need to stop.”
“Why?”
“Jared,” she protested. “I’ve only met you once before and suddenly we’re overcome with an unreasonable lust. Does any of this sound rational to you?”
“Yes.”
She looked at him as if he had been stricken with madness. “I can’t believe you said that with an ounce of common sense.”
“So my attraction to you is somehow insane?”
“You know what I mean, Jared.”
; “No, I don’t know what you mean.”
“Jared, whatever this… this is, it is not normal.”
“You see a puppy for the first time, and you fall in love with it enough to take it back home with you. You see a dress in a store and you want to possess it immediately. A mother falls in love with her baby at first sight and will immediately give her life to protect it. But I, as a man, am not entitled to that same emotion?”
Her eyes glistened with tears. “I am engaged, Jared.”
“You’re not married and you don’t love him. If you did, you wouldn’t be here with me like this. I know you went looking for me at Central. You wanted to see me just as much I was aching to see you.”
“And what of Evelyn? I can’t do this to her.”
“We hardly know each other.”
“And do we?” She turned around and raced back towards the house before he could answer. Back into the safety of the crowds, into where she was certain he would not follow her.
He watched her disappear down the pathway, the skirt of her pink gown fluttering behind her in the light breeze.
He bent down to pick her stole up from the ground. He ran it through his hands, his mind still fresh with her scent. He balled the stole neatly and stuffed it into his pocket.
*****
“What do you think you were doing?” James scolded. “Instead of impressing Evelyn, you had completed disappeared with Ellie Callum.” He shook his head disappointedly. “Have you any idea what you’re risking? Edmund Farriss is a formidable opponent. He doesn’t like to lose, let alone to have his fiancée stolen from him under his very nose. He’d take it very personally should Ellie decide he’s not the one for her but you are.”
Jared took a deep breath as he leant back onto James’ large wooden desk. His arms were folded across his chest as he lowered his head, listening to the older man lecture him harshly. His words made sense, but he couldn’t ignore how he felt about Ellie.
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