More Than Neighbors

by Isabel Keats

  Catalina noticed that her neighbor’s gray eyes no longer seemed so cold; it was the first time she’d seen him smile. She realized that he was a very attractive man. Okay, she thought, Catalina took another sip of wine and continued. “Well, the day after I drink, I never remember anything I said or did. I’ve been told that I get extremely touchy-feely.”

  “That’s good.” He raised an eyebrow.

  “It certainly is not. I’ve only done it twice in my life. It first happened when I was sixteen. A classmate invited me to a party, and I drank quite a lot. Until then, I’d only had a sip or two of beer. All I remember is that when I woke up in my bed, it felt as if a thousand pins had been stuck into my brain and eyeballs. I’d thrown up on the bathroom floor and on the living-room carpet, and my mother was so furious I thought the vein on her neck would explode. My friend Fiona told me later that I hadn’t stopped hugging people: boys, girls, a bag lady sleeping on the street, who apparently started screaming for the police, a flea-ridden stray dog . . .”

  Seeing the despondent expression on her face, Leopold couldn’t contain himself any longer and burst out laughing. Cat gave him an indignant look. “Sorry, Catalina. Please, go on,” he urged, trying to regain his composure.

  “To cut a long story short, back at high school that Monday, there were two boys and a girl who said that I’d sworn to love them forever.” Leopold began laughing again, and though she was annoyed that he found her woeful tale so funny, she couldn’t help finding him incredibly handsome.

  “Good thing I had the foresight to bring some cans of Coke!” he exclaimed, his laughter tapering off as he asked for another sandwich. “Tell me what happened the second time you got drunk.”

  “I don’t think so. These are very private stories, and I’m not keen to be a joke!” she shot back, frowning.

  “Please, please,” her neighbor begged her, his gray irises flashing with amusement.

  “Fine. But you have to promise you won’t laugh.”

  “Scout’s honor.” He gave the three-finger salute, his expression solemn.

  Catalina looked at him distrustfully, but continued with her story. “The second time I got drunk was about four years ago. It was at another party. I was feeling a bit sad because my boyfriend had just dumped me.”

  “He dumped you?” he asked, surprised.

  “Yes, he did. I don’t know why you’re so amazed. Although, to be honest, I wasn’t sad that he’d left me. I was mostly upset that, after being together for more than two years, I wasn’t sorry we were going our separate ways. I don’t know if that makes sense . . .”

  “In other words, you weren’t really in love with him, either,” Leo clarified as he took another sandwich.

  “Exactly. But I was furious that I felt like that, because just before dumping me, Jason had accused me of just that, along with being a heartless witch, and I’d denied it, quite put out. It turned out he was right and . . . well, anyway, I felt sad and a bit depressed, and I decided to have a few drinks to cheer myself up. I thought that what happened to me at sixteen wouldn’t necessarily repeat itself.”

  “But it did.”

  “Yes. I didn’t let Fiona tell me everything, but she did reveal that two men had fought over me, and that another guy, who was pretty drunk, had threatened to throw himself off the balcony if I didn’t instantly promise to marry him.” When Leo managed to stop laughing, he realized that Catalina was looking at him crossly.

  “You must’ve been a pretty useless boy scout,” she declared.

  “I must admit, they never accepted me into their ranks, but . . . ,” Leo broke off and examined her near-empty glass warily. With a swift movement, he snatched the glass from her hand, set it aside, and rummaged through the mini-cooler for a can of Coke. “I don’t think you should drink any more.”

  “Don’t worry.” Cat shot him a glare. “I can’t see you losing your head over me.”

  “No, but I don’t like to take unnecessary risks,” he replied, still munching on his sandwich.

  “Well, now you’ve devoured all my sandwiches,” she said. “All I can offer you is a humble chocolate bar for dessert.”

  “Perfect. I love chocolate,” her neighbor assured her.

  “Wow, we’ve finally discovered something we have in common!”

  CHAPTER 4

  For a while, they remained anchored in front of the old stone church, the boat gently bobbing as they chatted amicably.

  “Tell me, Leo. Why do you work so much?” Catalina asked, allowing her gaze to slide dreamily across the picturesque scenery.

  “I don’t work much.” Lying on the plastic bench of the cockpit, Leopold studied her surreptitiously through drowsy, half-closed eyes.

  “Someone who’s away from home for more than a month at a time works rather a lot, don’t you think?” Cat lifted her face to the single ray of sunshine that had managed to break through the thick layer of clouds.

  “That particular trip involved business that took longer than I thought it would. I do travel a lot, but I don’t normally spend more than two or three days away. And you, Catalina, what do you do?” he asked, eager to know more about his bewildering neighbor.

  At his question, Catalina turned toward him, opening her eyes. “I teach art to disabled people,” she replied. Leopold fixed his gaze on her; her answer was the last thing he’d expected. “You don’t believe me?” she asked, guessing his thoughts. “I bet you thought I was superficial, one of those girls who’s only interested in partying and having as much fun as possible.”

  “I confess you’ve surprised me.”

  “Well, you haven’t me.” Her brown eyes flashed mischievously. “I know exactly what picture you’ve formed of me; you’re as predictable as the English weather.”

  Catalina closed her eyes again, hoping to catch some more sun, but the clouds were growing denser. Leo was annoyed that she was teasing him. Predictable, eh? The minx was going to find out just how predictable he was. “You really think that?” Slowly, he lowered his long legs from the bench.

  “Uh-huh,” she answered without opening her eyes. “You’re the kind of man that my friend Fiona classifies as a B.O.W.”

  “A B.O.W.?” He crept toward her.

  “Bigoted Obsessive Worker.”

  Suddenly, his powerful arms grabbed her and urged her to her feet. Before she realized what was happening, Catalina found herself held tightly against a chest as hard as concrete. “Hey! What do you think you’re doing?”

  “I just want to show you that I’m not as predictable as you think,” he replied in a relaxed tone, though his gray eyes flashed with mischief.

  A huge smile lit up the young woman’s face when she saw his expression. Amused, she asked, “What’re you going to do? I don’t think you’ll be able to ravish me in this cockleshell; it’d be terribly uncomfortable and we could easily capsize.” Leopold was thrown off-balance; he’d expected to make her at least a little nervous.

  “I don’t think I’ll go that far.” He held her delicate chin between thumb and forefinger, and tipped her face up toward his as he slowly tilted his head down.

  “You’d better not,” Catalina warned him, very seriously.

  “Why? I can’t imagine it’s the first time you’ve been kissed.” His face stopped a couple of inches from hers.

  “I should warn you of something.”

  Curious, Leopold looked into her brown eyes sprinkled with gold, a glint belying her apparent gravitas. “That sounds ominous. What should I know?”

  “That anyone who kisses me falls hopelessly in love with me,” Cat declared in a thundering voice, still completely serious.

  Her neighbor raised an eyebrow, unconvinced, and moved in closer. “I’ll take the risk.”

  Gently, Leopold rested his mouth on her tempting lips, ready to school this infuriating woman in a way she wouldn
’t forget. Catalina’s lips were cool and tasted faintly of chocolate. Leo applied his full arsenal of skills; he wanted her to realize he wasn’t the boring, predictable type she thought he was, but he was in no way prepared for the explosive surge of hormones that her soft, full lips triggered when they responded to his. Good Lord! he thought, dazed. This woman can make a man lose his head in just one kiss!

  “Okay, Leo.” Leopold didn’t know how much time had passed when Catalina finally rested her palms on his chest, lightly trying to push him away. He heard her voice as if it came from a hundred miles off. “I confess you’re a good kisser, and I hope you’ll admit I’m not so bad myself.”

  “I’m certainly not complaining.” He was glad that his voice, though a little hoarse, sounded almost normal.

  “But we shouldn’t get too fond of each other. The last thing I want is to get involved with a guy like you,” Cat said serenely, though her apparent calm was at odds with the rate at which her chest was rising and falling under her sweater.

  “The feeling’s mutual.” Rather put out, Leopold took a step back.

  “Come on, don’t be cross. I don’t deny that you’re an extremely handsome man and that I’ve had a lovely time with you today, but really, we both know that we couldn’t be more different.”

  “I wasn’t asking you to marry me,” he replied.

  “Shame.” Catalina sighed, giving him a look of feigned sadness. “But I can tell you’re one of those men who’s allergic to commitment.”

  With something like a grunt, Leopold finally released her. “We should head back,” he announced. “The sky’s turning dark.”

  The smile disappeared from her face. “We’re not in any danger, are we? Just thinking about falling into this water gives me goose bumps,” she said, rubbing her arms.

  Seeing her frightened face, his eyes softened and he tried to reassure her. “I’m a good sailor. Trust me.” With surprising agility for a man of his size, he leapt into the little cabin and, seconds later, reappeared with a couple of yellow raincoats. “Put one of these on. You’re going to need it.”

  Catalina pulled on a raincoat and obediently followed his directions. The sailboat cleaved through the choppy waters of the Thames at full tilt, but within a half an hour the rain began to pour down. Keeping a firm hand on the tiller, Leopold stole a glance at Cat, and a smile spread across his face. Despite her hood, the young woman’s hair was drenched, and the raincoat was so enormous on her that she looked like a little girl in fancy dress. He was overcome with a sudden wave of tenderness, and he put an arm around her shoulders in an attempt to comfort her. “Don’t worry, there’s nothing to be afraid of!” he shouted.

  “I’m not afraid anymore!” she answered, trying to make herself heard above the din of the rain and wind. Judging by the glimmer in her eyes, she was telling the truth, and Leopold felt a surge of admiration for her.

  An hour and a half later, Cat was standing at the door to her apartment, handing back the sodden raincoat. “Thank you so much for inviting me, Leo. I had no idea sailing could be so thrilling. I had an amazing time!”

  Leopold examined her face looking up at him and smiled again; he could see she wasn’t lying—Catalina couldn’t contain her enthusiasm. “You should go have a hot bath or you’ll catch pneumonia.”

  “Yes, Dad. Good night,” she said teasingly, quickly disappearing through the door.

  What an exasperating woman, he decided.

  Despite everything, he had thoroughly enjoyed himself. Miss Stapleton was a force of nature to be reckoned with, he thought. Of course, she was in no way the kind of woman he was attracted to; she was too forthright, she was rather unsophisticated, and she had an irritating tendency to turn everything into a joke. Granted, she had a charming side, but her body wasn’t voluptuous enough for his taste . . . Then again, he couldn’t forget that rush of testosterone he’d experienced when he kissed her. It’s the novelty, along with the fact that I haven’t been with a woman in so long. I’ll call Alison next week, he promised himself.

  He and Alison had been dating on and off for almost two years. She worked at a law firm that had handled a number of affairs for Sinclair & Associates, and she often accompanied him to the dances and social events he was frequently invited to attend. Alison was a successful career woman; she understood perfectly how important Leopold’s work was to him and never tried to make impossible demands on him. She was also beautiful, a society woman who knew what she wanted. For some time now, Leopold had suspected that she wanted marriage, and he’d been considering the idea. After all, he was forty-two, and it was high time he settled down and had a family.

  His mother never stopped reminding him of his duties. There had been a Sinclair in Hallcourt Abbey since 1789, and as she so often repeated, she was not prepared to allow the tradition to die with him. Though their personalities had always clashed, Leopold couldn’t deny that his mother was right in this matter: what was the point in working his fingers to the bone in the family business if there were no children to inherit it? As he stood under the scalding jet of the shower, his neighbor’s enchanting face gate-crashed his thoughts.

  Totally predictable.

  That was what Catalina thought of him, and he couldn’t understand why it bothered him so much. As she herself had said, they couldn’t be more different. With a sigh, he turned off the shower, wrapped himself in a towel, and went to make himself some supper.

  Meanwhile, lying in her uncle’s giant bathtub with bubbles brimming over the side, lit by the glow of a few scented candles, Catalina was also thinking about her neighbor. The intensity of his kiss and the fireworks she’d felt had completely taken her by surprise, and though she was pleased that she’d handled herself well, she hoped it wouldn’t happen again. Despite his outward aloofness, she liked Leopold and felt an almost maternal concern for his well-being. Well, the feelings his kiss provoked weren’t exactly maternal, she admitted to herself. However, she still believed that Leopold Sinclair, despite being so attractive and successful, was not a happy man.

  She stayed in the tub until the water cooled and she was forced to get out. After putting on her pajamas, she decided to have a light dinner and make an early night of it. The next day would be busy. She had to finish preparing the exhibition at her friend’s art gallery, since the opening party was on Saturday and time was running out. Once again, without knowing why, she thought of Leopold, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

  Perhaps she’d invite her unsociable neighbor . . .

  Over the course of that week, Leopold and his neighbor crossed paths only once more. Cat was on her way out to take Milo for his usual evening walk, and just as she opened the main door to the building, she almost collided with a stunning blonde who was on her way in with Leopold. “You should watch where you’re going,” the new arrival spat at her, looking at Catalina’s messy hair and torn jeans with disgust.

  “Sorry, I was distracted,” Cat replied, out of breath. She was trying to hold back the gigantic dog, which was intent on leaping up on Leopold, subsequently entangling the leash in the blonde’s statuesque legs and throwing her off balance. Leopold caught her elbow, saving her from crashing to the floor.

  “Down, Milo!” Leopold ordered in an authoritative tone, and Milo calmed enough for the three of them to disentangle themselves.

  “I’m so sorry.” Embarrassed, Cat gave the angry woman an apologetic smile. She didn’t reply, simply glaring at her as if she were the most despicable creature she’d ever had the misfortune to come across.

  “Good evening, Catalina,” her neighbor greeted her impassively.

  “You know each other?” The blonde’s large blue eyes flicked between them with sudden interest.

  “Leo’s my next-door neighbor,” Cat cheerfully informed her.

  “Leo?” She raised an eyebrow in a silent question, but Leopold merely shrugged.

  “Al
ison, this is Catalina Stapleton, my neighbor. Catalina, this is Alison Parker.”

  “How do you do?” Cat enthusiastically held out her hand, as if she couldn’t see that Alison was wishing her away. “May I take this opportunity to invite you both to the opening of my kids’ exhibition?” Catalina rummaged through the immense, worn-out brown leather purse she wore over her shoulder and eventually extracted a pair of crumpled invitations, handing one to each of them. “If you have no other plans for Saturday, please do drop by the gallery. All my students will be there, proud as peacocks. There’ll be drinks—nothing fancy, of course—but I promise it’ll be fun. All the proceeds will go to renovating the building where we hold the workshops and . . . well, I better go before Milo pulls my arm out of its socket. Good night! Have fun!”

  The young woman disappeared into the night like a whirlwind, dragged by the giant mastiff. Leopold remained silent for a moment, trying to recover from the unexpected run-in with his bewildering neighbor; something told him that Alison hadn’t been very happy to meet her.

  “Leo? I’ve never heard anyone call you that.”

  “As you may have noticed, she’s something of a free spirit. She sometimes seems tremendously rude, but it’s not worth getting upset over. Thank God we don’t see each other often,” he said, making sure his tone sounded as indifferent as possible.

  Reassured, Alison took his arm. “Come, darling, I’m ready for a drink.”

  Inside his apartment, Leopold led her to the living room, pressed a button on a touch screen on the wall, and a soft melody instantly enveloped them. While he mixed their drinks, Alison made herself comfortable on one of his huge modern sofas, and looked around as if she owned the place. Her host soon returned with two gin and tonics in highball glasses with a slice of lemon in each, then sat beside her.

  Despite the relaxed, intimate setting, Leopold felt a little restless. Alison had been intent on them going to his place, and now he regretted giving in to her pleas. He discreetly examined her as he sipped his drink. He couldn’t deny that Alison Parker was a tremendously beautiful woman; her hair was that rare Nordic blond, and her bright-blue eyes were feline and sensual. Over her enticing, curvy body, she wore a short dress by a well-known designer that hugged her like a second skin. And yet, for all her voluptuousness, he suddenly found her as cold as a marble sculpture. “Shall we go to that exhibition on Saturday?” he asked, trying to banish his critical thoughts.