Be Mine

by Alyssia Leon

  “Aspirin. You’ll be needing a pack of that or your ears will be hurting something terrible.” Dianne said, sitting up from where she’d been lounging on the wine-red chesterfield couch. A thick-set woman in her mid-fifties, with cropped iron-grey hair and a no-nonsense look on her schoolmarm face, she could make the most delinquent of teens tremble with her voice alone. “Keep an empty water bottle too, or you’ll be stuck with the thimbles they call cups onboard.”

  “Maybe I shouldn’t be drinking too much anyway? I’ve heard it’s a right pain always squeezing past people to get to the loo on a plane.”

  Dianne snorted. “Gals our age have every right to go to the loo whenever we want, and everyone else can just shove out the way.” She waved a hand over her loose check shirt and the widest pair of jeans Aura had ever seen. “You dressed comfy?”

  Mum nodded, glancing down at her own jeans and cotton kaftan tunic.

  “I’ll get you the aspirin and a bottle,” Aura said, getting to her feet. “It’s cold out, so best wear your coat too, at least until you get on the plane.” She was back in minutes, and after putting the final items in the hand-luggage, zipped up the bag. “Mum, It’s almost twelve. The taxi will be here in ten minutes. You have your passport and ticket with you?”

  Mum fumbled around in her handbag. “Yes. Yes, it’s all here. Heavens, there’s such a lot to remember. It never seemed so complicated when I used to travel to Europe with Tom, but then that was over twenty years ago.”

  Aura smiled at the thought of her then twenty-five year old mother, possibly pregnant as she travelled with her husband Major Thomas Willis to his army posting in Europe. Aura’s father had never allowed her mother to accompany him further abroad, insisting it was too dangerous and anything could happen. A prediction that had come true when he’d died in the line of duty while stationed in Africa. Aura had been just a year old. She’d only ever seen photographs of him, a tall, brawny man with an easy grin. At least he had lived on in her in a tangible way—she had his raven hair and bright green eyes.

  “I think airport security has tightened a bit since then, Mum.”

  “A bit?” growled Dianne. “They’ll pounce on you for anything, even wearing your shoes on the wrong feet. I swear those layabouts at security are just looking for an excuse to frisk people, especially women. Don’t get enough excitement in their sorry lives if you ask me.”

  Aura bit back a grin. A security team frisking Dianne for their titillation had to be seen to be believed. They wouldn’t dare get within a metre of her.

  But Mum’s eyes rounded. “Goodness! I’m glad I never got on an airplane with Ralph then. He was such a private person. What would he have made of it all?”

  Dianne’s brows shot up. “What? You didn’t go anywhere with him? Not even on honeymoon?”

  “Well, we never had the money for anything fancy at the time. You know how things can get. But of course we went places nearby.” Mum’s smile was dreamy. “We honeymooned on the Whitby coast. It was magical.”

  “Whitby coast? Magical?” Dianne guffawed. “Oh, you are so overdue a trip like this, my girl. Valentine’s Day in Hawaii. It’ll knock your socks off.”

  Mum giggled. “I saw the photos of the heart martinis and sarongs.”

  “And the hot waiters.” Dianne nodded, leering. “Don’t forget the hot waiters.”

  They giggled like schoolgirls up to no good, and Aura stared from one to the other, her hands on her hips. “For goodness sake, I hope the two of you aren’t planning on getting into any trouble.” But she smiled inside. She’d tried everything to get her mother to date again these past two years, and her mother had resisted all her efforts. Now though, it looked like Mum was finally ready to dip her toes into some fun, and for that alone Aura had to thank Dianne.

  “Trouble?” Dianne asked with an arched brow. “That’s for young ‘uns like you. Girls like us can indulge as we please. Besides, the only real trouble is we’re going to be soaked. February is their rainy season. It’s probably why the school’s raffle committee got those tickets so cheap.”

  “What’s a little rain to us Brits?” Mum waved it away with a flick of her hand. “We make merry in any weather.”

  A car horn blared short and sharp in the street outside and Mum rushed to the bay window. “Oh, the taxi. Where has the time gone?”

  “Don’t panic, Mum. You’re all packed and ready.”

  Mum glanced at the clock on the wall. “It’s past twelve already. I’ll nip upstairs and tell Nathan I’m leaving.” She chewed her lip. “But Aura, love, I didn’t get time to make anything for lunch, so now you’ll—”

  “Mum, I can handle it.”

  With a nod, Mum dashed off towards the stairs, and with a resigned shake of her head, Aura helped Dianne shift the suitcases and bags to the front door.

  “Who’s this Nathan?”

  “Ralph’s son. He’s staying here for a few days.”

  “Well, fancy that. Ralph had a son? Cathy never mentioned it.”

  Aura shrugged. Nathan being around wasn’t something any of them mentioned. It wasn’t as if he added anything to their lives. In fact, even now, it was as if he didn’t exist. He’d had a quiet breakfast with them this morning before Dianne arrived and then disappeared to his room straight afterwards, holing up in there with the door firmly shut. Aura scowled. She was going to have to entice him out from there soon, but in the cold, harsh light of a new February day her genius decision to seduce him was looking more and more like the most lame-brained idea of the century.

  “Didn’t even know he was here.” Dianne continued, as she placed a bag down on the hallway carpet and opened the front door. “Quiet little bugger, isn’t he?”

  “When he wants to be,” muttered Aura.

  They took the luggage to the taxi, and Mum came rushing out as the driver stowed the last bag in the trunk.

  “Ready, Mum?” Aura asked with a smile.

  “Yes. Gosh, I’m excited.” She caught Aura in a hug. “You’ll be okay, won’t you, love?”

  Aura rolled her eyes. “It’s only five days. You’ll be back before you know it. Now, go and have a great time, and don’t you dare spend it worrying about me.”

  “I’ll call as soon as we land in Hawaii.” Mum kissed Aura’s cheek and rushed to the taxi.

  Aura hugged Dianne goodbye and then stood in front of the house waving as the taxi drove away.

  Once the car was out of sight, she stepped back into the warmth of the house and closed the door after her. She glanced up the stairs. Just her and Nathan now, and as much as she wanted to pretend he wasn’t lurking upstairs, she couldn’t very well ignore him. With a sigh, she went to the kitchen and switched the kettle on.

  Her mother wasn’t here, so now it was up to her to make sure he didn’t die of thirst or starvation while he was barricaded in his room.

  She prepared the black coffee and took it upstairs.

  6

  The closed door of Nathan’s bedroom radiated a palpable wave of ‘Disturb at Your Peril’, and tension leaped in Aura as she paused outside, coffee mug in hand. What if he’d fallen asleep after her mother left? Did she really want to wake him?

  She rested an ear against the door.

  “I don’t care what they say. They deliver on time, or the contract goes. I’m not playing games here, Andy.” The wooden door muffled Nathan’s voice but did nothing to limit the sharpness.

  Andy. She’d never met him, but she’d read about Astreca’s co-founder. A programming whizz like Nathan, Andy and he had been best friends through university.

  She pulled back. Well, Nathan wasn’t asleep, so now she had to give him the coffee. She rapped on the door.

  “Come in.”

  Opening the door with her free hand, she stepped inside.

  The noontime sunlight streamed in through the wide window, brightening the cream and blue decor, and the fresh, masculine scent of his cologne flitted in the air, stamping the room as his territory. The r
oom was tidy. She’d managed to sneak in yesterday, as soon as he’d gone to take a shower, and arrange all his clothes neatly in the wardrobe. Not that he’d said thank you or anything. Of course not. Thanking her? That would be so beneath Nathan.

  He lounged back against the cushioned blue headboard of the bed, his long jeans-clad legs stretched out in front of him. His arms were folded behind his head, and for a beat her eyes were riveted to the way the pose pulled his black t-shirt tight across his solid muscular chest.

  He hadn’t even bothered to acknowledge her entrance, his blindfolded face remained tilted down towards the screen of the silver laptop resting on his lap.

  “Coffee, Nathan.” Her tone was sharp.

  He merely moved an arm from behind his head and pointed in the vague direction of the bedside table, before propping his arm back where it had been.

  She scowled. He may be used to being waited on hand and foot, but that sure as hell wasn’t her job description.

  Andy’s pleased voice came from the laptop. “Right. I sent Miller to pay them a surprise visit. We’ll find out if they’re really ready to deliver, or just blagging it.”

  She stomped over to the bedside table and loudly deposited the coffee mug on it. As she turned to Nathan, her gaze fell on the laptop screen. A happy-looking young man with wild, curly brown hair, and sparkling blue eyes lolled back in a black leather chair. The glass wall behind him showcased a perfect view of London’s skyline with the modern high-rises mingling with the older Victorian buildings. The solid business atmosphere was entirely at odds with his neon-yellow t-shirt that proudly proclaimed, ‘Trust me. I’m a GEEK’ in bold white letters.

  His blue eyes met hers, and a wide grin broke across his angular face. “Hey, you must be Aura. Hope old grouchy here hasn’t worn you down. I’m afraid it was my idea to foist him on you. I’m Andy, by the way.”

  She laughed. Oh, she liked Andy. “I’ll survive.”

  A muscle twitched in Nathan’s jaw and he sat forward, folding his arms across his chest. “Did you speak to Johnson?”

  Andy held up both hands. “Chill. I sure did. I’m not hundred percent about it, but if it’ll stop you breathing fire down everyone’s neck…”

  “I’ll deal with it. Now get off cam and go do some work. I need to speak with Maria about the accounts presentation for the meeting.”

  Aura gasped. Could he be any ruder if he tried? She stuck her hands on her hips and turned and glared down at him.

  Andy laughed behind her. “Good luck, bud. You’ll be needing it.” And the screen light clicked to dark as he logged off.

  Nathan cocked his head to the side, as if waiting for her to say something.

  Oh, what was the point?

  “Lunch will be served soon, your majesty,” she said sweetly, before stalking out of the room and closing the door behind her with a lot more force than necessary.

  * * *

  Half an hour later, the meat sauce was gently simmering, filling the air with its rich herby scent, and she was blanching zucchini noodles when the doorbell rang. Whipping off the plain blue apron she had on over her jeans and white t-shirt, she went to answer the door.

  She’d expected Lisa, and stared in surprise at the short stout man stood outside.

  He wore a black trilby and was wrapped up against the cold in a black wool coat, and in one black leather-gloved hand, he clutched a large black briefcase. He looked like he was on the way to someone’s funeral.

  “Good afternoon.” He tipped his trilby with an old-fashioned flourish, revealing a shiny bald pate ringed with a strip of grey hair. “I’m Dr Johnson. I believe Mr Travers is expecting me?”

  Nathan’s doctor had travelled all the way here to Yorkshire?

  “Please, come in.” She stepped back from the doorway. “Did you drive all the way up from London?” she asked a little incredulously as he stepped into the warm house.

  “That would be too much for a Sunday, I think.” Smiling, he hooked his trilby up on the coat rack before shrugging off his heavy coat and hanging that up too. “Mr Travers arranged for me to fly here by helicopter. It’s much quicker, and what a way to travel, I must say. Then his driver was on hand to bring me the rest of the way.”

  Aura nodded. Of course, things worked differently for Nathan. She should have guessed. The doctor now stood in a perfectly pressed black suit, with a neat white shirt, and a tie the same shade of pink his nose and cheeks had turned in the cold.

  “Perhaps you’d care for some tea or coffee to warm you up a bit, Dr Johnson?”

  “Ah, no thank you.” He picked up his briefcase again. “I’d best get on and see Mr Travers.”

  Aura bit her lip. “Nathan… Is everything all right?”

  “I should certainly hope so.” Then his eyes widened in understanding. “Oh, don’t worry. He didn’t call me out on an emergency. Just consider this a routine check-up.”

  The fluttering anxiety in her chest eased. “He’s upstairs. I’ll show you.”

  * * *

  Barely ten minutes had passed before she heard footsteps on the staircase as she added a final sprinkle of herbs to the meat sauce. Wiping her hands on a tea-towel, she hurried out into the hallway.

  “All is well, I’m pleased to say.” Dr Johnson smiled broadly as he came down the stairs.

  Aura smiled back, relief blooming in her. “Would you like to stay for lunch? I’m sure you must be hungry.”

  “Thank you, but no. If I leave now, I’ll make it back in time for the little get-together my wife’s organized for this evening.”

  He pulled on his leather gloves and Aura took his coat from the coat rack and held it out to him. “Do you usually visit patients on weekends?”

  “Not really. This is the first time in a long time.” He shrugged into his coat and then took his trilby. “I’ve spoken to Mr Travers, but I’ve come to realize he has a rather stubborn streak in him. He’s been experiencing occasional headaches, so it’s vital he continues to rest his eyes. A severe, ongoing headache can mean something serious, and we want to avoid that at all costs. He isn’t to stare at a computer screen too long, and he must wear dark glasses for a few more days whenever he steps out into sunlight.”

  Aura nodded blankly. Nathan was having headaches? Why hadn’t he said something to her? In that moment she wanted to grab Nathan and shake some sense into him. Damn his ‘keep a distance’ attitude. It was more than frustrating.

  Heavy footsteps thudded on the stairs behind her and she whirled around.

  Her breath caught in her throat.

  Nathan’s striking silver-grey eyes were uncovered and focused on her, the effect intensified by the black of his t-shirt and his dark hair. The expression on his handsome face was unreadable and Aura swallowed. He had never looked as sexy or as intimidating as he did right then.

  “Keep in mind everything I said, Mr Travers.” The doctor said with a stern nod.

  Nathan paused at the bottom of the staircase, his silver gaze flicking from Aura to the doctor. “I’ll do that.”

  She blinked as soon as she was freed from his intense gaze, hot blood scorching her cheeks as she crashed down to reality.

  Oh god, her heart must have been in her eyes as she’d gawped at him. She no longer had the protection of his blindfold to fall back on. She had to rein back this infatuation of hers somehow, immediately, or she’d end up making an utter fool of herself in front of him.

  Dr Johnson smiled and opened the front door. “Then I’ll wish you both a good day.” And with a tip of his trilby he left them.

  Aura closed the front door after him and turned to find Nathan’s intent gaze still on her. Her knees wobbled and she had to keep a hand on the door to steady herself. The way he was looking at her, like he wanted to eat her up, had her core throbbing and molten heat pooling between her thighs. Her gaze dropped to his sculpted mouth as she remembered the feel of his lips on hers, longing to taste him again, longing to touch him again. Whoa there. She had to stay i
n control here. She couldn’t let him have the upper hand.

  She dragged her gaze from his face and glanced at the kitchen door as she took refuge in whatever anger she could dredge up before glaring back at him. “How could you drag him up here on a Sunday, Nathan? Other people have lives too, you know. They don’t exist to pander to your every whim. You could have done what anyone else would and register with a doctor here in Langley.”

  He leaned against the banister, his eyes narrowing. “Believe me, it’s not charity. The good doctor just earned more from this one trip than most earn in one year.” A frown creased his brow. “Besides, the whole reason I’m here is to keep a low profile, isn’t it? I can’t go around declaring who I am and what happened to me to any old doctor, can I?”

  The whole reason he was here. Nothing to do with her, of course. It never had been. If he hadn’t even had the accident, would their paths have ever crossed again? Knowing the answer to that brought a fine rage shimmering through her. She was a fool for even thinking of him. She scowled at him “Why were you in such a hurry to remove the bandage anyway? The doctor said you’re still having headaches.” She didn’t bother to keep the note of accusation out of her voice, it hurt he hadn’t told her.

  He grinned, instantly looking young and carefree. “Maybe I grew impatient at not being able to see you, my beautiful Aura.”

  Heat flooded her face as his words turned her mind to mush for a second, but the amused twinkle in his eyes quickly registered and she stomped down on the warm crazy fluttering inside her.

  Damn him. He was playing with her. God, she was such an easy target for him. When would she learn?

  She glared at him. “Lunch is ready. If you want it.” And she stalked past him to the kitchen, trying not to care if he followed or not.

  Nathan watched her go. Four years of the occasional photo landing in his email hadn’t prepared him for the reality that faced him now.

  He’d remembered the sylphlike teenager, but the woman was a feast for his eyes. She’d filled out in all the right places, her graceful hips curvier, her breasts more rounded, a perfect handful. His mouth had watered at the peek of full cleavage the low neck of her white t-shirt had revealed. The effect she had on him was like fire in his blood. It had burned for years, and now threatened to engulf him, and it had taken all his will to keep himself on the stairs and not grab her and crush those lush pouty lips to his.