by Becca Steele
Ignoring the glares and disdainful looks, I lost myself in the music, until I caught the eye of a guy leaning against the wall, watching me. Every time I glanced up, he was still looking at me, and I danced closer to Kinslee to ask her if she knew who he was. She informed me that his name was James, and he was also a student at Alstone. He was cute—kind of preppy-looking, light brown hair falling into his blue eyes, lean but muscular build, and when he smiled, he had the most gorgeous dimples. The next time I looked at him, I held his gaze, making it clear that I was interested. He interpreted my signals correctly and a moment later was standing in front of me, leaning down to speak in my ear.
“Hey, there. I’m James Granville.” His hand rested lightly on my arm as he spoke to me, not invading my personal space, but close enough to make his intent clear.
Our eyes met and his pupils dilated as I took a deliberate step closer, placing my own hand on his arm and sliding it up over his bicep as I reached up to speak into his ear. “I’m Winter Huntington.”
“Winter. You are the most gorgeous woman I’ve seen in a very long time.” He spoke into my ear, his voice clear over the pounding beat of the music. “My evening is certainly looking up, now that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting you.” He spun me around. “Dance with me?”
We alternated between dancing and small talk, Kinslee never straying far from my side, which I really appreciated. Although, in actuality, we barely knew each other, I’d confided in her about how out of depth I felt, starting over in a completely new place and being the new girl when everyone else knew each other. She’d promised to look out for me, and with her by my side, I felt less alone. She seemed to be in her element, flirting and laughing with James’ friends, dancing up a storm, her curvy body swaying to the music.
All the while, I could feel the stares of the Four burning into me, and although I tried my hardest to ignore it, I grew increasingly uncomfortable. James noticed, his sharp gaze flicking from me to the sofa, and he leaned closer, pulling my body into his. “You wanna get out of here?”
Did I? I wasn’t in the habit of one-night stands, but…fuck, yes.
“What do you propose?” I stared at him, one eyebrow raised.
“My apartment is just around the corner. Why don’t you come with me?”
I glanced towards Kinslee, and she mouthed go to me. Her okay gave me the reassurance I needed, and I smiled up at him.
“Okay.”
“Good. Meet me outside the front door.”
He nodded and was slipping away through the crowds before I had a chance to say anything else. After confirming with Kinslee that James was trustworthy and where I was going, and receiving an enthusiastic response of “he’s hot and popular, go and fuck his brains out,” I headed in the opposite direction to find the bathroom before I left.
I needed someone, and James wanted me. I needed to feel something for one night, to fill the void inside me that had been there ever since the accident had happened. My dad was gone, I was in a new place, completely out of my depth, and I wanted to have fun and just forget. Pretend I was a normal university student, with a normal life.
Mind made up, I exited the bathroom, only to bump into a hard body.
Awareness trickled up my spine.
Goosebumps broke out all over me.
I suddenly found it hard to breathe.
Caiden.
Was.
Here.
Have you ever been so aware of someone that your whole being reacts to them? Like you can’t even control it?
His presence surrounded me as his body pressed against mine. “What are you doing…” I whispered, or I might have only thought the words, because he didn’t respond. He roughly grasped my chin in his hand, and his touch sent shock waves ricocheting through me.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
His voice.
Angry, raspy, and oh-so-sexy.
My body arched towards his, unknowing, uncaring that he was basically telling me to leave. Helpless, I let out a small whimper as his thumb caressed my chin, the touch at odds with his hostile posture.
“Fuck,” he gritted out, and I felt his lips hover over mine, his hot breath skating over my skin, before he tore himself away, gone, as if he’d never been there.
Dazed, I staggered back against the hallway wall, my legs weak, my breath coming in shuddering gasps. What was that? And why did I have such an extreme reaction to someone I’d never met before? Someone who hated me on sight?
Concentrating on breathing slowly in and out, I willed my racing heart to slow. What could I have done to offend him? And how could I have offended someone I’d never laid eyes on in person, before tonight?
So many questions, and no answers.
Straightening up, I hardened my resolve. Fuck him, whoever he thought he was. Nothing was going to detract me from my reason for being here. If I made a few enemies along the way, it would be worth the price. I needed answers, and I wasn’t about to let anyone get in the way of that.
I strode through the house and out of the door before I could change my mind. James was there, leaning against the wall, his dimples popping out as he caught sight of me and smiled.
“Ready?”
I nodded. “Let’s go.”
He took my hand, and we began walking across the grass and out onto the quiet street. As we walked, he peppered me with questions.
“I haven’t seen you around here before. Are you a first year?”
“No. I just transferred here; I’m going into my second year.”
He grinned, steering me down a pathway towards a large mansion house, Regency style with white columns and large windows. “Same as me. What’s your degree in? I’m doing Accounting and Business Management.”
“Business and Marketing Management.”
“We’ll probably have some lectures together. If you need a study partner, I’m your man.” He gave me another huge grin, and I couldn’t help smiling back.
“Somehow I don’t think there would be much studying involved.”
“True.” He laughed, leading me up the mansion steps and inserting a key into the lock. “This way. I’m on the next floor. Where are you living?”
I trailed behind him up the wide staircase to a landing area, where he stopped in front of a door and inserted another key. “I’m in the apartments next to the campus. Hardwicke House?”
“Oh, yeah. Great location. I was in Hawling House last year. Decent apartments, if a bit small.”
We entered his apartment, all high ceilings and classic, clearly expensive furnishings. Kinslee had been right. This college really was exclusive—from everything I’d seen so far, the whole place practically dripped money.
I tugged my hand out of James’ grip and reached down to slip my shoes off. When I straightened up, he was staring at me hungrily.
He leaned forwards and pressed his lips to mine. I wound my arms around his neck, kissing him back. His kisses didn’t set me alight, but it felt good. Good to be wrapped in someone’s arms, forgetting everything, filling the emptiness inside me.
He broke the kiss but kept hold of me, walking us backwards into his bedroom. “Is this okay for you?”
“Yes.” I shut off my brain, allowing myself only to think about now, this moment, and how good it felt. I’d become an expert in compartmentalising my thoughts and feelings since my dad had passed away, and I locked everything away to be dealt with another time.
We fell onto the bed, losing our clothes along the way. He kissed me with more urgency, until we were both breathless and he was rolling a condom over his hardness, then thrusting inside me.
All too soon, it was over.
“Was that good for you?” He rolled off me, panting.
“Yeah.” I wasn’t lying—well…not really. I hadn’t orgasmed, but that didn’t mean I hadn’t had fun.
“Stay as long as you like, babe.” He swung himself out of the bed and disappeared out of the door.
Thanks, but no th
anks. I’d slept with him, it had filled the void for a short time, but I had no interest in taking things any further. I climbed out of the bed and gathered up my discarded clothes, pulling them back on as quickly as I could.
He re-entered the room, bare-chested, a pair of pyjama bottoms slung low on his hips. “Leaving already?”
“Uh, yeah. I don’t sleep well in new places.”
He nodded. “Okay, let me call you a cab.” Before I could say anything else, he’d swiped his phone from the table next to his bed and was dialling. He spoke in a low voice, then ended the call and turned to me. “They’ll be about five minutes. There’s a cab on its way to drop someone off here, so it’ll pick you up at the same time.”
“Thank you,” I murmured. “I’ll go and wait downstairs.” I stared at him a little awkwardly, unsure of what to do.
He gave me an understanding look. “Tonight was fun. If you ever want a repeat, I’m your man. If not, no big deal. I think we’re going to become friends, Winter Huntington.” Crossing the room to stand in front of me, he placed a soft kiss on my lips. “Let me throw on a T-shirt and I’ll walk you downstairs.”
At the front door, the taxi pulled up and the driver waved at me. “There’s my ride. Thanks for earlier. See you around, James.” We briefly hugged each other, and then I headed over to the taxi. He waited until I was seated in the cab, before he turned around and went back inside.
My mind churning, I closed my eyes, leaning against the window as the cab moved through the darkened roads towards my apartment. But it wasn’t James who occupied my thoughts.
It was the man with hair as black as onyx and stormy ocean eyes.
My stepbrother.
TWO
“This is it.” Talking aloud to myself, I slowed down my car, pulling up to the gated entrance. I noticed a camera focusing on me, and the gates smoothly swung open. I continued up the long gravel driveway and came to a halt in front of a large Georgian house, standing tall and imposing on the headland that stretched into the distance on either side. Other equally large houses were visible on the horizon, but none near enough to make out their features.
I parked my car to the left of the house, unsure where to leave it, and sat for a moment, trying to compose myself.
This would be the first time I’d seen my mother in person for years, and the first time I’d ever met her new husband. I was crossing my fingers that his sons wouldn’t be there. It was going to be difficult enough as it was, playing nice with the woman that had shown no interest in my life until I made contact after my dad had passed away, without them around, making me uncomfortable.
Clasping the bottle of vintage wine I’d splurged on, I made my way up the steps, bisected by tall columns, to the front door and knocked.
It swung open almost immediately.
“Good evening, Miss Huntington. We’ve been expecting you. May I take your coat?” A short, stooping man stood in the doorway, one arm outstretched towards me.
“Uh, sure.” I shrugged off my coat and handed it to him, along with the wine. “Thank you. And who are you? I mean, how do I address you?” I could feel my cheeks grow warm. My dad hadn’t been poor, but we certainly hadn’t been on the level of having staff.
“I’m Mr. Allan, Mr. Cavendish’s butler. You may call me Allan, miss.”
I gave him a hesitant smile. “Um. Okay. Thank you, Allan.”
He inclined his head towards me. “Follow me. Mistress Cavendish is expecting you.”
We walked through a grand foyer, down a long corridor, and entered a large room full of plants, with glass walls on three sides and an absolutely breathtaking view of the ocean.
“Wow.” My jaw dropped. The sun was setting, bathing the sea in a sparkling golden glow. From up this high on the clifftops, we had an almost panoramic view of the headland and the sea, stretching for miles.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” A pair of stilettos clicked across the stone floor, and someone came to a stop next to me.
I took a deep breath, turning to face the woman I hadn’t seen in person since I was five years old. The woman who’d so easily cut me from her life. “Christine. I mean, Mother.”
“Hello, Winter.” Christine Clifford had barely aged a day— of course, I’d seen photos of her, but in person I could see how untouched she was by the years. If it was Botox, it was very subtle. She wore an elegant sky-blue dress and skyscraper heels, her dark hair twisted into a knot at the nape of her neck.
She studied me, her cool, appraising gaze taking me in, and then a pleased expression crossed her face. “You’ve grown into a beautiful woman. Of course, it’s only to be expected, with me as your mother.” She preened. “I look forward to reconnecting with you, adult to adult.”
“Me too.” I was shocked to find that I meant the words. I suddenly felt my lip tremble, and my eyes filled with tears. Despite everything, despite my suspicions, she was my mother. The only person connected to me by blood that was left alive.
She must have read something in my expression, because she added, “Now that your good-for-nothing father is gone, I’m all you have.”
And just like that, my impending tears were gone, replaced by anger. She watched me with a knowing look in her eyes. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of seeing that she’d hurt me. With an effort, I swallowed my rage and fixed a smile on my face. Game face on.
“Great. Why don’t we start with you catching me up with your life?” If there was one thing my dad had mentioned about my mother, over and over again, it was that she was incredibly self-absorbed and loved to talk about herself.
Her lips curved into a pleased smile. Good choice, Winter. “Let’s sit, and we can catch up.”
I followed her to a set of wicker chairs that faced the glass wall. She glanced at the phone she’d been holding and tapped the screen a few times. “There. Refreshments will be here shortly. Arlo’s son, Weston—he has two sons, you know—is a bit of a technological genius. He devised this app that does all sorts, including sending orders to the staff. Very useful.”
I mentally filed away that morsel of information about Weston for future reference and sat back in the chair, turning to my mother.
“At the moment, as I’m sure you are aware, we’re in the orangery. I suppose you would be more likely to call it a conservatory.” She sniffed, then waved her hand around to encompass the large space. “Arlo loves his plants, as you can see. This house has been in the Cavendish family for generations. Arlo and I live here alone for the most part, along with the staff, but Caiden and Weston still have their old rooms here.”
At the mention of Caiden’s name, a shiver ran through me. My mother looked at me strangely but continued speaking. “I took the liberty of having one of the spare rooms cleared for you, should you wish to stay over at any time.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
“Well, I can’t have those boys having more than my own daughter, can I?” Her mouth twisted, and the way she’d spat “those boys” told me a lot. There was clearly no love lost between them, although she’d seemed impressed with Weston’s technological prowess only moments ago. I had a sudden horrible feeling that my mother’s distaste had something to do with Caiden being so hostile towards me. I hoped I wouldn’t get caught up in the middle of some game of one-upmanship, because I had zero desire to be involved in any of that.
“I’m on the board of directors of Alstone Holdings. We practically run this town.”
I nodded—this wasn’t new information to me, but I needed to get every bit of information I could from her. We were practically strangers, after being estranged for so long, but from the information I did have on her, I knew that she was a hard woman who didn’t appreciate idle conversation. “How many people are on the board, and what do you do?”
She looked pleased at my question. “It’s nice to have someone take an interest. Those boys have no desire to learn more about the company they will one day inherit shares in. Not to mention, they’ll becom
e board members once they turn twenty-one and graduate from university.” She tutted disapprovingly. “Alstone Holdings owns most of the land in this town. In addition, they construct properties all over the country. There are three families that own the company—by marriage I am now part of those three. The Cavendish family, the Drummond family, and the Lowry family.”
I listened intently, filing away every piece of information she gave me. What had happened to my dad on the night of his death? There had to be a connection here, and every single instinct within me screamed that my mother was the key to solving this puzzle.
At the moment, though, I had questions and no answers.
I leaned forwards, opening my mouth to ask another question, when her phone buzzed.
“Oh. We’re being summoned, I’m afraid. No time for drinks now. Dinner is served.”
Walking back down the long corridor, we entered a large, dimly lit wood-panelled room, with a long, mahogany dining table in the centre.
“Darling. There you are.” A tall, imposing man stood and walked across to where I’d stopped, hovering in the doorway. I barely noticed him, though. Sitting at the table, turned around to face me with a small smile on his lips, was Weston. And opposite Weston, hostility pouring off him just as it had done the first time I’d seen him, was Caiden.
With an effort, I dragged my focus away from Caiden and looked up at the man who was now standing in front of me, radiating disinterest.
“Arlo. And you must be Winter.” He shook my hand briefly, then, dismissing me, kissed my mother’s cheek and headed back to his chair.
My mother directed me to a seat opposite her.
Next to Caiden.
Fucking great.
Sliding into my seat, I was all too aware of the way he held himself, his posture tense, his eyes glittering dangerously. Every sense I possessed was on high alert, but despite his reaction, despite the fact that he clearly despised me, I couldn’t stop the shiver that went through my entire body at his proximity.
“Have you met my sons yet?” Arlo’s loud boom made me jump, and I heard Weston snigger.