‘You aren’t worried, are you?’ Rod gave her a concerned glance. ‘I’m sure your aunt isn’t going to be too annoyed by our delay,’ he grasped her hand in his. ‘I did explain to her on the telephone what had happened.’
She turned to him with a start. ‘I’m sure Aunt Sylvie won’t be in the least annoyed. She’s used to coping.’
‘Then what is it?’
She swallowed hard at his perception. ‘Sorry?’
He frowned. ‘You seem different somehow.’
‘Can’t you tell when you’ve kissed a woman senseless?’ she derided, her mouth twisted mockingly, knowing she had to pull herself together or give herself away as yet another woman who had fallen in love with him.
‘That’s better,’ he grinned. ‘I’m not used to seeing you without the light of challenge in your eyes.’
‘Don’t worry,’ she said dryly. ‘It’s still there.’
They all went straight into dinner once Keilly and Rod reached the hotel, Rod nodding acknowledgement of Kathy, although it wasn’t possible to converse with the other couple as they were seated at the opposite end of the table.
As her aunt had predicted everyone treated Rod just like any other guest, and as the meal progressed Keilly found herself relaxing into the role of his girlfriend, the casually intimate touches of her hand and the warm smiles he gave her being designed to show everyone that was how he thought of her.
‘Pity about your car,’ one of her uncle’s oldest friends remarked when they were once again in the lounge, enjoying coffee and brandy this time.
Rod nodded, his arm about Keilly’s waist as he held her to his side. ‘I’ll call a garage in the morning and get them to tow me out.’
‘You mustn’t go to that trouble,’ Peter joined them, a reluctant Kathy at his side. ‘I’m Peter Carmichael,’ he held out his hand in friendly greeting. ‘You’re renting one of my cottages,’ he explained, not seeming to notice his wife’s start of surprise; Kathy obviously hadn’t known until that moment that Rod was staying on the estate! ‘I’ll send someone over tomorrow morning with a tractor and we’ll soon have your car out.’
Keilly studied the two men, Peter who had had every social advantage, private schooling, university, and Rod, who had been brought up in a middle-class family, working hard for every bit of fame and recognition he had. It was a startling contrast, and yet she could see the two men instantly liked each other.
‘Thanks very much,’ Rod smiled his gratitude. ‘That’s very kind of you.’
‘Not at all,’ Peter dismissed. ‘I should have had that track tarmaced last summer when I had the opportunity. We don’t usually get winter visitors, you see, and I’d completely forgotten the way that track goes in the winter. Oh I’m sorry, darling,’ he brought Kathy forward smilingly. ‘This is my wife Kathy,’ he said proudly.
Rod nodded. ‘We’ve met.’
Kathy swallowed hard, seeming to become even paler than she already was. ‘I—We have?’ she choked, her eyes wide.
‘At the bazaar,’ he reminded smoothly, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
‘Oh—oh yes,’ she nodded, moistening her dry lips. ‘I’ll just go and see if I can make myself useful in the kitchen,’ she excused herself, making a hasty exit before anyone could even think of stopping her.
Keilly watched her cousin as she disappeared into the kitchen, recognising all the signs of severe strain. Kathy was getting nearer and nearer to breaking, and if she did that there was no telling what she might say or do. It was an evening that was destined to be thwart with tension.
‘… will nine o’clock be too early for you?’ she heard the tailend of Peter’s conversation, he obviously seeing nothing wrong in his wife wanting to help her mother out in the kitchen.
‘Nine o’clock will be fine,’ Rod nodded. ‘Are you sure it won’t be an inconvenience for you on a Sunday?’
Peter gave a rueful smile. ‘I have a working estate, and unfortunately the animals and crops don’t realise we’re supposed to rest on a Sunday,’ he mocked himself.
Rod laughed softly. ‘I suppose not, I never thought of it that way before. It must be hard on your children if you work every day?’
‘We only have the one, a daughter,’ Peter’s smile became indulgent. ‘And Heather enjoys nothing more than coming round the estate with me. At six I suppose it’s a novelty, when she’s older there will probably be complaints!’
The two men were talking together as if they had known each other for years, and it wasn’t something that should be encouraged. But Keilly had no idea how to prevent it. Kathy should have stayed here and helped her instead of running off like that!
‘… so I wondered if you would still be here at Easter?’
Once again she came in on the tailend of Peter’s conversation, although she had an idea what he was going to say next!
‘I can see no reason why I shouldn’t be,’ Rod answered huskily. ‘And a few very good ones why I should,’ he was looking directly at Keilly as he said the last.
‘In that case—’
‘Peter, I don’t think this is the time,’ she interrupted sharply. ‘Besides, Mr Bartlett is here on holiday.’
He frowned at her unwarranted vehemence. ‘But it would only be for a few hours,’ he said in a puzzled voice. ‘And it would mean such a lot to how well we did.’
‘Have you talked to Kathy about it?’ she asked desperately. ‘After all, she usually organises it, and—’
‘You know I mentioned it to her the other day,’ he looked even more puzzled.
‘Maybe if you told me what all this is about…’ Rod looked at them both pointedly.
‘How rude of us,’ Peter gave him an apologetic smile. ‘You see, every Easter we hold a Fěte in the garden at The Hall,’ he explained. ‘We usually get one of the local dignitaries to come along and open it. I realise it isn’t your usual type of thing, but I’ve been wondering—’
‘I’d love to come and open it,’ Rod nodded.
Keilly looked at him with wide eyes. ‘You would?’
‘Why not?’ he raised dark brows.
‘Because—well, because—’
‘Keilly and my wife thought it an awful cheek to ask you,’ Peter told him. ‘But I’ve always maintained that you never get anywhere by not asking.’
‘So have I.’ Rod’s eyes were mocking as he looked down at Keilly.
She blushed at his double meaning. ‘We just thought that as you were here on holiday,’ she defended awkwardly, ‘that you wouldn’t want to become involved.’
‘How thoughtful of you, darling,’ his arm tightened about her waist as she stiffened at the endearment. ‘But I don’t mind in the least. In fact, I might enjoy it.’
‘I hope so,’ Peter said with enthusiasm. ‘So we can safely put your name on our advertising sheets, can we?’
‘Certainly,’ Rod agreed. ‘I’ll look forward to it.’
‘I can’t tell you how pleased I am,’ the other man beamed. ‘I’ll just go and find Kathy to tell her the good news. She’s going to be thrilled!’ he predicted.
Kathy was going to be far from that, and her candid reaction to her husband’s news could give away more than she wanted it to! ‘Why don’t you two men continue talking,’ it was the last thing she wanted them to do without her there to monitor their conversation, but in the circumstances it was the lesser of two evils. ‘And I’ll go and get Kathy,’ she suggested.
‘Don’t be too long,’ Rod said warmly as he reluctantly released her. ‘I know what you women are when you get together,’ he teased.
‘Especially those three,’ Peter joined in the teasing. ‘When Sylvie and Kathy get together it’s bad enough, but with Keilly as well—! We probably won’t see them again for hours.’
Keilly left them to their teasing, her thoughts preoccupied. She had known, as had Kathy, that tonight was going to be awkward enough, but she was sure neither of them had envisaged Rod and Peter actually liking each other!
Kathy was still in the kitchen with her mother, although it appeared they had now completed what little tidying up there had to be done.
‘You go on, Mum,’ Kathy encouraged as she saw Keilly’s worried frown. ‘We’ll be out in a minute.’
‘Don’t be long,’ she warned as she left.
‘Has he gone?’ Kathy hissed as soon as they were alone.
‘No,’ Keilly sighed. ‘You know I have to drive him. He and Peter are still talking—’
‘And you left them alone!’ her cousin gasped. ‘Are you mad? They could be comparing notes by now!’
‘Kathy—’
‘Come on,’ she pulled Keilly along with her. ‘We can’t leave the two of them alone any longer. And I must say, I think you could have warned me he was staying at one of our cottages—’
‘Kathy, will you just listen—’
‘I don’t have the time,’ she snapped. ‘I have to—Ah, darling,’ she gave Peter a wan smile as they reached the two men. ‘I’ve been looking for you.’
‘I haven’t moved,’ he frowned.
‘I have a headache, Peter,’ she added tautly. ‘Much as I hate to break up the party I think we should go now.’
He was instantly concerned. ‘Is it very bad, darling?’
‘Well of course it’s bad,’ she answered waspishly. ‘I would hardly want to leave if it weren’t.’
‘No, of course not,’ Peter flushed at the rebuke. ‘Rod and I were just discussing the Fěte at Easter—’
‘I’m sure Mr Bartlett isn’t interested in our little provincial affairs,’ Kathy’s voice was brittle.
‘On the, contrary, Mrs Carmichael,’ he drawled. ‘Your husband has asked me to open it for you.’
Keilly watched as all the colour ebbed from her cousin’s face, although she could feel little real sympathy for her. If she had taken two minutes to listen she would have been forewarned. Well, it was too late now.
‘Really?’ Kathy’s voice was harsh.
‘I was only too happy to accept,’ Rod nodded, his eyes narrowed. ‘I imagine you would rather discuss the details some other time?’
She gave him a startled look. ‘I would?’
‘Your headache,’ he reminded dryly.
Kathy blushed. ‘Of course.’ She put her hand through the crook of Peter’s arm. ‘I’ll contact you at a later date, Mr Bartlett.’
‘Any time,’ he agreed. ‘You know where I am.’
‘Yes,’ she bit out tautly. ‘Peter, could we go now?’
Her husband nodded immediately. ‘We’ll just go and make our excuses. I’ll see you in the morning, Rod,’ he told the other man ruefully. ‘Keilly,’ he kissed her lightly on the cheek, Kathy following suit before they crossed the room to speak to her mother and father.
Rod watched them with a thoughtful expression. ‘Nice couple,’ he murmured.
‘Yes.’
He looked down at Keilly, his expression relaxing a little. ‘Good friends of yours?’ he asked with casual interest.
‘Very,’ she was as abrupt as Kathy had been minutes earlier, not wanting to talk about the other couple.
‘Does Mrs Carmichael often suffer from these headaches?’
Keilly gave him a sharp look. ‘Sometimes.’
‘Pity,’ he drawled.
She felt a lot easier once Kathy and Peter had actually left, relaxing even more as Rod chatted easily to the other guests, completely in control of himself and the conversation. As she watched him she knew she couldn’t help but fall in love with such a man. He was handsome, charming, gave her his undivided attention every time he spoke or looked at her, what woman could resist such a man? He had never shown her any of the cruelty he had Kathy and Veronica, and even when she put him down he still came back for more of the same. She couldn’t help but love him!
‘Is there anything the matter?’ He had turned and caught her fascinated gaze on him.
‘Oh—er—no,’ she flushed uncomfortably. ‘No, nothing. Would you like me to drive you home now?’
‘Your aunt won’t mind if we leave?’
‘No, of course not.’
‘Then I’d love you to drive me home,’ he said throatily. ‘Can you stay for a while?’
‘Just long enough to make sure you’re home,’ she taunted.
‘Shame,’ he grimaced. ‘Although probably sensible,’ he added softly as they made their way over to where her aunt and uncle were deep in conversation with several other people.
‘Sensible?’ she queried his choice of word, arching dark brows.
‘If you came into the cottage I might not want to let you out again,’ he smiled.
Keilly felt her breath catch in her throat at the intimacy of that smile. ‘It wouldn’t be your choice,’ she snapped.
He met her gaze steadily. ‘Wouldn’t it?’
‘No!’ her eyes flashed deeply grey, realising she had perhaps revealed too much of her feelings tonight, unable to hide the newness of her discovered love completely.
‘Let’s not argue about it,’ he squeezed her waist encouragingly. ‘I don’t want to argue with you at all.’
All too quickly—for Keilly!—they had made their excuses and Rod was driving them back to the cottage. She was terrified of being alone with him again, uncertain of her own reaction to him now, despite what she had told him to the contrary.
‘Would you come out with me tomorrow evening?’ he suddenly asked her. ‘Oh not to a restaurant,’ he added hastily at her withdrawn expression. ‘I’ve learnt my lesson about that,’ he said ruefully. ‘No, this time I intend taking you where no one will recognise me.’
‘Is there such a place?’ she derided.
He smiled. ‘There are many places like that,’ he assured her softly. ‘I’m afraid that you attracted as much attention as I in the restaurant the other evening.’
She gave him a sharp look, not able to see much in the darkness of the car. ‘What do you mean?’
‘You’re a local girl,’ he explained gently. ‘People are interested to see who you’re dating.’
‘Is that all you meant?’ she asked suspiciously.
‘Of course. What else could I have meant?’ he shrugged.
‘Nothing,’ she dismissed abruptly. ‘And if you’re sure we won’t be stared at tomorrow night I would like to go out with you.’
‘Good.’
She ignored the satisfaction in his voice. ‘Maybe you could call me if Peter doesn’t manage to get your car out of the mud; I could pick you up again.’
‘He seems pretty confident.’
‘He’s a very confident man,’ she agreed, suddenly wishing she hadn’t brought his attention back to Kathy and Peter. But she needn’t have worried, Rod had more urgent matters on his mind!
‘Keilly!’ He turned to her after stopping the car at the end of the driveway, switching off the engine. ‘Dear God, Keilly, I’ve been waiting for this all evening!’ He pulled her across the seat into his arms, claiming her mouth possessively.
She knew even as his tongue probed between her lips that she had too, that the hours since they had last touched like this hadn’t dulled their desire for each other, their emotions flaming all too quickly out of control.
‘I love you, Keilly. I love you,’ Rod murmured the words over and over again against her lips before once more claiming them with a savagery that left her weak.
His declaration of love coming so quickly on top of her own realised feelings had her clinging to him as she returned his kisses with a fervour of her own, offering no resistance as he smoothed the coat from her shoulders, releasing the three buttons that were at the collar of her gown, pushing the material aside to caress the creamy curve of her breasts, finding one hardened peak beneath the lace of her bra, caressing the nipple with shuddering pleasure.
‘Why don’t we go into the cottage?’ she suggested raggedly.
‘No,’ he groaned, his mouth returning to hers.
She didn’t understand the reason for his rej
ection, and as his lips moved warmly over the throbbing peak of her breast she didn’t particularly care, arching up into him, gasping slightly as his teeth bit into the sensitive flesh.
‘Touch me, Keilly,’ he encouraged throatily. ‘Touch me the way I’m touching you!’
She needed no second bidding, quickly unbuttoning his shirt to kiss the hard flesh beneath, feeling him tremble beneath her caresses. A heady sense of power urged her to even more intimacy, and one hand moved down to the hardness of his thigh, feeling him tense beneath her touch as she began to slowly caress the throbbing evidence of his desire.
‘Not here, darling,’ he groaned as another shudder of ecstasy wracked his body. ‘Keilly, please. I want you so badly!’ He quickly removed her hand, a fine sheen of perspiration to his brow as he fought for control of rapidly spiralling emotions.
‘I want you too,’ she choked her disappointment.
‘But this isn’t the bed I once promised you, is it?’ he gently chided.
‘The cottage—’
‘I want you to be sure,’ his fingertips over her lips prevented further speech. ‘I want you to be very sure before we make love, because once I’ve made you mine I never intend to let you go again.’
She blinked up at him in the darkness, sanity returning quickly now that he was no longer kissing her. ‘What—what do you mean?’ she asked shakily.
‘Whatever I do, wherever I go in future, I want you to be with me,’ he told her gently, smoothing back the hair at her temples. ‘But you have to want it too.’
‘But I—’
‘It’s still too soon for you, I know that,’ he silenced her once again. ‘But it will work out, you’ll see.’ He rebuttoned her dress for her with hands that weren’t quite steady. ‘Just trust me, Keilly. Trust me,’ he kissed her lingeringly on the lips before getting out of the car, except for the dark glow of his eyes looking none the worse for their passionate encounter. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow, darling,’ he bent forward to say. ‘About seven. And have your dinner first,’ he advised.
‘But—’
‘I love you, Keilly.’
She drew in a ragged breath, only just managing to hold back her own declaration. If he ever knew she loved him in return he would never let her go until he had made her his completely. ‘Tomorrow,’ she agreed abruptly.
Taming The Notorious Billionaire (HQR Presents) Page 11