She sat and watched until the lights were all switched on inside the cottage, telling herself she was just making sure he got in all right, all the time knowing her delay was because she was shaking too much to drive anywhere just yet!
CHAPTER SEVEN
AS they approached the brightly lit cinema, with its advertising posters outside announcing the showing of ‘Beginning Again’ starring Rod Bartlett and Cindy Peters, Keilly knew there could be no doubt that this was where Rod was taking her.
About his declaration of love she had tried not to think during the long night and day that had passed since she had last seen him. Such a declaration could mean anything or nothing, and she didn’t know Rod well enough to know which it was. Even if it was the former it didn’t change anything between them, they still had as much separating them as before. But now they had more than she could cope with drawing them together!
Going to see him naked in a film wasn’t something she wanted right now, not when she already felt so vulnerable! The coloured posters called it a love story, showing Rod and Cindy naked from the waist up, their arms around each other as they looked deeply into each other’s eyes. It was blatantly provocative, and Keilly could feel herself blushing as she sensed Rod looking at her.
She shook her head. ‘I don’t think—’
‘Give it a chance, Keilly,’ he encouraged softly. ‘I admit this poster makes it look other than it is, but that’s just the advertising department encouraging cinema-goers.’
‘You mean your name isn’t enough?’
‘Now, now,’ he chided at her sarcasm. ‘Don’t get bitchy. Give the film a chance, Keilly. I can almost guarantee you’ll love it.’
‘It’s the almost I’m worried about,’ she said dryly. ‘And I thought you said you were taking me somewhere where you would be inconspicuous?’ she reminded.
Rod grinned, looking pointedly at the other people crowding into the cinema, none of them taking the slightest bit of notice of them as they talked together. ‘Who would expect me to be going to see my own film?’ he derided.
‘True,’ she drawled.
He gave a rueful smile. ‘It’s the only way I’ll ever get you to see it.’
‘I haven’t gone in yet,’ she reminded him, glancing at the posters once again. The sight of him making love to another woman wasn’t a pleasant one.
Some of her emotions must have shown in her face, Rod tilting her face up towards his with his hand under her chin. ‘It’s only acting, Keilly,’ he told her softly. ‘Cindy is very much involved with someone else.’
‘And you?’
His eyes darkened to navy blue. ‘I’m in love with you.’
He sounded so sure of his feelings, so certain! ‘I meant then,’ she said tightly.
‘Keilly, no one can feel in the least romantic when your every move is being watched by a dozen or so other people,’ he sighed. ‘Cindy and I were working, that’s all it was to us. I wish you would trust me, darling,’ he added gently. ‘Trust me enough to come and see the film with me. If you hate it I promise we can leave, any time you want to.’
When he put it like that it was churlish to refuse, and within a few minutes they had paid their money, bought their sweets and drinks, and taken their seats in the relative darkness of the cinema just as the film was about to begin.
‘Just in time,’ Rod murmured, lacing her fingers through his as he held her hand firmly in his.
Keilly was determined not to like the film, was sure she wasn’t going to, and yet almost from the first moment she was riveted to the screen, to the struggles of a woman starting her life again when her husband and two children were killed in a car crash. At thirty-five she suddenly found herself alone for the first time in fifteen years, afraid to face the future, too hurt to live in the past with her memories. Her life had changed dramatically in a matter of a few minutes, the town she had been brought up in and lived in all her life her only reality. Then a man called Ben Kingsfield came to the town, with radical plans for construction, intent on changing the little she had left.
The situation was further complicated for Sara by Ben’s obvious attraction to her, not understanding her need to keep the town as it was. There had been nothing she could do to stop him, and even as she tried she knew he was a man who would win, in everything he set out to do. But, as Ben made his intention to make her live again clear, Sara became afraid of something else, afraid most of all of replacing her husband with another man, full of the insecurities of having loved and been loved by one man, whereas Ben could have his pick of woman, and often had.
It was a poignant and moving story, and Keilly was soon so engrossed in it that she forgot her surroundings, forgot even the man at her side, tears cascading down her cheeks as Sara gave herself into Ben’s care, as she entrusted all her present and future happiness into his hands. And Ben hadn’t let her down, making love to her tenderly, beautifully, promising her that no matter where they might be they would be together from now on, that just as the world moved on so did life, that Sara was truly ‘beginning again’.
Keilly felt sure there wasn’t a dry eye in the cinema as the film came to an end, the tissue in her hand soaked to a soggy lump, her emotions frayed.
She followed Rod from the cinema, his hand firm on her arm as he guided her through the crowd. They hadn’t spoken at all during the showing of the film, and they didn’t speak now, Rod respecting her need for a few minutes to collect her thoughts together after being so emotionally moved.
‘I owe you an apology,’ she said in the stillness of his car, Rod making no effort to go out of the car park yet, everyone else seeming to have that idea, making a tailback of traffic. She turned to look at him in the shadowed darkness. ‘I was completely wrong about the film.’
‘And the nude scene?’ he prompted softly.
She blinked her confusion. ‘I—er—It was so much a part of the story, so necessary, that I didn’t even realise…’ She shook her head. ‘I didn’t realise,’ she repeated dazedly, knowing it was true. It had been important for Ben to make love to Sara, to give her the confidence in herself and their love, that it had seemed a natural continuation of events, and had been nothing like the crudity Keilly had assumed it would be before she had seen the film. ‘I owe you an apology for that too,’ she said huskily. ‘It was a beautiful film, all of it.’
‘Thank you,’ was all Rod said with quiet sincerity.
She gave him a sharp look. ‘No “I told you so’s"? No gloating that I was so wrong?’
He shook his head. ‘It’s enough that you liked it. But even if you hadn’t it would have made no difference, you’re entitled to your opinion, as you once reminded me,’ he added dryly, starting the engine as the queue to leave the car park was down to three cars.
Keilly looked down at her hands. ‘I think you deserve to win the Oscar.’
He turned to give her a grateful smile as he manoeuvred the Jaguar out into the high street. ‘It’s nice of you to say so.’
She turned in her seat. ‘I mean it,’ she said with unwarranted fervour.
‘I know you do,’ he said quietly.
‘Rod—’
‘Yes?’ he frowned at her hesitation.
She swallowed hard. ‘Will you tell me—tell me about Veronica?’ She watched him anxiously, not sure how he would react to such a request.
His frown deepened. ‘Are you sure you really want to know?’
‘Yes. Could we go back to the cottage now?’
He drew in a ragged breath. ‘I’m not sure that’s a good idea in the circumstances.’
‘Please!’ she put her hand on his thigh, instantly feeling him tense beneath her. ‘Please,’ she repeated as he turned to look at her.
He nodded wordlessly, his expression grim as they made the two mile journey to the cottage. But Keilly couldn’t refute wanting to know about Veronica, needing to know about at least that part of his past. And he would be the first person to admit that his relationship with Vero
nica King had helped shape him into the man he was today.
‘Go through to the lounge,’ he invited abruptly once they reached the cottage. ‘I’ll make us some coffee; I think we’re going to need it.’
She didn’t offer to help him, realising he needed the time alone, that talking about Veronica was going to be as difficult for him as it was for her. No matter what else she knew about Rod she was sure he was a highly sensitive man, that he felt deeply about things and people. It was becoming more and more difficult for her to associate him with the man Kathy described. The two men sounded alien to each other.
They faced each other across the lounge like adversaries, Rod putting a match to the fire, the leaping flames adding a cheery warmth to the room. Keilly poured the coffee, and for a few minutes they eyed each other warily above the rims of their cups, both loath to speak.
Finally Rod was the one to sigh. ‘I didn’t realise how difficult this was going to be.’
‘If you would rather not—’
‘No!’ his voice was sharp. ‘No,’ he spoke more calmly now, searching for the right words to begin. ‘Do you trust me, Keilly? Do you finally trust me?’
She swallowed hard, determined to answer truthfully. ‘I’m trying to. I really am trying.’
His dark gaze searched her pale face. ‘It’s enough,’ he nodded. ‘It has to be,’ he sighed. ‘I was almost twenty-one when I met Veronica, as you know she was already over thirty. A friend of mine knew of a party where a famous producer was going to be,’ he shrugged. ‘So we gatecrashed. I gatecrashed a lot of parties in those days,’ he recalled ruefully. ‘I was a nobody, I certainly wasn’t going to get a legitimate invite! This particular party was a little different from most, every guest a “name” of some repute; Dave and I were sure to be found out for what we were,’ he grimaced. ‘We had been there about half an hour when two big muscle-bound men came over and “politely” asked us to leave. Dave was about to argue when Veronica stepped in and said we were her guests for the evening.’
Keilly’s eyes widened. ‘And what was how you first met?’
‘Yes,’ he smiled at the memory. ‘She told me afterwards that she had been trying to find out who I was with ever since she had arrived ten minutes earlier,’ he chuckled softly. ‘Veronica was a very forthright lady, if she wanted something she said so.’
‘She wanted you,’ Keilly guessed flatly.
He gave her a narrow-eyed look. ‘Yes, she wanted me. And I wanted her. Did you ever see any of her pictures?’
‘She was beautiful,’ Keilly nodded.
‘Inside as well as out,’ he stated firmly. ‘She grew up in Hollywood society, both her parents were “stars” in their day, and Veronica was in front of the cameras before she even learnt to talk. She had been through it all in her thirty years, the drugs scene, the permissiveness, a miscarriage, a marriage break-down, and yet she had somehow still managed to stay beautiful. I never heard her say anything bitchy about anyone in the three years we were together. But she wasn’t a paragon either,’ his thoughts were inwards, his eyes glowing with memories. ‘She could be fun. She loved nothing better than playing practical jokes on people. That was how she taught me to laugh at myself, not to take life too seriously. The three years I knew her were the best in my life.’
‘Did she—did she love you too?’
‘Yes,’ he answered flatly. ‘Yes, she loved me.’
‘Tell me why she—why she died?’
Deep lines became grooved beside his mouth and nose. ‘I asked her to marry me; we were in love, it seemed the natural thing to do. She turned me down flat, gave me every excuse but the real one. Eighteen months after we had begun living together she had found out she had cancer,’ he revealed grimly.
‘Oh no,’ Keilly gasped her horror.
‘Yes,’ he confirmed harshly. ‘There was nothing they could do, they gave her a year at most. She didn’t tell me, and for the next eighteen months I continued to live in a fool’s paradise, thought we had our whole lives together. The day before she—before the accident she told me the truth. I knew there was something wrong with her, she was beginning to tire easily, to lose weight; but the real reason for it never occurred to me! She was so young and beautiful, it didn’t seem possible she was dying. I wanted to take her to every specialist there was, I was willing to try anything to keep her alive.’
‘But Veronica wasn’t,’ Keilly prompted softly, seeing how deeply he was being affected by what he was telling her.
He shook his head. ‘She knew there was nothing that could be done. Although she told me she would try them all if that was what I wanted. The next day she took her plane up and never came back; it crashed into the sea. She left a note telling me she couldn’t put me through the pain and disillusionment going to those specialists would entail. Put me through it!’ He dropped his face down into his hands. ‘I would have done anything for her.’
Keilly moved across the room, sitting on the floor at his feet, her hands resting comfortingly on his legs. ‘Except let her die,’ she told him gently. ‘Rod, she didn’t want to go through all those disappointments, all those times of being told there was nothing they could do to help her, and she didn’t want you to go through it either.’
He put his hands down slowly. ‘You understand. You really do,’ he said slowly.
‘My mother died of heart disease,’ she recalled flatly. ‘She was young too, about Veronica’s age, and they told her there was nothing they could do for her either. None of us knew until after she died how ill she had been for so long, she hid it from us all.’
Rod’s eyes were darkly troubled. ‘It wasn’t an hereditary disease, was it?’
She frowned. ‘No…’
‘Thank God!’ He shuddered, his hands moving to grasp both of hers. ‘I couldn’t bear it if I lost you too!’
‘Oh no, darling,’ she sat up to hold him against her breasts. ‘I’m not going to die,’ she assured him huskily. ‘I’m not going anywhere.’
‘You called me darling,’ his voice was muffled against her. ‘Did you mean it?’ He moved back to look at her, searching the beautiful vulnerability of her face.
‘Yes,’ she told him evenly. ‘I meant it.’
‘I love you,’ he groaned as his head bent to hers.
Emotions were running very high, quickly spiralling out of control as their kisses became savagely heated, demanding more and more of each other, becoming impatient with the hindrance of their clothing as they sought closer contact.
‘I meant what I said a few minutes ago,’ she told him raggedly. ‘I’m not going anywhere, and especially not now.’
Blue eyes clashed with grey as he searched her face for the meaning of her words. ‘Are you sure?’ he finally asked breathlessly.
‘Rod,’ she chided teasingly. ‘Do I have to beg to be seduced?’
His expression remained serious. ‘You have to be very sure. If you stay now you’ll remain mine.’
‘I’m not making this decision lightly—’
‘I know that,’ he soothed.
‘No, you don’t,’ she shook her head, as sober as he now. ‘I never knew my father, in fact I don’t even know who he was. My mother never liked to talk about him, and she died before I was really old enough to ask questions. But growing up illegitimate has made me more aware of the mistakes that can be made when people go into a physical relationship without considering all the consequences. It isn’t a decision I would ever make lightly,’ she repeated vehemently.
His hands tenderly framed her face. ‘I won’t ever let anything like that happen to you,’ he promised.
She met his gaze trustingly. ‘I know you won’t.’
‘You love me.’
‘I—’
His fingertips over her lips prevented further speech. ‘You love me, Keilly,’ he stated firmly. ‘Even if you don’t know it yet.’
She knew it, God she knew it. And yet she couldn’t actually say the words. But she didn’t need to as Rod s
tood up to swing her into his arms before striding up the stairs with her to his bedroom.
She knew only a moment of panic as he began to undress her before the warm love in his eyes drove all other thoughts but him out of her mind, helping him with the last of her clothing before he too began to undress. She already knew the beauty of his body, had been witness to it the evening he joined her for her swim, his male beauty riveting on the cinema screen. But tonight he was hers, and hers alone, and as she began to touch him she knew he was everything she had ever wanted in the man she loved.
‘You’re beautiful, Keilly,’ Rod caressed her wonderingly in the semi-darkness of the room. ‘Beautiful—and innocent.’
The last was added as a question, and Keilly blushed her reply, burying her face against his hair-roughened chest.
‘I’m glad,’ he murmured into her hair. ‘It’s never mattered to me before, but with you it does. I’ll be gentle, my darling. I promise.’
As they lay on the bed side by side she began to lose her shyness with him, caressing the hardness of his back and hips even as he began to kiss her throat and breasts. His were the only lips that had ever touched her this intimately, and she felt the now familiar warmth as his mouth closed moistly over one taut nipple, flicking his tongue against the sensitive flesh as she quivered her pleasure.
But the intimacy of his kisses had far from ended, and as he moved lower down her body she began to stiffen with alarm, squirming away from him in panic.
‘Trust me.’ Rod’s hands on her arms attempted to still her. ‘I would never do anything to hurt you. Trust me, Keilly,’ he urged as he had numerous times before.
She stilled beneath the intensity of his words, her uncertainty reflected in her eyes as she felt his lips against the flatness of her stomach, tensing as he moved even lower, gasping out loud as she felt his lips where no other man had ever touched, her gasp turning to a groan of delight as pleasure such as she had never known wracked her body, making her tremble with desire.
Taming The Notorious Billionaire (HQR Presents) Page 12