One Night of Misbehavior (5 page)

Ash caught the waiter’s eye—a difficult task that took frustratingly long minutes. Finally, the waiter trotted over to their table. “Can we have the bill please?”

The staff completed this part of the evening with haste, and soon they were outside. Night had fallen while they were dining and now streetlights shone on the road and footpaths. Ash glanced up and down the street, checking for people, for reporters or cameras. Nothing. His breath eased out, and he seized Charlotte’s hand. Pulling her close, he pressed a quick and entirely unsatisfactory kiss on her upturned lips. Not enough. He started walking, tugging her after him. An alley. Perfect.

Ash dragged Charlotte into the dark shadows, his heart thumping, desire a heady beat through his veins. Before she could speak, could voice the questions he knew she’d have, he covered her mouth with his, taking her like a famished man.

Charlotte wanted to protest, wanted to say she wasn’t that sort of girl, but the words jammed halfway up her throat. She clutched his shoulders and let him kiss her. Cripes, why not tell the truth? At least to herself. He made her feel free and daring, and she wanted him so much it hurt.

He fumbled with the buttons of her blouse, wrenched her bra aside. She groaned against his mouth as he thumbed her aching nipple, tugging and creating the perfect friction. One hand crept up her thigh and under her skirt, palming her buttock and squeezing.

She pulled away from the kiss, her chest heaving as she gasped for air. His hands didn’t leave her skin. He surrounded her with his power, his scent. His determination. Fear should have filled her, but he brought out the femininity in her, made her feel more than a drudge. He made her beautiful. Powerful. And it was heady stuff.

“I don’t suppose you have a condom?” Ms. Feisty to the fore.
Oh, yeah
.

He muttered something under his breath, seconds before his fingers dipped beneath the band of her panties. Fabric ripped as he cupped her heat. She gripped his shoulders and held on, moaning her pleasure when one finger pushed inside her. Not even the embarrassing liquid squelch of her arousal pulled her from the spell. All she could think about was him filling her, thrusting deep with his hard length.

Impatient for more, she attacked the fastening of his trousers, pleased to find a distinct bulge. “Ash, please.”

He flicked his finger over her clit. “Please what?” His gritty voice told her they were both lost causes. Neither of them possessed an ounce of good sense.

“Fuck me. Please, I need you inside me now.”

“I thought we weren’t going to have sex again.”

Her groan was half laugh “This is scratching an itch. Putting out a fire. You started it with your dinner flirtation. Fix it.”

“I didn’t think you’d noticed.” Two fingers pumped into her now, and she sensed rather than saw his grin. Oh Lord. It wasn’t enough.

“More.” She yanked at his zipper, managing to get it open, and scooped his cock out with difficulty. She couldn’t see much in the dark, but she could feel. The sweep of her thumb was greeted with beads of moisture.

“Charlotte, don’t do that. I can’t…let me get a condom.”

She almost cried at the emptiness when he pulled his fingers out of her. He gave her panties a sharp yank, and they came away in his hand. She thought he stuffed them in his pocket but couldn’t be sure.

The rustle of clothing sounded, the crinkle of a foil packet.

“Stand over here,” he said, guiding her to a place with a low brick wall.

The sweet scent of spring flowers wafted to her, a hint of daffodils and erlicheer. Someone’s garden. Then thoughts fled from her head. He turned her to face the wall and lifted her skirt. The evening breeze blew across her bottom, a contrast to the searing heat between her legs.

“Perfect,” Ash said and with a low growl he filled her with one steady thrust.

Her breath caught at the rightness of his possession. She bit down on her lip, the distant sound of a voice, the faint rumble of a passing car reminding her this was a public place where they faced discovery at any second.

As if sensing her desperation, Ash set a fast pace. In and out. Thrust and withdraw, filling the empty spaces inside her.

“Play with your clit,” he whispered against her ear. “Make yourself come.”

His directions fired a switch in her. She wanted to please him, and oh, she craved release in the worst way.

One hand gripped her hip, hard enough to leave a bruise. His other hand snaked around her torso, seeking her breast. While her finger slipped back and forth over her flesh, he plucked her nipple, his handling rough and perfect.

Charlotte bit her bottom lip, trying to contain her cries of pleasure. He shoved deep and pinched her nipple hard. Combined with her stroking finger, it was too much, and the coil of sensual tension inside her snapped, exploding, drowning her in the aftermath. Her keening moan seemed to set him off. He drove into her with hard, uncompromising strokes before freezing, balls deep in her rippling flesh, his breaths harsh against her ear.

After a long moment, he pulled out. His clothes rustled as he dealt with the condom and righted his appearance. Charlotte stayed where she was, unsure if her legs would support her without the rigid brick to aid her balance.

“Charlotte, are you okay?”

“Yes.” Her reply emerged sharp. Short. The passion, the languid pleasure still roaring through her veins shocked her. What was it with this man? Without even trying he pushed past her defenses and incited her to riot against good behavior.

“Fuck,” he muttered. “I’m sorry.” He pulled her skirt down to cover her naked bottom and turned her into his arms. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I shouldn’t have—”

“Don’t,” she said, reaching up to place her fingers across his mouth. “Don’t apologize.”

“Okay.” For once, uncertainty coated his voice.

Unable to make out the nuances of his expression in the dim alley, she reached up to kiss him instead. His arms swept around her, crushing her bare breasts against his shirt. But it was his harsh groan of surrender that thrilled her most of all.

They kissed for ages, neither flinching when the click of heels against pavement indicated someone passing the mouth of the alley.

He lifted his lips, pressing his forehead against hers. “I intended to use a bit more finesse with my seduction.”

Charlotte sighed. “I should go home. I want to ring the hospital to check on Gran.” She tugged her bra into place and fumbled with her buttons, praying they were in the right holes. “What happened to my undies?”

“I’m afraid I ripped them.”

“You’re a bit hard on my lingerie, Ash. This is the second time I’ve had to leave the scene of the crime with a bare ass.”

He chuckled as they walked toward his car. “Scene of the crime?”

“Yeah.”

“I have your apricot panties at home.”

Charlotte chewed on her bottom lip as she considered what that meant. It wasn’t the behavior of a man on a one-night stand, or maybe it was. She had no idea since she and her stepsisters never discussed this sort of stuff. “I’ll have to start going commando soon,” she said drily as he settled her in the passenger seat. A fact. Elizabeth didn’t pay her much and had only given her a small wage each week at Gran’s insistence.

His grin was pure bad boy as he climbed behind the wheel. “The idea has merit.” His hand landed on her knee and skirted upward in an impudent manner.

“It’s not decent. Proper women do not go about without underwear.”
And they shouldn’t leave a trail behind them either
. Charlotte fought the instinct to spread her legs and give him full access to her pussy. A sharp intake of breath did nothing to clear her lust-filled brain.
Resistance is futile
. Holy Hannah. She was not letting a rich man rescue her from drudgery. It was too…too Cinderellish.

Traffic was light, and Ash soon pulled up in front of Elizabeth’s house. He undid his seat belt and she stopped him.

“Stay. I can see myself inside.”

“I was hoping I’d get a good night kiss.”

A smile curled her mouth. “You can have one of those.”

His lips against hers drew a sigh, the seductive flicker of his tongue an enticement to sink back under his spell. A revealing groan squeezed past her lips, the kiss taking on an air of desperation. The outside light switched on without warning, the bright beam intruding on their private world.

The front door opened, and Elizabeth stood there. One glimpse of her posture brought a wince in Charlotte. The brewing storm was clear, even from this distance. “I’d better go.” Charlotte opened the door.

“Wait. Give me your cell phone number.”

Charlotte shot a quick glance at Elizabeth, her stomach doing a double pike and spinning into freefall. Bloody hell. She rattled off the number, her hand going to the door.

“You’re going to accept the job with Marlborough Media?”

Somehow. “I promised Gran I would.”

“Good. Can you start on Monday?”

“Okay,” Charlotte said, and she jumped out of the car. Swallowing the nerves buffeting her, she walked toward Elizabeth. Behind her, Ash pulled out of the driveway, the low purr of his vehicle indicating she was alone to face the dragon. Which was what she’d wanted, she reminded herself. Her problem. Her battle.

“You’re late,” Elizabeth snapped.

Charlotte glanced at her watch. “It’s half ten.” Jenny and Rachel stayed out much later. Sometimes they didn’t come home.

“The dishes need doing and the kitchen requires a tidy. Make sure you do it before you go to bed.”

Charlotte nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

“You smell of sex,” Elizabeth snapped.

Bother. She’d hoped Elizabeth wouldn’t notice her crumpled appearance, blindingly obvious in the unforgiving hall light. “I’ll go and do the dishes.” A strategic retreat. Make sure she lived to fight another day.

Charlotte rose at six the next morning, even though it had taken her a good hour to return the kitchen to the pristine condition in which she’d left it. No point complaining because Elizabeth would tell her if she didn’t like the way things were done, she could leave.

Breakfast was ready when Elizabeth walked into the kitchen. She inclined her head and actually thanked her for the coffee.

Foreboding rose in Charlotte.

“Come and sit down, Charlotte. We need to talk.”

Charlotte forced herself to walk over to the breakfast table—one foot after the other. The wooden chair scraped across the floor tiles when she pulled it out. Someone had spilt something on the floor. She’d need to mop today. The mundane thoughts helped to keep her panic at bay.

“I talked to Mum after you left and also to the doctors.” Elizabeth’s voice trembled a fraction before steadying. “The doctors say there’s nothing much they can do, except make Mum comfortable. The lupus has compromised her other organs, and she doesn’t have much time left.” She gulped and picked up her coffee with a shaky hand. After one sip, she set the mug down. “The doctors said they’d give her drugs to alleviate the pain. Mum wants to come home, but she requires a nurse or companion.” Elizabeth’s voice broke, her eyes taking on a distinct sheen.

Charlotte interpreted everything Elizabeth didn’t say. Wincing, she weighed the job of her dreams against spending more time with Gran, and it was no contest. “I’ll look after Gran.”

Elizabeth stared at her and, after a pause, nodded. “Thank you. I’ll see to arrangements for bringing her home. I’ll ring the hospital now to see how she is.” She rose and left the kitchen, bypassing the phone on the counter.

An ache spread across Charlotte’s chest then a tear plopped onto the tabletop, and Charlotte realized she was crying. With an impatient hand, she swiped the moisture away and stood decisively. Time to mop the floor. There was no point in sobbing over lost dreams.

The unexpected business trip to Australia couldn’t have come at a worse time. Charlotte’s cell phone appeared out of order, and his calls went through to a recording stating the number was no longer in use. In the end he’d left a message every night at the McDougal house, and whichever stepsister he’d spoken to had promised to give Charlotte his messages. That was one week ago.

He checked his watch and silently urged the taxi driver to go faster, impatient to walk into the office and catch a glimpse of Charlotte at work, even if he couldn’t talk to her. They left Auckland airport at a crawl—school holidays and rush-hour traffic combining to make a nasty stop-start snarl. Brief glimpses of green pastures gave way to a cityscape, and if anything, the traffic grew worse. He pulled his cell phone out to ring the office and request that Charlotte stay behind before changing his mind. While he didn’t give a damn about gossip—the magazines wrote what they wanted anyhow—he knew rumors about them appearing in print would upset Charlotte. She was skittish enough without the added pressure.

He shook his head as he acknowledged the truth. Charlotte had wriggled past his reserve the first moment she’d grinned at him in her direct unprincesslike way across the dance floor of the ballroom. They were good together, and he didn’t intend to let her push him away without a fight.

Half an hour later, he stalked into the office.

“Good, you’re back,” his vice president said. “A few things have come with the Shafeur account.”

Ash nodded without looking at him, glancing at the large open space where his employees worked. At twenty to six, many of them were packing up to leave for the day. He couldn’t see Charlotte among them. “How is the new girl working out?”

“Didn’t Laura tell you? She rang on Monday morning and turned down the job.”

“No. What reason did she give for refusing the job?”

“Family. Her grandmother is dying.”

“Damn.” He’d expected as much and wished he’d been wrong.

John sent him a strange look, pulling Ash to his senses. “I’ve met her grandmother. She’s a character.”

“Laura and I took a look at the other applicants. In the end we hired the next two on our final list. With the amount of work we’re attracting, we can do with the extra talent coming through. Train them to our methods.”

Ash nodded, even as disappointment seared his gut. Maybe this way was better. He could ask Charlotte out without worrying about gossip. “John, now that the problems are sorted out in Sydney I don’t have much on. Is there a new job I could sink my teeth into? Something small, maybe from a new client, a job I can work on between my other responsibilities.”

“There’s a bakery that wants us to take on their account. I was going to turn them down, but if you’ve got time, I’ll give them the go ahead.”

“Email me the details. Is there anything else I need to look at tonight?”

John laughed. “Nothing that can’t wait until tomorrow. Go home. You look knackered.”

“I am tired,” Ash confessed.

“Too many nights out on the town with beautiful ladies.”

The words struck like a jab in the guts with a rusty knife. The papers had reported his nights out and taken photographs of him dancing with different women. What they hadn’t mentioned was that their husbands were present or that he’d returned to his hotel suite alone. He shrugged, the inference by both John and the press irking him. “I think I’ll head home.” He turned to leave and halted. “Who did we employ?”

“Scott Chandler and today we decided on the other applicant who already worked for us on the admin side—Jenny McDougal.”

Ash nodded, rolling the info around his mind. He recalled both applicants, and of course, he’d met Jenny. Coincidences happened, but they always made the hair at the back of his neck bristle. He could be wrong, but in this case he suspected how some of the cards had fallen—pushed with the help of Charlotte’s stepmother and stepsisters. “See you tomorrow, John.”

Outside the office, he hailed another cab to take him home. He had the beginnings of a plan, but he needed to mull it over to make sure he covered every angle. If what he suspected was true, he intended to make sure the culprits didn’t get everything their way.

* * * * *

“Would you like to listen to music or read tonight, Gran?” Charlotte didn’t think Gran would manage to hold a book given her current weakness, but she pretended otherwise.

“Can you to read me more of the historical romance? We’re almost at the dirty bits.”

“Aw, Gran,” Charlotte complained because she knew it could make Gran chortle. “The erotic ones always make me blush.”

“Good for blood circulation,” Gran said with a flicker of the old gleam in her eyes.

Charlotte suppressed her grin and huffed out a put-upon sigh. She reached for the e-reader, and turned it on to begin reading.

“Louisa gasped at the sensual bite and play of his teeth, the hard suction of his lips and the tug that echoed in her pussy. She yanked on his hair, her hips moving against him in silent insistence. Laughing quietly, he switched his mouth to her other breast and repeated the treatment, a delicious combo of wet mouth and hard pulls. She ran her fingers through his long hair, tugging strands from his queue. When he lifted his head, she arched upward to meet his kiss, tasting the brandy on his lips.”

“This is a good historical,” Gran said. “I want you to help me buy some more online tomorrow. We can choose them together.”

“Sure. Do you want me to keep reading?”
Please, let me stop reading
.
This reminded her of Ash and everything they’d done together in the hotel room after the ball and in the alley.

“You’ve haven’t read a page yet.” Gran’s eyes narrowed then glee echoed in her full smile. “You don’t want to read the naughty words.”

Charlotte grinned to hide her discomfort, took a deep breath and plunged into the rest of the scene.

“
‘I hate being apart from you. I hate seeing you with
her
.’ She pressed her lips to his throat and flicked out her tongue, savoring the faint saltiness of his skin.

“
‘Louisa, you know I don’t love her,’ he said. ‘Not the same way I love you.’

“Beneath her hand his heart beat a rapid tattoo, and the passion burning in his eyes increased the desperate hunger inside her.

“
‘Kiss me,’ she begged. ‘Fuck me. Show me how much you need me.’

“
‘I do need you, my sweet.’ He kissed her neck, sucked a bite from the curve of one breast while he teased and tormented the nipple of her other. Liquid heat bloomed in her, and when he glanced at her, she caught the flare of desire in his eyes. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders as he rose over her, caught her breath when he pushed inside her damp heat. He plunged deep—
”

A sharp snore broke the flow of the love scene. Gran’s mouth had dropped open and her glasses were askew. Relieved she could stop reading, but with a heavy heart, Charlotte set the e-reader aside and leaned over to remove Gran’s glasses. She picked up the dinner tray, most of the meal uneaten and retreated to the kitchen.

“That’s wonderful news, Jenny.” Elizabeth stopped talking when Charlotte appeared in the doorway. “How’s Mum?”

“She fell asleep while I was reading to her.”

Rachel stood. “Jenny and I are going out for a few drinks. You won’t mind doing the dishes, will you?”

Of course she minded. Charlotte started to clear the dishes off the table, noted the empty plates. “You guys ate everything? You didn’t leave me anything?” Fatigue loosened the control she usually kept on her tongue. “I’ve looked after Gran all day, cooked meals and I’m tired and hungry.” She slammed down a heap of dishes on the counter so hard a fork shot off the top plate and bounced on the floor. “Rachel, since you and Jenny ate the food, you can do the dishes tonight.”

Elizabeth’s mouth tightened. “Where are you going?”

“I’m going for a walk.”

“What about Mum?”

“Surely you can look after her if she wakes and needs anything,” Charlotte said, attempting to sound reasonable when she wanted to shriek like a mythical banshee. She paused a second, saw Elizabeth’s curt acceptance and left before her stepsisters started bitching.

Outside the air was fresh and it was almost dark. Street lights illuminated the pavement, and her shoes slapped the path with each quick step, temper still burning through her. She’d agreed to look after Gran and had time to make meals, but that didn’t mean they should treat her as a slave. She kept walking, resentment marching through her mind.

Ash hadn’t called. She’d thought he would ring at the house, but she hadn’t heard from him since he’d taken her for dinner. Maybe he was angry because she’d turned down the job. Heck, she’d hated having to make the phone call, had struggled to get out the words. Anger still choked her, a hint of bitterness, yet she couldn’t regret spending time with Gran. A knot formed in her throat, the burn of tears stinging her eyes.

She kept walking, pushing her speed to outrun her thoughts. Ash popped into her mind again. “Damn the man!”

Perhaps it had been about sex. He’d had her twice and intended to move on, the ultimate playboy as portrayed in the magazines. Yeah, maybe he was one of those men who delighted in the chase and lost interest once he’d caught his prey. Heck, she hadn’t even made the pursuit difficult. God, she had to stop thinking about him. No, instead of Ash she had to consider her future and what she’d do after Gran…

Her throat worked in a swallow. She didn’t know what she’d do. An empty bank account meant a lack of opportunity, and she doubted Elizabeth would help her, even if she begged. No wiser, but feeling calmer at least, she rounded the corner into her street.

When she let herself inside, she found Elizabeth in the lounge watching television.

“Did you have a nice walk?”

“Yes, thank you.” Charlotte eyed her stepmother with trepidation.

“Mum is still sleeping.”

Charlotte nodded. “I’m tired. I’ll check on her before I go to bed.”

“I cleaned the kitchen for you.”

Charlotte froze in the doorway. Did her stepmother want a medal? She ended up giving a curt nod and turned to leave, but Elizabeth wasn’t finished with her.

“Wait. I wanted to tell you about Jenny’s new job.”

“I didn’t realize she was interviewing for a new job.”

“She received a promotion at Marlborough Media.” Elizabeth’s voice was calm, even, but Charlotte heard the underpinning of glee.

Forewarning to steel herself against the verbal thrust about to strike. She stared at Elizabeth, waiting, knowing better than to hurry her stepmother. The silence lengthened to a point shy of uncomfortable.

After the long pause, Elizabeth finally spoke. “Jenny was offered a position in the design department.”

“But that’s—”

“The job she interviewed for last Tuesday.” Elizabeth’s smile held the warmth of a winter frost.

“Why do you hate me so much?”

“I don’t hate you, Charlotte. For that I’d have to care.” Elizabeth stood and brushed past. Her heels
clip-clopped
as she ascended the stairs and disappeared from sight.

On tottering legs, Charlotte managed to walk to a seat and drop onto it, shock and fury combining to a thunderous roar in her ears.

Jenny had stolen her job.

* * * * *

After a patchy night of sleep, Ash parked down the road from the McDougal house. His plan—he’d wait until Elizabeth, Jenny and Rachel left for work and pray Charlotte would let him into the house. Hell, he’d use blackmail if he had to, tell her he’d come to see Ivy. There had to be a reason for her ignoring his calls.

Elizabeth left first, driving a late-model sedan. Rachel sped from the house ten minutes later in a red convertible and Jenny departed last in a blue SUV. Ash checked his watch again. It was just before nine. Deciding to give Charlotte a little breathing space first, he left to get coffee and a treat for Ivy. An excuse for visiting.

Half an hour later, he pulled up in the Remuera driveway. With three coffees—he’d made an educated guess as to type—plus a cyclamen plant with delicate red flowers and a bunch of glossy magazines, he pressed the doorbell.

The door opened and Charlotte stood in front of him, fiery red hair loose around her shoulders, distinct shadows under her eyes. Her mouth tightened on seeing him. They stared at each other for a long moment—a clash of resentment and confusion.

Ash blinked, unaccountably nervous. “Why didn’t you return my calls?”
Hell, not what he’d planned to say
.

“What calls?”

“I rang you every night this week, and I called before I left for the emergency meeting in Sydney. One of your sisters promised they’d pass on my messages.”

Some of the stiffness eased out of Charlotte’s shoulders, and Ash relaxed a fraction too.

“Every night?”

“I can show you my cell phone records. I tried your cell phone first and kept getting a disconnected message.” The panic inhabiting his stomach lifted. “How is Ivy?”

“Not too good.”

“Is she awake now? Could I visit? I’ve brought coffee.”

Charlotte stood aside, silently indicating he should enter.

“You look tired.” Unable to resist, he pressed a kiss to her temple, breathing in the delicate floral scent of her hair. “I’ve missed you.”

“Let me take the coffees.”

She hadn’t returned the sentiment, but she’d let him inside. He’d take the victory and go from there. Small talk. Yeah. That should work, help her relax and repair the damage her sisters had done to their budding relationship. “I got plain lattes without sugar. I figured you’d have sugar if you needed it.”

She nodded. “Gran’s room is up the stairs, second on the right. You’d better knock before you go inside. I’ll get the sugar.”

He followed her instructions, rapping his knuckles on the open door. “Are you decent?” he called. “Can I come in?”

“Ash.” Ivy tugged the blankets up, appearing small in the queen-size bed. “How delightful. Come in.”