The Helen Bianchin Collection (Mills & Boon E-Book Collections) (159 page)

‘Hi.' As a greeting, it fell short by a mile, but it was the best she could do with her breath caught in her throat as he slid into the passenger seat.

‘Morning.' His appraisal was swift, encompassing. ‘You slept well?'

Oh, my, how did she answer that? Admit his image had filled her imagination and her last waking thought had been of him?

‘Yes, thank you.' Why was she sounding so excruciatingly polite? ‘And you?'

‘Fine.'

His smile broadened, and her stomach curled as the grooves slashing each cheek became more defined, and tiny lines fanned out from the corners of his eyes.

Rebekah moved the gear-shift and sent the MG out onto the street, driving with practised ease as she headed towards the city pier.

He exuded latent strength…not only of the body, but of the mind. A man who went after what he wanted with steel-willed resolve, she perceived, and wondered at his strategy with regard to
her
.

A convenient but brief affair while he tended to business? Why go for emotional entanglement when he could pay for sex, then walk away?

It didn't make sense. None of his actions made sense.

Unless… No, she dismissed instantly. He wasn't attracted to her.
Intrigued,
possibly. Was he aware of
the sexual chemistry that shimmered between them? Or was it one-sided and all
hers
?

Oh, for heaven's sake, get a grip, she mentally chastised. He's Luc's cousin, he's in Sydney on business, you're the sister of his cousin's wife. He's simply being kind.

So why didn't it feel like
kind
when he touched her?
Kissed
her?

So how
did
it feel? a tiny imp taunted.

Like she'd caught a glimpse of heaven on earth. Something she dared not hope for, in a place she was afraid to occupy.

Fear of rejection? Afraid it wouldn't,
couldn't
last?

She'd experienced one particular taste of hell. She wasn't keen to sample another.

But what if you're wrong? What if you're choosing to deny something incredibly wonderful simply because one man fooled you with a Jekyll-and-Hyde personality?

Just enjoy the day, why don't you? she admonished silently as they walked out onto the pier and boarded the large cruise boat equipped to carry up to fifty passengers and crew.

The sun shone brightly with the warmth of an early summer, and the sky was a clear azure. A breeze became evident as the boat moved out into the harbour, and Rebekah pointed out prime real estate built on the rocky cliff-face that bordered the many coves and inlets.

There were numerous craft moored, some small, others large and luxurious, and she indicated various
landmarks, homes of the rich and famous as the boat cruised the inner harbour.

For a while they moved out on deck, and she was conscious of Jace's presence, the light touch of his hand on her arm, the way her body reacted to his as he leaned in close to follow her line of vision as she indicated certain focal points of interest.

Way out in the distance a huge tanker was slowly making its way in, and as they returned city-side there were two tugboats steaming out to meet a luxury liner, a solid, oft-used ferry boat chugging towards the North Shore, and a sleek hydrofoil bringing passengers in from Manly.

Where better to view the wide, distinctive arch of the Harbour Bridge, the graceful architectural curves of the Opera House?

Sydney was a beautiful city with one of the finest harbours in the world. Today, looking at it from a visitor's viewpoint, there was a sense of pride in the familiar, an innate feeling of patriotism.

The sun had moved overhead and was now shifting towards the west, washing the buildings, some old, some new in towers of concrete, steel and glass.

Glorious by day, stunning at night when electric light shaped the many buildings against an indigo sky, and multicoloured flashing neon added colour and interest to an intriguing night-scape.

‘Beautiful.' Jace's voice was quiet, almost husky, and Rebekah turned towards him, words of agreement escaping her lips.

Except he wasn't admiring the view, he was looking at her.

For one brief minute it seemed as if the world shifted slightly, and she barely refrained from reaching out a hand to steady herself.

Crazy. Perhaps she imagined it, and it was the boat?

But no, it was moving steadily, there was no back-wash, and the harbour waters were as smooth as glass.

This was bad. Really bad.

She leaned forward against the railing and concentrated on a small liner as it lay moored, then she shifted her attention to the row of city buildings.

Most all of the passengers had emerged onto the deck, and she gave a surprised start as Jace moved to position himself behind her.

It was, she realised, a polite gesture to allow others room to share the view, and his arms caged her body as he fastened his hands on the railing.

His body wasn't touching hers, but she was supremely aware just how easy it would be to lean back against him. Have him link his arms at her waist, and rest his chin against her head.

For a moment she felt as if she couldn't breathe, and panic that he might sense her discomfort forced her to regulate every breath in an effort to slow her rapidly beating pulse.

The cruise boat docked at four, and the passengers lined up ready to disembark. Jace stood behind her, and he put a hand to her waist to steady her as they stepped down the gangplank.

She felt the heat of his touch, and her stomach executed a backward flip.

Nerves, she decided, were hell and damnation. Her body seemed to be in a permanent state of flux whenever Jace Dimitriades was within touching distance.

‘We're not far from the aquarium,' Jace declared. ‘I checked out its location this morning. We've time for a quick tour before it closes.'

‘We?'
She shot him a startled glance. ‘I don't think—'

‘You have an aversion to sea creatures?'

‘No.'

‘You visited last week, and can't bear to do it again so soon?'

Dammit, he was teasing her. Well, two could play at that game. ‘Fish?' she queried sweetly. ‘You want to go see
fish
?'

His warm smile tore the breath from her throat. ‘With my favourite tour guide for company.'

Rebekah gave a small mock-bow. ‘Australian residents have a duty to please their overseas visitors.' She indicated a flight of steps. ‘Shall we proceed?'

The staff member manning the aquarium ticket box shook her head doubtfully and reminded there was less than an hour before closing time.

‘We'll walk very quickly,' Rebekah assured as Jace picked up the tickets.

Some exhibits were exotic specimens, others fearsome, especially in the large aquarium housing various predators. The enclosed areas held a damp salty smell, and Rebekah breathed in fresh air as they
emerged out into the sunshine and began walking to where she'd parked the car.

‘How dedicated are you to playing tour guide?' Jace queried as he slid into the passenger seat.

She turned towards him. ‘You don't want to go back to the hotel?'

‘I'd like to explore the Rocks,' Jace declared, and saw her eyes widen.

The area was in an old part of the city bordering on the harbour and held a variety of shops, stalls and numerous cafés and restaurants.

‘You're kidding me, right?'

‘We could grab something to eat there.'

This was going a bit too far. ‘We've spent all day together,' she managed evenly.

‘So, what's a few more hours?'

Common sense urged her to refuse. ‘I have things to do at home.' It was a token protest.

‘Want for me to help out?'

There was a part of her that was tempted to call his bluff just to see him undertake domestic chores.

‘Somehow I can't summon an image of you handling a vacuum cleaner or wielding an iron.'

‘I managed both during my years at university.'

Caution rose to the fore at the thought of him visiting at her apartment. Mutual ground,
public
ground was infinitely safer.

Rebekah ignited the engine. ‘OK, the Rocks it is.' Two hours, she qualified.

They stayed twice as long, wandering at ease, pausing here and there, then Jace chose a restaurant where
the food was superb, and they lingered over coffee, enjoying the ambience, the background music.

A sense of latent intimacy seemed to manifest itself, something she put down to the glass of wine she consumed during the course of the meal. She was acutely conscious of the man seated opposite, aware to a finite degree of the inherent vitality beneath his sophisticated façade. Primitive sexuality meshed with elemental sensuality…a dangerous combination, and more than most women could handle.

Yet it awakened something deep within her, an entity she was almost afraid to explore for fear of being burnt.

Safe
meant not seeing him again. And, dear heaven, she had every reason to covet safety.

‘Shall we leave?'

Jace's voice intruded, and she pushed her empty cup to one side. ‘Yes. I have an early start tomorrow.'

He took care of the bill, and they exited the restaurant, choosing to walk the esplanade path to where she'd parked the MG.

Rebekah felt the touch of his hand at her waist, and she experienced a feeling of surprise, almost shock when it slid to capture her own.

For a moment she froze, her first instinct being to pull free, except she hesitated too long and his fingers shifted to thread themselves through hers in a loose linking that was warm, intimate.

It made her want to shift closer, feel the strength, the heat, of his body. More than anything, she longed for his arms close around her, to sink in against him,
have his mouth capture her own and wreak sensual devastation.

Yet she hesitated, aware any move on her part would invite more than she was prepared to give.

At that moment his thumb slid against the sensitive veins at her wrist, then began an evocative caress as her pulse jumped and skidded to a heavy beat.

Could he tell? How could he not? she groaned inaudibly. She couldn't disguise the response of her body, and almost as if he knew he lifted her hand to his lips, lightly brushed them to her fingers, then let their joined hands fall.

Oh, my. She felt as if rockets were being launched inside her head, with the aftershocks reverberating through her entire body.

It was a fine kind of madness, fed by desire and fuelled by too vivid an imagination.

Rebekah was grateful when they reached the car, for it enabled her to break contact and slide in behind the wheel.

She wasn't capable of uttering so much as a word, and she didn't even try. Instead she focused on negotiating the traffic, and there was a sense of relief as she drew into the hotel entrance.

Short-lived, she discovered as Jace slid the gear-shift into neutral, then he leaned towards her and captured her head, angling it as he fastened his mouth over hers in a kiss that tore her vulnerable emotions to shreds.

Seconds or minutes? She had no idea how long it
lasted, only that she felt cast adrift like a rudderless boat in the open sea.

Did she kiss him back? Perhaps she had. All she knew was that when he released her she felt totally lost.

She couldn't speak, and her eyes felt impossibly large as she simply looked at him, and she gave a start of surprise as he touched a finger to her lips.

His smile held incredible warmth, and she felt herself begin to melt…which was crazy.

‘I'll phone you tomorrow.' He reached for the door-clasp and slid out from the car.

For a heart-stopping second she couldn't move, then she became conscious of the concierge standing at the entrance, valet parking staff, and she shifted gears then put the MG in motion.

Rebekah entered her apartment a short while later and crossed to the kitchen for a cool drink. It was then she saw the message light blinking on her answering machine.

Ana? Unlikely, given her sister preferred direct contact to her cellphone.

She crossed to the machine and depressed the ‘re-play' button, waiting as the tape automatically rewound.

‘How was your day with lover-boy?' Brad's voice was low and ugly. ‘Don't bother changing your silent number again.' There was a click as he ended the call.

Rebekah stood still for what seemed an age, then she located the number she'd been advised to call, day or night, and filed a report.

It did little to ease her mind. Nothing to stem the sense of frustrated anger that rose to the fore as she re-set the answering machine.

She took a shower, then slid into bed to lie staring at the darkened ceiling for what seemed
hours
before she succumbed to sleep, where nightmarish dreams invaded her subconscious, and when she woke to the sound of the alarm it was as if she hadn't slept at all.

‘B
ITCH
.
You'll pay for this.'

Rebekah clutched the receiver as the male voice vented in a sibilant tone that held more threat than if Brad had screamed the words in her ear.

The shop held two customers, Suzie was dealing with one, and the other was examining a glorious stand of gladioli.

Rationalising with him was a waste of time, but she tried. ‘You're in violation—' a click indicated he'd ended the call ‘—of the restraining order,' she finished to an empty line.

The electronic door buzzer sounded, and she replaced the receiver, summoned a smile and turned to see Jace standing inside the door.

Her senses stirred at the sight of him. The dark three-piece suit, deep blue shirt and silk tie indicated he'd come straight from a business meeting, and he removed the lightly tinted sunglasses, silently indicated she serve the waiting customer, then browsed the various bouquets on display.

It took a while for the customer to make a choice, and Rebekah completed the purchase, then crossed to Jace's side.

She looked pale, and her eyes bore the lacklustre appearance of someone battling tiredness and, unless
he was mistaken, a headache. He doubted she'd slept any better than he had.

He lifted a hand and tucked back a stray lock of hair that had escaped the knot atop her head. And watched her eyes dilate at his touch.

‘Feel up to sharing one of Angelo's pizzas?'

All she wanted to do was go home, soak in a hot tub, then grab a salad, veg out in front of the television for an hour, and make up on lost sleep.

‘I'd planned on an early night.'

‘You've got it. I've at least an hour's work on the laptop, and I'm due to take the early-morning flight to Cairns.' He didn't add that he'd originally intended flying out tonight, but had shifted the booking to tomorrow. ‘I'll be here when you close.'

His smile made her toes curl. She should refuse, but she didn't. ‘OK.'

‘Wow,' Suzie said with genuine awe when Jace had left the shop. ‘Who
is
that man?'

Rebekah explained the connection, and Suzie rolled her eyes.

‘Is your sister's husband equally attractive?'

‘Equally,' she assured solemnly.

‘I don't suppose there are any more male cousins here or abroad?'

‘A few.'

Suzie gave an impish grin. ‘I
know
I'm going to enjoy working here.'

Jace reappeared just as Rebekah was about to lock up, and gone was the formal business suit. In its place were jeans and a casual chambray shirt left unbut
toned at the neck. He'd rolled the cuffs back and discarded shoes for joggers.

‘All done?'

Luck saw them park close to Angelo's pizzeria, and they ordered, choosing take-out rather than electing to eat in, and strolled along the main street while they waited on the pizza.

‘Tough day?'

Jace caught hold of her hand, and she didn't object. ‘Not really. Ana insisted on putting in a few hours, against Luc's and my wishes. Fortunately Suzie is good at taking up the slack.' She spared him a direct glance. ‘Yours?'

‘Bearable.' He didn't add he'd spent most of it wanting the day done so he could spend time with her.

A tout called out to them from an open doorway, only to halt his outrageous spiel as Jace directed him a chilling look.

Angelo had the pizza boxed and ready to go when they returned to the shop.

‘Where do you suggest we eat this?' Rebekah asked as she eased the van into the flow of traffic.

‘Your apartment?'

It was her own private domain, and only family visited her there. When it came to joining friends, she chose a restaurant, café, cinema or shopping complex as a meeting place.

‘I don't think that's a good idea.'

‘My hotel?'

A park bench? Drive out to one of the beaches? By then the pizza would be cold.

‘We'll go to my place.' She shot him a direct look. ‘Just be warned I intend chucking you out at nine.'

‘So noted.' His drawl held an element of husky humour.

Minutes later she used her key to unlock the sliding steel grille guarding entrance to the underground car park, eased in beside the MG, then they rode the lift to the seventh floor.

As soon as she opened the apartment door Millie was there, rubbing her head against Rebekah's leg, only to back up and regard Jace with feline curiosity.

‘The kitchen's through the lounge to the right.' She led the way. ‘I'll show you where the plates are kept, and you can apportion the pizza while I feed Millie.'

The message light on the answering machine was blinking, and her stomach tightened.

‘You want to get that?' Jace asked, indicating the machine, and she shook her head.

‘It won't be anything that can't wait.' If it was Brad, she'd prefer to run it when she was alone.

They ate pizza seated at the dining-room table, and she unearthed a bottle of red Lambrusco, extracted two wine glasses, filled both, and handed him one.

There was an easy familiarity in the gesture, although nothing discounted the electric tension fizzing along her nerve threads.

‘How long will you be away?' It was the only thing she could think to offer, and he finished the mouthful he was eating before responding,
‘Four days. I fly direct to Cairns tomorrow, visit Port Douglas Tuesday morning, take the late-afternoon flight Wednesday to Brisbane, visit the Gold Coast Friday morning, and return to Sydney late afternoon.'

‘Real estate?'

‘Shopping complexes, warehouses,' Jace added as he reached for another slice of pizza.

‘You assess, buy at a low price, move in a team to upgrade, promote, then sell when they're showing a handsome profit.' It was just a guess, but she imagined it to be a fairly accurate one.

Rebekah demolished two slices, then slowly sipped her wine.

‘Something like that,' he declared indolently. He didn't add that he headed a family consortium with global business interests, and he kept a personal check on all of them. The Sydney arm had initiated some major staff changes at its top level, and he'd chosen to cast a personal eye over the new MD's purchase proposals. And check out if his attraction for Ana's sister was as tantalising now as it had been a year ago.

The answer was easy. The solution, however, was anything but.

The women in his life had been eager, willing, and practised in the art of seduction. Relationships clear-cut, boundaries established and recognised, and while affection formed a base,
love,
the everlasting kind, had never rated a mention.

Until the event of Luc and Ana's marriage he'd
been content with the status quo. There were any number of women he'd be satisfied to have as his wife. But none he'd covet as the mother of his children. Which had to tell him something.

For the past year he'd immersed himself in work, dated few women more than a token once or twice, indulged in selective sex, and become very aware that while it might satisfy his libido, any emotional pleasure was sadly lacking.

‘Would you like some coffee?'

‘Thanks. Black, one sugar.'

Rebekah stood to her feet, gathered up the plates and cutlery and carried them through to the kitchen.

The headache she'd fought against most of the afternoon intensified, and she opened a cupboard, retrieved painkillers, popped two from the pack and swallowed them down with water.

‘Headache?'

She hadn't heard him leave the dining room, and her hand shook a little. ‘It's nothing a good night's sleep won't fix.'

His mouth curved into a faint smile. ‘Is that a hint I've outstayed my welcome?'

‘No,' she managed quietly. ‘No, of course not.'

The smile reached his eyes. ‘Good.' He moved round the servery, took the glass from her hand and put it down, then he captured her face in his hands and began gently massaging her temples.

She opened her mouth to protest, only to have him press his thumb against her lips.

‘Shh. Just relax.'

It felt like heaven as his fingers moved to massage her scalp, and she instinctively lowered her lashes so her gaze fastened on the hollow at the base of his throat where a pulse beat so strongly there.

His touch held a mesmeric quality, almost as if a part of him was invading her senses, and she swayed slightly, caught in the sensual magic he was able to evoke.

A slight sound brought her lashes sweeping wide, and she almost died at the magnetising warmth evident in his slumberous gaze.

Her lips parted involuntarily, and she glimpsed the warmth turn to heat, then his mouth slanted over hers, gently at first as his tongue took an exploratory sweep before tangling with her own in an evocative dance that demanded more, much more.

One hand fisted her hair while the other slid down past her waist to hold her fast against him, and she lifted her arms and linked her hands together at his nape as she leaned into him, exulting in the feel, the taste, the sensual heat of him.

It was like nothing else she'd experienced before as he wrapped her close, so close, his hands shaping her waist, her hips, buttocks.

His mouth left hers and nuzzled the sensitive curve at the edge of her neck, then trailed a path to nibble her earlobe before seeking her mouth as he took her deep in a sensual imitation of the sex act itself.

Almost as if he sensed he was going too far too fast he eased up a little, locking her hips close to his own so she couldn't help but be aware of his arousal.

Its potent force took her breath away, and she wondered what it would feel like to have him inside her, moving in an ever-increasing rhythm until he reached his peak.

There was a part of her that wanted to be swept away by the tide of passion. To have no thought, no scruples, no reservations. Just follow wherever he chose to lead.

Would the reality exceed the limits of her experience, and prove to be as mesmeric as she imagined it could be?

Somehow the answer had to be
yes
. This man possessed the touch, the sexual expertise to indulge a woman in a feast of the senses. From acutely sensitive to the raw and primitive.

A shiver feathered its way over the surface of her skin, raising all her fine body hairs in anticipation as treacherous desire pulsed from deep within.

She wanted the tactile touch of skin on skin, and the need for it drove her to seek the opening of his shirt. There was a primal urge to fist the material and tug it free from his jeans then drag it off so she could rain his torso with the heated pressure of her mouth. To gently nip the hard muscle tissue close to a male nipple, then caress each one with her tongue, teasing mercilessly until he groaned at her touch.

More than anything, she wanted him to bestow her the same favour, to drive her sensually wild until there could be only one end.

Her audio-visual senses were so caught up in the mindless fantasy she was only dimly aware of a ring
ing in her ears, and she gave a despairing groan as Jace gently broke contact.

‘Should you get that?'

The phone. Dear heaven, it was the
phone
.

The answering machine picked up, and she froze. Please,
please
don't let it be Brad.

Jace held her loosely, his gaze intent as he witnessed her disquiet.

‘Inviting him into your apartment isn't a good move, darling.' Brad's voice was unmistakable. ‘Has he discovered you're a frigid little bitch?' There was a click as he cut the connection, the faint whirr of the answering machine as it rewound the tape.

Rebekah wanted to curl up and die. She closed her eyes in an involuntary gesture of self-defence, then opened them again to focus on the third button of Jace's shirt.

A hand cupped her chin, tilting it so she had to look at him, and she fought to hold back the moisture shimmering in her eyes.

‘Don't.' Jace framed her face between his hands, and smoothed a thumb over lips made slightly swollen from his kiss.

She wasn't capable of uttering a word, and her eyes ached with unshed tears.

He saw her lashes lower to form a protective veil, and pain stabbed his gut as a single tear escaped and rolled slowly down one cheek.

‘Please,' she said huskily. ‘Just go.'

She felt his thumb erase the trail of moisture, and
his hands were incredibly gentle as he cradled her face.

‘No.'

‘Please,' she reiterated as he tilted her face.

‘Look at me.'

The command was softly voiced, and she felt his fingers trail the slope of her neck, linger at its edge, then return.

The peal of the phone was an intrusive, strident sound in the stillness of the room, and he felt the tremor that ran through her body.

With one economical movement Jace reached forward, lifted the receiver, listened, then ventured in a deadly soft voice, ‘Don't ring again if you value your skin.' He cut the connection and didn't return the receiver to the handset.

‘I suggest you change your number.'

‘I've already done that twice in the past two days.' He may as well hear the rest of it. ‘The police have been notified, and my lawyer.'

He understood too clearly. ‘Who each advise keeping your answering machine on to record each of his calls.'

‘Yes.'

‘Which have only accelerated since he saw us together at the restaurant last week.'

Rebekah didn't concur, she had no need to. Brad's reaction was self-explanatory.

‘Is there a possibility he might attempt to physically hurt you?'

She paused a second too long. ‘I don't think so.'

‘He doesn't have a key to your apartment?'

She shook her head. ‘I bought it following the divorce.' And lived with Ana between leaving Brad and obtaining her legal freedom. It had been a fraught time, laced with various incidents involving her ex-husband's harassment. She'd neither sighted nor heard from him in ages. Until Wednesday of last week. Now the torment seemed set to begin all over again.