What a Westmoreland Wants (9 page)

“Good morning, everyone.”

Gemma’s thoughts were interrupted when Callum swept her into the large conference room where several people sat waiting expectantly. The men stood and the women smiled and gave her curious glances.

Callum greeted everyone by name and introduced Gemma the same way he had in speaking to Lorna. When he moved toward the chair at the head of the table, she stepped aside to take a chair in the back of the room. However, he gently tightened his grip on her arm and kept her moving toward the front with him.

He then pulled out the empty chair next to his for her to sit in. Once she had taken her seat, he took his and smiled over at her before calling the meeting to order in a deep, authoritative voice.

She couldn’t help but admire how efficient he was and had to remind herself several times during the course of the business meeting that this was the same Callum who’d managed her brother’s sheep farm. The same Callum who would turn feminine heads around town when he wore tight-fitting jeans over taut hips and an ultrafine tush, and sported a Western shirt over broad shoulders.

And this was the same Callum who had made her
scream with pleasure last night…in his car of all places. She glanced over at his hand, the same one whose fingers were now holding an ink pen, and remembered just where that hand had been last night and what he’d been doing with those fingers.

Suddenly, she felt very hot and figured that as long as she kept looking at his hands she would get even hotter. Over the course of the hour-long meeting, she tried to focus her attention on other things in the room like the paintings on the wall, the style of window treatments and carpeting. Given the chance, she would spruce things up in here. Unlike the other part of the office, for some reason this particular room seemed a little drab. In addition to the boring pictures hanging on the walls, the carpeting lacked any depth. She wondered what that was all about. Evidently, no one told the prior interior designer that the coloring of carpet in a business often set the mood of the employees.

“I see everyone continues to do a fantastic job for me in my absence and I appreciate that. This meeting is now adjourned,” Callum said.

Gemma glanced up to see everyone getting out of their seats, filing out of the room and closing the door behind them. She turned to find Callum staring at her. “What’s wrong? You seemed bored,” he said.

She wondered how he’d picked up on it when his full attention should have been on the meeting he was conducting. But since he had noticed…

“Yes, but I couldn’t help it. This room will bore you to tears and I have a bucket full of them.” She glanced around the room. “Make that
two
buckets.”

Callum threw his head back and laughed. “Do you always say whatever suits you?”

“Hey, you did ask. And yes, I usually say whatever suits me. Didn’t Ramsey warn you that I have no problem giving my opinion about anything?”

“Yes, he did warn me.”

She gave him a sweet smile. “Yet you hired me anyway, so, unfortunately, you’re stuck with me.”

Callum wanted nothing more than to lean over and plant a kiss firmly on Gemma’s luscious lips and say that being stuck with her was something he looked forward to. Instead, he checked his watch. “Do you want to grab lunch before we head over to the house you’ll be decorating? Then while we eat you can tell me why you have so many buckets of tears from this room.”

She chuckled as she stood up. “Gladly, Mr. Austell.”

“W
ell, here we are and I want you to tell me just what you can do with this place.”

Gemma heard Callum’s words, but her gaze was on the interior of a monstrosity of a house. She was totally in awe. There weren’t too many homes that could render her speechless, but this mansion had before she’d stepped over the threshold. The moment he’d pulled into the drive way, she’d been overwhelmed by the architecture of it. She’d known when she’d originally seen the design of the home on paper that it was a beauty, but actually seeing it in all its grandiose splendor was truly a breathtaking moment.

“Give me the history of this house,” she said, glancing around at the elegant staircase, high sculptured ceilings, exquisite crown molding and gorgeous wood floors. And for some reason she believed Callum knew it. Just from
her observation of him during that morning’s meeting, she’d determined that he was an astute businessman, sharp as a tack, although he preferred sporting jeans and messing with sheep to wearing a business suit and tweaking mission statements.

Over lunch she’d asked how he’d managed to keep up with his business affairs with Le’Claire while working for Ramsey. He’d explained that he had made trips back home several times when his presence had been needed on important matters. In addition, the cottage he occupied in Denver had a high-speed Internet connection, a fax machine and whatever else was needed to keep in touch with his team in Australia. And due to the difference in time zones, six in the evening in Denver was ten in the morning the next day in Sydney. He’d been able to call it a day with Ramsey around five, go home and shower and be included in a number of critical business meetings by way of conference call by seven.

“This area is historic Bellevue Hills and this house was once owned by one of the richest men in Australia. Shaun told me about it, thought I should take a look at it and make the seller an offer. I did.”

“Just like that?” she asked, snapping her fingers for effect.

He met her gaze. “Just like that,” he said, snapping his.

She couldn’t help but laugh. “I like the way you think, Callum, because, as I said, this place is a beauty.”

He shifted his gaze away from her to look back at the house. “So, it’s a place where you think the average woman would want to live?”

She placed her hands on her hips. “Callum, the
average woman would die to live in a place like this. This is practically a mansion. It’s fit for a queen. I know because I consider myself the average woman and I would.”

“You would?”

“Of course. Now, I’m dying to take a look around and make some decorating suggestions.”

“As extensive as the ones you made at lunch regarding that conference room at Le’Claire?”

“Probably,” she said with a smile. “But I won’t know until I go through it and take measurements.” She pulled her tape measure out of her purse.

“Let’s go.”

He touched her arm and the moment he did so, she felt that tingling sensation that always came over her when he touched her, but now the sensations were even stronger than before.

“You okay, Gemma? You’re shivering.”

She drew in a deep breath as they moved from the foyer toward the rest of the house. “Yes, I’m fine,” she said, refusing to look at him.
If only he knew the truth about how she was feeling.

Callum leaned against the kitchen counter and stared over at Gemma as she stood on a ladder taking measurements of a particular window. She had long ago shed her jacket and kicked off her shoes. He looked down at her feet and thought she had pretty toes.

They had been here a couple of hours already and there were still more measurements to take. He didn’t mind if he could continue to keep her up there on a ladder. Once in a while, when she moved, he’d get a
glimpse of her gorgeous legs and her luscious-looking thighs.

“You’re quiet.”

Her observation broke into his thoughts. “What I’m doing is watching you,” he said. “Having fun?”

“The best kind there is. I love doing this and I’m going to love decorating this house for you.” She paused a second. “Unfortunately, I have some bad news for you.”

He lifted a brow. “What bad news?”

She smiled down at him. “What I want to do in here just might break you. And, it will take me longer than the six weeks planned.”

He nodded. Of course, he couldn’t tell her he was counting on that very thing. “I don’t have a problem with that. How is your work schedule back in Denver? Will remaining here a little longer cause problems for you?”

“No. I finished all my open projects and was about to take a vacation before bidding on others, so that’s fine with me if you think you can handle a houseguest for a little while longer.”

“Absolutely.”

She chuckled. “You might want to think about it before you give in too easily.”

“No, you might want to think about it before you decide to stay.”

She glanced down at him and went perfectly still and he knew at that moment she was aware of what he was thinking. Although they had enjoyed each other’s company, they had practically walked on eggshells around each other all day. After lunch he’d taken her
on a tour of downtown and showed her places like the Sydney Opera House, the Royal Botanic Gardens and St. Andrew’s Cathedral. And they had fed seagulls in Hyde Park before coming here. Walking beside her seemed natural, and for a while they’d held hands. Each time he had touched her she had trembled.

Did she think he wasn’t aware of what those shivers meant? Did she not know what being close to her was doing to him? Could she not see the male appreciation as well as the love shining in his eyes whenever he looked at her?

Breaking eye contact, he looked at his watch. “Do you plan to measure all the windows today?”

“No, I’d planned to make this my last one for now. You will bring me back tomorrow, though, right?”

“Just ask. Whatever you want, it’s yours.”

“In that case, I’d like to come back to finish up this part. Then we’ll need to decide on what fabrics you want,” she said, moving to step down from the ladder. “The earlier the better, especially if it’s something I need to backorder.”

He moved away from the counter to hold the ladder steady while she descended. “Thanks,” she said, when her bare feet touched the floor. He was standing right there in front of her.

“Don’t mention it,” he said. “Ready to go?”

“Yes.”

Instead of taking her hand, he walked beside her and said nothing. He felt her looking over at him, but he refused to return her gaze. He had promised that the next time they kissed she would ask for it, but she’d failed
to do that, which meant that when they got back to his place he would turn up the heat.

“You all right, Callum?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Where would you like to eat? It’s dinnertime.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’m up for anything.”

He smiled when an idea popped into his head. “Then how about me preparing dinner tonight.”

She lifted a brow. “Can you cook?”

“I think I might surprise you.”

She chuckled. “In that case, surprise me.”

Whatever you want, it’s yours.

Gemma stepped out of the Jacuzzi to dry herself while thinking that Callum had been saying that a lot lately. She wondered what he would think of her if she were to tell him that what she wanted more than anything was another dose of the pleasure he’d introduced her to last night.

Being around him most of the day had put her nerves on edge. Every time he touched her or she caught him looking at her, she felt an overwhelming need to explore the intense attraction between them. His mouth and fingers had planted a need within her that was so profound, so incredibly physical, that certain parts of her body craved his touch.

She’d heard of people being physically attracted to each other to the point of lust consuming their mind and thoughts, but such a thing had never happened to her. Until now. And why was it happening at all? What was there about Callum—other than the obvious—that had her in such a tizzy? He made her want things she’d
never had before. She was tempted to go further with him than she had with any other man.

In a way she had already done that last night. There was no other man on the face of this earth who could ever lay a claim to fingering her. But Callum had done that while kissing her senseless, stirring a degree of passion within her that even now made her heart beat faster just thinking about it.

She shook her head, and tried to get a grip but failed to do so. She couldn’t let go of the memories of how her body erupted in one mind-shattering orgasm. Now she knew what full-blown pleasure was about. But she knew that she hadn’t even reached the tip of the iceberg and her body was aching to get pushed over that turbulent edge. The thought that there was something even more powerful, more explosive to experience sent sensual shivers through her entire being.

There were a number of reasons why she should not be thinking of indulging in an affair with Callum. And yet, there were a number of reasons why she should. She was a twenty-four-year-old virgin. To give her virginity to Callum was a plus in her book, because, in addition to being attracted to him, he would know what he was doing. She’d heard horror stories about men who didn’t.

And if they were to have an affair, who would know? He wasn’t the type to kiss and tell. And he didn’t seem bothered by the fact that his best friend was her brother. Besides, since he would be returning to Australia to live, she didn’t have the worry about running into him on a constant basis, seeing him and being reminded of what they’d done.

So what was holding her back?

She knew the answer to that question. It was the same reason she was still a virgin. She was afraid the guy she would give her virginity to would also capture her heart. And the thought of any man having her heart was something she just couldn’t abide. What if he were to hurt her, break her heart the way her brothers had done to all those girls?

She nibbled on her bottom lip as she slipped into her dress to join Callum for dinner. Somehow she would have to find a way to experience pleasure without the possibility of incurring heartache. She should be able to make love with a man without getting attached. Men did it all the time. She would enter into the affair with both eyes open and not expect any more than what she got. And when it was over, her heart would still be intact. She wouldn’t set herself up like those other girls who’d fancied themselves in love with a Westmoreland, only to have their hearts broken.

It should be a piece of cake. After all, Callum had told her he was waiting to meet his soul mate. So there would be no misunderstanding on either of their parts. She wasn’t in love with him and he wasn’t in love with her. He would get what he wanted and she would be getting what she wanted.

More of last night.

A smile of anticipation touched her lips. She mustn’t appear too eager and intended to play this out for all it was worth and see how long it would last. She was inexperienced when it came to seduction, but she was a quick study.

And Callum was about to discover just how eager she was to learn new things.

Callum heard Gemma moving around upstairs. He had encouraged her to relax and take a bubble bath in the huge Jacuzzi garden tub while he prepared dinner.

Since they’d eaten a large lunch at one of the restaurants downtown near the Sydney Harbour, he decided to keep dinner simple—a salad and an Aussie meat pie.

He couldn’t help but smile upon recalling her expression when she’d first seen his home, and her excitement about decorating it just the way she liked. He had gone along with every suggestion she made, and although she had teased him about the cost, he knew she was intentionally trying to keep prices low, even though he’d told her that doing so wasn’t necessary.

His cell phone rang and he pulled it off his belt to answer it. “Hello.”

“How are you doing, Callum?”

He smiled upon hearing his mother’s voice. “I’m fine, Mom. What about you?”

“I’m wonderful. I hadn’t talked to you since you were here yesterday with Gemma, and I just want you to know that I think she’s a lovely girl.”

“Thanks, Mom. I think so, too. I just can’t wait for her to figure out she’s my soul mate.”

“Have patience, Callum.”

He chuckled. “I’ll try.”

“I know Gemma is going to be tied up with decorating that house, but Shaun and I were wondering if she’ll be free to do some shopping with us next Friday,” his
mother said. “Annette and Mira will be joining us as well.”

The thought of Gemma being out of his sight for any period of time didn’t sit well with him. He knew all about his mother, sister and sisters-in-law’s shopping trips. They could be gone for hours. He felt like a possessive lover. A smile touched his lips. He wasn’t Gemma’s lover yet, but he intended to be while working diligently to become a permanent part of her life—namely, her husband.

“Callum?”

“Yes, Mom. I’m sure that’s something Gemma will enjoy. She’s upstairs changing for dinner. I’ll have her call you.”

He conversed with his mother for a little while longer before ending the call. Pouring a glass of wine, he moved to the window that looked out over the Pacific. His decision to keep this place had been an easy one. He loved the view as well as the privacy.

The house Gemma was decorating was in the suburbs, sat on eight acres of land and would provide plenty of room for the large family he wanted them to have. He took a sip of wine while his mind imagined a pregnant Gemma, her tummy round with his child.

He drew in a deep breath, thinking that if anyone would have told him five years ago that he would be here in this place and in this frame of mind, he would have been flabbergasted. His mother suggested that he have patience. He’d shown just how much patience he had for the past three years. Now it was time to make his move.

“Callum?”

The sound of her voice made him turn around. He swallowed deeply, while struggling to stay where he was, not cross the room, pull her into his arms and give her the greeting that he preferred. As usual, she looked beautiful, but there was something different about her this evening. There was a serene glow to her face that hadn’t been there before. Had just two days in Australia done that to her? Hell, he hoped so. More than anything, he wanted his native land to grow on her.