Читать книгу The Billionaire's New Year Gift - Emma Darcy - Страница 17

Alex walked up the flagstone driveway toward the laughter and noise of his sister’s birthday party. He’d much rather have gone to Jake’s tonight with the rest of the guys from work, but he’d promised Julie he’d be here.

When he reached the wrought-iron gate, he stood for a moment before opening it and entering. Even then, he didn’t head toward the merrymaking, but took a few minutes to observe the crush of guests gathered on the back veranda and around the pool. There were about forty people there, he estimated, most of them his sister’s friends. Looking around, he spied Julie, who looked spectacular in a form-fitting black strapless dress, laughing and talking to a group of young people about her age. Suddenly, as if she felt his gaze, she turned.

“Alex!” she cried. “You made it!”

Beaming, she rushed to his side. Putting his arm around her, he kissed her cheek. “Hello, birthday girl.”

Her blue eyes shone with excitement. Julie loved nothing better than a party. And a party in her honor was the best of all possible worlds.

Alex handed her the small, silver-wrapped box he carried. “Happy Birthday.”

“Thank you! Oh, I love presents.” Taking his hand, she led him toward her friends. “C’mon. I want to introduce you.”

Alex knew it was useless to protest, so he let himself be led. Six pairs of eyes turned his way.

“This is my gorgeous brother, Alex,” Julie said. “Alex, these are…” One by one, she named them. “Crystal, Russ, Scott, Madison, Penn and Phoebe.”

The girl named Phoebe, a truly spectacular blonde, gave him a seductive look from under long eyelashes.

“Gorgeous is right,” she murmured.

Alex would never get used to the boldness of Julie’s crowd. The girls didn’t seem to care what they said or how they said it. If they wanted something, they went after it, no holds barred.

Not waiting for Alex to answer, Phoebe slipped her arm through his and said, “He’s mine.”

The others laughed.

Gently but firmly, Alex removed her arm. “It’s nice to have met all of you, but I have to go say hello to my mother.” Directing his smile at all of them, he said, “Excuse me.”

Shaking his head mentally, he headed toward the house. It was a moment before he realized Julie had hurried after him.

“Alex, wait up!” she said.

He turned around, stopped so she could catch up to him.

“You broke Phoebe’s heart,” she said as she reached his side.

“I seriously doubt that.”

“I’ve been telling her about you for weeks.” Although her tone was scolding, her blue eyes—the same shade as the tourmalines in his gift—were amused.

Alex looked down at her. “Not interested, Jules.”

“Why not? Phoebe’s beautiful and sexy and rich in her own right. Plus she’s my best friend.”

“For one thing, she’s too young. For another, she’s not my type.”

“Too young? She’s twenty-five! And how could she not be your type? Most men would die to have Phoebe.”

Alex wasn’t in the mood to spar or to justify his reasons for not wanting to get involved with the model-like Phoebe. “Aren’t you going to open your present?” he said instead, for Julie still held his gift.

“Later. I’ll put this on the table with the rest of them.”

Alex knew his sister was punishing him for not going along with her matchmaking scheme. Or maybe she just wanted to ensure he’d stay at the party for a while.

“Mom’s probably over there,” Julie said, pointing to the area on the other side of the pool where there were several umbrella-topped tables.

Alex and Julie headed that way. Sure enough, his mother sat at the nearest table along with Julie’s father and another older couple. At their approach, Terrence touched his wife’s arm, and Lucinda turned around.

Her face lit up, and she rose. As always, she looked beautiful. Tonight she wore an emerald silk pants outfit with wide legs. Her dark hair was swept up, and sizable diamond studs twinkled in her ears. A small woman with a trim figure, she didn’t look her fifty-eight years and could have easily passed for someone in her early forties.

As always, Alex felt himself tense as she rushed forward and put her arms around him. Because he was essentially kind and because he did love her, even as he knew he would never be able to trust her, he returned her embrace, saying, “Hello, Mother.”

“Oh, Alex, it’s so good to see you.” She drew back and looked up into his eyes. “You look wonderful.”

“You look very nice yourself.” He heard how stiff he sounded and wished he could be more generous toward her. But the habits of a lifetime were hard to break, especially when the underlying reason for his feelings hadn’t changed.

“Thank you for coming,” she said softly, her dark eyes liquid in the deepening light. Her dimples flashed briefly when she smiled.

Alex had inherited his height from Harry, but everything else came from his mother: dark hair, dark eyes, dimples. Julie, on the other hand, looked more like her father than like Lucinda, with her blue eyes, five-foot-eight height, and larger bone structure. The only trait of Lucinda’s she bore was the dark, almost black, hair.

“Come meet our friends, darling,” Lucinda was saying. She took Alex’s hand and led him forward.

“These are Spencer and Deanna Steele. My son, Alex Hunt.” There was no denying the pride in her voice as she introduced them.

Alex shook hands with Spencer Steele, a powerful-looking man with gray hair and an enviable physique. He smiled at Deanna Steele, a lovely, cool-looking blonde who had remained seated. He then turned to his stepfather. “Hello, Terrence.”

“Glad you could make it, Alex,” Terrence said.

“Alex just met Phoebe,” Julie said, addressing the remark to the Steeles. Turning to Alex, she said, “Spencer and Deanna are Phoebe’s parents.” Her eyes twinkled mischievously.

Alex decided he would not let his sister get to him. “You have a very beautiful daughter,” he said graciously.

“Yes,” Deanna said, “we think so.” Her gaze was speculative.

They made polite conversation for a few more minutes, and all the while Alex was wondering how long he’d have to stand there before he could make his escape.

“What do you do, Alex?” Spencer Steele asked.

“I’m the CEO of the Harrison Hunt Foundation.”

“Really?” Deanna Steele said. “And you like working for the foundation?” There was just the faintest hint of surprise in her tone.

“It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”

She nodded, and he wondered what she was thinking.

“You don’t have a drink,” Terrence said, saving him from further questions. “C’mon, I’ll show you where the bar is.”

“I can do that, Daddy,” Julie said.

“Now, sweetheart, you have other guests to attend to,” Terrence said. “I’ll take care of Alex.”

Alex realized Terrence wanted to talk to him, so he gave Julie a smile and said, “I’ll be right back.”

Terrence put his arm around Alex’s shoulder. “We set up the bar in the cabana.”

Once they were out of earshot of Julie and Lucinda, Terrence said, “I’m going to have to make a trip to Singapore next week, Alex. Be gone about ten days.”

Terrence was in the import/export business and frequently traveled abroad, especially to the Orient.

“I was hoping you’d keep an eye on the girls for me.”

“Oh?” This was a first. “Something I should know?”

“It’s not a big deal, just…” His voice trailed off.

By now they’d reached the bar and Alex ordered a vodka and tonic. Terrence waited until he’d got his drink and they’d moved away before saying anything else.

“Look,” he said, leading Alex toward the back of the cabana where it was relatively quiet and no one else could hear their conversation. “Julie’s been acting funny the past couple of weeks. I’m worried that maybe she’s messing with drugs.”

Jesus, Alex thought. “Have you said anything to her?”

Terrence shook his head. “I don’t want to accuse her of something that might not be true.”

“I’m not afraid to. I’ll talk to her.”

“It’s not that I’m afraid to,” Terrence protested. “I just…I trust my little girl.”

Then why the hell are you asking me to keep an eye on her? Alex wondered if Terrence had any idea how contradictory he sounded. “Even sensible people can be led astray by the wrong kinds of friends.”

“Her friends all come from the best families,” Terrence blustered.

Alex raised his eyebrows.

Terrence had the grace to look sheepish. “I know, I know. That doesn’t mean they can’t get into trouble.”

“No, it doesn’t.” Alex sipped at his drink thoughtfully. It would be hard to keep an eye on Julie now that he was working in Jansen, which wasn’t exactly close to the Queen Anne area where Julie lived with her parents. “I’m in the middle of a big project right now that’s keeping me out of town most of the time, but one way or another, I’ll keep tabs on Julie.”

Terrence huffed a breath. “Thanks, Alex. I really appreciate that.”

“I love Julie, too,” Alex pointed out. “And I don’t want her to get into trouble…or hurt herself.”

“I know.”

Alex made himself a promise as he and Terrence moved to rejoin the others. He would not only keep tabs on his sister, he would sit her down and talk to her.

In fact, he’d start tonight.

P.J. couldn’t believe how disappointed she was that Alex hadn’t shown up at Jake’s. She wished she could ask Rick why, but of course, she couldn’t.

She wondered if he was seeing someone. If maybe he had a date tonight. The thought bothered her a lot more than it should have.

It’s just your ego that’s smarting. You were sure he was interested in you, and obviously, since he hasn’t made a move to ask you out, he’s not.

You should be glad. You’ve dodged a bullet. This is the best thing that could have happened…or not happened. Considering you’ve decided there was nowhere for a relationship with Alex to go, anyway.

Yet no matter how many times she told herself all of this, she couldn’t stop wondering where he was tonight.

And with whom.

It was nearly eleven before Julie opened her gifts, and by then Alex knew it was going to be impossible to talk to her that night. Resigned, he watched her indulgently as she squealed and exclaimed over each offering. He’d say one thing for her. She might be spoiled and pampered, but she wasn’t jaded. He smiled wryly, remembering the Lotus. Well, maybe not totally.

“Oh, Alex, they’re gorgeous!” she said upon seeing the tourmaline-set silver bracelet and earrings he’d given her. Coming over to where he stood, she kissed him. “Thank you,” she said softly. “You always know what I’ll love.”

Love for her warmed him. Funny how she had so easily crept into his heart whereas he had always felt an off-putting distance with his brothers. Not for the first time, he wondered why that should be so. Perhaps it was being raised by a succession of nannies and the impersonal atmosphere of Harry’s mansion. Or maybe it was simply Harry himself, so absorbed in his business and his money that he couldn’t give much face time to his sons.

After Julie finished opening her gifts, Alex pulled her aside.

“I’m beat,” he said. “I’m going to head out.”

“You’re such a party-pooper,” she said, pouting. “We’re all going to Twist, and Phoebe’s going to be so disappointed if you don’t go with us.”

“You know how I feel about the club scene.”

Julie just shook her head. “Twist isn’t a club. It’s fun. You’d like it.”

Alex smiled. “I’ve been there. I’ll pass.”

“Honestly, you’d think you were ninety instead of just thirty-six. You keep saying you’re not stodgy, but I’m having a hard time believing it.”

Alex shrugged. “Actually, I was hoping we could get together for a while tomorrow. There’s something I want to talk to you about.”

Julie frowned. “You sound serious. What’s up?”

“I’d rather not get into it tonight. How about having lunch with me tomorrow?”

“Just as long as it’s not too early. I’m not like you. I don’t turn into a pumpkin at the stroke of midnight.”

“Some of us do work for a living,” he said mildly.

“Tomorrow’s Sunday.”

“You know what I meant.”

They made arrangements to meet at a small seafood restaurant Alex liked that wasn’t too far from the house. Alex suggested one o’clock, hopefully ensuring that Julie might be on time. Then he said his goodnights to everyone and headed back to Jansen.

The next day, promptly at one, Alex walked into the restaurant and secured a window table for two. As he’d expected, Julie hadn’t made an appearance yet.

Alex ordered a glass of iced tea and the seafood appetizer the restaurant was known for—cold shrimp and crab in a spicy cocktail sauce—and settled in to wait.

Twenty minutes later, he had eaten most of the appetizer, and Julie still hadn’t shown up. Sighing, he whipped out his cell phone and hit the speed dial number for her cell.

“I know, I know,” she said when she answered. “Sorry. I slept through the alarm—I didn’t get home till almost dawn—but I’m on my way now. I’ll be there in ten.”

Alex just shook his head. It was pointless to be angry with her. Since he knew she was always late, he should have just waited and arrived thirty minutes later himself.

When she walked in—as promised, ten minutes later—he marveled at how fresh and pretty she looked. That was the advantage of being young. Late hours didn’t start to show until you were a lot older. Wearing a bright-yellow dress, long hair gleaming in the sunlight-filled restaurant, she resembled a younger version of Catherine Zeta Jones and drew admiring glances from the other diners. One man sitting alone at the bar stared at her so intently Alex was certain he was going to get up and try to talk to her. In fact, he leaned forward, putting one foot on the floor. But when Julie headed for Alex’s table, waving and giving him a wide smile, the man relaxed back in his seat again.

Alex stood to greet her, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

“This has got to be a record,” she said, “seeing you two days in a row.” Her perfume, something light and flowery, drifted around him.

He pulled her chair out and she sank gracefully into it.

“You look awfully pretty today,” he said, sitting again himself. “Hard to believe you got so little sleep.”

She took her napkin out of her water glass and put it on her lap. “Thank you. Now that I’ve reached the ripe old age of twenty-two, I’m trying to take better care of myself.”

Alex couldn’t have hoped for a better opening. “Funny you should say that, because that’s what I want to talk to you about.”

Something in his expression or tone must have alerted her to the fact this might be a discussion she wouldn’t enjoy, because she frowned.

Just then their waiter approached, so Alex didn’t continue.

After she’d ordered something to drink, the waiter left them to study their menus.

“Well?” Julie said. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on or am I going to have to guess?”

“Why don’t we decide what we want to eat first? Otherwise we’ll keep getting interrupted.”

She looked as if she wanted to protest, but finally she just sighed and picked up her menu.

After placing their orders—Alex opted for the fried scallops, his favorite, and Julie ordered the crab quiche—Alex leaned forward and said, “Terrence talked to me last night. He’s worried about you.”

“Why?”

“He’s concerned that you might be involved with drugs.”

“What?” She looked aghast.

Alex studied her. Julie was a good actress, but he didn’t think her reaction was fake. She looked genuinely shocked.

“Geez,” she said. “You’d think he’d know me a little better than that. I know why he thinks this, Alex, but he’s wrong.”

“Why does he think it?”

“Because Penn—you met him last night, the really tall one with the sort of reddish hair?—was busted at a party where they were doing coke. But I don’t do drugs. I never have. They scare me.”

Alex felt tremendous relief. Her voice rang with conviction, and he believed her. “I’m really glad to hear that.”

“Did you really think I might be involved in that scene?”

“I didn’t know what to think. I only knew that Terrence is concerned enough to ask me to keep an eye on you while he’s gone.”

“Where’s he going now?”

“Singapore. Didn’t he tell you?”

She shrugged. “He might have. He travels so much, I lose track of what he’s doing.”

She stopped talking as their waiter appeared with their food.

Once he left them alone again, Alex said, “What happened with your friend Penn?”

“What do you mean?”

“Was he charged? You said he was busted.” He forked one of his scallops.

She grimaced. “Yes, he was charged with possession.”

“And what happened?”

“I don’t know. His dad’s pulling some strings, I think. You know his dad, actually. Senator Penn-bridge?” She ate some of her quiche.

Alex just shook his head. Why should that information surprise him? It happened too often, in his opinion. Kids with rich parents rarely paid the price for their foolish or unlawful behavior.

“I’d feel better if you didn’t run around with him anymore.”

Julie put her fork down and drank some of her iced tea. “But Alex, he’s my friend. I like him.”

“He sounds like a bad influence to me.”

“He’s learned his lesson. That bust scared the hell out of him.” Picking up her fork, she resumed eating.

“For now maybe,” Alex said skeptically.

“I told you. I don’t do drugs. Now will you quit worrying? And will you tell Dad to quit worrying, too? I’m not a child. I don’t need a keeper.”

Alex figured he knew how parents must feel when their kids got older and they couldn’t supervise their every moment as they did when they were little. You just had to trust that you’d taught them right and they’d be okay. Julie might be spoiled, but she was basically a good girl. She’d probably be just fine. Anyway, what choice did he have but to trust her?

As if she’d read his thoughts, she smiled and said, “Now, c’mon, Alex, quit looking so serious and let’s enjoy our food.”

Alex had always known when to fold. Returning his sister’s smile, he nodded and turned his attention to his lunch.

Normally, P.J. really enjoyed her weekends, but for some reason, this weekend she felt restless.

She did her laundry, cleaned her condo then took a long, leisurely bath and washed her hair. These activities should have made her feel virtuous and proud of herself. Instead, they left her wishing she had somewhere to go, something fun to do and someone to do it with.

Here she was, thirty years old, single, and with nothing better to do on a Saturday night except watch a movie on DVD and order in a pizza. She’d be willing to bet Carrie Wancheck wasn’t sitting home alone tonight. Or Alex, either.

Now why had she thought of those two, practically in the same breath?

Oh, you know why.

Was it possible that Carrie had accomplished her mission of catching Alex’s interest? She hadn’t been at Jake’s the night before, either, and when P.J. had casually asked about her, one of the guys said Carrie had bragged that she had a hot date. A sleep-over date, he’d said, and the others had all laughed knowingly.

What if that hot date had been with Alex? Although it was the last thing she wanted to think about, P.J. couldn’t help imagining the two of them in bed together. Carrie had a fantastic body—toned and slender, with curves in all the right places. What man wouldn’t desire her?

The idea of the two of them together made P.J. want to throw up. And that made her even more disgusted with herself. Why did she care anyway? You don’t want him. So what’s the problem?

But even as she told herself this, P.J. knew exactly what the problem was. She did want him. And unfortunately, what she’d imagined to be a corresponding interest from him had turned out to be just plain normal friendliness on his part. Because if he’d been going to make a move in her direction, he’d darned sure have done it by now.

Really disgusted with herself now, she decided that once and for all, she would wipe Alex Noble out of her mind. Not only that, she would stay away from him at work as well as after work. If that meant she would have to give up going to Jake’s, so be it. She needed some new interests in life, anyway. In fact, instead of just giving lip service to some of the areas that interested her, it was past time to put some of those interests into action. Like volunteering at a women’s shelter. And getting involved in politics.

It was a good thing she had that management meeting in Seattle this week. She needed to get away. Maybe after a week of meetings, she’d have her head back in the game again.

And nowhere near Alex Noble.