Читать книгу Australian Millionaires - Maxine Sullivan - Страница 10

Kia consoled herself on the way home that at least her presence wouldn’t give Brant the opportunity to seduce the innocent Serena. Not that she really thought he would now, not after the brotherly way he’d been treating the younger woman all night.

Then she remembered her father and all the young women who’d passed through his life and she knew that some men just couldn’t help themselves.

Five minutes later, she watched from the car while Brant walked Serena to the front door of her house. The security light had come on at their approach and Kia saw everything clearly. She breathed a sigh of relief when Brant gave Serena a smile and a quick peck on the cheek, then strode back to the car.

“Was that chaste enough for you?” he mocked as he started the engine.

Chaste? A kiss from this man could never be considered chaste. Not for her, anyway.

She forced a cool smile. “I didn’t think you knew what the word meant.”

He smiled grimly as he pulled out from the curb. “I could say the same about you.”

“Me?”

He glanced sideways, his eyes boldly raking over her. “Sweetheart, you ooze sex appeal. Why do you think young Danny was falling over himself?” Obviously seeing her surprise, his eyes narrowed. “Surely Phillip’s told you how sexy you are?”

Sexy? No, Phillip had never told her that.

“Yes, of course,” she lied.

“You don’t sound too sure.”

She stiffened. “Of course I’m sure. It’s just that …” Think. “Well, since the accident we’ve been concentrating on him rather than me.”

He appeared to consider that. “He’s going through a tough time right now.” Once more his gaze slid over her, almost contemptuously this time. “But if any woman can make him think like a man again, it’s you.”

She didn’t appreciate the comment. “You’ve missed your calling. You should be doing talk shows.”

This time he laughed. A deep, rich sound that made her catch her breath and confirmed why women of all kinds wanted him. She didn’t even like him and this was her reaction.

Luckily for her, they came to some night roadwork and Brant had to slow the car and concentrate for the next kilometer. After that, except for her directing him, they both remained quiet until they reached her street.

“It’s the house at the end,” she said as they came around the corner into the leafy cul-de-sac.

A few moments later he pulled into the driveway and cut the engine. “You live here by yourself?” he asked, his eyes going over the ground-level house nestled amongst the lush garden. It was obviously too big for one person.

“I live by myself, yes, but the house has been divided into two. The owner lives in one apartment and I live in the other.”

It was a bonus that June didn’t drive, so Kia got to use the garage at the far end of the driveway. But why, oh, why hadn’t she driven herself tonight? If she’d known Phillip would leave early and she’d be stranded with Brant, she would have insisted on taking her Porsche.

The Porsche Brant thought Phillip had bought for her.

He opened his door, letting in the late-night sounds of a tropical summer. “I’ll walk you inside.”

She’d known he would. Her front door was actually around the back of the house, so it wouldn’t be possible to dismiss him easily. The minute he saw her walking down the driveway alongside the house he’d be out of the car and following her anyway.

“It’s around the back.” She moved to get out of the car, but her long dress proved difficult, and before she knew it he stood beside her, offering her his hand. For a moment she hesitated. Already her pulse was skittering all over the place. What would his touch do to her?

Having no option but to appear unruffled, she held her breath and put her hand on his. Her skin immediately tingled from the contact, but surprisingly his fingers didn’t close around hers. His hand remained open, palm up, allowing her to grip him as she chose.

Is this how he lets a woman make love to him? At her own pace?

That thought spread the tingle through her body as her fingers closed around his hand and she pressed her palm against his, using his strength to bring her to her feet.

He stepped back before their bodies could touch further, making her grateful for small mercies.

“It’s this way,” she said huskily and hurried forward, the path illuminated by small garden lights mingling through the palm trees, the clicking of her high heels in competition with a chorus of green tree frogs.

But when she came up to the door, it was standing open. She began to frown, then gave a soft gasp as realization hit. Someone had broken in.

“Oh, my God,” she whispered in disbelief.

“Stay there.” Brant strode the few feet to the door, swearing softly when he tread on some broken glass. He reached inside for the nearest switch, flooding the kitchen with light.

Kia came up behind him and they both stood there looking around. At first it appeared as if nothing had happened but the glass on the floor showed that someone had smashed one of the panels on the door.

“Careful,” Brant warned, stepping over the mess, then helping her while she lifted the skirt of her long dress with one hand and gingerly stepped over the glass.

Kia’s heart was almost jumping out of her chest. “Do you think he’s still here?” she whispered.

Brant peered toward the darkened hallway, his expression hard. “If he is …” He pulled his cell phone out of his jacket pocket. “He’s going to regret it.”

Kia shivered as he dialed the police and spoke quietly for a moment. She almost felt sorry for the robber if he was still here. He’d be in for a shock if Brant got hold of him.

He swore as he ended the call. “They’ve had a busy night. They could be a while.”

Kia’s stomach churned with anxiety. She’d hate to think what would happen if she were here alone. For the first time, she was glad of Brant’s presence. “What now?”

He reached over to grab a knife from the block on the sink. “I guess I’m going to play the bloody hero,” he muttered, stepping toward the hallway, but he stopped when he saw her face. “What’s the matter?”

“You’re not going to use that, are you?”

He grimaced. “It’s only for protection. Come on. Stick with me.”

Kia needed no second bidding. She stuck like wallpaper while they went from room to room, switching on each light, her knees knocking with relief when no one jumped out at them.

In the loungeroom they discovered her laptop and DVD player missing, plus a small antique clock, along with other knickknacks. Her bedroom appeared untouched, thank God. She’d hate to think of some stranger handling her personal things. Perhaps fondling her silky bra and panties …

She shuddered, and Brant put his hand on her forearm and turned her to face him. “Are you all right?”

“Yes,” she murmured, though she knew she wasn’t. She couldn’t seem to stop shaking.

“Shhh,” he said, starting to massage her arm in a comforting gesture that made her drop her gaze to his hand on her, suddenly wanting to lean into him and let his strength wrap around her.

She looked up and all at once he was staring into her eyes.

“Kia?” he growled, and she opened her lips slightly despite a silken thread of warning in his voice. He was going to kiss her…. She wanted him to, dear God, she did.

Just then the sound of crunching glass came from the kitchen and a male voice called out, “This is the police. Everything all right in there?”

Brant immediately stepped back. “About bloody time,” he rasped without looking at her and left her side to stride down the hallway. “We’re here, Constable,” he said more loudly. “We were just seeing if there was any damage.”

Kia stood there for a moment, fighting intense disappointment. Brant obviously hadn’t suffered from the same frustration—or if he had, he hadn’t shown it. He’d turned away from her so fast she’d almost got whiplash watching him.

Which only reminded her that’s exactly what he’d do if he ever got her into bed. He’d use her, then he’d walk away without a second glance.

Kia took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. Now she felt strong again. She’d resisted him this far and would continue to do so. She’d been weakened by the shock of the robbery, that’s all.

For the next ten minutes she sat at the kitchen table and answered questions for the two very nice policemen who’d responded to the call, while Brant leaned back against the sink and watched the proceedings like a judge in a courtroom. He certainly made the younger policeman uneasy, by the looks of things, though the older one didn’t bat an eyelid.

“Probably an addict,” the older policeman said now, giving a world-weary shrug. “Got to get their fix somehow. Just as well you were wearing that necklace, Miss Benton, and didn’t leave it at home.”

Kia gave a soft gasp as her hand went to the diamonds circling her neck. Then she saw Brant’s jaw clench and the way his eyes burned her and she couldn’t help but think he was somehow angry over Phillip giving her the necklace.

The policeman interrupted her thoughts by going on to suggest ways of tightening her security, including putting a bolt on the door and getting a dog.

“Oh, but we do have a dog. I mean, the lady in the apartment next door has a dog.” Something occurred to her. “Oh, no. I wonder if he broke into June’s place, as well? The house has been divided in two, you see.” She swallowed. “Do you think you could check? She’s not home this weekend, thank goodness. She went to visit her sister and took Ralphie with her.”

“I’ll go take a look around,” the younger policeman said after getting a nod from his boss, then nervously looked at Brant before leaving the room, as if glad to get out from under such a strong presence.

The older policeman glanced at Kia. “Have you got someone to stay with you tonight, Miss Benton? Something like this can shake people up pretty bad.”

“I’ll be staying with her,” Brant said before she could open her mouth.

She shot to her feet. She couldn’t have Brant stay here. She just couldn’t. “I can look after myself. I don’t need anyone. I—”

“What if he comes back?” Brant cut across her.

The spew of words froze on her lips. Somehow she managed a short laugh. “He won’t. He got what he wanted.”

“Did he?”

She shivered and hugged her bare arms. “Stop it. You’re scaring me.”

“Well, you should be bloody scared,” he said, straightening away from the sink. “You’ve got a door with a broken lock and no one close enough to hear you scream.” His jaw tautened, making him look dark and dangerous. “I’m staying.”

How silly to feel relief. She should be more scared of Brant and her own attraction for him than of being robbed again. Only if the robber came back he might not only want to rob her. He might want more than that….

“I really think that’s a good idea, Miss Benton,” the older policeman coaxed, looking at her in a fatherly fashion, reminding her that they weren’t alone.

She swallowed deeply. “Yes, of course.”

Right then the younger policeman stepped back into the kitchen, interrupting them. “Everything’s fine next door.” He shot a look at his boss. “Sarge, that call we were expecting just came through.”

“Right.” The older man straightened and immediately put his notebook in his pocket. “We’ll be in touch,” he told them quickly, then was gone.

A moment’s tense silence stretched between her and Brant, then she cleared her throat, determined to be as businesslike as possible. “I’ll get the couch ready for you.”

Brant’s mouth twisted. “I doubt I’ll get much sleep on that two-seater in your loungeroom.”

She felt as if her breath cut out. Was he asking to share her bed? Over her dead body.

Well, maybe not her dead body, she mused, hurrying to the refrigerator to get a cool drink. “Isn’t that the point? To stay awake and protect me?” She lifted out the jug of cold water, almost tempted to hold it up to her forehead to cool herself down. “Anyway, it opens out to a sofa bed. You’ll have plenty of room.”

He began loosening his tie. “Fine. I like being able to spread out.”

“That must be a novelty for you,” she said before she could stop herself.

The look in his eyes held a spark of eroticism. “You make it sound like there’s a woman in my bed every day.”

She feigned ignorance. “You mean there isn’t?”

“Sweetheart, I’m not married. I only let a woman in my bed when I’m looking for some affection.”

“That’s what I said. Every day.” She placed the jug on the bench and walked toward the hallway door. “I’ll get you a blanket,” she said before he could respond. She had to get out of that room or she’d strangle him with her bare hands. Either that or smother him with one of the pillows she was about to get him.

The ringing of the telephone next to him woke Brant with a start the next morning. It seemed as if he’d only just fallen asleep, having tossed and turned for most of the night, blaming the sofa but knowing it was because the sexiest woman alive lay in a bed not meters away from him, with only a thin wall between them.

So he didn’t appreciate being woken now. “Yes?” he barked into the mouthpiece.

A moment’s silence, then a man’s shocked voice came down the line. “Brant!”

Brant’s eyes flew open. “Phil?”

The other man sucked in a sharp breath. “What the hell? Where’s Kia?”

“Look, it’s not what you think,” Brant growled, shooting to a sitting position and regaining his composure. “Someone broke into her place last night. I slept on the sofa so I could keep an eye on her, that’s all.”

“Is she okay?” Phil asked, anxious now.

“She was a bit shook up last night, but I’m sure she’ll be fine in the light of day.”

He looked up and saw Kia standing in the doorway. Her blue eyes were sleepy, her blond hair sexily tousled, not a bit of makeup on her beautiful face as she wrapped the sash of a silky blue creation around her waist. She looked so bloody gorgeous he had to stop himself from throwing the phone down and ravishing her on the spot.

“I’m glad you were there for her,” Phil said slowly, dragging Brant’s thoughts away from the woman in front of him. Phil still sounded depressed.

“Phil, I’m sure she would rather have had you here,” he said, watching her eyes come fully awake at the mention of the other man’s name.

“Is that Phillip?” she said, stepping into the room and hurrying toward him. In an instant Brant could feel her female heat coiling around him. Could hear the silky swish of her thighs. The soft gasps of her breath that came closer and closer. If he reached out, he might just be able to caress her.

Instead he held out the phone. “Yeah, it’s Phil.”

She snatched it to her and immediately turned her back on him. “Phillip? Did Brant explain what happened?” She gave a delicate shudder. “It was awful. I can’t believe someone would do this.” She listened for a moment, then said, “He broke the glass door. The police think …”

She continued to talk, but Brant had stopped listening. And he’d almost stopped breathing. She didn’t know it, but with the morning sun streaming in the room he could see straight through her gossamer robe to the line of her buttocks. God, how he’d love to run his hands over them. They’d be so smooth to his touch.

Giving a silent groan, he leaned his head back against the pillows and closed his eyes. Dammit, he had to stop this. She wasn’t worth the looking … the wanting….

“Brant?”

Did she have to say his name in such a husky voice? As if she was his lover, waiting for him to stir. The next thing she’d be reaching out to touch him….

“Yes?” His voice sounded rough, like the night he’d just had.

“Are you awake?”

“No. I always talk in my sleep,” he mocked and opened his eyes. Disappointment rippled through him when he saw she’d moved out of the sunlight.

Her mouth tightened. “That’s one thing I’ll never find out.”

“No, you won’t, will you?” And suddenly it was the biggest regret of his life. His lips twisted. Okay, that and getting involved with Julia all those years ago. She hadn’t been too innocent when she’d run off and married his brother.

He threw back the sheet and swung his legs over the side of the sofa bed, his black briefs his only covering. “Tell me. Does Phillip ever talk in his sleep?” he asked, forcing himself to remember who this woman belonged to … and what she was about.

Money.

She gave a light laugh. “Only to murmur sweet nothings in my ear.”

An intense jealousy slashed through him. It should have been him who whispered in her ear. Him who lay beside her. Him who made love to her. That’s what felt right. Not her and Phillip. Every minute he grew more certain of it.

He reached for his trousers. God, what was going on here? Why didn’t he suddenly feel right about those two? There was something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Something important. Yet all he had was a gut feeling he couldn’t shake. And a bloody hunger for Kia Benton that wouldn’t stop.

“Would you like coffee before you go?”

At the crack in her voice he looked up and caught her appraising his bare chest and taut stomach. Despite being newly engaged, the look in her eye said she wanted him.

His muscles immediately tensed as he zipped up and asked the question that hit him from out of nowhere. “How come you didn’t call Phillip last night?” All at once he found it interesting that she hadn’t gone running to her fiancé after the burglary.

She’d been about to turn away, but now her eyelids flickered, as if the question startled her. “What? Er … I didn’t want to worry him.”

“If you were my fiancée, I’d want you to worry me.”

She moistened those oh-so-enticing lips. “You know he was tired and in pain when he left the party.”

“I’d still want to know if you were in danger.”

Her chin angled. “Phillip’s not like you, Brant.”

No, he wasn’t, was he? Phillip was a one-woman man. And that woman was Lynette Kelly, of that Brant was suddenly certain. Ever since he’d seen Phillip’s reaction to his old girlfriend at the Christmas party last night, he’d had this deep nagging feeling. And what about Lynette’s reaction to Phillip? They were both still in love with each other, no doubt about it.

Brant looked at Kia and wondered if she knew. Surely she’d noticed something amiss?

“Forget the coffee,” he rasped as he quickly slipped on his shirt and made a grab for his jacket. He had to get out of here before he did or said something he’d regret. Phillip may be in love with Lynette, but the other man obviously wasn’t prepared to do anything about it. And Kia must be thanking her lucky stars she’d found a man who didn’t give a damn that he was being taken to the cleaners.

Ignoring the tight knot forming in his stomach, he sat down again and began putting on his socks and shoes. “I’ll call a locksmith and get him to fix the door for you.” What he should really do is get someone to lock her up. Only then would men be safe from her beauty and self-seeking ways.

“I’m quite capable of picking up a phone.”

“I didn’t say you weren’t, but I can get it fixed faster. I have connections.”

“What you mean is you’ll offer him more money to fix it today?”

“The company can afford it.”

She drew in a sharp breath. “Don’t be ridiculous. I won’t be letting the company pay for anything.”

His mouth clamped into a thin line. Who was she trying to fool? This was a token protest at best.

“So you’re going to sleep another night with your door wide-open?” He stood up, ready to leave. “I could always come back and use your sofa again.” It was a foolhardy threat. He’d never be able to handle another night without touching her. And he had better things to do with his time.

“I’ll go to a motel.”

His teeth clenched. “Fine and dandy. And when you get home, the rest of your stuff will have been stolen.” Without waiting for a response, he started toward the door. “Someone will be round within the hour.”

“Brant—” she warned, only to have the ring of the telephone interrupt her.

“Answer that,” he said and left the house before she could get another word in. What he found interesting was that she hadn’t mentioned staying at Phillip’s place, when that would be the ideal solution. Perhaps she was holding out for a white wedding, he mused cynically.