Читать книгу Summer Temptation - Natalie Anderson - Страница 12

CHAPTER FIVE

ELLIE followed Ruben inside—feeling like a pepper slow-burning over a bare flame. But while he might be all kinds of gorgeous, she was no longer Ms People-Pleaser Total Pushover. She’d drawn her line and she was holding it. She was here to work—and work was all that was important to her at the moment.

‘You know the lodge wasn’t used in the movies at all,’ he said, leading her through the building, her overnight bag slung over his shoulder. ‘So it won’t be available for the tour. We’re really just talking about those big hills and the remnants of the set buildings.’

‘Okay, but they’re going to need refreshments at some point. It’s quite a hike to get here.’ She was starving. The biscuit and coffee snack on the plane hadn’t done much to fill her tummy’s gap.

He nodded. ‘There’s a guest house further down the road. We can do morning tea or something. I have a cook.’

Of course he did.

‘Actually, that cook has left something for us to eat tonight if you’re hungry,’ he said—still with that too-casual attitude.

She wished she had the reserves to say no but she knew it was in her best interests to get her blood sugar levels balanced or she’d be in danger of flying off yet another handle and doing something completely crazy. And merely watching his rear view fell into crazy category. Two minutes of following him had rendered her light-headed. The temptation to do him was lunatic.

‘I’d love something to eat, thanks.’ She’d think food, food, and nothing but food.

He turned, surprised at her easy acquiescence. ‘Sooner rather than later?’

‘Definitely.’ She nodded enthusiastically. ‘And I’d love a drink.’

He laughed, which really didn’t help her battle to resist her attraction to him. ‘No problem.’ He led her to the massive, all-professional-equipped kitchen. ‘There’s a fantastic cellar here. Did you want red, white or bubbly?’

She rolled her eyes. ‘Water straight from the tap will do me just fine, thanks.’

‘You don’t want any wine?’ he asked in mock surprise. ‘No French champagne tonight?’

‘I’m not so stupid I’d make that mistake a second time,’ she answered with spirit.

‘You blame the bubbles?’ He smiled.

She took the glass of chilled water he offered. ‘No, but I don’t think it helped. I’m grown-up enough to accept most of the madness was my own fault.’

He watched her from the other side of the granite-topped bench. ‘What about the lodge—does the décor inspire you as much as the chateau’s did?’

Ruefully she sipped, flushing her boiling system with the almost frozen water, and refused to answer. Instead she turned away from the gorgeously deluxe interior to look out of the window at the amazing skyline. ‘How many of these places do you own?’ She needed their addresses so she could avoid them at all costs. Just her luck that when she finally got to go somewhere gorgeous, her one most wicked encounter would have to be waiting.

‘Last count it was five. I’m working on the sixth and seventh at the moment.’

‘That’s quite a stable.’ Especially given each came with a multimillion-dollar price tag.

‘They’re not all as big as this one. But they keep me busy.’

She glanced back at him as he answered. Yes, there was the slightest hint of tiredness about his eyes. On the bench was the laptop, the tablet, the smart phones—all the paraphernalia of the businessman who worked 24/7.

‘But the chateau was the first?’ She pressed for more information. ‘And it was your father who built it?’ And who’d had the folly of the marriage?

‘It had been his dream, but he got sick before he could finish it,’ Ruben answered, no flicker of emotion crossing his face.

‘Oh, I’m sorry.’

‘Cancer.’ He elaborated a fraction. ‘He was older. It was only to be expected, I guess.’

‘So you took it over?’ She skimmed over his father’s age reference for now. She was more interested in how on earth Ruben had managed to achieve all he had.

He nodded.

‘How old were you?’

‘Fourteen when he died, seventeen when I took on the chateau.’

‘Seventeen?’

The roguish smile appeared at her amazed tone. ‘My mother signed it over to me.’

‘She did?’

He nodded as if it were completely everyday and then turned to the massive stainless-steel fridge. ‘I wanted it, she didn’t.’

Ellie was gobsmacked. Who on earth signed over a massive property to a teenager? ‘Where’s your mother now?’

‘She went back to France a few months after he died. She didn’t want to be hounded as a merry widow.’

‘But you stayed?’ All alone in New Zealand, barely old enough to leave school, let alone take on a massive business project?

‘I wanted to finish the chateau.’ He pulled a covered dish from the fridge and put it into the microwave, pressing the electronic controls, still speaking in that carefree way. ‘I wanted to realise my father’s dream. But Mama couldn’t face it. I don’t blame her for that.’

His mother had been that unhappy? And had their relationship been so fragmented she’d chosen to leave her only child behind? It seemed Ruben had some pain in common with Ellie’s. ‘Do you see her much?’ Ellie couldn’t resist asking and her curiosity didn’t seem to bother him given the way he answered so easily.

‘We use Skype and stuff but we’re both busy. She has a small boutique she loves. I’m flat out,’ he answered with that easy-going smile.

Okay, so maybe that relationship wasn’t the greatest. But hadn’t he had a better one with his dad? ‘You must have been close to your father to want to finish his dream for him.’

Ruben’s smile became fixed. ‘He died a while back now.’

Yeah, but some wounds remained, never truly healing. While you got on with it, there was that permanent bruise beneath the skin. And though Ellie hadn’t lost anyone close, she still understood heartbreak—in her case for what could have been, for what she’d missed out on from both parents. ‘You don’t have any other family?’

He shook his head. ‘Nor do I want any.’ He turned and caught her eye. His chocolate gaze held pointed meaning, despite the wicked seductiveness of his smile. ‘I’m not a wedding-ring kind of guy.’

‘Is that you trying to be subtle?’ she asked, flipping to tart. ‘You don’t need to warn me. I’m not coming anywhere near you.’

‘Oh, right.’ He chuckled. ‘My mistake.’

Arrogant sod. Of course, she couldn’t help smiling and she couldn’t help her curiosity. ‘So, why no commitment? What’s your marriage-avoidance excuse? You had a close shave with a stereotypically money-hungry woman or something?’ She rolled her eyes at the cliché. Successful men always seemed to fear some big bad woman was going to come after half their assets in the divorce court or something.

‘No.’ He walked the few paces back to the business end of the kitchen, pulled a salad bowl from the fridge. ‘It’s a matter of priority. Work is my priority and has been for a while. It takes up every minute of every day and that’s not about to change. I travel a lot between venues. I can’t be at someone’s beck and call.’

Beck and call? She frowned. ‘We’re talking marriage, not servitude.’

‘There’s a difference?’ He smiled as if he was joking—kind of. ‘I can’t be anyone’s husband. I can’t be the guy who’s going to be there for all those “important” things. It’s not fair of me to promise that only to let someone down time after time. I don’t want resentment to build and then be hurled against me.’

Was that what had happened? He’d been with someone who’d demanded too much of his time? But wouldn’t a woman know what she was getting into in a relationship with a guy like him? That the career drive was an inseparable part of the man she’d fallen for? Just as a woman who married a military man would know that both she and he would have to sacrifice some things because of his duty? Didn’t those relationships still work—with some work?

Yeah, maybe that was it. Maybe Ruben spent so much energy on his business, he couldn’t be bothered working on sustaining a relationship. And why should he have to when he undoubtedly had billions of women throwing themselves at him?

‘No, that’s still just an excuse,’ she said callously. ‘You don’t want to commit to a woman because you can get what you want from any number. Why would you limit yourself to just one?’

He filled a bowl from the rice cooker on the utility bench, grinning as he did so. And he didn’t deny it. ‘Let’s eat.’ He faced her with that smile. ‘We’ll feel better for it.’

‘A microwave meal,’ she gushed. ‘I’m so excited.’

‘Why don’t you try it before casting judgment?’

Ellie met his challenge with a tilt of her chin and kept her chin high as he relentlessly watched her take first bite of the light curry.

‘Okay, best microwave meal ever,’ she mumbled, even though her mouth was still half full. There was no point trying to lie in the face of that piercing scrutiny.

He laughed softly and started in on it too.

Dinner passed too quickly because it was so damn delicious. She complimented his chef several times over—to his amusement. Conversation remained safe—restaurants in Wellington, cafés on the wine trail. After, she helped him carry the dishes back to the bench, helped him rinse and stack them into the machine. And all that time she refused to let herself think on the fact that the guy was good company.

But he was. Really good company. And he was seducing her.

As that thought finally wriggled its way to the front of her brain she glanced at her watch. ‘What time do we set out tomorrow?’

‘After breakfast, which will be whenever you wake up. There’s no real rush.’

‘Well, I should probably—’

‘Sit down on the sofa and look at the view,’ he interrupted with that wolfish manner. ‘It’s nowhere near bedtime. We need to talk some more.’

‘Don’t you have work to do?’ she asked, desperately aware she needed to get away from him. The longer she was in his presence, the more addled her brain became. It wasn’t right that someone could exude such intoxicating heat. And now, as he walked her to the lounge with the amazing view and the sofas that were made for snuggling on, memories tormented, making her all the more susceptible.

‘I always have work to do,’ he answered carelessly. ‘That’s not the point.’

She took a seat, primly keeping her knees and ankles firmly together, avoiding looking at him. ‘What did you want to talk about?’

‘The movies,’ he answered promptly, flopping onto the sofa opposite. ‘Which of the two is your favourite?’

‘Seriously?’ She glanced at him. ‘I wouldn’t have thought you had much respect for movies. I’m guessing you don’t have much time for them.’

‘Not usually.’ He blithely ignored her dig. ‘But I made a point of watching them the other day and found they weren’t bad. Talk me through the fandom.’

So she did. To her surprise, he really had watched them and remembered lots of detail. And had even enjoyed them. Then it turned out he’d watched a few classic films in his time. And a ton of French ones.

‘Anything with Gérard Depardieu?’ She giggled.

‘Makes for a lot of movies.’ He winked. ‘My mother loves him and Dad used to try and impersonate him—badly.’

So there had been good times with his parents?

‘How come you developed such a passion for the flicks?’ he asked, switching the focus back on her.

‘Oh, I just watched a lot as a kid. Habit.’

‘Your parents liked them?’

No, she hadn’t been curled up on a sofa between her parents watching a film as he probably had. She’d been in her own bedroom with her own telly—to her friends’ envy—and watched them alone. She still had a massive DVD collection. ‘They were just fun.’

A time-filler, a window into another, more friendly, world—where villains got their comeuppance, orphans found families and plain girls got the guys. Sure they might be fairy tales, but she enjoyed them.

‘And you really like taking the tours?’ he asked as if he couldn’t understand why anybody would.

‘Being with the fans is way more fun than working behind the scenes,’ she explained. ‘I’m a fan—I understand that excitement. I mean, it’s hard work, but I love it. And I love travelling. I love getting to meet these interesting people who’ve come from so far away. Who’ve been to other interesting places. Who love the movies I do. It’s fantastic.’

The discussion was a timely reminder—she wasn’t going to stuff up her perfect job by sleeping with one of the possible contacts. Again.

‘I can see why you’re popular. Your enthusiasm is infectious,’ he said slowly, with a look in his eyes that she was sure wasn’t good. ‘You know there’s a pool here,’ he drawled.

Definitely not good. She had another melt moment and instantly rallied. ‘I didn’t bring my swimsuit. And don’t even suggest skinny dipping.’ Yeah, she’d caught the flicker of his smile.

‘It’s heated. There’s a spa as well.’

She’d known staying to chat with him wouldn’t be wise. She might be completely sober but she was suddenly as giddy as if she’d sucked a litre of champagne through a straw. ‘I don’t need to try all the things you have for your high-paying guests. I’ll be with the scraggly film fans out in the muddy field.’

‘I just thought it might help you relax.’ He opened his hands in an oh-so-not innocent gesture.

‘Let down my guard, you mean.’ She wasn’t here to relax.

‘How about a ride, then?’ He roared with laughter at her expression. Then clarified. ‘We could just go along the fence-line, you could see the moon and the stars. Very much a movie scene.’

‘I’m not really into horse-riding.’ And she refused to blush. ‘We have all day tomorrow to see the old set. I think it’s best if I turn in for an early night.’

‘You’re afraid.’

‘Of horses, yes.’ She dared him to laugh at her. ‘And I’m being sensible.’

He let out a theatrical sigh. ‘Come on, then, Cinderella.’ He scooped her bag from where they’d left it in the kitchen and then led her up the stairs—another wide, plush corridor that seemed to go for ever.

‘Now.’ He opened a door and put her bag just inside. ‘This is your bedroom.’

‘Thank you.’ She walked into the room and quickly turned, her hand closing the door. But before she could slam it in his face he leaned in.

‘Pay very close attention,’ he drawled. ‘My bedroom is a mere three doors along. Same floor and everything. You can’t miss it. Even if there’s a power cut and it’s pitch black. Worst case just try them all, there’s no one else staying here, only me to be found.’

‘Dream on.’

‘Oh, I do. Every night.’ He shrugged, utterly unashamed. ‘Just as you do.’

‘There’s a lock on this door, isn’t there?’ She looked down at it as if to ensure it.

‘There’s no full moon tonight,’ he continued, ignoring her interruption. ‘Just as there wasn’t then. You don’t need to pretend you’re a horny were-woman, just do what you want to do.’

‘You’re not what I want to do,’ she muttered, determined to believe it.

‘I think I prefer it when you’re agitated and honest rather than trying to be cool and lie.’

She choked—torn between laughter and outrage. ‘You’re so up yourself.’

‘No, I’m just not so uptight I can’t admit to something that feels good.’

She twitched. ‘Look, what happened was a mistake. I’m all for learning from my mistakes.’

‘Well, frankly, I’m glad you made the wrong room mistake and saved yourself from a mess-up with that other guy.’

‘What happened with you was a mistake too.’

‘How can you say that?’ His voice dropped lower still. A whisper that slid over her like the faintest, warmest of breezes. ‘You’re as in thrall as I am.’

She had to end this somehow, before she went up in a puff of smoke. ‘This is really flattering and all—’ she sucked up some cool ‘—but I’m not available for anyone, or any kind of thing, right now. That night just showed what an idiot I was.’

‘You weren’t an idiot.’ He looked concerned. ‘That wasn’t the act of a desperate woman.’

‘Wasn’t it?’ Wasn’t it exactly that?

It was one of the few moments in the evening where his expression was serious. ‘There’s nothing wrong with having needs and giving them free expression. You know what I think of you?’ he asked.

She really didn’t want to know.

‘That you’re a spontaneous, fiery, passionate woman who’s as human as I am. Who makes mistakes, who has wants. It was refreshing. You were in total charge. You blew my—’

‘Look, don’t try to make out like I’m some kind of sex goddess just because you want back in my pants.’ Ellie breathed in desperately. ‘Truth is I don’t want any kind of a relationship right now. I’ve got a new job that I really don’t want to lose because I actually love it. I want to be in charge of both my career and my social life.’

‘I don’t want a relationship either.’ His shoulders lifted. ‘It’s impossible for me. I’m in the middle of a new deal, I’m away every week to another hotel.’ He half laughed. ‘And that’s not going to change any time soon. And not for anyone.’

‘So there’s really nothing to talk about, right?’

‘There is just this one small thing.’ He leaned closer.

‘You said you wouldn’t make a move.’

‘I’m not.’

‘You know you are.’ She shook her head. ‘Why don’t you drive to the nearest bar or something? You could get sex any time you want it.’

‘You’re proving that statement wrong right this second.’

She swallowed.

‘I have some fun when it feels right, but my field’s been empty a while.’ He maintained his intent, fiery gaze on her. ‘I can admit to my needs, maybe you can’t. But your actions that night showed you have them.’

‘It can’t happen.’

‘Yes, it can. Just once more can absolutely happen.’

Just once more. Oh, so, so tempting.

‘You promised you wouldn’t touch me unless I invited it.’ Her whisper was invitation enough and they both knew it.

She looked down to stop the mesmerising effect of his easy smile and dangerous eyes. But it merely made it worse because now she could hear the molten-chocolate quality in his words. She could feel his heat; her own instinct to draw nearer pulled.

‘Look at me.’ Now there was more than a thread of steely persuasion in that warm voice.

She fought the urge to obey—because he wasn’t going to win her around. She wasn’t going to roll over like so much of her wanted to.

He braced his hands in the door frame and leaned across the threshold.

And she felt it, she really did. His proximity was as good as a touch, spiking her adrenalin, sending shivers along her skin despite that inch of air between his body and hers.

‘Ruben,’ she barely breathed.

She could retreat into her room but she didn’t want to back down in any kind of way. Besides, he’d simply follow her in and that would decimate her control.

‘I’m not touching you,’ he murmured, his sensual dominance merciless. ‘Do you want me to?’

He didn’t have to touch her to tempt her. But his incredible magnetism equally repelled her. More games with him would inevitably cause hurt for her—she always ended up the heartbroken, not the heartbreaker. She’d had only that one night of playing carefree seductress, whereas he’d had many as seducer. And worse, more games could cost her future with the best job she’d ever had. So despite the desire threatening to enslave her, she couldn’t succumb to it.

‘Good night.’ She shoved him back through the doorway and quickly shut the door.

A split second of silence and then he called a teasing comment through the wood. ‘Enjoy those dreams, darling.’

Oh, she would, but dreams were all they were going to be.