Читать книгу The Wedding Contract - Nicola Marsh - Страница 9

AMBER believed in karma. If you treated others badly, it would come back to you tenfold. Now, after the way she’d spoken to Steve Rockwell earlier, she had her comeuppance.

‘Are you sure you can’t make the meeting, Dad?’ She tugged at the hem of her skirt, feeling more than a tad self-conscious in the mini cocktail dress.

‘I’m sorry, love. If I go out this headache is sure to turn into a full-blown migraine. Besides, you can handle it. You’re my right-hand woman.’ He winked at her, though it turned into a wince as he lay back on the bed and rubbed his temples.

‘I know, but you’re the one who needs to make the final decision.’ The skirt wouldn’t co-operate and rode halfway up her thighs as soon as she let go. It had been too long since she’d bought any clothes, not that it usually mattered. However, with a meeting this important she wanted to look her best and unfortunately the three-year-old dress had seen better days.

‘Just listen to what he has to say,’ her dad continued. ‘You don’t need to agree on anything immediately. We’ll discuss it in the morning, OK?’

Guilt flooded her as he closed his eyes. Why was she making such a big deal out of a meeting she could handle with one hand tied behind her back?

Because it wasn’t so much the dinner meeting her dad had scheduled that was the problem but the man she had to share the meal with.

‘Besides, Mr Rockwell sounded quite reasonable over the phone. I’m sure you two will get along just fine.’

She leaned down and kissed her dad on the cheek, hoping he was right. ‘Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll let you know how it went in the morning. And don’t forget, ring me if you need me.’

He waved her away. ‘Stop fussing. I just need to sleep.’

As she looked down upon her father’s leather-worn face as he drifted off to sleep, her heart swelled with love. He’d given her the best life possible, nurturing and protecting her throughout the vulnerable teenage years after her mum had passed away. She couldn’t have wished for a better father, and the least she could do was put up with an obnoxious lawyer for one evening.

She tiptoed from the room and wondered where the meeting would take place. She hadn’t eaten out for ages, not since her last date six months ago. There hadn’t been much time for dating lately, with all her attention focused on saving the business. Besides, the local guys just didn’t do it for her.

A loud knock on the door set her nerves jumping. Checking her reflection in the mirror one last time, she wished that she’d done more with her face. She didn’t wear much make-up as a rule, and the lack of cosmetics made her look too young. Tonight she needed a mask of confidence.

She fixed a welcoming smile on her face and opened the door. ‘Hello.’

She couldn’t think of anything else to say, especially when the last words she’d uttered to this guy were ‘get lost’. To make matters worse, he looked amazing, clad in black trousers and a white shirt unbuttoned at the neck. Casual, yet smart, and, combined with his lethal looks, way too dangerous for her.

‘Ready to go?’ His gaze swept her from head to foot and she had a sudden urge to slam the door in his face and dive under a duvet, especially when he focused on her legs.

‘Sure.’ That was one way to impress him, blind him with riveting conversation.

She gnawed at her bottom lip, wishing she could think of something to say, and followed him to the carnival’s entrance, where people queued for the evening’s performance. Unfortunately, the paltry line would barely pay the overheads in staging the horse show. Just another nail in the coffin.

‘I’ve hired a car for a couple of days. It’s this way.’ She watched him stride towards a low-slung convertible, admiring his long legs and tight butt.

He held the passenger door open for her and she slid into the seat, wondering how many other women he’d tried to impress with his gallant behaviour. Somehow, the thought of him wining and dining countless other women didn’t improve her mood. Not that she should care. Tonight was business, and the sooner she believed it, the better.

‘Figures,’ she said, settling into the comfortable leather seat and watching his long legs fold underneath the steering wheel.

‘Pardon?’ He started the car and pulled away from the kerb, his attention focused on the road ahead.

Thank goodness he’d stopped staring at her. She couldn’t stand the way he’d looked at her as she sat down, probably wondering where she’d picked up the ridiculously short dress and why she was wearing it to an important meeting.

‘The car. It fits.’

‘Are you judging me?’ His voice was low, a warning that she trod on uneven ground.

‘So what if I am?’ Where had that come from? She was here to save her dad’s business, not shoot it down in flames.

‘You’ve got a smart mouth for a woman in no position to bait me. I’m supposed to be the bad guy, remember?’

She tossed back her hair, wishing she’d had the sense to wear it up. How would she look by the time they made it to the restaurant after riding in an open-top? So much for appearing professional.

Rather than backing down, she had a strange urge to match wits with him. ‘I’ve never kowtowed to any guy and I’m not about to start now, regardless of who you are.’

‘Trying to pick a fight with me won’t work,’ he said, hitting a button on the CD-player.

In doing so, his fingers grazed her bare leg and she flinched, unprepared for the swift rush of longing for his hand to do a lot more than just brush against her. What was going on? She’d never reacted to a guy like this, especially one whose head would barely pass through an average-sized doorway.

Serene rainforest sounds filled the car, in stark contrast to her simmering mood, and she wondered why an uptight lawyer would listen to music like this. Why did he annoy her so much? All he had to do was open his mouth and she aimed for his throat, wishing she could tear it out with her bare hands.

‘That’s better,’ she murmured, appreciating the soothing music. She meditated daily to a similar track, and its familiarity evoked an instant sense of calm.

‘You like this stuff?’

She glanced across at him, noting the incredulity on his face. ‘Of course. It keeps me centred.’

‘Whatever that means.’

She chuckled. ‘Something you’ll never figure out. Though you’ve surprised me. I thought your musical tastes would run more towards Bach…Mozart…You know, boring classical stuff.’

‘Still judging me, huh?’ He sounded amused rather than annoyed. ‘The CD came with the car. Oh, and in case you’re interested, I happen to prefer pop to classical stuff.’

Somehow, she couldn’t imagine him bopping along to the latest beat and the thought made her smile. ‘I’m not interested. I’m only here to have dinner with you in the hope we can save the carnival.’

‘Speaking of dinner, let me guess. You’re a vegetarian too?’

‘And what’s wrong with that?’ She folded her arms, enjoying their banter yet wishing he would stop pushing her buttons.

‘Nothing. I should’ve asked before booking the restaurant. Sorry.’ Rather than sounding apologetic, he spoke like a man used to having his own way and expecting everyone around him to fit in.

Her theatrical gasp overrode the muted bird sounds filtering from the speakers. ‘Was that an apology? I must be hearing things.’

‘Ha ha. A regular comedienne. Is there any end to your many talents?’

‘You’ll just have to wait and see.’ She averted her gaze from his strong hands splayed across the steering wheel and glanced out of the window in time to see the giant conglomerate that was trying to ruin her father’s business. Though she’d loved water slides as a child, she hated the way Water World had ruined the environment with its plastic monstrosities, rather than blending the park into the bush surrounds. And now they wanted to expand, bulldozing another part of the bush and her father’s business in the process.

She sneaked a peek at the man who had the power to make it all happen. Though it went against the grain, perhaps she should be nice to him rather than antagonise him further?

‘I’m not a vegetarian,’ she ventured, thinking the statement lacked something as a peace offering but not wanting to give in to him too easily. ‘So when do we start discussing the carnival?’

‘I don’t talk business on an empty stomach,’ he said as he drove into Surfers Paradise and handed over the car to be valet-parked. Amber didn’t reply, and as she climbed out of the car she hoped that he didn’t expect her to make polite conversation over dinner. All she wanted to do was get this business completed as quickly as possible without complicating matters.

For that was exactly what would happen if she spent too long in this guy’s company. She’d never met a man like him and he intrigued her, the way he wouldn’t back down. Usually, her forthright manner scared men off, but not this one. He seemed to thrive on it, a fact she liked way too much to be comfortable.

‘Hope you like seafood,’ he said as he guided her into a prominent Gold Coast hotel.

‘I love it,’ she responded, trying not to gawk at the elaborate foyer, with its huge crystal chandelier casting a muted glow over the cream and gold furnishings. Well-dressed patrons strolled through the lobby, some heading to the restaurant.

‘Be careful. Sounds like you might actually enjoy this evening.’ His teasing words did little to reassure her as she compared the elegant styles of the other ladies with her own out-of-date dress. She didn’t belong here, and the sooner she escaped, the better.

‘What’s wrong?’ He laid a hand on her arm and she found his touch strangely comforting.

She glanced down at her dress, feeling like Cinderella without the fairy godmother and twice as ugly as the stepsisters. ‘I don’t fit in.’

He placed his thumb under her chin and tilted her head up. ‘You look beautiful.’ His eyes darkened to pewter and sent her pulse-rate accelerating at a frightening speed. Though she knew she didn’t look it at that moment, she felt like a princess.

Desire skittered across her nerve-endings as his thumb wandered up to lightly brush her bottom lip.

‘In fact, you’re the most stunning woman in this room. Now let’s order.’

They followed the maÎtre d’ to a cosy table for two, shaded from the other diners by strategically placed palms. It overlooked the ocean, and the twinkling lights of the Surfers Paradise strip created the illusion of being suspended in air.

This, combined with his compliment, which had rendered her speechless, meant she could scarcely concentrate on the menu.

‘See anything you fancy?’

She looked up, biting back her first response concerning the man sitting opposite. ‘I’ll have the king prawns, please.’

‘Excellent choice.’ He placed their order with the waiter and handed her one of the delicate flutes that had just been filled. ‘How about champagne to celebrate?’

He must be buttering her up for something, but she couldn’t figure out what. ‘To celebrate?’

He clinked glasses with hers. ‘To the start of a long and prosperous relationship.’

‘For who?’

‘Both of us.’

She almost choked as the effervescent bubbles tingled down her throat. She had no idea how closing down her family business could benefit him, or result in a long relationship, but she had an inkling she was about to find out.

‘Tell me how you’d save the business.’ He sat back and folded his arms, a curious look on his face.

She ignored the flare of hope, knowing his interest was purely speculative. ‘We need more capital to pay off our existing debts. Once they’re cleared, I have a few marketing ideas to boost business. We still have our regulars plus the tourists, and I know I can increase the profits.’

‘What makes you so sure?’

She didn’t let his intense scrutiny unnerve her. ‘I took marketing as part of my business degree. I have a few tricks up my sleeve, but unless we clear the debts we’ll go under.’

‘You’ve got a business degree?’ His eyebrows shot heavenward and his mouth dropped open, just like one of the sideshow clowns at the carnival. A pity she didn’t have any Ping-Pong balls handy to shove into his gaping mouth.

She bristled. ‘With honours. Why, did you think I was just another carnival hick?’

His lips twitched and he avoided her stare, focusing on refolding his linen napkin. ‘I just didn’t pick you to be the type.’

Oh-oh, now he was treading on dangerous ground. She hated being labelled in any way, shape or form.

‘And what type is that? Uptight, stuck-up, pretentious, like you?’

He shrugged, as if her barbs meant little. ‘I’m proud of what I am. At least I don’t have some hang-up over wealth.’

Anger surged through her. Easy for him to judge, when he obviously had money to burn.

‘Not that it’s any of your business, but you wouldn’t know the first thing about making it in this world the hard way. That is, without Daddy’s purse strings to tide you over.’ She barely paused for breath, her bitterness rising with every passing second as she ticked the list off on her fingers. ‘Let me guess. You went to private schools, graduated from university top of the class, had the weekend beach house, played golf with Daddy and dated the princesses hand-picked by Mummy. Correct?’

Her tirade had a strange effect, but he blanked all expression from his face, casually picked up his glass and drank as if she hadn’t spoken.

‘Like I’ve said before, your clairvoyant skills amaze me. You left out the yacht, though.’ His deadly calm unnerved her, though he didn’t look up.

Her anger deflated, gone as quickly as it had come as guilt flooded her. She shouldn’t have pushed him so far. She was here to broker a salvage operation, not blow the whole thing out of the water. ‘Look, you don’t know the first thing about me. I just don’t like being put inside a box.’

‘Then tell me.’ He leaned forward and rested his forearms on the table, drawing her attention to the way his shirt moulded to his biceps. He had a great body for an office-based guy. ‘What makes Amber Lawrence tick?’

She squirmed, uncomfortable beneath his probing gaze. ‘I’m a free spirit. I love Nepalese food, bush-walking and exquisite Mexican jewellery. Not that I own any of the latter yet. And, as you probably noticed, my taste in clothes is far from the usual. There, does that satisfy you?’

Interest flared in his eyes as his gaze swept her body, sending her heart hammering. ‘On the contrary. It arouses my curiosity further.’

She blinked to break the hypnotising eye contact, imagining the many ways she could arouse him and vice versa.

Thankfully, the arrival of their meal put paid to any further interrogation and Amber breathed a sigh of relief. This man had the power to twist her into knots and she had no idea how to untangle herself. The sooner he laid his cards on the table and left her alone, the better.

Once she’d finished the last of her delicious prawns smothered in garlic and chilli, she sat back and patted her stomach. ‘That was fantastic.’

Her action drew his stare to that region of her anatomy like a magnet and she quickly sat up, disconcerted at the heat that unravelled in her belly and spread to lower regions.

‘Can I tempt you with dessert?’ His low, husky voice sent a shiver of anticipation down her spine.

That depends. Are you offering dessert…or dessert?

By the amused look on his face, she thought for a sudden, horrifying moment that she’d spoken aloud.

‘No, thanks.’ She clasped her hands tightly, wishing the evening would come to an end.

‘Sweet enough, huh?’

She looked up at him from beneath her lashes, wishing her heart would stop pounding. She knew she shouldn’t flirt with him but a little incorrigible voice inside her head wouldn’t accept that. ‘You tell me.’

‘I’d say you’re something like a lemon tart. Looks delicious but with a tang that can set you on edge.’ Unfortunately, he kept staring at her with blatant hunger, as if he had every intention of sampling her and coming back for seconds.

‘Yeah, well, you’ll never get a taste.’

At the speculative gleam in his eyes, she cleared her throat and continued quickly, ‘Thanks for the meal. Now, back to business. I’ve told you my ideas. What do you think?’

He hadn’t discussed much about the proposed takeover at all. In fact, he’d focused far too much attention on her, and not the business they had come here to talk about.

‘Don’t worry. I’ll be over to see your father first thing in the morning.’ He spoke calmly, rationally, but she sensed something more. If she wasn’t mistaken, he sounded like a chauvinistic male who thought deals could only be sealed between men.

She pushed back her chair and stood up so quickly her head spun. She couldn’t believe he’d sidetracked her with good food, fine champagne and diverse conversation. And now, when she needed some concrete information to take home, he was giving her the brush-off.

‘I do have half a brain in my head, so if you decide to do business, let me know. I’ll be waiting outside.’ Resisting the urge to tug down her skirt and spoil her exit, she stalked out of the dining room, head held high.

Steve watched her walk away, the green dress she wore flouncing against her thighs. He couldn’t believe she’d worn a dress that short, especially after the kiss they had shared. What did she think he was, made of stone?

Unfortunately, a certain part of his anatomy had thought so since the minute he laid eyes on her tonight. Her body was every bit as luscious as he’d imagined, and thankfully had been on full display since the disappearance of that ridiculous gypsy-like outfit she’d worn earlier that afternoon.

Admit it, Rockwell. She has you hooked.

Pushing the niggling thought from his head, he paid the bill and followed her outside. She’d wandered towards the beach, where the wind whipped her hair back and plastered the flimsy dress against her shapely legs.

‘Unless you want to get arrested for indecent exposure, I suggest you get in the car,’ he murmured in her ear, catching a tantalising glimpse of cleavage as she whirled around.

‘Stop telling me what to do. And don’t sneak up on me like that.’ She spoke quietly, but he sensed the barely restrained anger beneath her calm exterior.

He offered her an arm. ‘Have I done something to offend you?’

She stared at his arm as if he had some contagious disease. ‘What haven’t you done? You waltz into our lives, ready to close down a family business. Then you bring me out here to supposedly discuss the aforementioned, yet don’t. And as for that kiss…’ She trailed off and looked away.

He took a step closer, bringing him within a foot of her. ‘I’m not going to apologise again for something I don’t regret.’

That got her attention, and her gaze flew to his face. Thankfully, he managed to maintain a cool façade while his gut twisted with desire. If she kept staring at him with those eyes he wouldn’t be responsible for his actions, and this time there would be no stopping him.

‘Let’s go.’ She turned around and stalked towards the car, leaving him with a distinct case of lust that he needed to ignore.

She didn’t speak a word on the trip back to the carnival, pointedly staring out of the passenger window. He sneaked a peek at her, wondering what it was about this strange woman that appealed to him so much. Usually he preferred tall, cool brunettes, not wild blondes with sharp tongues.

She’d surprised him with her business degree. He couldn’t imagine her stalking the corridors of power, though he would bet she’d put anyone who crossed her path back into line, quick smart. And as for her tastes, he should have guessed they would match the rest of her: alternative, exotic, fascinating.

She intrigued him. He wondered how long he could string out this deal with her father. Hopefully at least till he’d sampled the hidden delights of this rare woman.

She practically bolted from the car as he pulled up outside the carnival and shut off the engine.

‘Hey, wait up.’ He strode after her, his long strides eating up the ground, her high heels no match for them. He caught her at the Ferris wheel.

‘Goodnight. See you in the morning.’ Her gaze flickered past him and a huge smile lit up her face. ‘Time to pack it in, Stan?’

Wishing that special smile was for him, he turned and saw a wizened old man doffing a moth-eaten hat that had seen better days. ‘Evenin’, miss. Yeah, it’s about that time.’

Steve looked back at her and raised an eyebrow, angling for an introduction. She got the message. ‘Stan, I’d like you to meet Steve Rockwell.’

Stan thrust out a hand. ‘Pleased to meet ya. Any lad of this young lady is a friend of mine.’

Steve stifled a grin and shook the old guy’s hand, not daring to look at Amber.

‘Oh, he’s not my lad, Stan. He’s just a—’ She bit back what she’d been about to say and he knew why. If the carnival was about to close down, she wouldn’t want the employees to know a lawyer was sniffing around.

He stepped in quickly. ‘An old friend.’

She cast him a grateful look and he pushed home his momentary advantage. ‘I’ve never been for a ride on one of these, you know.’

She frowned as Stan immediately took Steve’s hint. ‘Well, then, sir, hop aboard. Nothing like it in the world when you’re up the top, swaying in the breeze, holding onto your sweetheart’s hand.’ Stan winked as he opened a side-door to one of the chairs.

Steve could have sworn he heard Amber snort as he grabbed her hand and pulled her with him. ‘Come on, sweetheart. It’ll be fun.’

‘Oh, yeah, a real barrel of laughs.’ She tugged free of his hand but followed him in.

He hadn’t lied when he’d said he’d never been on a Ferris wheel before. If he’d known how snug the seats were he’d have taken all his girlfriends for a ride.

With Amber’s thigh pressed against his and her signature scent enveloping him, he knew this was the best idea he’d had in a long time.

‘You could have set the record straight with Stan.’

‘What? And disillusion the old guy? Have a heart.’

She tried to shift away from him, which set the chair swinging. ‘He’s not used to me bringing guys around.’

He slid an arm around her shoulders, surprised yet thankful she didn’t shrug it off. ‘A girl like you should have men falling at her feet. Why don’t you bring any of them home?’

‘They’re not important enough.’

Jealousy stabbed at his gut, swift and sharp, at the thought of Amber with other men. Ludicrous, as he’d known her for less than twenty-four hours. He pushed his luck. ‘Ever been on a ride with any of them before?’

She turned to face him and his heart pounded, a totally irrational response from an organ he controlled with precision when it came to the fairer sex.

‘This is a first.’ Her soft words were whipped away by the wind as the wheel slowed and finally stopped, leaving them perched at the top.

However, he didn’t have time to appreciate the view when a gorgeous woman like Amber stared up at him with a mouth just begging to be kissed.

‘Don’t you just love new experiences?’ he murmured, as he brushed her lips in a feather-light kiss.

A light sigh escaped her lips as they parted. He nibbled her bottom lip before easing his tongue into her mouth, challenging her to match him thrust for thrust. She didn’t disappoint and their tongues duelled, firing his rising passion to new heights. As she returned his kiss all sense fled. He shouldn’t be doing this. She was the daughter of the opposition, she was trouble, she was business. However, as she moaned, all he could think about was the sheer, unadulterated pleasure of her delicious mouth flowering under his.

He cupped one hand behind her neck, drawing her closer, deepening the kiss with possessive thoroughness. She tasted tart and sweet, just as he’d anticipated, and he couldn’t get enough of her. He’d never understood the crazy, head-over-heels physical-attraction thing, preferring to choose his women with calculated precision for what they could do for him rather than acting on lustful impulse. Until now.

Amber’s fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer as she arched towards him. God, she was practically offering herself to him, and he couldn’t do much more than kiss her, perched this far off the ground. He would give anything for a bed right about now.

Before he could think, his free hand slid up her bare thigh, as it had itched to do all night, creating a trail of tiny goose-bumps beneath his touch.

‘Whoa!’ She pulled away as his hand almost reached its target.

He stared at her, not moving an inch.

‘I think this belongs to you.’ She grasped his wayward hand and placed it firmly in his lap before tugging her skirt down. ‘Time to go down.’

‘Thought you’d never offer,’ he mumbled, turning away from her and staring at the distant twinkle of city lights illuminating the horizon, wishing for a fickle wind to flip the flimsy skirt she wore. Every time she’d reached for the skirt-edge during the evening he’d wanted to still her hand, hoping it would ride up farther.

She stiffened beside him but didn’t reply. At that moment the wheel started up again and they drifted back down to earth in silence.

She bolted from the chair as soon as Stan raised the bar.

‘Thanks, Stan. It was great.’ He shook the old man’s hand.

‘I’m sure it was, Mr Rockwell. See ya round.’ They grinned like co-conspirators before Steve took off after Amber.

He always seemed to be chasing after her—something he never did with women. Usually they trailed after him, impressed by his wealth and status. So what was it about this woman that had him running around in circles?

She stopped as he grabbed her arm. ‘I’ll see you in the morning?’

‘Not if I can help it.’ She glared at him, gold flecks glinting in the moonlight.

‘It was just a kiss, dammit. Don’t get so wound up.’

‘Who says I’m wound up?’ She backed away from him ever so slightly.

He loved her defiance, etched into every aspect of her body language. ‘You’re tighter than a coiled spring ready to snap.’

‘And you’re a lousy judge of character. Good-night.’ She spun on her heel and stalked away.

He pondered her parting jibe. Contrary to her opinion, one of his greatest skills was reading people and their motives. And he was damn good at it too. Then why hadn’t he figured her out yet?

‘Pleasant dreams,’ he called out, already looking forward to the next day, eager to match wits once again with the enchanting Amber.

She ignored him, a relatively novel experience for his ego.

He chuckled, aiming to change all that, starting first thing in the morning.