Brides, Babies And Billionaires. Rebecca Winters
I’ve got her friend’s number. And with his help, I’ve got a plan.’
* * *
Lauren fumbled in her shoulder bag for her keys as she took the last few steps to the third floor. Her first private lesson had been a success and her next three Tuesday afternoons were taken.
If even half her future clients were as good as feisty seventy-two-year-old Mary—or seventy-two years young as she’d claimed—her new occupation would be a pleasure. She’d listened intently, made copious notes in a neat legible hand, and was willing to give anything a go. She claimed making mistakes was part of living.
If that was the case, Lauren was certainly alive, so why did she feel numb inside? There was...
A large vase containing an incredible arrangement of orchids on the landing outside her door. Her foot caught on the last stair. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t form a coherent thought.
Orchids: deep reds, yellow with leopard spots, and lilac ones of every shade imaginable. She stumbled forward and fell onto her knees, her trembling fingers reaching out to touch the soft petals, confirm they weren’t her imagination.
Tears flooded her eyes. Her heart hammered into life, sending her blood racing to regenerate every pulse point. Orchids. Matt. Linked together in her mind for ever.
‘Lauren?’
Broken, rasping voice. Trembling arms clasped her in a strong embrace. Warm lips pressed to her forehead. Disbelief scrambled her brain, and hope fluttered in her stomach.
‘Don’t cry, my love. Please, don’t cry.’
My love. Matt’s voice saying words she wouldn’t dare to dream. Matt kneeling beside her, his body warm and solid, and his heart thudding under her hand. Matt’s fingers lovingly stroking her cheek, and tilting her chin.
She barely had time to register dark shadows under his compassionate blue eyes before he kissed her. Not with the smooth arrogance of the youth, or the competent skill of the sophisticated man. Hesitant, unsure of her response.
She wanted the passionate lover who’d taken her to the moon and beyond, and refused to settle for less. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she tangled her fingers in his hair, binding him to her. She teased him with the tip of her tongue and nipped his lip with her teeth.
In an instant he crushed her against him, chased her tongue back inside with his, stroking and tangling, claiming his rights as her man. His hands caressed her, fuelling fires she’d believed extinguished. His breathing was as ragged as her own.
Voices echoed up the stairwell and he lifted his head, chest heaving, throat convulsing and eyes gleaming.
‘Inside?’ Rough and barely audible.
Unable to speak, she nodded, and looked round for the keys she’d dropped. Matt picked them up and helped her to her feet. Her fingers trembled too much to take them, and her heart flipped at his unsteady attempts to unlock the door.
He followed her in, stopped just inside gazing wide-eyed at her home.
Her home, where she’d spent six tortured nights berating the fool that she’d been to fall in love with him. Where she listlessly performed necessary chores, and agonised over a solitary future without him.
He stood there as if he were a returning hero carrying his gift like the spoils of war. And the anguish and heartache she’d suffered surged into a torrent of anger at his injustice.
‘No.’
HIS BODY JERKED, his brow furrowed, and his mouth fell open.
‘You bring flowers and expect what you did to be wiped away and forgotten? You judged me guilty without proof, willingly believed I lied to you.’ She retreated as she spoke, torn between aching for him and never wanting to suffer like this again.
‘You never trusted me from the day we met. You were willing and eager to take me to bed but never prepared to give anything of yourself. Except your body for your own pleasure.’
‘No. No, Lauren. I was...’
‘Protecting yourself.’
His features contorted. He raised his hands, blinked as the orchids came into his view, and strode across the room to place them on her bookshelf. He turned to face her, his hands reaching out to her, and his dark beseeching eyes pleaded for understanding.
Her heart clamoured for her to run into his arms, surrender and forgive. But he’d disowned her over the phone, without giving her a chance to explain.
She straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. When his hands fell then one rose to rake through his hair, her fingers itched to join it.
Flowers and kisses came easily to him. If he thought he could win her over by...
‘How did you get into the building?’
He broke eye contact, and stared at her cream velour sofa with its colourful cushions. Typical Matt, plotting his reply instead of saying what he felt.
‘Can we sit and talk? Please, Lauren. I know I’ve been a drongo and selfish as hell. And the dumbest prize idiot for not admitting even to myself that I love you.’
Her world slammed to a shuddering halt. The air rushed from her lungs, her legs trembled, threatening to buckle, and she leant on the breakfast bar for support.
‘No, you don’t.’ Breathless. Distrustful.
The adoration in his eyes stirred the cold embers in her core, and she scrunched her fingers, wouldn’t fold. He’d coerced her so many times. She’d need more than words to risk her heart again.
She moved to the sofa, determined to conceal the effect of the hot tendrils of desire weaving their way to every extremity as he joined her. Leaving space between them, he spread his arm along the back and hooked one ankle over the other knee—a simple, familiar habit that chipped at her resistance.
‘Pete let me in.’
This wasn’t going the way Matt had planned. He’d been wrong in so many ways, including persuading her to face her demons while fooling himself about his own.
He’d banked on her being thrilled with the flowers, and melting into his arms. Seeing her on her knees with tears streaming down her face had shattered him.
Her response to his kiss had been all he could have wished for. She cared. They’d talk and she’d forgive him. They’d make love and work out how they could be together.
Lauren had stunned him with her hostile stance and accusation, her flashing hazel eyes demanding he fight for her, and prove he was worthy of her love. Living without her had been hell. Together they could build their own heaven.
‘You named Pete as your contact on the company’s personnel form I’d filed without reading. I had completely forgotten about it until yesterday. He was tough to convince, but finally agreed to meet me with no guarantees of help. He also threatened to take me apart if I ever hurt you again.’
Her lips curved and he found himself grinning at the image too. He had height and weight advantages but he had no doubt Pete’s threat was sincere.
‘I have...had trust issues. I never saw my parents kiss or be affectionate, and rarely heard them argue. Came home one evening and it was full on. He’d been having affairs for most of their married life. She put up with it because she wanted the lifestyle he provided. I was gutted at their hypocrisy.’
‘That’s why you left Australia.’ She leant towards him. The tightness in his gut eased, and he ground out the rest.
‘He used his business premises for rendezvous.’
‘The bedroom?’
‘I’ve