by SL Beaumont
Chapter 10
Max Cooper’s meeting adjourned at five-thirty pm and Stephanie and Ellie had been invited to join them on the terrace for drinks. Stephanie had rolled her eyes and sighed heavily at hearing her father’s request the night before. Dinner with a bunch of corporate lawyers – just what she didn’t need. Maybe I can cite jetlag and escape straight after? Bit of stretch given that I’ve been here two weeks, but worth a try.
She put on her favourite mini dress with blue knee-high boots and tied her hair up into a loose knot on top of her head. Ellie looked her over when she skipped down the stairs and smiled indulgently. “You are certainly not one to blend in, are you, dear?” she said.
Stephanie grinned and took her grandmother’s arm, helping her out to the terrace. The ten lawyers were already sipping gin and tonics and admiring the view out over the countryside. The village was nestled into the hillside opposite appearing as if it were tumbling down into the valley, and the river wound its way lazily towards the coast. One edge of Knox Manor peeked out from the trees on the ridge opposite.
“Ah, here you are.” Her father turned and smiled. Max was impeccably dressed in a charcoal suit, with a pale blue striped shirt and a red silk tie dotted with a pattern of tiny pale blue diamonds. “May I introduce you all to my mother and my beautiful daughter Stephanie – some of you will already have met?” There were nods and murmurs of hello from the group. Max took his mother’s arm and kissed her cheek.
Stephanie looked over the group of lawyers – seven men and three women. All mid-thirties or older, except for one guy standing slightly off to the side with his back to her – there was something familiar about the way he carried himself.
Mm, she thought. You’re a little young to be one of the usual clones. As if he sensed her looking at him, he turned, smiled and walked toward her. Stephanie gasped. Sam. She had dated Sam in London over the winter, before he had announced that he was off overseas on his gap year and broke up with her. All of the angry bitter comments that she had stored up to say to him the next time she saw him, suddenly eluded her. She opened and closed her mouth in surprise. What is he doing here?
“Well, this retreat just suddenly got a whole lot more interesting,” Sam murmured conspiratorially, leaning down towards her. “How are you, Stephanie?”
Stephanie looked him over, catching the oddly familiar smell of the hair product he used – funny what your nose remembers. “Hi, Sam – I wouldn’t let my father hear you say that,” she said, recovering somewhat.
Six months in the sun hasn’t done him any harm, she thought noticing how the tan he was sporting made his hair seem blonder and eyes bluer. He was dressed in a navy blue suit with a pale pink shirt and matching blue and pink tie. His straight hair had been cut shorter than she remembered, and was parted so that it swept across his forehead. His relaxed smile showed off straight white teeth and his eyes were full of mischief.
“Are you visiting too?” He held her gaze for a second or two longer than was necessary or comfortable.
She bit her lower lip to stop herself blushing at his obvious flirtation. There is no way I am going to fall for his charm again. Despite what Anna says, there is no unfinished business here. But, a little harmless flirtation couldn’t hurt, could it?
“No. I’m spending the summer here, trying to keep out of trouble before uni starts,” she said, glancing up at him through her eyelashes.
He chuckled, a low deep laugh that she remembered so well. “Somehow, I don’t see that happening.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” she exclaimed.
“Look at you,” he replied, very deliberating looking her up and down. “And with that cute accent thrown in, those poor country boys don’t stand a chance,” he replied.
She inclined her head and smiled, acknowledging the compliment.
“What about you? How did you end up working for dear old Dad? I thought you were in the depths of South America,” she asked. Bedding as many voluptuous Brazilians as possible, she thought.
“Internship before uni. My father insisted that I do some work after travelling,” he explained. Sam’s father, Peter Jones, was one of Max Cooper’s oldest friends and business partner in his city law firm. “The boys and I spent the summer in Vietnam, Lombok, Laos and Thailand, before heading to South America – we surfed in Mexico, dived in Belize and partied at the carnival in Rio. I’d like to head back there for a holiday before uni starts.”
“That is so cool.” Stephanie couldn’t help but be impressed. “I haven’t been to South America,” she said.
Sam reached out to brush away a stray hair that had blown across Stephanie’s cheek. “Maybe you could come with me,” he suggested.
Stephanie bit her lip again. The nerve endings in her cheek tingled where his fingers had brushed it. Oh. I had forgotten how charming you could be, she thought, a little wary, her senses on high alert. Still it felt really nice to have some male attention after the frosty reception she had been receiving from James all week.
“I do hope you are not flirting with my granddaughter, young man,” a sharp voice called. Stephanie blushed and spun around. Ellie had ignored the wicker chair that Max had provided for her and was leaning back on her stick watching them with amusement.
Stephanie recovered her composure. “Grandma, you remember Sam. He’s interning with Dad before uni,” she said.
Sam extended his hand and said, “Hello again, Mrs Cooper.” He flashed his charming smile at her. Ellie looked him up and down, unimpressed. “I remember your father at your age – Peter was good looking and charming too,” she said. She turned to Stephanie. “I’d watch this one,” she advised.
“Thanks, Grandma, I will,” Stephanie said blushing again.
Damn, I wish that wouldn’t happen, she thought cursing her penchant for blushing at inopportune times.
They were interrupted by Max tapping the side of his glass and announcing dinner.
Ellie held out her arm for Sam to take. “Come on, young man – you can escort me to dinner and tell me all about your travels.”
Sam graciously took her arm. Ellie winked at Stephanie behind Sam’s back. Stephanie looked at her in surprise. Just what did her grandmother know of Stephanie’s broken heart? Was she trying to protect her? Stephanie felt a rush of gratitude.
Stephanie found herself seated at the opposite end of the table between her father and one of his senior executives, an eternal bachelor named Steven.
“I hear you’ve been asking questions about the Knoxes,” Max said to her as they finished the soup course. “Why’s that?”
“It’s nothing. You know me and history. And it seems that there is a juicy little feud between our families,” she replied. “Actually, maybe you can shed some light on things for me?” she added.
“Probably not, Steph. From what I understand, there’s nothing of interest there. If you want juicy family history, there’s an eccentric uncle somewhere in the tree, who led a fascinating life – he was Governor in India or something…” Max said.
What? Stephanie thought. That sounded like a fob off, if ever I heard one.
“But didn’t Aunt Sophie and Uncle David uncover some German connection with the Knoxes that possibly resulted in her death?” she asked, not willing to be put off that easily.
“Ah, you’ve been talking to your grandmother I see,” he said smiling.
“Yeah and reading Sophie’s journals. I was wondering if David left any memoirs?” she asked.
Max became serious. “Don’t go there, Steph. What does the Knox boy make of all this?” he asked.
Stephanie frowned. “He’s currently not speaking to me. He wasn’t very happy with Grandma’s version of events,” she said.
Max nodded, satisfied. “Good. Best keep it that way.”
“Really? So the feud just continues into another generation then?” she asked, incredulous.
Max gave her one of those parental ‘that’s enough – we’ll discuss this l
ater’ looks.
Rolling her eyes, Stephanie sat back as one of the women from a local catering firm placed the main course in front of her.
Looking down the table, she realised that Sam was watching her. Trust Sam to walk back into my life like nothing had happened. But if he expects me to be running back to him, he has another think coming, she thought petulantly. Sam inclined his head towards Ellie as she spoke and continued to hold Stephanie’s gaze, giving her a slow smile.
Finally dinner was over and the party dispersed – some to the terrace for cognac, some to the lounge to check their messages and phone their families. Ellie excused herself to her room.
Sam slowly wandered to Stephanie’s side, making a pretence of admiring the art works adorning the dining room walls.
“Do you think we can escape?” he murmured, leaning close to her, his lips brushing her hair. After a week of feeling hurt by James’s rejection, Sam’s familiarity felt somehow comforting. And even though she had absolutely no intention of rekindling anything with him, she knew that she would be guaranteed a fun night out if he was around.
Making a spur of the moment decision, she grabbed his hand. “I thought you’d never ask. Come on,” she said. She led him out a side door and down some stone steps to where the Fiat was parked in front of the house.
“Don’t worry. I’ve only had a few sips of wine,” she said, slipping into the driver’s seat. “How would you like to sample the local nightlife?”
“Sure. I didn’t realise that they even had such a thing down here,” Sam said as he let himself into the passenger seat.
Stephanie saw her father watching them from the terrace. She waved as she clicked her seatbelt across her body. She expected him to look annoyed at her kidnapping his young protégé – but instead he was smiling and looking satisfied. Stephanie frowned. Of course, she thought, he’s just happy that I’m going out with Sam and not James Knox.
Still frowning, she glanced at Sam who was pulling his seatbelt across himself.
“What?” he asked, catching her expression.
“Nothing.” She pulled her gaze away and started the engine, glancing in the rear view mirror at the retreating figure of her father.
“It’s great to see you again, Steph. I’ve been meaning to give you a call,” Sam said smoothly.
“Of course you have,” she replied sarcastically.
“No really. I’ve only been back a week and straight into work,” he said. “Hey, this is great, sneaking off with you. Feels just like old times.” He reached over and brushed a piece of hair off Stephanie’s face and tucked it behind her ear. “Remember when we used to sneak off and snog in doorways and mess around a bit?”
Stephanie shivered pleasantly at the memory and felt her blush rising, but somehow managed to keep a cool tone to her voice. “Well, that’s so not happening again anytime soon.” She put the car in gear and sped down the driveway.
Sam looked across at her and smiled as if accepting a challenge. “Steph, you can’t mean that.”
