His Mistress for a Week

by MELANIE MILBURNE

  Harriet’s shoulders went down on another sigh. ‘You’re right. I need to think about my future. It is very generous of Alistair. I thought at first it was just because he wanted to get rid of me but I see the way he feels about you. I guess it’s understandable he’d want to be alone with you without a sixteen-year-old chaperone hanging around.’

  Clem felt like a fraud sitting there pretending to be in normal relationship with Alistair. But that was the only thing she was pretending about. Her love for him was no act. It was real. It was so real she could feel it in her chest, a swelling realisation she loved him as she had loved no one before. With her whole person: her body, her mind, her soul. ‘He’s a very special man,’ she said. ‘One of the best. The best.’

  Harriet smiled and some of the worry etched in her young face disappeared. ‘It will be cool having you as a kind of sister-in-law if you guys get married one day. Not that Jamie and I are thinking that far ahead or anything. We both have to concentrate on our education. Jamie’s chance to work with a top chef here is too good an opportunity to miss. We can always see each other in the holidays.’

  Not that Alistair would ever ask Clem to marry him. An extended fling was one thing; a commitment for life was another. But she was more than pleased to hear Jamie was finally thinking about his future and knuckling down to some hard work. It would be a relief to be able to go back to London without that nagging worry sawing at her nerves about whom he was with and what he was up to.

  ‘Jamie has a lot of growing up to do but deep down he’s a good person. The fact that he stepped in to protect you, even though the means in which he did it were questionable, means that his heart is in the right place.’

  Harriet’s eyes began to sparkle. ‘So do you think you and Alistair might get married someday?’

  Clem picked up her coffee cup, and then wished she hadn’t, when she saw Harriet’s eyes go to her bare ring-finger as if she was imagining a beautiful diamond ring sitting there some time in the future. ‘Erm...it’s still early days.’

  ‘Jamie didn’t believe it at first,’ Harriet said. ‘He said you’d always hated Alistair’s guts and how could you possibly fall in love so quickly? But I told him it happens like that all the time. Falling in love is like that.’ She snapped her fingers. ‘One minute you hate someone, and then the next you can’t imagine life without them.’

  Tell me about it. Clem picked up the menu. ‘We’d better order some lunch so you can get back to work and be polite and ingratiatingly obsequious to all those filthy-rich customers.’

  Harriet smiled. ‘Thanks for being so nice. Alistair’s lucky to have you. You’re perfect for him. You kind of balance him out, you know?’

  ‘I’m glad you think so,’ Clem said.

  If only Alistair felt the same.

  * * *

  Alistair could have filled the time with work while Clem was lunching with Harriet but instead he went shopping. He told himself it was to buy Clem a bit of jewellery to thank her for coming with him to Monaco: a bracelet, a necklace or a set of earrings; a simple no-strings gift. But when he was in the jewellery store his gaze kept being drawn to the ring counter. He turned his back on it and concentrated on the array of earrings but it was like all those diamonds behind him where glaring at him.

  What’s wrong with you? She’s perfect for you. You know she is. She’s funny, cute and sweet and she makes you happier than anyone else.

  He wasn’t supposed to be feeling like this, as if he wanted their relationship to be permanent. But every time he thought of Clem walking out of his life he felt an empty ache deep in his chest. They had spent barely a couple of days and nights together. Surely it was a little early to fancy himself in love? He had never fallen in love before. Not even come close. Could it happen that fast? He had never thought he would be the type to fall in love so quickly. He thought he would drift into love over a long period of time, not fall so hard it felt like a body slam.

  But Clem was special.

  Not short-term special. Long-term special. The sort of special he could see himself spending the rest of his life with even if it meant there would never be another crooked tea towel in his house again. Even if it meant he had to put up with neat little rows of lotions and potions and a stripy blue mug that had to go everywhere.

  Alistair glanced at the ring counter. There was a certain ring that kept blinking at him. Buy me! it seemed to say. How could he buy an engagement ring when they’d only been dating a couple of days? It was way too soon to be thinking along those lines.

  Or was it?

  What if he asked Clem to marry him, to have his children, to build a life together? It was a big step but for the first time in his adult life he felt ready for it. More than ready. He smiled as he pictured his future with her. It would be quirky and fun, not boring and mundane like his life had become. She would be a loyal and faithful partner. He knew that for certain. He knew her. She was sweet and sassy and strong, and yet fragile, tender and tough when she needed to be. She was everything he could ever want in a partner. He hadn’t even realised he’d wanted a partner until she had come back in to his life and shaken it up. Shaken him out of his stubborn refusal to risk loving someone in case he lost them.

  Of course loving someone was a risk. Life was one big risk. He couldn’t hide from it. He had to grasp it and wring every bit of enjoyment out of it before it was over. What was the point of waiting for weeks or months before he asked her to marry him? He knew now she was the only one he wanted to be with. How could he have thought he would enjoy his life without Clem in it?

  She was his life.

  * * *

  When Clem was on her way back to their hotel she got a call from her mother. She considered letting it go to voicemail, knowing from experience her mother would bombard her with calls until she answered. But, with her resolve in place after her discussion with Alistair over handling her mother’s demands for money, she decided there was no time like the present to lay down the law. ‘Mum, how are you? How’s—what’s-his-name again?—Ken? No, Kirby, isn’t it?’

  ‘It’s Kon, short for Konrad.’

  Con short for Conman more like. ‘Oh, right, well, I hope you’re having a good time, but I’m in kind of a hurry and—’

  ‘I just need a couple of hundred pounds to get me through,’ Brandi said.

  ‘To get you through what? The nearest shopping mall? Mum, this has to stop. It has to stop now. I’m not responsible for your finances. I’m not helping you out any more. You’ll have to learn to manage on your own.’ There. She’d done it.

  ‘What sort of daughter are you to let your own mother go without while you’re swanning around the French Riviera with Lionel Hawthorne’s son like Cinder-bloody-ella?’

  Clem’s stomach dropped. ‘How do you...? I mean, what are you talking about?’

  Her mother laughed. ‘Don’t try and deny it. I got it out of Jamie. He wasn’t supposed to say anything, was he? What a catch. A super-rich man who’ll take you places. Nice work. You must take after me after all.’

  Clem was going to kill Jamie. After she tortured him first. But she could hardly deny her involvement with Alistair. She could only live in hope her mother wouldn’t try and cash in on it. ‘Mum, please don’t ruin this for me.’

  ‘How could I ruin it? Just lend me some cash. You’ll have loads of it now you’re dating Alistair. What’s he like in bed? His father was a bit of a dud—selfish and in too much of a hurry. Mind you, his money more than made up for it. I might look him up, see what he’s up to.’

  Kill me now. Clem gave a defeated sigh. ‘I’ll transfer some money. Two hundred, did you say?’

  ‘Make it five hundred.’ Brandi’s voice held a note of triumph. ‘I’ve got to buy myself something fancy for your wedding, don’t I?’

  There wasn’t going to be a wedding so at least she would be saved that embarrassment. ‘Mum, we’re not getting married, okay?’

  ‘Who cares?’ Brandi said. ‘At least you c
an make the most of his money while he fancies you. When can I come for dinner? Maybe we could do a double date with Lionel. What do you say?’

  ‘I don’t think that’s such a great idea,’ Clem said. ‘Alistair barely speaks to his father. We’re just dating—it’s not even serious.’

  ‘Listen, sweet, naïve child of mine,’ Brandi said, ‘When you date a man with money it is serious. You make it serious. Get pregnant.’

  Clem let out a shocked gasp. ‘I would never do that on purpose!’

  ‘You’re throwing away a good chance to get your hands on a fortune,’ Brandi said. ‘At least get him to invite you to live with him.’

  Like that was going to happen. ‘Mum, I have to go now as—’

  ‘Lover boy waiting for you, is he?’ Brandi cackled. ‘Tell you what, I wouldn’t mind of piece of him when you’re done. I quite like a younger man. They’ve got the stamina—know what I mean?’

  Clem clenched her teeth until her jaw clicked. ‘I’ll call you when I get back to London. Bye.’

  * * *

  Alistair was back at the hotel when Clem returned from lunch and that phone call. Should she tell him about her mother? No. Too embarrassing. She looked at the bucket of champagne sitting in an ice bucket with two crystal glasses by its side. ‘Gosh, you were confident I’d win Harriet over.’

  ‘How did it go?’

  ‘Surprisingly well,’ Clem said. ‘She’s agreed to go to boarding school and is grateful for your offer to pay for it. But I guess you knew that, hence the champagne?’

  He picked up her hands, holding them close to his chest. ‘This isn’t about Harriet. It’s about us.’

  ‘Us?’ Clem could barely get the word out of her suddenly restricted throat.

  His gaze was soft. ‘I’ve been thinking while you’ve been at lunch. Actually, I’ve been thinking ever since we came on this trip. Thinking about us. How we work together. What we have together. It’s special, ma petite. Really special.’

  If he hadn’t been holding her hands Clem would have slapped herself on the side of the head to make sure she wasn’t having an out-of-body experience. ‘Special in...in what way?’

  His mouth had a rueful tilt. ‘You’re so modest you don’t understand what I’m saying, do you?’

  Clem gave a tight little swallow. ‘What are you saying?’

  ‘I’m telling you I love you.’

  Her eyes widened until she thought her eyebrows would hit her hairline. ‘You love me?’

  He brought her hand to his mouth, holding her gaze with his. ‘I love you and I want to marry you.’

  Clem’s heart gave an excited skip. ‘But I thought you said you weren’t ready to—’

  ‘That was before I came to my senses and realised you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me,’ he said. ‘These past few days have been the happiest of my life. I thought it was because it’s been the first quasi-holiday I’ve taken in God knows how long, but then I realised it’s you. You’re the one person who can make me happy.’

  Clem was still struggling to accept this was really happening to her. To her! Her heart was done with skipping and was now doing cartwheels. ‘You really love me?’

  His expression was so tender it made her chest cramp. ‘I love you. I love all your quirky little habits. I love watching you sleep. I love waking up next to you. I love making love to you. Please say you’ll be my wife and the mother of my children.’

  She double-blinked. ‘You want children?’

  ‘Whenever I thought about having children it felt wrong, but that was because I was thinking about them with another partner, not you. But with you it feels right. Everything about you is right for me, my darling. Everything.’

  Everything apart from my mother. But Clem didn’t even want to think about her mother at a time like this. Tears of joy prickled at the back of her eyes. It was happening. It was truly happening. Her dream of having him fall in love with her and wanting to be with her for ever was truly happening. ‘Of course I’ll marry you.’

  His face broke open with a huge smile and he hugged her so tightly her feet came off the floor. He set her back down, reached into his pocket and took out a velvet box. ‘For you, my precious darling,’ he said.

  Clem opened the box to find a gorgeous art-deco engagement ring inside, winking up at her. It was the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. It was old-fashioned and quirky. The sort of ring she had always dreamed of having. ‘Oh, my...’ Her voice was hardly more than a whisper. ‘You bought this? For me? But it must have cost you a fortune!’

  He slipped it on her finger and kissed it in place, holding her gaze with his. ‘I’m going to spend the rest of my life spoiling you. You’re worth more to me than anything. I wish my mother had met you. She would’ve adored you.’

  Clem flung her arms around his neck. ‘I know I would’ve adored her right back. You’re the most amazing man I’ve ever met. Kind, patient, generous and honourable.’

  ‘I know I’m rushing you, but I remember someone saying once that when you’ve met the right person you just know it in your bones. I think I’ve been in denial since I walked into your shop and saw you glaring at me from behind your cute glasses.’

  Clem smiled. ‘I think I’ve been fighting it too. I didn’t want to be reminded of the differences in our backgrounds.’

  He brushed her mouth with his. ‘I want no more talk of your background. Mine is hardly something to be crowing about. My father is probably being married to a girl a third his age by an Elvis impersonator as we speak.’

  Clem hugged him close. ‘I think we should elope so we don’t have to go through the embarrassment of having them at our wedding.’

  He tipped up her chin, locking his gaze on hers. ‘I won’t allow either of them to ruin our special day.’

  Clem wished she had his confidence. A part of her couldn’t help worrying her happiness was going to come at a price. But for now she wanted to dwell in the moment, this precious moment when the man she loved so much had told her he loved her and asked her to marry him. She lifted her mouth for his kiss and sighed in bliss as his lips met hers in their first kiss as an officially engaged couple.

  Once the kiss was over, he scooped her up in his arms. ‘How about a lie down after your busy afternoon?’

  Clem gave him a coy smile. ‘Isn’t it too early to go to bed?’

  His smile had a devilish twinkle to it. ‘Not in my book.’

  * * *

  Clem woke the next morning and for a moment wondered if she had dreamt last night. But when she looked at the ring sparkling on her finger her chest bloomed with joy. She reached for Alistair but his side of the bed was empty. There was only the slight indentation of his head on the pillow. She popped on her glasses, threw off the covers and slipped on the silk bathrobe, loosely tying the ends about her waist, and walked out to the sitting room of the luxury suite. Her heart gave a stumble when she saw he was looking at the morning paper that had been delivered to outside their door. His frown was deep, the line of his mouth grim. Had there been another terrorist attack? Another tragic plane crash? Another devastating flood or earthquake?

  ‘Is something wrong?’ she asked, coming up to him.

  He closed the paper with a savage action. ‘Nothing.’ He stuffed the newspaper into the waste-paper receptacle.

  Clem studied his expression: the fierce glare of his eyes, the locked jaw, the flaring of his nostrils. ‘There must be something wrong, otherwise why are you looking so furious?’

  He quickly rearranged his features but Clem wasn’t fooled by the smile that didn’t make it to his eyes. ‘It’s nothing, darling. How did you sleep? Would you like breakfast in the suite or—?’

  ‘You’re not being honest with me, Alistair,’ Clem said. ‘We’re supposed to be sharing everything now we’re engaged. You can tell me if you’re worried about something.’

  He released a long, frustrated-sounding breath. ‘Your mother has given a tell-all interview to one of the
London tabloids.’

  Clem’s stomach dropped like an anchor. A battleship’s anchor. ‘Oh, no...is it bad?’

  ‘Bad enough.’

  She pulled out the newspaper and straightened it out to see. It was worse than bad. It was a lurid account of her mother’s affair with Alistair’s father. With pictures. She could only imagine how Alistair must feel to have the shame of his father’s behaviour splashed over the papers his clients would be reading over their breakfast. Clem’s relationship with him was mentioned with a comment that included: ‘I trained my daughter well in how to land a man with money.’

  So now she was a gold-digger as well as the daughter of trailer-trash.

  Panic crawled up her windpipe with savage claws. She couldn’t swallow it back. It was spreading to her chest, ripping at her earlier happiness like talons tearing at tissue wrap. It wasn’t to be borne. She couldn’t subject the man she loved to this. It wouldn’t stop here; this would go on and on for years. It would destroy the love they had. It would desecrate it, just like Alistair’s mother’s last weeks of life had been desecrated.

  Clem’s stomach churned and burned. Her hands shook when she tried to remove her ring. ‘Take it, Alistair. I can’t marry you.’

  His frown closed the gap between his eyes in deeply furrowed pleats. ‘What are you talking about? This doesn’t mean you have to—’

  ‘I do have to,’ Clem said. ‘How can we possibly have a happy relationship with this sort of stuff popping up whenever my mother feels like stirring up trouble? You might think your love is strong enough to handle it now, but what about in a few months’ or even a couple of years’ time? What if your clients start snickering behind your back about your mother-in-law from hell? What if she tells everyone who my father is?’

  Something flickered in his gaze. A doubt? A realisation that this could get a whole lot worse than it already was? ‘I don’t care who your father is,’ he said. ‘I love you and that’s all that matters.’

  Clem closed her eyes for a beat or two. She. Would. Not. Cry. ‘My father is Brian Geary. You’ve probably heard of him. He was behind one of the biggest fraud schemes in Britain a few years ago. He ruined so many lives, two people committed suicide because of him. So many people lost their life savings, their retirement funds, all of their investments, through his dodgy business. Do you really want that sort of DNA flowing in your children’s veins?’