The Australian's Housekeeper Bride

by Armstrong, Lindsay

  ‘Rhiannon,’ he said against the corner of her mouth, ‘with the best will in the world some things can get out of hand.’

  ‘I know but I need you. I need to be reassured I’m…real and that there’s hope and it isn’t all so—so sad. Please.’ And she kissed him, the lightest butterfly kiss on his lips.

  He groaned and stilled for a moment longer while she held her breath, then he tightened his arms around her and began to kiss her deeply.

  She lay back against the pillows and he traced the line of her delicate silver and jade necklace between her breasts, then gently removed her camisole top and black skirt.

  She quivered as his fingers strayed to her nipples and he caught his breath as he removed what remained of her clothes. Then he took his hands away and pulled his sweatshirt over his head. He stared down at her for a long moment, her full luscious breasts with their inverted tips starting to flower, the triangle of curls at the top of her thighs, those legs that went on for ever. He drew his hands down the curves of her body, shaping her, sculpting her, before standing swiftly and dispensing with his track pants, turning away briefly as he opened the bedside-table drawer, then joining her naked on the bed.

  She sighed with pleasure and went into his arms, and marvelled at the way he made her feel as he cupped her hips. Alive and definitely on the planet, as opposed to how she’d felt earlier but so much more—sexy, desirable and a fitting partner for Lee Richardson.

  She gloried in everything that was so fine about him, those powerful shoulders, the hard wall of his chest tapering to a taut waist, his compact hips and long, strong legs.

  She drank in the aroma of his smooth, tanned skin…she tasted it.

  She played with the sprinkle of dark curls on his chest, she ran her fingers through his hair and etched the blue shadows on his jaw with her fingers.

  He caught them and kissed them then took her hand in his down a long, slow exploration of his body that excited her almost unbearably.

  She moved into a rhythm against him, she arched her body into his and away. She pressed her breasts against him then away and allowed him to tease and taste her nipples.

  She realised dimly at one stage that she’d never before got so carried away in the act of love, she’d never been so giving or so joyfully receptive—and wondered what that made her—but moments later knew that no power on earth could change her reaction.

  She was soaring to the dizziest of heights with Lee Richardson and loving it—and she’d been quite right about him. Everything he did to her was masterly and was drawing her towards a fulfilment such as she’d never known.

  When it came, it was so strong she had to take the corner of the pillow between her teeth as they shuddered together, sweat-soaked and clinging to each other, their bodies clenching in wonderful sensation…

  ‘All right?’ he said what seemed an age later when they’d come down from the heights and he’d drawn the covers over them and was cradling her in his arms.

  She could only nod.

  He tidied her hair off her face and kissed her lips gently. ‘That was—amazing.’

  She nodded again then smiled ruefully. ‘Sorry.’

  He leant his head on his elbow and looked into her eyes. ‘What on earth do you mean?’

  ‘I…I just wondered if I…resembled a starving person at a feast.’

  ‘No,’ he contradicted and traced the outline of her cheek. ‘A wonderful lover and partner.’

  She grimaced. ‘That’s how I’d describe you rather than—’

  His fingers moved to her mouth, closing it. ‘It was mutual, Rhiannon. We moved each other. We nearly moved both heaven and earth.’

  She sighed but it was a contented little sigh, and she rubbed her cheek against his shoulder then she paused, and she lifted her head at the sound of raised voices.

  ‘Who? What?’ she asked with concern.

  He lay back and rubbed his jaw impatiently. ‘The saga continues.’

  ‘What saga?’ She looked at him fearfully.

  ‘A friend of one of Mary’s friends was caught red-handed nicking a valuable jade figurine. It would have all been glossed over if he hadn’t been drunk and made a scene. He claimed he’d only been admiring it, although the security guard saw him put it in his pocket. In fairness, Mary had never met him before but she chose to take his side all the same.

  ‘Things got really difficult after that. She resented the fact that I’d hired security in the first place to check up on her friends. She claimed I’d embarrassed her dreadfully.’ He paused. ‘But then the crux of the matter really emerged.’

  ‘She doesn’t want to be stuck up here at Southall, away from her friends and her old lifestyle?’ Rhiannon hazarded.

  ‘Yes. Seeing them again probably consolidated all her woes for her.’ He shrugged and played with a strand of Rhiannon’s hair.

  ‘I think you’re fighting a losing battle, Lee,’ Rhiannon said after a moment’s silence.

  ‘I think you’re right,’ he said.

  ‘Is it so important—I mean, is it so important for them to live here?’ she queried.

  He hesitated. ‘Not for them, no. Not if it’s going to break up their marriage—I was hoping to achieve the opposite for Matt.’

  ‘Granted,’ Rhiannon agreed then stopped and frowned on the thought that there was so much she didn’t know about Lee Richardson. Why, for example, was it important for him to have Southall lived in other than it being more than a bit of a waste for it to lie unlived-in?

  Then it struck her that all that was of no importance compared to the fact that she was lying in his arms, having just been made love to with exquisite, mind-blowing perfection by him.

  She trembled suddenly and he looked down into her eyes alertly. ‘Something wrong?’

  ‘N-no,’ she stammered. ‘Well, this is quite a turn of events, I…I guess, but please believe I don’t intend to hold you to it in any way. I mean, I just—I just fell apart a bit but that’s not your problem so…’ She broke off and closed her eyes as her cheeks grew pink.

  ‘It is quite a turn of events,’ she heard him say. ‘It’s also one that often leads in a certain direction so, for the second time,’ he sounded faintly amused, ‘will you marry me, Rhiannon?’

  She gasped and her lashes flew up. ‘You’re joking!’

  He shook his head and moved the sheet aside so he could play with the silver and jade necklace that lay looped over one breast. ‘No.’

  ‘But we’ve only known each other for a few days!’

  ‘Maybe but we’ve certainly got to know each other—well.’

  ‘Still…’ She attempted to gather her thoughts, not to mention to keep her mind free of what his fingers were doing.

  ‘You could say we’ve known each other for four years,’ he said idly, watching her body not her eyes.

  Rhiannon smiled drily. ‘You didn’t even recognise me. Mind you…’ She broke off and grimaced.

  ‘Go on.’

  ‘I almost didn’t recognise myself in that awful beret when I got home. I got quite a fright!’

  He laughed softly and moved the sheet further aside so he could see her legs. ‘I hate to offend you but I would always have recognised these.’ He drew his hand down her flank.

  She trembled again. ‘That’s no reason to want to marry me.’

  ‘It’s not entirely a bad one. Do you like me?’

  ‘I—I have no reason not to at the moment,’ she said disjointedly.

  ‘Trust me?’

  ‘Well, I suppose so—’

  ‘Can you see us having some common ground and being able to build a good life together?’

  ‘Hang on,’ Rhiannon murmured as his words resonated through her mind. She sat up and pulled the sheet up. ‘That’s what I said!’

  ‘I know. All good reasons for us to get married.’ He put his arms around her waist and buried his head between her breasts.

  She looked down at his thick dark hair and was tempted to run her finge
rs through it but restrained herself. ‘I can’t believe I’m having this conversation,’ she said dazedly.

  He released her and sat up beside her and took her hand. ‘Wearing only a necklace and some earrings, and since I’m wearing nothing,’ he said gravely, ‘not to mention what has preceded this conversation, I think it’s particularly appropriate.’

  ‘No.’ Her hand shook in his. ‘No. Something’s going on that I don’t understand.’ She turned to him suddenly. ‘Has it to do with Southall?’

  ‘Why do you ask?’

  ‘Just a hunch—but a strong one. Don’t forget,’ she added, suddenly remembering herself, ‘you were the one who told me you were turned off “being spoken for”, possibly for the duration.’

  ‘Rhiannon,’ he said deliberately and took her chin in his fingers, ‘the most significant thing that’s happened is that we came together almost as if we were made for each other.’

  ‘But,’ her lips quivered, ‘if I hadn’t been so distressed it wouldn’t have happened.’

  ‘Don’t kid yourself,’ he advised. ‘We wondered about each other four years ago.

  We started to wonder almost as soon as we came into contact again.’

  She blushed.

  ‘And that tells its own tale,’ he said thoughtfully with his blue gaze scanning the tide of colour in her cheeks, and he put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head.

  ‘All the same,’ she said against his shoulder, ‘I need to know where I stand. I mean…’ She bit her lip frustratedly.

  The house phone in his living room rang.

  He swore beneath his breath. ‘Matt, no doubt. Stay here, I’ll deal with it.’

  But as he got out of bed and pulled on his tracks and sweatshirt, Rhiannon came to life and started to get out of bed too. ‘I need a shower and I need to get going! Oh, I can’t believe this, I haven’t had time to think of my father except just before we—we—’

  ‘Made earth-shattering love?’ His eyes glinted briefly then he sobered. ‘Never mind, we’ll think of your father together. We’ve also got plenty of time to make that flight. Have your shower here. The bathroom’s through there. You can borrow my robe. I won’t be long and we’ll get going as soon as we’ve sorted a couple of things out.’

  ‘But Lee,’ she said urgently with a kind of bemused panic in her eyes.

  ‘Rhiannon,’ he drew her slim naked body into his arms, ‘please don’t go away.

  You’re right, we need to talk.’ He looked into her eyes and his were deadly serious.

  She showered and washed her hair in a curiously feverish way as her thoughts alternated between her father and Lee.

  Then she folded herself into his navy-blue robe and padded through to the living room.

  Lee came in from the house almost immediately, bearing a tray.

  ‘Tea and toast, the limit of my capabilities.’ He put it down on the coffee-table and walked over to her. ‘How does that feel?’ He took in her damp, combed hair and clean, shiny face. ‘Did I do any damage?’

  He flicked the robe open.

  ‘No! I mean, I—I didn’t look,’ she stammered and attempted to close the robe.

  He resisted her easily and took a long, comprehensive look down her body. ‘You know, you are definitely a ten,’ he said softly, and closed the robe, apparently satisfied.

  ‘What…what’s going on out there?’ she asked in some confusion.

  He smiled at her agitation and led her to the settee. ‘Have a seat, I’ll pour the tea. Matt caved in last night, not without Andrea’s help, and he and Mary are moving back to the Brisbane apartment we have today.’

  ‘You shouldn’t—’ Rhiannon bit her lip but decided to soldier on ‘—you shouldn’t be judgemental. It’s their life and only they can sort it out.’ She paused then looked at him alertly. ‘So you won’t need me any more?’

  ‘Yes, I will.’ He returned her look in a way that brought her out in goose pimples.

  ‘I mean on a professional basis,’ she said with an effort.

  ‘No, and never again,’ he agreed, ‘but a personal basis is another matter.’

  ‘Lee…’ She stopped as he put a cup and saucer in front of her and offered her a slice of Vegemite toast—the Vegemite would have amused her in other circumstances.

  ‘Rhiannon,’ he sat back with his cup and saucer, ‘yes, I did have reason to believe I wouldn’t take to marriage too well. Like you, I found that love wasn’t all it was cracked up to be, it was a rather bitter experience and it made me,’ he shrugged, ‘quite cynical. So you could say we’re two of a kind.’ He looked at her penetratingly.

  She could only stare back wide-eyed.

  ‘And yes, you’re right,’ he went on, ‘Southall has a part to play in things although,’ his lips twisted as he glanced through to the bedroom, ‘what you termed as “this turn of events” is far the more crucial.’ He paused.

  ‘What part does Southall play?’ she asked huskily.

  He fiddled with his teaspoon and she watched him, the way his dark hair fell in his eyes, his frown of concentration.

  He said, at length, ‘It goes back to my father. Andrea, as you’ve no doubt seen for yourself, was half his age when she conned him into marrying her and she made him give up his Australian life and take her to the south of France to live.’ This time as he paused he looked faintly quizzical. ‘Now, I know you’ll probably think that’s their affair and you’d be right.’

  He sipped his tea and looked into the distance and his expression changed drastically to one so grim and cold, Rhiannon actually shivered. ‘That she should want to come back now and make Southall her headquarters—the home that my mother created and loved and where she died—is my affair and I don’t intend to allow it to happen.’

  ‘But—’ Rhiannon frowned ‘—how…I still don’t understand.’

  He paused, then he said, ‘Southall was left to me and Matt but a clause was added to my father’s will and I have no doubt Andrea was responsible for it. It states that if, after his death, neither Matt nor I are living here with our spouse or family, Andrea should have the right to make it her home for as long as that situation continues.’

  Rhiannon pushed her fingers through her hair. ‘So…?’ She stopped as things tumbled into place in her mind rather like fruit on a gaming machine. ‘So that’s why you wanted Matt and Mary to—to be in residence so she couldn’t move in?’ she breathed. ‘That’s why you hired me to help make it work and—But that’s so manipulative and…’ She couldn’t go on.

  ‘Manipulative?’ He smiled drily. ‘Not entirely—it was also what Matt wanted. As to who is more manipulative, my stepmother or myself, that’s debatable.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ she whispered.

  ‘When Matt married Mary and announced they’d live here, Andrea obviously gave up any idea of being able to put that clause to work for her. But Matt took Mary to meet Andrea in France on their honeymoon—he wanted to show her our father’s grave—and Andrea, I guess, sensed that Mary would find it difficult to adjust to this lifestyle, and to that end she’s been working on Mary ever since.’

  Rhiannon drew a long, shaky breath. ‘I—see.’

  ‘Do you? I wonder,’ he said.

  Rhiannon tried to collect her thoughts. ‘Look,’ she gestured, ‘I guess this is an outsider’s view but, for what it’s worth, she is astonishingly beautiful and your father may have been lost and lonely without your mother, maybe experiencing a mid-life crisis?’ she suggested.

  He grimaced. ‘You’re very forgiving but, yes, probably all of those things. To go overboard like that, however…’

  He shrugged.

  ‘Maybe,’ she said slowly, ‘that clause was not only her influence but his way of trying to ensure some place for her in the family if he died? Maybe that’s what she feels she needs, a place somewhere now she’s alone?’

  ‘At the moment, all she’s succeeded in doing is tearing us apart,’ he said cynically. ‘Matt feels he’s let
ting me down by going, but he would be letting Mary down if he stayed. Then there’s the possibility that once Andrea digs in it could take a court case to get her out whenever I marry.’

  She stared at him. ‘So…?’ Her lips parted, her eyes changed from stunned to accusing. ‘That’s where I come in? Now you can’t have Matt and Mary to keep her out you want me to—Oh, no!’ She put her toast down untasted and stood up, poised for flight.

  But he was too fast for her as he got rid of his tea, stood up and he took her wrist. ‘Is it as bad as it sounds? How do you feel about Southall, Rhiannon?’

  ‘I, well, I love it but all the same—’

  ‘And my mother would have approved of you entirely. She was very much like you in the way she got out and did things. She would have adored the way you love this place and all the things in it.’

  Rhiannon rubbed her face with her free hand. ‘You’re leading me into all sorts of traps again,’ she cried.

  ‘Yes, but I wasn’t the one who brought them up in the first place. I also love Southall but I haven’t enjoyed rattling around in it on my own, so we’d have that common ground you mentioned.’

  ‘Why did I ever open my mouth?’ she asked despairingly.

  A lightening grin creased his face and the glint in his eyes was perfectly wicked. ‘You have a habit of bringing up pertinent points,’ he reminded her.

  ‘Like your legs.’

  She closed her eyes in deep frustration.

  ‘There’s more,’ he said. ‘I could ensure your father gets the best care available. Somewhere close to here so you’d be able to spend plenty of time with him. And if he and your aunt would like to live with us, she’d be welcome.

  There’s a free cottage in the grounds and it’s rather attractive.’

  Rhiannon’s eyes flew open then she went quite still.

  ‘You…you would do all that? Just to keep your stepmother out of Southall?’

  He shook his head. ‘No, because I want to. I do have another option regarding Southall. I could sell it, thereby taking it out of the equation for ever.’

  She made a protesting little sound in her throat then her eyes dilated at how much of a give-away it would have been.