“You know, Court,” Randi said carefully, “maybe we should put off the trip until Birdie graduates. It’s only a few weeks. We could all meet in New York after Christmas. Between semesters.”
Court was already shaking his head. “The tickets are bought, including great seats for Mama Mia on Broadway. I don’t want to back out now. We’ll come up with something, perhaps talk you two into coming to England for a bit of winter in the country.”
“Oh, now there’s an idea,” Drew agreed. “We have a good long break between semesters, Bird. It would be perfect if you could come for Christmas.”
Randi so hated to be in her position. Although hope flared in Birdie’s eyes. Maybe she liked him a little. “We’ll need to talk to Grandpa. He’s got something in mind, and I don’t know if he’s committed yet.”
“We have the entire family coming to Lynford Hall.” Court glanced from Drew to Randi and back again. “Including Bea’s parents this year.” His grimace to Drew was on the apologetic side. “It’s the first time we’ve scheduled a gathering in years. They want to see Drew….”
“And you certainly don’t want to flaunt your new family from the other side of the woodpile in front of them,” Birdie interrupted. With a deep frown she drank down the rest of her tea, wiped her mouth, and stood from the table in the stunned silence filling the room.
Randi had never heard such bitterness from her daughter, and her mouth gaped in surprise. Before she could protest, Birdie spoke again. “It’s for the best. Well, I don’t know about you folks, but I’ve got a weekend of work ahead of me. Drew, if you want to come back with me, you’d best get your gear. Otherwise, I’m sure Mom wouldn’t mind getting you back to campus.”
“Birdie.” Randi, Court, and Drew all said her name at once.
“Sit down, baby girl,” Randi said.
“It isn’t like that at all,” Court added right on top of her words. It was enough to get Birdie to stand still. “I don’t give a rip what they think. I’m more worried about what they might say to you. You have a grandmother, aunt, uncle, and cousins over there, all of whom are coming for Christmas. In addition, there will be Drew’s other grandparents and half the neighborhood for Christmas dinner. I’d love to introduce you to all of them. I didn’t think you’d be up for all that attention. Most of which will be curiosity, but there’s a possibility of antagonism.”
“With Mum’s side around, there usually is,” Drew said. “Not sure I’d want that show to be my introduction to the family.”
“Well, it’s moot anyway,” Birdie said with a shrug. “I have to finish my thesis and figure out my finals schedule. So, Drew, you coming or staying?” Birdie pushed in her chair and gathered her dishes. Obviously, she expected Court would stay.
“May I take my sandwich to go?” he asked Randi.
“I’ll wrap up sandwiches for both of you and get the leftovers.” Randi stood to gather the food.
Court put a hand on her arm before addressing their daughter. “Birdie, what’s this really all about?”
“I have to finish my degree. School takes priority over family drama. Which I’ve had my fill of, thank-you-very-much.”
“Well, when you’ve had time to sort some of it out in your head, I hope you’ll give me a call. I’m available to you at any hour. Pretty much as I’m sure your mother is.”
Randi nodded, hoping Birdie would take the offer of a bridge.
“I’ll think about it.”
“I mean it, Birdie. Anytime, anywhere. You want to talk, I’m there, even if it’s by phone from across the world. Should you ever make it to England, my homes are open to you, and the family and staff will know it.” Court stood, his hand resting on Randi’s shoulder a connection of solidarity. Two adults standing together in the attempt to connect with the children. Or rather, child, in this case. It was important Court stood beside, not in opposition to her. That meant something, but the real question was how did it affect Birdie? Did it calm her or enflame this unprecedented and lingering anger?
“Drew, I’ll be ready in ten minutes.”
“So will I, Bird.”
Heavy heart dragging at her, Randi led Court into the kitchen.
“Do you think—” Court started to ask, but Randi shook her head to cut him off.
She couldn’t talk right now. The little bit of tea she’d sipped churned in her stomach. What was going on inside Birdie’s head? She was angry, but at who? At her and Wyatt because they’d never told Birdie of her true origins? At the necessary change of relationship with Drew? At Court for showing up out of the blue? Was Birdie mad at both her and Court for thinking about resuming their relationship? Certainly, that had been obvious by the way Court had stayed close beside Randi, touching her at every opportunity. Just small touches. A hand on the small of her back, brushing aside hair the breeze had whipped across her face, holding hands with their fingers laced together. All familiar touches Birdie had witnessed her entire life, but from another man. A man she’d believed with her whole heart had been her father, for whom she still grieved.
In the fuss of leaving, Drew found a moment to give Randi a hug and thanked her for the holiday. A simple, “I’ll call,” from Drew was enough to convey a message from son to father.
Randi forced Birdie into a hug and whispered, “I love you,” to her daughter. Birdie clung for a moment with a hint of desperate emotion, then pushed away without a word.
Heart breaking at the inability to ease her daughter’s distress, Randi stood in the driveway with Court as the kids pulled out and turned down the road. They watched until Birdie’s vehicle, Wyatt’s old sedan, disappeared around the corner.
“I take it that’s unusual behavior for her.”
Court’s voice was quiet beside her, his arm behind her back comforting. A quick swipe of her hand across her cheek took care of the tear trickling down it.
“Yes. That’s not my baby girl. That’s a confused and angry young woman who has never lived in this house before. I don’t know what to say to her. Sorry isn’t enough. Explanations seem pathetic. I don’t know how to atone for the grave disappointment I suddenly am to her.”
Court drew her around and up against his chest. She snuggled into his embrace. “Hush, love. She just needs time. It was a big shock and not delivered in the best way. Not that I’m sure there was a better way. Is there a right way to impart such news? I’m still reeling from the shock. You alone carried all the pieces of the puzzle, and it was a shock to you. How can we expect her to easily accept so many changes in so little time? And without Ferguson here to add his point of view… Well, it will just take time for her to adjust.”
“You’re right. But I feel terribly guilty for leaving right now.”
“Shush.” Court tipped her head up and feathered a kiss across her lips. “As hard as it is for me to take it in, the simple fact is, our daughter is an adult. Can’t hold her hand forever, Jeannie-mine. She’ll need to deal with this in her own way and in her own time. We need time too. Time together. Time to soak it all in, time to know each other again. Time to slow down and find our way onto a more stable path. We’re full adults now. In charge of our destiny.”
Breathless, she looked up into those blue, blue eyes, glowing in the dusky evening falling about them. “You sound like you’re talking forever.”
“Perhaps.” His eyes searched her face. “It’s fast, I know, but the last thing I want is to lose touch with you again. Promise me that one thing for now. Promise me now we’ve found each other, whatever comes, we won’t lose the connection. I don’t care how we stay connected—phone, internet, mail, you in my bed, me in your bed—just as long as we do stay connected.”
The intensity of his feelings was all there in his eyes for her to see. Some of it lived in her heart, tempered by her daughter’s distress. The feelings this man stirred up in her hit with the speed and impact of a tornado, all the heat of a firestorm, completely overwhelming while promising to carry her
away. After all that had happened, right now, she wanted to be carried away. A short time of living the fantasy couldn’t be bad, could it?
“For tonight, anyway, I think we can try out the latter.”
“Ah, me darlin’, now you’re talkin’.” Court’s accent thickened to Cockney, sending a finger of thrill through her. Not enough to banish her guilt over Birdie, but enough to ease it just a little. Enough to build on.
“I love it when you talk that way,” she murmured.
Something of her sadness must have been in her eyes as Court gazed at her. “What say you we go in, chuck the tea, crack open a fine bottle of wine, then go for a hot tub? I dare you to do it in the altogether.”
Tiny though it was, a smile lifted one corner of her mouth. “I’ll race you there.”
Chapter 14
Randi hesitated only a moment before lifting her chin and heading toward the plane. Court heaved a sigh, flashed the gate attendant a smile along with his boarding pass, and followed. The woman still had a walk that drew male eyes like a magnet. Tottering on her modest heels, Randi sauntered down the ramp, her black gabardine trousers cinched at the waist framing her hips in an extremely flattering manner. Her ivory silk blouse, every bit as elegant as any on New York’s Fifth Avenue, draped her curves perfectly.
In any case, he felt relieved she’d finally decided to come with him.
The last two nights had been exercises in patience and distraction as she swung from worrying about Birdie’s reaction to making passionate love with him. He hoped that in New York they could settle in, relax on neutral ground, just the two of them, and talk. Randi had been avoiding discussions involving anything deep and emotional while he’d wanted to do nothing but talk about everything to do with the future.
Now wasn’t that a switch-up? For the first time in his life, Court wanted to slip a ring on a woman’s finger—the sooner the better to his way of thinking—one big enough to shout to the world his possession of her. Two to three carats at the very least. Possibly with a few colored stones to make it stand out more. Tiffany wasn’t far from the hotel, he might even find time to slip away and find something suitable.
“Oh damn!” Randi’s curse of dismay brought Court out of his daydream as she tried to right her rolling carry-on bag. “I knew I should have replaced this case.”
Court leaned over, righted the luggage, retracted the pull handle, and lifted it. “I’ve got it.” He liked playing hero for her, especially when it earned him a grateful smile and swift kiss.
“Seats?” the flight attendant asked, and Randi turned to follow her to their seats in the middle of the first class rows on the left side.
The sneaky little baggage slid into the aisle seat, then took advantage of him as he lifted their cases to the overhead bin. The warmth of her hand on his stomach while he was occupied with his hands in the air created a heat far beyond that of a simple touch. Looking down, he met her eyes, sparkling with wicked mischief as she smiled up at him before directing her gaze lower. Suddenly, the sated satisfaction after two nights and a full day of intense sex disappeared. Only three hours earlier, he’d spent himself deep inside her, and now he wanted her again.
“Move over,” he told her gruffly, gave his case a final push, then slid into his seat just as she vacated it. Faced with her luscious behind, he grabbed her hips and pulled her onto his lap. “You can sit here a moment and hide the evidence.”
Not only did she not squeal, she had the nerve to wiggle until her thighs framed the erection straining against his trousers trying to reach her.
“Ever done it on an airplane?” he murmured in her ear.
“No. Have you?”
“Not yet. Ask me again at the end of the flight.”
Randi giggled, lifted herself off his lap, and settled into the window seat. “Need a blanket, darling?”
Court crossed his legs and growled at her. “I’ll get you, me pretty.”
“A drink?” The attractive brunette cabin attendant asked. “We’ll serve breakfast after take-off.”
“The lady will have coffee with cream and Frangelico.” He smiled at Randi. It wouldn’t take long to melt her panties, and then he’d have her for sure. Clever of her to introduce him to the concoction.
“You’re wicked to tease me this way.” Randi leaned closer to whisper in his ear when the attendant had left with their orders.
“I intend to tease you a hundred different ways before this week is over. Possibly even this day.”
By the widening of her pupils and the hitch in her breathing, he could tell exactly how his promise affected her.
The more he thought about it, the more impatient he became. The flight took off, breakfast finally served, and Court made sure Randi had a second tiny bottle of liqueur for her coffee. The flush it put on her cheeks and the sparkle in her eyes was all he hoped for. At last the meal was cleared, and Randi released the latch on her seatbelt.
“Excuse me,” she said softly.
“By all means.” Ever the gentleman, he stood and pointed her toward the lavatory at the back of the First Class section. Other than a lifted brow, she didn’t argue. Nor did she seem to notice as he followed her until she opened the door.
“Go ahead,” he leaned toward her to whisper in her ear. “Make sure you wash up properly, though.”
“Court,” she protested.
“I’m waiting…”
Shaking her head, she closed the door, and he leaned against it, hands in his pockets. What this woman did to him defied even his fantastic memories. Not since their time in college had he been this primed. He felt young again, as if he’d slept all these years, only to wake as if not a day had passed. But it was better this time. So much better. He had staying power, he had moves, and recuperation like he’d forgotten about. It was all about quality. The quantity was a side benefit.
Behind him, he heard a flush followed by water in the sink. When the locking bolt slid open, he pushed away from the door and ever so casually slipped inside the tiny lavatory.
“You can’t be serious.” Randi’s eyes widened as he locked the door and crowded her.
“Good planning to put the lid down. Now turn around, darling. We don’t have long and don’t forget to keep quiet.”
“Oh for—” she squeaked as he spun her and reached around her for the fastening on her trousers.
“I can’t wait, Jeannie. I need you.” His hand slipped inside her clothes, under the elastic of her knickers, straight to the sweet heat he craved. “Ah, love, you feel so good and ready.”
She melted against him. “Okay, okay. How do you want me?”
“Just bend over and hold on. Open up your blouse for me. I need to touch you.”
The sheer naughtiness of it turned him on so much he’d be lucky to last long enough to get her off with him. But he was game to do his best. When her blouse hung open, he reached around and cupped her breasts, rubbing over the nipples pressing against the silk.
“Pop them out,” he growled, lips to her ear.
“I don’t want to take off my bra,” she whimpered.
“Don’t. Just pull the cups down enough for me to touch your nips.”
“Oh Court.” Not much of a protest as she followed orders.
“So sexy, darling. Very hot.” He pinched her nipples, loving the feel of her extra soft flesh rolling between his fingers, bringing them to maximum arousal as he rubbed her own moisture over one. The scent would carry him all the way to New York.
“Fast,” she gasped. “I want it hard and fast.”
“And I love to give the lady what she wants.” Teeth tugging on her earlobe, he pulled on her nipples as she pushed down her bottoms.
“Now, Court,” she ordered and, bent over, braced herself with hands on the seat lid. “You got me hot, now make it all better.”
Chuckling at his demanding kitten, he dealt with his own trousers, stroked her with the head of his cock until she moaned, t
hen thrust deep inside.
For a handful of racing heartbeats he held still, savoring the skin to skin grip with which she held him, until she pushed back against him. Thankfully, she’d given up on the idea of condoms.
“Impatient, are we?” He chuckled and started moving, holding her hips still as he plunged and retreated, creating heat and friction as she flexed her inner muscles. The visual incredibly erotic as he caught glimpses of her breasts swaying from their movements, his cock disappearing between the cheeks of her heart shaped ass. It was down and dirty, dangerous sex, no frills style and perfect for the moment. The temperature in his balls increased when he felt her soft hand alternately rubbing her clit and squeezing his cock at the entrance to her quivering quim.
“Yes, yes,” she urged him on. “I’m…almost…”
Bloody hell, she scorched him! The audacity of their actions, the danger of getting caught, the thrill of two hundred passengers and crew right outside the thin cardboard walls drove his excitement to the peak and tension began to uncoil at the base of his spine.
“Are you with me?”
“A little…more…fast…er…oh!”
Randi dropped her head to her arm, covering her mouth to muffle her sweet cries. Her bliss did him in. Her trembling grip pulled him straight into Nirvana.
Chapter 15
“Here we are, my randy little lady.” The desire proved too much to resist and he swept an arm under her knees, lifting her into his arms. The bellman held the door to the suite Court always booked when staying in New York. For the first time, he understood the fun behind the tradition, and Court carried Randi over the threshold completely ignoring her protest. Just being with her made him feel strong and manly, almost enough to drop her and beat his chest.
Her Foreign Affair Page 17
